Golden Tate spent more than a decade as an NFL receiver. He won a Super Bowl. He played in a Pro Bowl. He made a game-winning touchdown catch in the playoffs.
For all he did on a football field, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision as a Notre Dame player 15 years ago that he might stand out from the rest on this day.
“It's something I'll never forget,” he said.
The Internet doesn't allow it.
“It's something that happens every year,” Tate said. “It's one of the highlights of all time and I had no idea it was going to happen.”
Of course, Tate is referring to a spectacular end-zone catch that gave Notre Dame a fourth-quarter lead at home against Michigan State on Sept. 29, 2009. But it's not exactly the score that has gone down in college football history. After catching the ball, Tate proceeded to leap, arms outstretched as if gesturing for a touchdown, headfirst toward the Spartan Marching Band in what can only be remembered as one of the most iconic spontaneous celebrations of all time.
Did I do it??? (Steve Urkle voice) 🤓😂 https://t.co/f15zHYfCr5
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) July 1, 2020
In what was ultimately Charlie Weis’ final season as coach of the Irish, Notre Dame had suffered a disappointing loss to Michigan the week before. Michigan State had also lost the week before, to Central Michigan, and was led by a sophomore quarterback named Kirk Cousins, whose only win as a starter had come two weeks earlier against Montana State of the FCS.
For Weis, a loss to that Michigan State team would have been an irreparable sin. All of that added to the gravity of the moment when quarterback Jimmy Clausen dropped back to throw, trailing 29-26 with just over five minutes to play.
After more than 65 yards in the air, the ball fell perfectly into Tate's outstretched hands and Tate can relive the rest as if it happened in slow motion.
“I didn't even realize the band was there,” he said. “I was able to catch it, get my feet in and then my body clock told me I had to be pretty close to the end of the end zone.”
A close analysis of the footage shows that Tate took about three steps before running into the wall of band members. The impact was inevitable.
“I don't remember what the girl was playing, I don't know if she had a little trombone or a flute or a clarinet or something, but I saw her right in my line and I knew I couldn't stop, so I was going to destroy her (if I kept going),” Tate said. “And I put on all the gear. So, I quickly thought, 'Well, if I jump and land on all of them, they all win.' I don't want to completely knock this little girl that's in the band.
“I got caught and it was a win for everyone. And I probably looked pretty good doing it.”
Except Tate's plan had an undiagnosed flaw.
“I didn't imagine that this band left there so fast that the only thing left to land were these plastic chairs,” he said.
The adrenaline took the edge off any physical pain, leaving Tate more concerned about how the national television audience would view him.
“I went from thinking, 'This is going to be great,' to thinking, 'I'm probably going to look like an idiot. ' I was going to jump onto the sideline and now I've landed on a bunch of chairs,” Tate said.
Somehow, all of this happened in less than four seconds.
“They probably could have hit me with their instruments,” Tate said. “Someone could have poured a beer on me and I would have never noticed because I was so focused on the game and had tunnel vision. I would have never known.”
Weis did not see the jump when it happened, but later provided a critique.
“It was the wrong band,” Weis said.
Tate doesn't remember why the band was so close to the field in the first place, but the response was predictable for college football.
“Michigan State fans and alumni sent Notre Dame a series of emails expressing their disapproval of my joining their band,” Tate said. “Which I thought was pretty funny.”
Archived message board conversations have preserved the overreaction of opposing fans, some of whom described the moment as a kind of general referendum on Tate and Notre Dame:
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“It would be one thing to find your own band, but what G. Tate did was out of class.”
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“I thought it was intentional. I hope (MSU coach Mark) Dantonio complains about that.”
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“The more I watch ND this season, the less respect I have for them and Weis.”
The touchdown was the game-winner, and the biggest conversation after the game was more about the effect the result had on Weis' job security.
“It's a great win for Notre Dame, it's not a great win for Charlie Weis,” Weis said after the game.
It was the first of a three-game winning streak that allowed the Irish to return to the AP Top 25 before falling apart toward the end of the season. Weis was ultimately fired two days after the season ended and replaced by Brian Kelly.
Fifteen years later, Tate's jump is appreciated for the fun moment it was and holds a special place in Irish lore. It has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube and continues to be the subject of discussion on online platforms. A few years ago, it was even commemorated at a Notre Dame children's hospital. coloring book Created to help Notre Dame fans pass the time during remote school.
“To be a part of history from such a prestigious and traditional university is something very special,” Tate said. “It was an honor for me to represent the university during the years I was there and now to be a part of the history books. Not only for my celebrations, but also for my game.”
“Now that I think about those stories or retell them, they seem a lot better to me than before because I guess that's how my life was. And now I'm like, 'Man, that was really cool.'”
