Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 145 of reach, meaning the Irish defense actually gave up only 24 points. It's even fewer than Notre Dame's 1947 national champs (52 points), generally con- sidered the most talented Irish team ever — even though Maisel ranked that squad as the third-most underrated team in college football history, with Frank Leahy the No. 1 most un- derrated coach. Who's truly underrated here? Fit To Be Tied The famous 10-10 tie against Michigan State prompted frustration and an unfulfilled emotion nationally. Consequently, Parseghian became the popular scapegoat when his Irish took possession at their 30 with 1:24 left. Interestingly, Notre Dame began this series after Michigan State punted from its 36 on fourth-and-four (and which Notre Dame nearly lost). If the Spartans were so adamant about "going for the win," why did they punt and not go for broke while knowing the only likely way they could get the ball back was with a turnover? With a No. 2 QB in O'Brien whose diabetes had weakened him by game's end (he had missed his last six passes), five first-year play- ers on offense because of injuries, the wind against him and the Spartans waiting for the pass, Parseghian played it cautiously (although he had O'Brien sneak for it on fourth-and-one from the 39 before he was sacked on the next play) for at least two reasons. One, after falling behind 10-0 early in the second quarter, Notre Dame took command, not allowing the Spartans to get beyond the Irish 47 the rest of the game. The Irish tied the game on the first play of the fourth quarter on a Joe Azzaro field goal, and later an intercep- tion return by safety Tom Schoen put them at MSU's 18, ending in a missed field goal after a breakdown on a running play. "We were trying to get to midfield and then throw," said Parseghian of the final series. "But I wasn't going to do a jackass thing like letting them get an interception on us and cost us the game after 60 minutes of football like our boys played." Crimson Tide faithful were incensed that Notre Dame and Michigan State remained Nos. 1 and 2 in the ensuing poll, but it re- mained clear to voters that the Irish and Spar- tans possessed the best overall football talent in the country. Won-loss (or ties) ledgers do not alone de- termine who has the better team and talent. Evidence of that includes 2012 when one- loss Alabama was a 9.5-point favorite over unbeaten Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game. Second, it was Michigan State's final game (the Big Ten did not permit its conference champion to go to two straight Rose Bowls back then, another sign of how different the bowl system was), while Notre Dame still had a contest to play at Pac-8 champ USC. After trouncing the Trojans 51-0 — with backup QB O'Brien and backup center Tim Monty working for the Irish — the final AP vote on Nov. 28 to determine the champion wasn't even close: 1. Notre Dame (506 points, 41 first-place votes) 2. Michigan State (471 points, eight first-place votes) 3. Alabama (418 points, seven first-place votes) "The voters have spoken," Alabama head coach Bear Bryant said. "I don't agree, but that's that. I congratulate two great teams with two great coaches." Later, he would take some shots, noting how if some of his players would be sent off to the war in Vietnam, "I hope they aren't going over there for a tie." Bryant also noted: "Ara must have done the right thing playin' for that old tie. All I've got is the best football team in the country, but he's got No. 1." It was a "1" that was well earned. "Time will prove everything that has hap- pened here," Parseghian told his troops after the Michigan State game. So it was written. So it was done. ✦ Notre Dame's 1966 national champions had 12 All-Americans — five more than any other Fighting Irish team in one season. While such renown alone doesn't necessarily make it "the best ever," it reflects the immense football talent on the roster: Backfield: Terry Hanratty*, Nick Eddy*, Larry Conjar* and Rocky Bleier Everyone but Bleier was a first- or second-round pick — and Bleier started on four Super Bowl champions. Eddy finished third in the 1966 Heisman Trophy balloting, as did Hanratty in 1968. Ends: Jim Seymour* and Don Gmitter Three-time All-American Seymour was the No. 10 overall pick in 1969, but injuries hampered his NFL career. Before moving to tight end, Gmitter, who became an architect, started as a sophomore defensive end on the 1964 team that won a share of the national title. Offensive Line: Paul Seiler*, Tom Regner*, George Goeddeke*, Dick Swatland, Bob Kuechenberg and George Kunz (suffered a season-ending injury in second game) Seiler, Regner and Kunz (a future All-American and the No. 2 pick in the 1969 NFL Draft) all became first-round picks, while Goeddeke was a third-round selection (No. 59 overall). Kuechenberg went on to be a six-time Pro Bowl selection (two short of Kunz's eight). Defensive Line: Alan Page*, Kevin Hardy*, Pete Duranko* and Tom Rhoads First-round choice Page, who became an associate justice in the Minnesota Supreme Court, is in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, Hardy was selected a little higher as the No. 7 overall pick, and second-rounder Duranko — originally a fullback and then a linebacker who could do backflips and walk on his hands — had an eight-year pro career. Rhoads was "only" a fourth-round pick (70th overall). Linebackers: Jim Lynch*, John Pergine, Mike Martin, Mike McGill and John Horney Second-round selection Lynch, the 1966 team captain who would earn Pro Bowl honors and win a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs, led the 4-4-3 alignment, but the three other starters had NFL careers, while Horney became a doctor. Defensive Backs: Tom Schoen*, Tom O'Leary and Jim Smithberger Originally a quarterback who started once there in 1965, Schoen be - came a two-time All-America safety. This "SOS" squadron played behind a front seven that rivaled any in Notre Dame or college football history. — Lou Somogyi * Earned All-America recognition in 1966 STAR POWER Head coach Ara Parseghian's stellar 1966 linebacking corps was led by team captain and All-American Jim Lynch (61). PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS