." ▁Notre ▁D ame ▁President , ▁Father ▁John ▁Cav an agh ▁said , ▁" We ▁at ▁Notre ▁D ame ▁feel ▁grateful ▁for ▁the ▁magn anim ous ▁statement ▁of ▁Co ach ▁Cris ler . ▁I ▁listened ▁to ▁Michigan ▁against ▁Southern ▁California ▁and ▁have ▁only ▁pra ise ▁for ▁the ▁skill ▁and ▁accomplish ment ▁of ▁your ▁fine ▁team ." ▁ ▁Despite ▁the ▁magn anim ous ▁statements ▁of ▁Co ach ▁Cris ler ▁and ▁Father ▁Cav an agh , ▁the ▁revers ed ▁decision ▁in ▁the ▁post - bow l ▁poll ▁only ▁st oked ▁the ▁debate ▁over ▁which ▁team ▁was ▁best . ▁Sa id ▁one ▁column ist : ▁" H ott est ▁argument ▁of ▁the ▁moment ▁is ▁the ▁one ▁over ▁which ▁had ▁the ▁better ▁football ▁team , ▁Michigan ▁or ▁Notre ▁D ame ." ▁ ▁Fort y ▁years ▁later , ▁the ▁debate ▁was ▁still ▁on going . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁Michigan ▁center ▁Dan ▁D wor sky ▁noted : ▁" Not re ▁D ame ▁still ▁claims ▁that ▁national ▁championship ▁and ▁so ▁do ▁we ." ▁ ▁Play ers ▁ ▁V ars ity ▁letter ▁w inners ▁On ▁January ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 4 8 , ▁head ▁coach ▁Fritz ▁Cris ler ▁announced ▁that ▁he ▁had ▁awarded ▁vars ity ▁letters ▁to ▁ 3 5 ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁football ▁team . ▁ ▁The ▁ 3 5 ▁letter ▁w inners ▁were : ▁Jim ▁B ries ke ▁– ▁place k icker , ▁and ▁started ▁ 1 ▁game ▁at ▁center ▁Bob ▁Ch app uis ▁– ▁left ▁half back