December 2023 - Page 5 of 152 - Sports F.Y.I. Compendium

December 3, 1995–Notre Dame midfielder Cindy Daws scores a free kick in triple sudden-death overtime as Notre Dame women’s soccer team defeats previously undefeated Portland 1-0, winning their first N.C.A.A. national championship. North Carolina’s N.C.A.A. record streak of nine consecutive national championship titles (1986–1994) was broken with Notre Dame’s N.C.A.A. national championship title. Notre Dame’s historic national championship title follows Notre Dame’s 1-0 1995 N.C.A.A. semifinals upset victory over North Carolina, allowing Notre Dame to advance to the first national championship game in school history.

This Day In Sports History

N.F.L.–National Football League

Credit: USA Today

December 2, 1984–Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino throws his 37th touchdown pass breaking the N.F.L.’s single-season TD pass record during a Dolphins’ 45-34 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Marino would eventually set N.F.L. single-season records for passing yards with 5,084 yards and touchdown passes with 48 TD passes and be awarded the 1984 N.F.L. Most Valuable Player Award. Marino also becomes the first quarterback in N.F.L. history to pass for more than 5,000 yards in a season. Marino’s 48 touchdown passes breaks the previous record of 36, held by former A.F.L. quarterback George Blanda in 1961 and former N.F.L. quarterback Y.A. Tittle in 1963, respectively. Marino’s single-season TD pass record stood for another 20 years until the 2004 N.F.L. season when Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning would throw 49 touchdowns. Marino would throw his eventual 48th touchdown pass to Dolphins wide receiver Mark Clayton who would coincidentally break the N.F.L.’s single-season touchdown reception record with his 18th touchdown reception.