The Top 10 Fighting Irish of All Time

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 17, 2014

The Top 10 Fighting Irish of All Time

#10: Brady Quinn

Quinn would be higher on this list if he could have won the big game, but this quarterback destroyed 36 Irish records (10 career, 12 single-season, 4 single-game, 10 miscellaneous) during his career in South Bend. These include career pass attempts (1,602), completions (929), yards (11,742), yards per game (239.6), TD passes (95) and lowest INT percentage (2.43). His 29 wins as a starter tie him for the most in school history. In 2005, he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. Quinn led the Fighting Irish to two BCS bowls but lost both.

#9: Johnny Lattner

Lattner won the 1953 Heisman Trophy despite not even leading Notre Dame in the key statistical categories. Instead, he was simply so productive across the board ? 651 rushing yards, 204 receiving yards, 321 kick return yards on just eight returns, 103 punt return yards and four interceptions ? and helped lead the Fighting Irish to a 9-0-1 record and a national title. The two-time Maxwell Award winner player just one season in the NFL before injuring his knee playing a game while on military service.

#8: Ruth Riley

10.ruth-riley.jpg — Manny Millan for Sports Illustrated

For three consecutive seasons (1998, 1999, 2000), Riley was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. During her 2001 senior season, the center, now a member of the Chicago Sky, led ND to the NCAA Championship and won the Naismith Award and Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. She was also a two-time first-team All-American and set the school record for rebounds, blocked shots and shooting percentage.

#7: The Four Horsemen (Elmer Layden, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Harry Stuhldreher)

The-Four-Horsemen-Don-Miller-Elmer-Layden-Jim-Crowley-Harry-Stuhldreher.jpg — AP

Quarterback Stuhldreher, left halfback Crowley, right halfback Miller and fullback Layden shattered opposing defenses beginning in 1922, when coach Knute Rockne created the illustrious lineup. The nickname didn't arise until 1924 when the quartet secured their fame with ND's 13-7 victory over Army in 1924. After that momentous win, the Irish recorded a 27-10 win over Stanford in the 1925 Rose Bowl and won the national championship with a perfect 10-0 record.

#6: Kerri Hanks

One of the greatest players in women's collegiate soccer history, Hanks earned All-American selection all four years. She also won two Hermann Trophies, college soccer's Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Notre Dame athlete in any sport to win two national player of the year awards. Hanks is the only player to record 73 goals and 73 assists in a career, finishing with 84 goals and 73 assists.

#5: Austin Carr

Carr dominates the Irish's basketball record books. ND's all-time leading scorer (2,560 points), he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. From 1968-71, the guard controlled the court in South Bend. He was named the AP's National Player of the Year his senior season and in the same year, he was the first pick overall in the NBA draft.

#4: Leon Hart

In four years on the field for the Fighting Irish, Hart never experienced defeat. The three-time All-American's Notre Dame teams went 36-0-2 thanks in large part to his defensive line play and pass catching. Hart is one of two defensive linemen to win the Heisman Trophy, running away with the race in 1949 to win the vote by 723 votes. In addition to his dominance at defensive end, Hart caught 19 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns that season.

#3: Paul Hornung

John G. Zimmerman for Sports Illustrated

One of the most diversely talented players in Irish football history, Hornung played quarterback, left halfback, fullback and safety. Despite ND's losing 1956 season (2-8), Hornung's resourceful athleticism earned him the Heisman Trophy, the only time a player from a losing team won the honor. In 1985, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the subsequent year.

#2: John Lujack

The 1947 Heisman winner led Notre Dame to national titles in each of his three years as a starter. Lujack threw for a touchdown, running for another and intercepting a pass in his first start before leaving Notre Dame for two years to serve in the military. He picked up where he left off in 1946 to win two more championships, never losing a game in those two years. Lujack won the Heisman Trophy as a senior, when he threw for 777 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 139 yards and another score. His biggest impact may have been a defensive play when he tackled Army's Doc Blanchard to prevent a touchdown and preserve a scoreless tie.

#1: George Gipp

A true dual-threat quarterback, this legendary football player was coach Knute Rockne's go-to man despite never playing football in high school. Gipp led the Irish in rushing and passing each of his last three seasons (1918, 1919 and 1920) and his career mark of 2,341 rushing yards remained the record until broken by Jerome Heavens in 1978. An incredibly versatile athlete, the Gipper was also a strong punter and defensive back and had planned to play for the Chicago Cubs before his untimely death at age 25.