Nov. 6, 2004: A Red Letter Date for Notre Dame Football

What's so special about Nove. 6, 2004 when discussing Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football?  It's probably the last time they won a big game. It's probably last time they won a game they weren't supposed to win or a game that most Notre Dame fans can still remember for the importance it had on the outcome of their season. On Nov. 6, 2004, Notre Dame marched into Tennessee's Neyland Stadium with their 5-3 record to face the 7-1 Tennessee Volunteers, the no. 9 team in the country.  The Irish upset Tennessee 17-13 and became bowl eligible with the win.  It was a memorable performance but they lost their last three games that year and Ty Willingham was dismissed as head coach. In 2005, the first year of the Charlie Weis era, Notre Dame finished 9-3 and lost to Ohio State by two touchdowns in the Fiesta Bowl.  The Irish beat two teams that finished with a winning record in 2005: the Navy (8-4) and Michigan (7-5). Weis' team was ranked no. 5 when they opened the 2006 season ... (link)