A pivotal moment in Notre Dame football history took place on October 15, 1988, when safety Pat Terrell deflected a pass intended for Miami running back Leonard Conley at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The play, occurring during a matchup against the Miami Hurricanes, became a defining sequence in the Fighting Irish's championship season under head coach Lou Holtz.
Historical Significance
The deflection by Terrell, wearing number 15, exemplified the defensive intensity that characterized Notre Dame's 1988 campaign. The team went on to win the national championship, and the play against Miami is often cited as a turning point that solidified the program's return to prominence under Holtz.
Photographer John Biever captured the sequence for Sports Illustrated, preserving the moment that helped change Notre Dame history. The story, reported by Lisa Kelly for SB Nation, revisits the play and its lasting impact on the program's legacy.
