The black-and-white photographs of the illustrious rivalry between Notre Dame and Army came alive Saturday night in the Bronx.

There were the shiny gold of Notre Dame’s helmets and the plain black of Army’s uniforms. There were the marching of the kilted Irish Guard in the Fighting Irish’s band and the Army cadets standing at attention. But it was the backdrop that brought history to life: the frieze along the top of Yankee Stadium.

In the 50th meeting of rivals from another era, Notre Dame’s 27-3 victory against Army ensured that the Fighting Irish would be bowl-eligible. But the latest chapter in their series was a step into the past, recalling a lore of Knute Rockne’s “Win One for the Gipper” speech in 1928 and the teams’ scoreless tie in 1946 in the so-called game of the century.