Ep 4. Catholics vs. Convicts

In the fourth episode of 30 For 30 season 4, titled "Catholics vs. Convicts," the documentary takes a look back at a historic college football matchup between two Catholic-based universities: Notre Dame and the University of Miami. This game was played on October 15, 1988, and is considered one of the most contentious and culturally significant games in the history of college football, particularly in the 1980s.

The episode digs deep into the cultural and social context of the game, exploring how the Catholic identity of both schools played a significant role in the game's buildup and its aftermath. The University of Miami football team at the time was known for their flashy style and rebellious attitude, often referred to as "Convicts" due to their perceived lack of discipline and rowdiness off the field. Meanwhile, Notre Dame was seen as the more disciplined and traditional team, known as the "Catholics."

The documentary delves into how the game was much more than just a football game, as it represented a clash of cultures between two different ways of life. The episode highlights how Miami's "bad boy" image was viewed as unbecoming of a university that represented the Catholic Church, whereas Notre Dame's more conservative approach to football aligned more closely with traditional values.

The build-up to the game was intense and charged with both teams adopting slogans and nicknames that reflected their cultural identities. The University of Miami players were pictured wearing t-shirts that read "Catholics vs. Convicts," while Notre Dame's team wore the tagline "Win One for the Gipper," a phrase inspired by the legendary Notre Dame football player George Gipp.

The episode tells the story of how the game was a pivotal moment in the history of college football, as it marked a turning point in how the sport was viewed and covered by the media. With its unique blend of sports and sociocultural commentary, the episode explores how the media fed into the hype of the game, and how the game's controversial reputation allowed it to become one of the most-watched college football games of all time.

The documentary also shows how the game's influence extended outside the world of sports, as it became a cultural phenomenon and sparked a nationwide conversation about issues such as morality, discipline, and cultural transformation. It also explores how the game served as a prophetic incitement to what would become the indisputable technological and media changes in TV sports coverage and marketing.

At the heart of the episode's narrative is an examination of how the game's aftermath catalyzed a change in the way college football was played and personnel selected. The episode shows how the Catholic and conservative-style of Notre Dame was revered back then, but ultimately would prove inadequate for the era to come and emphasize development of athleticism and speed of play.

By the conclusion of the episode, it is clear that the game of 1988 between Notre Dame and Miami was much more than just a football game between two teams. It represented a cultural turning point in the history of college football, wherein issues of identity, ideology, and cultural transformation were heavily implicated for both the players on the field and the fans watching from afar. It marked an inflection point in social history that has been little told, despite the watersheds since observed in college football and American society over the past three decades.