From Saturdays on the Gridiron to Saturdays in the Park
Before he became a key figure behind one of America’s most iconic rock bands, Peter Schivarelli made his mark on the football field at the University of Notre Dame.
A Chicago native, Schivarelli suited up for the Fighting Irish in the late 1960s under the legendary coach Ara Parseghian. As a running back and special teams contributor, he wasn’t the star attraction like some of his more famous teammates — but he was exactly the kind of player every great team needs: tough, dependable, and willing to do the gritty work that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.
One of Schivarelli’s most notable moments came during the epic 1968 clash against No. 1 USC, when Notre Dame battled the Trojans — led by Heisman winner O.J. Simpson — to a memorable 21-21 tie. The game became a defining moment of Parseghian’s era, and Schivarelli’s contributions on special teams and as a backup running back helped keep Notre Dame in the fight.
After graduating, Schivarelli took a unique path that few athletes could dream of: he transitioned from the world of college football to the world of music and entertainment. He became the longtime manager of the band Chicago, overseeing their rise to legendary status with hits like “Saturday in the Park,” “25 or 6 to 4,” and “If You Leave Me Now.”
Despite his success in the music industry, Schivarelli’s love for Notre Dame never faded. He has remained an active and loyal member of the Fighting Irish community, regularly supporting University events and student scholarships.
This year, Peter Schivarelli added another milestone to his remarkable journey — celebrating his 80th birthday, a testament to a life filled with energy, accomplishment, and the Fighting Irish spirit.
Peter Schivarelli’s story is a reminder that the lessons learned on the field — teamwork, resilience, and heart — can lead to extraordinary achievements far beyond the stadium.
Below is a snippet from the 1968 Notre Dame Football Review, written by William Sweeney, looking back at the epic 1968 clash against No. 1 USC, when Notre Dame battled the Trojans to a memorable 21-21 tie.
Settling the Score For ‘64
by William Sweeney
California is a different kind of place. You get off your plane and suddenly you are standing next to Henry Fonda at the luggage claim counter. People out there do all the weird things you expect Californians to do. There are the surfers, the hippies, and everybody runs around in a sports car with their suntan. You can see Disneyland or Tijuana. The atmosphere was different and it promised to be a very different football game. It was that way in 1964 and it promised to be the same way on November 30, 1968.
For the 1968 football team the season began last spring on Cartier field. It picked up again in August and ended two weeks ago in Southern California. In many ways the time spent between April and November was rewarding and in other ways it was frustrating. At the end of the season Ara Parseghian said that “this team deserves a better fate than 7-2-1.” But, in large measure the disappointments of the first half of the season were equalized by their final game. It was the antithesis of ‘64. This time Southern Cal was number one and O. J. Simpson was the Heisman Trophy winner. Notre Dame, underdog for the first time in fifty games, was the challenger. Stricken early in the season by injuries and inexperience they had been defeated twice. Two weeks earlier Terry Hanratty finished his career with an injury incurred in practice.
That was how Notre Dame went into their last game against Southern California. Joe Theismann had gotten some practice time against Pitt and Georgia Tech. But, he was still an inexperienced sophomore and USC would be his first big game. “Narrow escapes have become routine for USC,” forecasted Sports Illustrated, “but the tightest squeeze of all may come when O. J. Simpson and the undefeated national champions encounter Notre Dame.”
The Coliseum is a huge place compared to Notre Dame Stadium. It became an intimidating place on the day of the game as eighty-five thousand people filled the stands. It’s surprising how seriously the Trojans take the entire Roman act. Their band dresses in a gladiator’s costume, they play Roman battle marches, and at the end of their show a big white horse (ostensibly the son of Silver of Lone Ranger fame) with a Roman soldier on top races around the running track. You keep hoping for him to get thrown off his horse, but the show comes off flawlessly. Then the clincher — the band blares their trumpets and everybody (that’s right, all eighty-five thousand) screams CHARGE! It sounds like they are all ready to come charging down on the field to make sure you don’t win.
The game is about to start. In the pre-game warmup, the coaches seem more nervous than the players. Johnny Ray is the only one to keep a comic attitude. He has to keep his sophomores from feeling the pressure of the game. The kickoff, and Notre Dame got the ball first. But, on the second play from scrimmage, Joe Theismann threw an interception to give USC an early lead. As the offensive team jogged off the field you could read a look of shock on their faces. A lot of people thought the game might turn into a rout right there. “I wasn’t worried myself,” commented coach Pagna later, “but I was worried about Joe.” Everybody wondered for a while — until Notre Dame got the ball again and evened the score.
The first half made the Irish look like the National Champions. In those two quarters, they could have beaten anybody. Dushney got crucial first downs. Gladieux scored the only breakaway touchdown of the year. Theismann was hitting his passes. But, the biggest surprise was the defense. They had finally become a unit. “The defense really got together against Southern Cal,” said Tom Pagna after the game.
The second half saw USC score twice, one score of which came with the help of a crucial pass interference call. Sogge brought the Trojans back for the tie. The pass defense again proved vulnerable, but the defensive unit had done what no other team had done all year — they stopped O.J. Simpson. Despite two missed field goals, Notre Dame gained what even Dan Jenkins condescended to call “a winning tie against USC.” It was the best game of the season for Notre Dame. But, the victory was more than holding the number one team to a tie. It was an individual victory for every member of the team. For they had grown since the Purdue defeat. Many mistakes had been eliminated. This is why the 1968 football season had been a success. The victory was over inexperience and injuries, as well as over use. The learning of ten weeks’ experience had paid off in success. In this way a hard-fought tie had made the season and resigned the mistakes of earlier days to memory.
The 1968 season might not have ended with a national championship for Notre Dame, but it forged a group of players who embodied resilience, heart, and perseverance — qualities that defined Fighting Irish football. Peter Schivarelli was one of those players, grinding through the highs and lows, contributing in ways that didn’t always make headlines but made all the difference on the field.
Just as the Irish stood tall against the top-ranked Trojans that day in the Coliseum, Schivarelli has stood tall throughout his life, from his days wearing the blue and gold to managing one of America’s greatest rock bands. Now, as he celebrates his 80th birthday, Peter Schivarelli’s journey reminds us that greatness isn’t only measured by trophies or statistics — sometimes, it’s measured by the quiet moments of courage, teamwork, and determination that leave a lasting legacy.
Happy Birthday, Peter Schivarelli!
Cheers & GO IRISH!