Holy War (Boston College vs. Notre Dame)

College Football Rivalries

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[edit] Summary

The Holy War is a title used to describe the college football game between Boston College and Notre Dame. The series pits the "Eagles" against the "Fighting Irish" and derives its name from the fact that the two teams represent the only Catholic universities in the United States which compete in the NCAA's Division I-A, the highest level of competition in American college football.

[edit] History

Although football at both universities dates to the 19th century, the series itself is relatively young. Boston College and Notre Dame first met on the gridiron on September 15, 1975, in a game held at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts. Since then, the two schools have met a total of 16 times, including a match up in the 1983 Liberty Bowl. An annual series was held from 1992-2004 and is scheduled to resume in 2007, though its future beyond 2010 is in question. Overall, Notre Dame leads the series 9-7.

While the "Holy War" moniker dates to the first contest between the two schools in 1975, the rivalry has acquired a number of other nicknames over the years. These include the "Vatican Bowl," the "Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl" and the "Jesuit Invitational." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Notre Dame alumna, referenced the rivalry using the "Holy War" moniker during her 2006 commencement address at BC's Alumni Stadium.

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