Rockne's Roundtable

Lou - if there is another planet somewhere out there in the solar system and that planet also has college football, how is Notre Dame's football doing on said planet?

Sincerely,
StupidQuestionAsker

Lou - who is your offensive and defensive POTD (Player of the Decade) starting in 1950? Use the whole 1950-1960, then 1960-1970 model.

IFR,

I'm not into astrology that much, although I've been told I can be a space head, so I don't have much insight on the rest of the stratosphere.

Offensive & Defensive Players of the Decade. Interesting idea. It's hard to do in the 1950s because players lined up on both offense and defense. But for 1950-60, I think you would have to go with the two Heisman winners, Johnny Lattner (1953) and Paul Hornung (1956). We knoe of their offensive prowess, but both were also fabulous defenders. Lattner held the school record for interceptions (13) for a decade and is still tied for third, but he especially was a sure tackler. There wasn't anything Hornung couldn't do on a football field.

1960-1970
Offense: Even though Huarte won the Heisman, I'd say a toss-up between the late Jim Seymour for his impact from 1966-68 and QB Joe Theismann, mainly for his superb 1970 senior year.
Seymour was a freak in his time with his 6-4 frame, and as a sophomore in 1966 he was huge for both QBs, Hanratty and Coley O'Brien in a national title year, and then late in 1968 for Joe Theismann. You really had to game plan around him, and he was kind of the Michael Floyd of his time, the first Irish receiver to eclipse 100 career receptions.

Defense: Jim Lynch. I don't know if you will ever find a better embodiment of a Notre Dame Man and leader than the 1964-66 linebacker. I'd be inclined to name him captain on the All-Time Notre Dame team.

1970-80
Offense: Truthfully, I think tight end Ken MacAfee (1974-77) was the best player (how many tight ends finish third in the Heisman?). Unbelievable hands and tremendous blocker. I'd name him co-MVP with classmate Joe Montana, but if I had to name just one, Super Joe's impact was just too powerful. Tom Clements (1972-74) is a personal favorite too.

Defense: Ross Browner (1973-77) is the greatest football player I've ever seen here without the ball in his hands. He had 77 tackles for loss. No one else at ND has more than 44.5. Luther Bradley and Bob Golic also merit mention.

1980-90
Offense: Tony Rice (1987-89). Rocket Ismail is the greatest player I've ever seen here with the ball in his hands, but Tony was the straw who stirred the drink. Former MSU coach George Perles said it best: "I can kick it away from Ismail and keep the ball out of his hands. I can't keep it out of that quarterback's hands. There aren't many that come around like him."

Defense: Chris Zorich (1987-90). Rice was the Ice and Zorich was the Fire. He brought meanness to the field, attitude, production and impact like few ever have. He made a profound difference.

1990-2000
Offense: Aaron Taylor (1990-93). Odd as it might seem to have a lineman, the Lombardi Award winner was a phenomenal leader who epitomized the physical, hard-nosed style under Holtz and Joe Moore. Profound intelligence who brought a Zorich-like attitude to the offense.

Defense: Bryant Young (1990-93). The stats weren't eye-popping, but he was the aircraft carrier for the 1992-93 defenses that helped win 17 straight games. One of the three or four best "first guy off the bus" individuals I've seen here. Awesome physique, and as quick off the snap as anyone I've seen here.

2000-2010
Offense: Brady Quinn (2003-06). Jimmy Clausen was a better pure, accurate passer, but Quinn's impact in Charlie's first two years can't be overlooked. Golden Tate's 2009 season was spectacular.

Defense: Shane Walton (2000-02). Excellent leader on and off the field. Instincts and ball skills were as good as any defensive back I've seen here.

Let me think a bit about the BCS.

IFR,

The first and foremost I would like in the BCS is for college football to "take back" New's Year Day, which today has become meaningless.

As I stated in a different thread, I know I sound like an old fogey when I say this, but I miss the excitement that used to be New Year's Day in college football. Sugar, Cotton and Fiesta to kick it off, Rose in the late afternoon, and Orange at night. It was college football's Holy Day of Obligation, and on that day a national champion was determined.

How about if this year you could have on Jan. 1 that old style: SEC champ LSU vs. Stanford in the Sugar, Big 12 champ Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the Orange, Pac 10 champ Oregon vs. Big 10 champ Wisconsin in the Rose, and maybe the Fiesta can have Arkansas vs. ACC champ Clemson.
Or there could be a rule that a conference champ with at least three losses cannot play in one of those major bowls. It would have been intriguing to see No. 7 Boise State go against an SEC team like No. 6 Arkansas.

If a Plus-One is in demand, how about top college football people then voting after Jan. 1 on the two best teams, and then having the title tilt two weeks later? I just would so prefer that old New Year's Day feel.

However, in fairness to the BCS, you would not have had Ohio State-Miami in 2002 or USC-Texas in 2005 with the old format. Everything has its pros and cons.

There is just such an anti-climactic feel today with the bowls, especially Jan. 1, and between Jan. 1 through about Jan. 8 it's like, "Who's playing in a bowl today?"

I loved how sometimes on Jan. 1 you had two (and sometimes even three) different bowls that had national title implications. For example, on Jan. 1, 1971, No. 1 Texas lost to No. 6 ND in the Cotton Bowl, and then No. 2 Ohio State was upset by Stanford in the Rose, leaving the national title up to the Orange Bowl with No. 3 Nebraska against SEC champ LSU (who ND beat). If Nebraska won, it would win it all, but if it lost, ND would. Alas, the 'Huskers eked out a 17-12 win.

There were many other years like that, and that was part of the fun of New Year's Day. I miss that, although the BCS meant well.

Imagine how much it must of cost the Boosters of the U to essemble that team!

Lou,

One of my favorites of all time is Joe Howard from Archbishop Carroll in Maryland if memory serves me well. What a clutch ball player. He even played for Digger too. Is there anybody on the current recruiting radar that reminds you of Joe Howard? It seems to me that someone of Howard's ilk would absolutely thrive under Kelly's offense.

Could you do a where are they now story on Joe? Also, what is up with my old pal John Carney? Thanks.

Lou - has there ever been an ND player to catch, throw, and run for a TD?

Thanks, Lou. Now - has the trifecta ever been done in one game?

As for the crickets - I believe those are seasonal crickets. Pity the Lou? Nonsense. During the season, we're all wired on football and then - BAM - the season is over in two games. So, what do we as Irish fans do? That's right - go back to 1677 and talk about how good we were. And who knows more about Notre Dame's history than any one person on the planet?

Lou Somogyi.

So, you get blasted with questions on everything from the color of Montana's socks when he's not playing football to what would you suggest to Weis to help that runny nose. And everything in between. Now, the regular season is over. Depression. All that's left is the hope that comes from good recruiting news. And Sapp becomes the offseason Lou.

In no way am I suggesting that Sapp doesn't contribute during the season or that you don't after - it's a beautifully balanced mix of two 5-stars at the top of their respective games. It's why no other site can offer what this site does - and then deliver it. We'll still have plenty of recruiting questions during the season and be in need of history lessons after the season. Recruiting chat will slow down after February. Yet Sapp won't become un-needed. Recruiting, like ND history, is year-round. Both topics have their peaks and valleys.

And both staff members responsible for answers/info on said topics are far too humble to ever realize both are far too important, regardless of the month, to ever warrant pity. This site (and I hope I'm taking nothing away from the other staff members) could easily be renamed Lou & Sapp Illustrated.

Thanks Lou. What is Joe "Small Wonder" Howard up to these days?

Do you know where each team has been practicing this week? I assume that it is off-site for ND and maybe even at home until a few days ago for FSU. Thanks.

Amen!