In the inaugural season for Notre Dame Stadium (the House that Rock built), this was Knute Rockne's last and best team.

The legendary coach had recovered from life-threatening phlebitis, which had forced him to coach some of the previous season -- the 1929 national-championship season -- from a hospital bed with telephone in hand.

Rockne was deemed fit for the 1930 season, just in time to complete the final touches on the stadium, and just in time to acknowledge that, yes,

Fast facts

1930 National Champions Coach: Knute Rockne All-Americans: QB Frank Carideo HB Marchy Schwartz HB Marty Brill FB Joe Savoldi G Bert Metzger E Tom Conley T Al Culver

this appeared to be a very powerful ball club. Indeed, the Irish proved to be worthy of the new football palace, rolling to their second consecutive national title by going 10-0 as part of a 20-game winning streak.

Four All-Americans led the way -- most notably unanimous pick QB Frank Carideo, who worked behind a stout line and had speedy Marty Brill, Marchy Schwartz and Joe Savoldi -- who were recognized as something of a second-coming of the Four Horsemen. In fact, Carideo, Brill and Schwartz each were named first-team All-American by one of the major selectors.

Brill, who had transferred from Pennsylvania, almost single-handedly beat the Quakers (60-20) by running for touchdowns of 45, 52 and 65 yards.

On Nov. 29, the Irish took on also-undefeated Army in one of the classic 110,000-fan games at Soldier Field (this one was in rain and snow). And this time it was Schwartz who bolted for a 54-yard score that -- combined with a late blocked PAT -- lifted the Irish to one of the biggest wins of the first half-century.

Four months later, Rockne died in a commercial plane crash.

1930 Results (10-0)
Date	Score	Opponent
Oct. 4	20-14	SMU
Oct. 11	26-2	Navy
Oct. 18	21-6	Carnegie Tech
Oct. 25	35-19	at Pittsburgh
Nov. 1	27-0	Indiana
Nov. 8	60-20	at Pennsylvania
Nov. 15	28-7	Drake
Nov. 22	14-0	at Northwestern
Nov. 29	7-6	Army at Soldier Field
Dec. 6	27-0	at USC