TRENDING First CFP rankings NFL execs talk trades What MLB's labor proposal means Week 9 Waiver Wire NFL Power Rankings Story by Story by Leave No Doubt: Pat Terrell, Lou Holtz, and the Play That Helped Change Notre Dame History College Football: Notre Dame Pat Terrell (15) in action, deflecting ball on defense vs Miami Leonard Conley (28) at Notre Dame Stadium. Sequence. South Bend, IN 10/15/1988 CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37255 ) Lisa Kelly · SB Nation Thu, November 5, 2026 at 5:05 AM UTC · 9 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Notre Dame prepares to face Miami once again, a look back at the 1988 classic through the eyes of the man who made one of its most unforgettable plays.
There are certain moments in Notre Dame football history that never seem to get old, no matter how many times we watch them.
Rocket Ismail's electrifying returns. Tony Rice weaving his way through opposing defenses. The final seconds ticking off the clock as Notre Dame celebrated another unforgettable victory.
If you were a Notre Dame fan in 1988, you probably remember exactly where you were when the Fighting Irish defeated the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes, 31–30, in what would forever be remembered as the Catholics vs. Convicts game.
It was October 15, 1988. Notre Dame Stadium was electric, the rivalry was intense, and the Irish were determined to prove they belonged among the nation's elite.
Thirty-eight years later, with Notre Dame preparing to host Miami on Saturday, November 7, I thought it would be fun to revisit that unforgettable afternoon through the eyes of one of the players who helped make it happen.
And thanks to a conversation I had with former Notre Dame defensive back Pat Terrell for my book Echoes From the End Zone – The Men We Became , I have a few stories to share.
Including one about why he didn't catch the football.
One of the things I've always loved about interviewing former Notre Dame players is discovering the stories behind the moments we remember.
We see the touchdowns, the interceptions, the celebrations, and the championships. But we don't always see the struggles, the disappointments, or the unexpected turns that helped shape those players.
Pat's journey was certainly no exception.
Coming to Notre Dame from Florida was an adjustment. He missed home, and the South Bend weather wasn't exactly what he was accustomed to.
But the bigger challenge came on the football field.
Pat arrived at Notre Dame with dreams of becoming a star wide receiver. In fact, he had some pretty lofty expectations for himself.
As he told me, "I just knew as soon as Tim Brown graduated that I would come in and win MY Heisman Trophy."
But football, much like life, doesn't always follow the plan we've carefully mapped out for ourselves.
Instead of becoming Notre Dame's next great wide receiver, Pat was moved to defensive back during his junior year.
For a young man who had envisioned catching touchdown passes and perhaps winning the Heisman Trophy, it was a difficult adjustment.
He suddenly had to learn a new position, compete for playing time, and prove himself all over again.
And he wasn't simply trying to earn a starting job at Notre Dame. He also hoped to play professional football someday.
As Pat explained, he didn't become a starting defensive back until the third game of his junior season.
One of the most memorable defensive plays in Notre Dame football history would come from a young man who had only recently become a starter at his position.
Sometimes the path you never expected turns out to be the one that takes you exactly where you're supposed to go.
To understand the significance of that afternoon, you have to remember what the rivalry between Notre Dame and Miami had become.
The Hurricanes were the defending national champions. They were talented, confident, and accustomed to winning.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, was looking to restore its place among college football's elite under head coach Lou Holtz.
The Irish had endured some painful losses to Miami in previous seasons, including the infamous 58–7 defeat in 1985.
Notre Dame had confidence. It had leadership. And it had a group of players who believed they could compete with anyone in the country.
Pat remembered the tension surrounding the game, including a pregame confrontation between players from the two teams.
He also remembered Coach Holtz's ability to prepare his players, both physically and emotionally, for the biggest moments.
And then there was defensive coordinator Barry Alvarez.
Pat credited Alvarez with helping him become the player he needed to be, particularly given how recently he had moved to the defensive side of the football.
The coaches knew Miami's tendencies. They studied the Hurricanes' offense. And they practiced the situations they expected to encounter.
That preparation would become especially important in the final moments of the game.
Notre Dame led Miami 31–24 late in the fourth quarter when the Hurricanes mounted one final drive.
Miami quarterback Steve Walsh connected with Andre Brown for a touchdown, cutting Notre Dame's lead to 31–30.
Rather than attempt an extra point and settle for a tie, Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson decided to go for two.
It was the kind of decision that can define a rivalry.
And suddenly, Pat Terrell found himself in the middle of one of the most important plays of Notre Dame's season.
Pat told me that the Irish had practiced defending that particular play several times.
He was lined up against Leonard Conley, a Miami player he knew from his high school days in Florida.
Two young men who had competed against one another back home were now facing each other on one of college football's biggest stages.
Pat was prepared for the play, but he was also quick to point out that he didn't make it alone.
George Williams applied pressure to Walsh, affecting the timing of the throw. Pat was in position, read the play, and knocked the pass away.
It was the defensive stop that preserved one of the most celebrated victories in Fighting Irish history.
But when I interviewed Pat, I had a question for him.
Actually, it wasn't entirely my question.
Tony Rice had suggested that I ask Pat why he merely knocked the ball down instead of intercepting it.
After all, wouldn't catching the ball have been even better?
"Tell Tony because I wanted to make it dramatic. ANYONE can catch the ball."
Of course, no discussion of Notre Dame's 1988 national championship season would be complete without talking about Lou Holtz.
Coach Holtz had a remarkable ability to motivate his players, challenge them to believe in themselves, and convince them that they were capable of accomplishing things they might never have imagined.
Pat remembered the famous pregame speech before the Miami game, including a particularly colorful remark directed at Jimmy Johnson.
Let's just say Coach Holtz made it very clear that his players were to take care of business on the football field, and he'd handle the opposing coach.
He described Holtz's speeches as consistently moving and motivational, but this particular one left him especially fired up and ready to play.
Holtz wasn't simply asking his players to compete with Miami.
That belief became part of the identity of the 1988 Fighting Irish.
It also speaks to something I've always admired about Coach Holtz's approach to football and life.
He understood that success wasn't just about talent.
It was about preparation, discipline, confidence, and believing in the people around you.
And perhaps most importantly, it was about leaving no doubt that you had given everything you had.
You might assume that Pat's favorite memory from Notre Dame would be knocking down that two-point conversion against Miami.
After all, it's the play that helped preserve one of the most famous victories in program history.
But when I asked him about his most memorable moment, his answer surprised me.
It was the night after Notre Dame won the national championship.
Pat remembered the joy of celebrating with his teammates and, especially, seeing his parents share in that moment.
He talked about realizing that he and his teammates had accomplished something extraordinary together, something that would connect them for the rest of their lives.
Because when all is said and done, the most meaningful moments in sports aren't always the ones that make the highlight reels.
Sometimes they're the moments spent with the people who helped you get there.
The parents who supported you. The coaches who believed in you. The teammates who pushed you. The friends who celebrated alongside you.
As we prepare for another Notre Dame–Miami matchup this Saturday, I've been thinking about the lessons that players like Pat Terrell carried with them from their time in South Bend.
Pat arrived with one dream, found himself on a completely different path, and ultimately became part of a national championship team.
He learned to adapt, to work hard, to trust his coaches, and to believe that he could make a difference.
That's one of the things I love most about Notre Dame football history.
The stories aren't just about wins and losses. They're about perseverance, leadership, friendship, and the people who help us become the best versions of ourselves.
Those values are also why I wanted to honor Coach Holtz through my Leave No Doubt T-shirts and hoodies.
The design is a tribute to Coach Holtz and the lasting impact he has made on generations of Notre Dame players, students, alumni, and fans.
I'm also proud that a portion of the proceeds from every Leave No Doubt shirt and hoodie sold benefits the Holtz's Heroes Foundation , which carries forward his commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
You can see the shirts, hoodies, and the rest of my Notre Dame-inspired collection here .
As Coach Holtz often reminded us, the goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
And I can't think of a better legacy than that.
So here's to Pat Terrell, the 1988 national champions, Coach Lou Holtz, and all the unforgettable moments that make Notre Dame football history so special.
And to the 2026 Fighting Irish as they prepare to face Miami once again:
Pat Terrell's recollections are drawn from my interview with him for Echoes From the End Zone. The memories and quotations are shared with gratitude for his willingness to tell his story.
Source: Sports
