Elija Lofton's near-catch for Miami becomes latest entry in Canes-Irish rivalry lore

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — For 38 years, Miami has insisted the same thing: Cleveland Gary didn't fumble in a still-debated loss at Notre Dame.And now, that play has some company.Add another did-he-or-didn't-he to the lore of the rivalry between the Hurricanes and the Fighting Irish. Miami argued that Elija Lofton caught what would have been a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of what became a 31-24 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night — only to have the referees say Lofton didn't complete the play.“Very disappointed in the way that was called with the game on the line and clear possession inbounds,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said.Had Lofton been credited with that catch, it would have made the score 31-30 with an extra point try pending. Miami lost the 1988 game — the one where the Hurricanes say Gary didn't fumble — by that same 31-30 score. And if that wasn't enough of an eerie coincidence, Miami entered that 1988 game ranked No. 1 in the country while Notre Dame came in rank