The most famous football meeting between Notre Dame and Clemson took place on November 12, 1977 when a pair of top 15 football teams met in Clemson’s Death Valley. A fifth-ranked Notre Dame football team, led by quarterback Joe Montana, defeated 15th-ranked Clemson, led by quarterback Steve Fuller, 21-17.

Both quarterbacks went on to become Super Bowl Champions, while Montana ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after leading the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles.

During his college and pro career, Montana was known for his ability to bring his teams back from big deficits. His reputation truly began in Death Valley as he rallied the Irish from a 17-7 fourth quarter deficit with two late touchdowns to beat Clemson. But that was not the story of the game. It was Notre Dame head coach Dan Devine, and his actions, that stole the headlines.

In the week leading up to the game, Devine sent ACC commissioner Bob James a letter asking him what the conference planned to do about the behavior of Clemson fans in Memorial Stadium. Clemson fans, like present day, have long had a reputation of being loud and passionate about their football team.

James sent Devine’s letter to Clemson Athletic Director Bill McLellan. The next day the letter leaked out to the press and Devine accused James of releasing the letter, which James denied. Devine cited that Wake Forest coach Chuck Mills and another coach told him about the Clemson crowd in Death Valley and he wanted to make sure the ACC was aware of it. However, Mills had yet to play a game in Clemson.

It was reported Clemson fans greeted Devine and the Irish with quietness all during warmups and pregame workouts. But once the Tigers reached the top of the Hill to enter the stadium, the sellout crowd of 53,467 cheered from the beginning of the game to the end. Devin was called several times for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during the game and it was reported he gave the Death Valley crowd a rude gesture several times.

That next week, James filed a complaint to the NCAA’s ethics committee about Devine’s behavior and remarks.

The Tigers jumped out ot a 17-7 lead by the end of the third quarter. After falling behind 7-0, Clemson scored 10 second-quarter points to take a 10-7 lead into the break. Obed Ariri kicked a 30-yard field goal and Fuller scored on a 10-yard run to give the Tigers the lead.

Running back Lester Brown later scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter to make the score, 17-7. Prior to the game, Notre Dame had allowed one rushing touchdown in nine games. Clemson, which rushed for 162 yards, could have scored more, but fumbles on the Irish’s 33 and 13 yard line prevent two other possible scores.

Montana, who threw for 172 yards on 9 of 21 passing, scored on touchdowns of two and one yard to complete the come-from-behind win. Fuller was 13 of 20 for 185 yards on the day, while Ken Callicutt led the Tigers with 57 yards on 16 carries. Jerry Butler had five catches for 56 yards that afternoon.

Notre Dame went on to win the National Championship that season, while 36 players in that game went on to play in the NFL, including from the Clemson roster that day were future NFL Pro Bowl players Butler and Dwight Clark.

Clemson came back to win at Notre Dame two years later, 16-10.  It was just the second time in the previous 40 years (1940-79) that Notre Dame’s seniors lost their Senior Day game. Quarterback Billy Lott scored a touchdown late in the game to give the Tigers the victory after overcoming a 10-0 halftime deficit.

Clemson had a pair of Hall of Fame players on its roster in that 1979 game, as Jeff Davis and Terry Kinard keyed the Tigers defense that day.  Kinard had a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal the win.