Revisiting History - by Joe Schreiber
The older I get, the more I want to tell stories about the past. At 53, I’m old enough to remember watching Notre Dame end UCLA’s 88 game winning streak on January 19, 1974. Back then I never imagined I’d have the privilege of meeting some of the participants of the event to tell their story.
I'm thrilled to share that through our partnership with Fighting Irish Digital Media, we produced a one-hour special presenation titled 88 and 1 that gives an inside look at the University of Notre Dame's stunning victory over UCLA's national powerhouse men's basketball team. And in celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the game, 88 and 1, presented by Coca Cola will premier this Sunday, January 19 on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EST.
At 3Penny Films, we focus on documenting events in real time, then revisiting those moments through reflective interviews. When we decided to collaborate with Notre Dame Fighting Irish Digital Media on 88 and 1, the story of the day the Fighting Irish ended UCLA’s dynasty, we embarked on a whole new challenge of telling an historical story. That’s something I had done during my 23 year run with NBC’s George Michael Sports Machine, but different from our recent 3 Penny Films productions. It’s an entirely different challenge since we’re limited to existing historical resources of pictures and sound. By contrast, nowadays we have access to rapidly improving technology that allows us to document a cornucopia of images and sound during current events, which foster a different, kind of pacing and feel of a story.
Our film represents the vision of directors Jess Atkinson (3 Penny Films) and Ted Mandel (University of Notre Dame.) Ted had discovered the original scoreboard from the event sitting in a warehouse and a wealth of photos in the archives. The challenge for us was getting cooperation from those participants from the event. One of the main figures, and one of my heroes, UCLA coach John Wooden passed away in 2010. Although 40 years have passed, UCLA’s Bill Walton still finds it painful to talk about the event. It wasn’t until the 11th hour that Walton finally agreed to sit down with us at his home. He was as candid and dramatic as ever, and we’re so appreciative for his hospitality.
The broadcaster of that game was Dick Enberg, a dignified man and decorated broadcaster who’s called the play by play of just about every major sporting event. Enberg isn’t slowing down much at the age of 75 and has a vivid recollection of the events of that game and the UCLA era. Enberg spoke to us for over an hour, recalling moments with a touch of humor and perspective. He was also quite poignant in talking about John Wooden, a man whom he adored.
While Bill Walton’s UCLA teams won two national championships, his Notre Dame contemporaries never won a championship. But ending UCLA’s dynasty became their national championship. After 40 years, John Shumate, Gary Brokaw and Dwight Clay were more than willing to share some untold stories about what really happened on the day that Coach Digger Phelps got his team to believe they could make history. As for Digger, he never gets tired of talking about that day. One of my favorite parts of the film is a sequence of reflections of Digger and Walton, as if they are giving each other some good-natured ribbing.
The older I get, the more I want to tell stories about the past. At 53, I’m old enough to remember watching Notre Dame end UCLA’s 88 game winning streak on January 19, 1974. Back then I never imagined I’d have the privilege of meeting some of the participants of the event to tell their story.
I'm thrilled to share that through our partnership with Fighting Irish Digital Media, we produced a one-hour special presenation titled 88 and 1 that gives an inside look at the University of Notre Dame's stunning victory over UCLA's national powerhouse men's basketball team. And in celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the game, 88 and 1, presented by Coca Cola will premier this Sunday, January 19 on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EST.
At 3Penny Films, we focus on documenting events in real time, then revisiting those moments through reflective interviews. When we decided to collaborate with Notre Dame Fighting Irish Digital Media on 88 and 1, the story of the day the Fighting Irish ended UCLA’s dynasty, we embarked on a whole new challenge of telling an historical story. That’s something I had done during my 23 year run with NBC’s George Michael Sports Machine, but different from our recent 3 Penny Films productions. It’s an entirely different challenge since we’re limited to existing historical resources of pictures and sound. By contrast, nowadays we have access to rapidly improving technology that allows us to document a cornucopia of images and sound during current events, which foster a different, kind of pacing and feel of a story.
Our film represents the vision of directors Jess Atkinson (3 Penny Films) and Ted Mandel (University of Notre Dame.) Ted had discovered the original scoreboard from the event sitting in a warehouse and a wealth of photos in the archives. The challenge for us was getting cooperation from those participants from the event. One of the main figures, and one of my heroes, UCLA coach John Wooden passed away in 2010. Although 40 years have passed, UCLA’s Bill Walton still finds it painful to talk about the event. It wasn’t until the 11th hour that Walton finally agreed to sit down with us at his home. He was as candid and dramatic as ever, and we’re so appreciative for his hospitality.
The broadcaster of that game was Dick Enberg, a dignified man and decorated broadcaster who’s called the play by play of just about every major sporting event. Enberg isn’t slowing down much at the age of 75 and has a vivid recollection of the events of that game and the UCLA era. Enberg spoke to us for over an hour, recalling moments with a touch of humor and perspective. He was also quite poignant in talking about John Wooden, a man whom he adored.
While Bill Walton’s UCLA teams won two national championships, his Notre Dame contemporaries never won a championship. But ending UCLA’s dynasty became their national championship. After 40 years, John Shumate, Gary Brokaw and Dwight Clay were more than willing to share some untold stories about what really happened on the day that Coach Digger Phelps got his team to believe they could make history. As for Digger, he never gets tired of talking about that day. One of my favorite parts of the film is a sequence of reflections of Digger and Walton, as if they are giving each other some good-natured ribbing.
Be sure to tune in on January 19 at 8 pm and join the conversation using the hashtag #88and1. I do hope you enjoy the film as much as we did making it! Here is a sneak peak at the film: http://bit.ly/1d6ADzd
Leading into the premier, Notre Dame will recognize Phelps on Jan. 19, 2014, at halftime of the Notre Dame men’s basketball game versus Virginia Tech by inducting him into the Notre Dame Ring of Honor. Members of the 1974 team that knocked off UCLA will join Phelps on the Purcell Pavilion court for the ceremony. ESPNU will televise the game at 6 p.m. EST. and will re-air 88 and 1 at the following
times:
- Jan 19 – 10pm ET
- Jan 21 – 4pm ET
- Jan 24 – 6pm ET
- Jan 30 – 1am ET
Full film description:
88 AND 1, presented by Coca-Cola tells
the story of that fateful day, Jan. 19,1974, when UCLA's unfathomable three-year
winning streak came to a shocking end at the hands of the Notre Dame basketball
squad. It was the greatest dynasty the
college basketball world has ever known, but in three minutes and twenty-two
seconds, it all came crumbling down. Dick
Enberg, Bill Walton, John Shumate and others re-live that pre-ESPN era when TVS
Sports owned the airwaves, John Wooden owned the hardwood, and Irish coach
Digger Phelps engineered the greatest upset in college basketball history.
Joe, I really enjoyed the hour. As a youth, I remember I watching that game and sitting stunned as the Irish made their comeback. Looking forward to future projects...
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