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Unbeatable: Notre Dame's 1988 Championship and the Last Great College Football Season
Perhaps the best undefeated team in the history of college football― Unbeatable presents the dramatic true story of the 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and their incredible unbeaten season.
Unbeatable is the first book to tell the complete story of the incredible 1988 season that brought the fledgling Fighting Irish back to the top of college sports in what many consider to be the greatest unbeaten season of college football ever played. With a completely unlikely but forever memorable cast of characters―including the slight, lisping coach Lou Holtz; the star quarterback, Tony Rice; five foot nothing Asian kicker, Reggie Ho; NFL-bound Ricky Watters; and a crazed and ferocious defensive line, among others―Notre Dame whipped millions of fans into a frenzy. This roller coaster season of football includes the infamous Catholics vs. Convicts game (Notre Dame vs. Jimmy Johnson's #1 ranked Miami Hurricanes). The two teams were undefeated when they met at Notre Dame Stadium, with the Irish winning in the final seconds by a final score of 31-30.
With original reporting and interviews with everyone from the players to the coaches, detailed research, and access to the Notre Dame archives, Jerry Barca tells a gripping story of an unbelievable season and the players who would become legends. More than a Notre Dame book, Unbeatable is a compelling narrative of one of the most incredible sports stories of the last century―the unlikely tale of an underdog team coming together and making history.
Unbeatable is the first book to tell the complete story of the incredible 1988 season that brought the fledgling Fighting Irish back to the top of college sports in what many consider to be the greatest unbeaten season of college football ever played. With a completely unlikely but forever memorable cast of characters―including the slight, lisping coach Lou Holtz; the star quarterback, Tony Rice; five foot nothing Asian kicker, Reggie Ho; NFL-bound Ricky Watters; and a crazed and ferocious defensive line, among others―Notre Dame whipped millions of fans into a frenzy. This roller coaster season of football includes the infamous Catholics vs. Convicts game (Notre Dame vs. Jimmy Johnson's #1 ranked Miami Hurricanes). The two teams were undefeated when they met at Notre Dame Stadium, with the Irish winning in the final seconds by a final score of 31-30.
With original reporting and interviews with everyone from the players to the coaches, detailed research, and access to the Notre Dame archives, Jerry Barca tells a gripping story of an unbelievable season and the players who would become legends. More than a Notre Dame book, Unbeatable is a compelling narrative of one of the most incredible sports stories of the last century―the unlikely tale of an underdog team coming together and making history.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 13, 2022
A really good trip down memory lane on the 1988 Notre Dame football team, and I don't even like Notre Dame! You'll hear good stories about Lou Holtz, Tony Rice, "Rocket" Ismail, Chris Zorich, Ricky Watters, Adam Heck, Todd Lyght, Todd Brooks, Pat Terrell, etc. You'll read about big games that year against Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, USC and of course the Catholics vs. the Cons game against Miami. In fact, the author might have spent TOO much time on that game and the week leading up to it, but I didn't mind too much, probably what most readers wanted. The author was not accurate on a few things such as Tony Rice and Orel Hershiser being the only people on Sports Illustrated twice in 1988, and some of the conversations and dialogue, well, I wonder how the author got them so precise if he wasn't there. The book also shouldn't be called the last great college season, especially when the author doesn't talk about other teams beside the Irish that much (barely mentions Barry Sanders at all). But all in all a good book on the last time the Irish won a title. A must for fans of the Irish and a decent read for fans of college football.
September 13, 2022
Apparently I’m on a sports kick lately but this book did not disappoint. Entertaining, well written - he takes you right into the heart of a football team and walks you through their magical season, including the big character that is Notre Dame’s coach. Read through this quickly - felt like a Netflix binge in terms of being well paced and easy to digest.
October 16, 2022
I really enjoyed the anecdotes and the behind the scenes of this book. The stories were truly engaging. However, I have it three stars because I found the volume of game play-by-play in the text to be annoying and unnecessary. In a time where I can watch pretty much any major game in history on YouTube, I don’t need you to give me the details in the book.
January 15, 2015
This is a fantastic book. Jerry Barca has done an incredible job bringing the 1988 Notre Dame Championship Season to life. I highly recommend this book for Notre Dame fans and for college football fans in general.
February 22, 2021
Loved it. I love Notre Dame football so I enjoyed getting the inside scoop on the Mecca of college football.
May 28, 2024
One of the most interesting books I've read recently. In anticipation of the release of the new College Football game I've been getting in the mood and this book itched that scratch
March 25, 2025
I was thankful to be loaned this book by a good friend, and it brought back a ton of great memories from my childhood when the Irish won their last national championship in 1988.
November 24, 2025
Always great to read about the Fighting Irish. Was very enjoyable reading the anecdotes from the team’s last championship season. Go Irish! #ProudSubwayAlum
April 20, 2015
The margin between being really good and etching a spot in history is thin. A made field goal in the season opener (Michigan) or a completed two point conversion pass in a mid season tilt with the number one ranked team, and greatness is forever out of reach. However, those are make believe scenarios. What IS true is that a disparate group came together and fulfilled a commitment to greatness. Led by a coach who preached a faith in the university's spirit, a quarterback whose abilities were constantly questioned, and a ferocious defense, Notre Dame answered every challenge the season presented. What is true is that the 1988 Fighting Irish were unbeatable.
I was three years old when the Irish toppled West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl to claim another National Championship. Oftentimes, I was regaled with stories of a great party at our home in South Bend that night. Or at least, I used to be. The author of said stories hasn't been with us for over two years now and is solely responsible for my affinity with all things Notre Dame. I am my father's son. Frank Stams and Rocket Ismail were two focal points of many stories from my father about that '88 season. I've seen the Miami game and the West Virginia game, the two most important tilts from that season. I can only imagine what it would have been like to live through that season as a teen or 20 something college student.
It was almost too good to be true in 2012, dad's last season, that they could have done the unthinkable beating Alabama to win their first sine 1988. We all know that never happened, but the games before AND after dad left us seemed almost mythical to a degree. The night game against Michigan, the overtime game against Stanford and of course, the last day I spent with my father, watching them find a way to beat BYU. A week later, dad was gone and, surrounded by family and friends, we watched that team storm into Oklahoma and dominate the Sooners. My brother and I never cried so hard. I finally believed in that team and in the spirit of my dad two weeks after his death when they nearly lost to Pitt. Dad was with us that afternoon. I will take it to my grave that Pitt missed a chip shot, game winning field because of him. It's a wonderful story and I promise I'll tell you some day. A significant part of my relationship with my father was Notre Dame, but it wasn't everything. My best friend reminded me after a tough loss the next season that I can't reduce my relationship with my father to just this. Naturally, he was right. But the good times far exceed the bad watching Notre Dame play every autumn. I feel like that 1988 season is only a figment of my imagination and only exists through youtube videos or DVDs. But dad was there. He lived it; he lived so much of Notre Dame and I wouldn't change a thing with my love affair with that university. Dad's legacy lives on in mysterious ways sometimes. That day, when Notre Dame is finally back on top, it'll happen... and it will be incredibly bittersweet.
Friends give me a lot of grief because, admittedly, I like a lot of teams. Many of my allegiances are inexplicable. But for what Notre Dame means to me and my family, no explanation would ever suffice. Until you've lived it, you couldn't possibly understand. Born in South Bend, it becomes a part of who you are. There is only one Notre Dame. The mystique, the lore and the magic is rivaled by nothing else. The 1988 Irish had it all. By now, it seems like a distant memory. But no one can ever take away what they did on and off the field. They have cemented their own legacy in Notre Dame lore. They simply could not, and would not, be beaten. I love you, dad. It'll happen again one day. And I'll miss you more than ever when it does.
We are... N.D.
I was three years old when the Irish toppled West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl to claim another National Championship. Oftentimes, I was regaled with stories of a great party at our home in South Bend that night. Or at least, I used to be. The author of said stories hasn't been with us for over two years now and is solely responsible for my affinity with all things Notre Dame. I am my father's son. Frank Stams and Rocket Ismail were two focal points of many stories from my father about that '88 season. I've seen the Miami game and the West Virginia game, the two most important tilts from that season. I can only imagine what it would have been like to live through that season as a teen or 20 something college student.
It was almost too good to be true in 2012, dad's last season, that they could have done the unthinkable beating Alabama to win their first sine 1988. We all know that never happened, but the games before AND after dad left us seemed almost mythical to a degree. The night game against Michigan, the overtime game against Stanford and of course, the last day I spent with my father, watching them find a way to beat BYU. A week later, dad was gone and, surrounded by family and friends, we watched that team storm into Oklahoma and dominate the Sooners. My brother and I never cried so hard. I finally believed in that team and in the spirit of my dad two weeks after his death when they nearly lost to Pitt. Dad was with us that afternoon. I will take it to my grave that Pitt missed a chip shot, game winning field because of him. It's a wonderful story and I promise I'll tell you some day. A significant part of my relationship with my father was Notre Dame, but it wasn't everything. My best friend reminded me after a tough loss the next season that I can't reduce my relationship with my father to just this. Naturally, he was right. But the good times far exceed the bad watching Notre Dame play every autumn. I feel like that 1988 season is only a figment of my imagination and only exists through youtube videos or DVDs. But dad was there. He lived it; he lived so much of Notre Dame and I wouldn't change a thing with my love affair with that university. Dad's legacy lives on in mysterious ways sometimes. That day, when Notre Dame is finally back on top, it'll happen... and it will be incredibly bittersweet.
Friends give me a lot of grief because, admittedly, I like a lot of teams. Many of my allegiances are inexplicable. But for what Notre Dame means to me and my family, no explanation would ever suffice. Until you've lived it, you couldn't possibly understand. Born in South Bend, it becomes a part of who you are. There is only one Notre Dame. The mystique, the lore and the magic is rivaled by nothing else. The 1988 Irish had it all. By now, it seems like a distant memory. But no one can ever take away what they did on and off the field. They have cemented their own legacy in Notre Dame lore. They simply could not, and would not, be beaten. I love you, dad. It'll happen again one day. And I'll miss you more than ever when it does.
We are... N.D.
October 9, 2013
Unbeatable covers the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and there championship season on 1988. Being a die hard Notre Dame fan, I can't say enough good things about this book. Though I may be a little bias, I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. While I had it up as being read on Goodreads for a couple of weeks, I really started on Sunday night, and I finished it Tuesday night. I really liked the way the author, Jerry Barca, went about telling the story of the team starting with the end of the Gerry Faust era, and talking about Lou Holtz' rise to the position. Barca did a good job of weaving the stories of coach, players, opposing players, and the games into a well done tail. I really liked how he wasn't afraid to spend a page or two talking about opposing players or coaches. I also really enjoy his use of footnotes to give the reader more information. Sometimes it was relevant to the story, but often it was just a fun fact that was interesting to learn. I know this is the first book for Barca, but I hope it is not the last, as I found him really able to connect with the story and bring it to the reader. I would recommend this book for all college football fans, especially fans of Notre Dame and it tradition and aura. I guarantee that when you finish reading this, your Irish eyes will be smiling, just like mine were.
April 24, 2014
I lived this book. I was a 3rd year law student in the fall of 1988. I'm what's called a Double Domer. I got my undergraduate degree in 1986. I was there throught the Gerry Faust years, which weren't all that great. Then Lou Holtz came in, and turned everything around. That's what this book documents. I was familiar with the story, but it was nice to hear the retelling. The book describes the down years, and then the comeback. I always wonder, if overtime had been around in 1988, would Miami have just tried for the extra point and taken their chances in overtime? Who knows? And yes, I was there for the Miami game when Pat Terrell batted down the 2 point try at the end of the Miami game, which helped propel Notre Dame to the national championship in 1988. This book goes through all the games, and describes some of them in detail, including Michigan, Miami, and USC. Sadly, this was Notre Dame's last national championship. We came close in 2012, but we can be back soon. Great book for any Irish fan, as well as anyone who wants to know about the last great college football season. Go Irish!
August 27, 2015
As a die-hard Notre Dame fan, I couldn't resist learning even more about the last, great, magical season in South Bend, IN. Barca provides in-depth details from each game of that unforgettable 1988 season. The great strength of this book is that it also provides detailed background stories of many of the opposing players on the opposing teams that ND faced that season (ex. Mark Messner of Michigan, etc.) It is a fun read that talks about the building of not just a team, but of a family that includes the entire student body of this great institution. I finished this book just before the start of the 2015 season, and I'm hoping (once again) that this may be the year that breaks the very long drought...cause I want to read another book like this. GO IRISH!
January 11, 2022
I loved this book. Of course I am biased, having attended Notre Dame, and 1988 was my sophomore year. This book brought back so many good memories. Notre Dame loved Lou as our coach, and always will. He is a great guy, and a strong work ethic.
2022 review -- my husband bought me this book for Christmas, since I didn't have it on my ND bookshelf. I was excited to read it, then once I logged into Goodreads saw that I must have read it before, my dad probably has the book. I read it again, brought back a lot of great memories for me; I was a sophomore at ND in 1988 and was a student manager for the football team. The ND/Miami game that year remains my favorite game ever that I've seen in person.
2022 review -- my husband bought me this book for Christmas, since I didn't have it on my ND bookshelf. I was excited to read it, then once I logged into Goodreads saw that I must have read it before, my dad probably has the book. I read it again, brought back a lot of great memories for me; I was a sophomore at ND in 1988 and was a student manager for the football team. The ND/Miami game that year remains my favorite game ever that I've seen in person.
July 21, 2014
I'm not a big Notre Dame fan, but I really enjoyed this book. It gives a vivid account of the 1988 Notre Dame team that had to overcome many hurdles and hardships to win the championship. Included in that was the infamous catholics vs. convicts game with the University of Miami. As an avid college football fan, I doubt there was anyone rooting harder that day for Notre Dame than me as I wanted somebody, anybody, to beat them! Since then I've become a fan of this small school in Indiana and thoroughly enjoy their rich tradition and history.
September 10, 2013
I know this wasn't really a 5 star quality book, but I loved it anyway. I grew up in South Bend and was in 5th grade in 1988 when Notre Dame was going undefeated and winning the national championship. The players, coaches, and events in this book are the ones I grew up watching every Saturday while I was developing my love of football and sports in general. Reading it was like a trip down memory lane, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
July 29, 2016
Interesting book, not just on the 1988 Notre Dame team but also on the college landscape at the time. So many big-time teams and players in college football at the time, and the 1988 Notre Dame team whipped all of them. As someone born in the early 80s, Lou Holtz was college football for me growing up. I learned a lot from this book.
April 10, 2015
4/10/2015 9:52:52 Charles Regan Unbeatable Jerry Barca Biography, autobiography, or memoir, Sports 5 I loved this book. The author did his homework about the team. He really knew what he was talking about. The book was very descriptive about the team, and the teams they played. Also, the author was good at making it dramatic, but not too much.
August 28, 2013
This book does a great job combining together a lot of different pieces of a story - football details, interest stories about the players, the overall scene of college football at the time. It is a quick read that will re-create the '88 excitement for any Irish fan.
April 28, 2014
I remember watching many of the games from the 1988 season, especially the Catholics Vs. Convicts game. I re-watched it while reading this book. I enjoyed "Unbeatable" very much and I recommend it to football fans. Amazing how quickly Lou Holtz turned the program around.
July 16, 2015
As a Notre Dame fan, I'm more than a little biased, but I thought the writing and insight into the team, players, and coaches gave an illuminating glimpse into the accomplishments of that season's team.
August 28, 2014
Quick and enjoyable read on the 1988 National Champion Fighting Irish, Coach Lou, and his cast of characters. Go Irish.
February 28, 2015
Decent book. Would read again.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews