Oct. 5, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The game between Arizona State and Notre Dame seemed to be a one of mishaps rather than two teams writing part of history, as they met for the first time.
The Irish dominated the first contest in 1998, winning, 28-9.
Notre Dame’s swarming defense squashed Arizona State’s passing attack. The Sun Devils’ starting quarterback Ryan Kealy could not jump-start his offense. Kealy completed 13 of his 22 attempts but threw three costly interceptions. Defensive back A’Jani Sanders intercepted one of Kealy’s passes and returned it 25 yards for the touchdown. Sanders touchdown gave the Irish a 14-3 lead at halftime.
“I just saw the tip and responded,” Sanders said after the game. “There was no way they were going to keep me out of the endzone.
Arizona State’s only touchdown came off a run by tailback J.R. Redmond. Redmond gained 97 yards on 19 carries with his longest run registering at 18 yards. It was far under his potential.
The television audience did not even have an opportunity to see the full game due to a power outage in the middle halftime. Television broadcasts missed a majority of the third quarter. Also, the crowd watched the game without the benefit of the scoreboard or an announcer.
Besides battling each other, the teams both were battling the intense Arizona heat. Temperatures soared above 100 degrees on the field at Sun Devil Stadium and at one time, they measured as high as 120.
Notre Dame’s backup fullback took full advantage of the Arizona State defense. Fullback Joey Goodspeed watched a majority of the games from the sidelines as starting fullback Jamie Spencer racked up the yards. Then Goodspeed got his chance at Sun Devil Stadium.
In just four carries, Goodspeed amassed 109 yards, leading the team against the Sun Devils in the bizarre contest. His longest run of the day was a 60-yard rumble in the fourth quarter from Notre Dame’s 34-yard line. The Irish tried to cap Goodspeed’s 20-yard run with a pass action play but Irish quarterback Jarious Jackson’s pass was intercepted.
The Irish got the ball back on the very next play because the interception was taken away on an offsides penalty on the defense. Notre Dame’s Autry Denson scored a couple plays later, securing the Irish victory.
“The key play in that game is the third down,” Davie said. “When they intercept the ball and they’re offsides. We throw a shovel pass and then scored on the nest play. That was the momentum play in the game.”
The Irish extended their record to 4-1 with the 28-9 victory. The Arizona State game ranks as one of Joey Goodspeed’s career-best performances and could explain why it is the senior’s favorite place to play.