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Report: Legendary Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian ailing

Legendary Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian is fighting an infection in his hip.

Legendary Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian has fallen ill following an infection in a hip that had undergone five operations, according to the Chicago Tribune. Surgery is not an option, as Parseghian is now being treated at a care facility in South Bend, Ind.

The 94-year-old Parseghian coached at Miami (Ohio), Northwestern and Notre Dame on the way to two national championships with the Fighting Irish. Former players were told via email that Parseghian isn’t accepting visitors at this time, and they were asked to write letters to him.

After his coaching career ended in 1974, Parseghian became a television analyst and kept a strong grip on his former programs. Some current coaches influenced by Parseghian include Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Kelly said Parseghian has penned him notes after most games, while Fitzgerald turned to Parseghian to be an honorary captain for the Wildcats at the 2010 homecoming game.

Parseghian coached in perhaps the most famous tie in football history — the 1966 "Game of the Century" between Notre Dame and Michigan State that ended in a 10-10 draw. Under his guidance, the Fighting Irish controversially ran out the clock after Bubba Smith sacked Notre Dame's backup quarterback on the second-to-last play of the game.

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