Mod Interhall

Mod Interhall is the sixth era of the unofficial interhall football chronology. It begins in 1960 with the implementation of a third division to the IFL. It was the first of many odd additions that would come to define the next decade. It ends in 1971, the last year that the University upheld it’s male-only mandate for their undergraduate students.

“Mod” is a reference to Mod Quad, and the contemporary architecture projects such as the Stepan Center which were believed to supplant the French brick and mortar that Notre Dame had coveted for the past century. But these plans for a “modern” look would largely fail as many projects folded, and the buildings that were constructed were seen as eyesores. In a similar fashion, this era of interhall football showcases many new elements that were designed to create a better and more modern league. In reality, many of the changes instituted during this period, like the triple-league system or consolidated football teams, were abandoned in the decades to follow. Even the new halls that were constructed during this period, Flanner and Grace and 1969, were part of a much larger residence housing project that collapsed, and both buildings would be converted into office space in the 1990s.

That said, some changes did stick. The "Stay-Hall" Revolution replaced class-based halls with a system of permanent residences, ushering in the modern age of dorm culture at Notre Dame. Hall football teams could now be composed of multi-year members, creating the opportunity for team nicknames and traditions to flourish.

Around the same time, the first consolidated teams were born. During the 1960s, many halls struggled to meet the necessary personnel requirements for fielding a team. The solution during this period was to combine with another struggling hall to reach that threshold. Thus, Fisher-Pangborn, Lyons-Morrissey, and many others became mainstays in Interhall competition until the 1970s and co-education alleviated those player restrictions. Most of these consolidated teams were failures, though a few were able to be successful. Lyons-Morrissey and Grace-St. Edward’s took home the title in 1964 and 1969, respectively.

Key Developments

• A third division upends the traditional two used in interhall football since 1922.

• Consolidated teams galore!

  • St. Edward's is the most common team to consolidate, doing so six times during the era.

  • Howard-St. Edward's is the most frequent consolidated team, amalgamating three times (1963, 1965-1966).

  • Morrissey-Sorin-Walsh is the only consolidated team made up of three halls in interhall history.

• Parity reigns supreme!

Notable People

• Rocky Bleier - Sorin Hall fan and attendee to the curse-ending 1967 championship game. Went on to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• J. J. Carberry - Legendary long-term interhall football coach and professor of Chemistry at Notre Dame.