The phrase "Catholics vs. Convicts", a T-shirt slogan created prior to the matchup by Notre Dame students and friends Joe Frederick, Michael Caponigro, and Pat Walsh was reported by the press.
[3] The slogan was a play on Notre Dame's Catholic image and Miami's roster of flamboyant football players.
Near the end of a closely contested game, Miami scored a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining on a 4th down 10-yard pass from Walsh to receiver Andre Brown to pull within one point of the Fighting Irish, 31–30.
Rather than kick the extra point and likely end the game in a tie, Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson decided to go for two, later reasoning that "We always play to win.
"[citation needed] However, Hurricanes quarterback Steve Walsh's pass was batted down by Fighting Irish defender Pat Terrell, and Notre Dame won 31–30, resulting in Miami's first regular season loss since losing to Florida on September 7, 1985.
In the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Catholics vs. Convicts, safety George Streeter claimed he hit the ball loose from Gary's hand prior to him being down or across the goal line.
[8] Notre Dame would go on to win their remaining five games of the season, including defeating then #2 ranked USC in Los Angeles 27–10.
[9] The Irish went on to beat the West Virginia Mountaineers 34–21 in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and win their eleventh claimed National Championship.