As a former Notre Dame athlete and a long-time follower/observer of Notre Dame football, I've always considered the designation of Fighting Irish captain to be one of the truly great honors.

I was never fortunate or deserving enough of such an honor. But I've always respected my teammates who earned the team's vote as well as the numerous men who have represented the Fighting Irish football team with the title of captain.

For most of the seasons from 1887 through 1967-when Bob "Rocky" Bleier was Notre Dame's captain-the Fighting Irish had one player as captain. In fact, only eight times during that 81-season span did the Irish have more than one elected captain.

What an incredible honor is must have been for George Connor, Bill Fischer, Leon Hart and Jim Martin-captains of the great Frank Leahy teams from 1947-49 who never lost a game over a four-year span.

As a child, I looked upon the names Rocky Bleier, Larry DiNardo, Walt Patulski, Tom Gatewood, Dave Casper, Frank Pomarico, Mike Townsend, Tom Clements and Greg Collins-all Notre Dame captains during the 1960s-70s-with awe.

For the last three decades, I've had the pleasure of getting to know the great young men who have represented the Notre Dame football team as captains. It is a distinction not to be taken lightly. Imagine going through life being introduced as "former Notre Dame captain." What an incredible honor and source of pride.

Knowing what it feels like to have "Notre Dame" and "Irish" across the front of your uniform, I still get a chill thinking about it. I salute all who have earned the title of "Notre Dame captain," including the four newest additions to the exclusive club.

The following are a few of the "firsts and lasts" and other information pertaining to the Notre Dame football captains through the years.

• Number of players who have been named football captains at Notre Dame: 189 with the addition of Jimmy Clausen, Eric Olsen, Kyle McCarthy and Scott Smith

• Three-time captains: Jack Mullen (1897-99)

• Two-time captains: Edward Prudhomme (1888-89); Frank Keough (1893-94); Louis "Red" Salmon (1902-03); Leonard Bahan (1918-19); Pat Filley (1943-44); Bob Olson (1968-69); Willie Fry (1976-77); Bob Crable (1980-81); Phil Carter (1981-82); Ned Bolcar (1988-89); Ryan Leahy (1994-95); Ron Powlus (1996-97); Grant Irons (2000-01); Brady Quinn (2005-06); Tom Zbikowski (2006-07); Travis Thomas (2006-07); Maurice Crum, Jr. (2007-08)

• First duo-captains: Gene Edwards, Tom Hearden (1926)

• Last duo-captainship: Brady Quinn, Brandon Hoyte (2005)

• Last trio of captains: Maurice Crum Jr., David Bruton, David Grimes (2008)

• Last quartet of captains: Mike Goolsby, Ryan Grant, Carlyle Holiday, Justin Tuck (2004)

• Last quintet of captains: Maurice Crum Jr., John Carlson, John Sullivan, Tom Zbikowski, Travis Thomas (2007); Paul Grasmanis, Ryan Leahy, Derrick Mayes, Shawn Wooden, Dusty Zeigler (1995)

• First trio of captains: Dave Casper, Frank Pomarico, Mike Townsend (1973)

• First quartet of captains: Ross Browner, Terry Eurick, Willie Fry, Steve Orsini (1977)

• Only Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner named captain: Leon Hart (1949)

• Last time a linebacker was not a captain: 2003-Darrell Campbell, Vontez Duff, Omar Jenkins, Jim Molinaro

• Last time a quarterback was not a captain: 2008-Maurice Crum Jr., David Bruton, David Grimes.

• Last quarterback named captain prior to Jimmy Clausen: Brady Quinn (2006)

• Last offensive lineman named captain prior to Eric Olsen: John Sullivan (2007)

• Last two-time captain: Maurice Crum Jr. (2007-08)

• Last solo captain: Jarious Jackson (1999); Rodney Culver (1991)

• Last Smith before Scott Smith: Bill Smith (1936, who resigned his captaincy because of illness; John Lautar was then elected); John Smith (1927)

• Last Olson before Eric Olsen: Bob Olson (1969)

• First African-American captain: Tom Gatewood (1971)

• Last time Notre Dame did not have an African-American captain (prior to 2009): 1986-Mike Kovaleski

• Last time Notre Dame did not have a Caucasian captain: 1999-Jarious Jackson

• Former captains on current staff: Ron Powlus (1996-97); Bryant Young (1993)

• Former Irish captains who became Notre Dame's head coach: Hugh Devore (1933, head coach in 1945 and 1963); Knute Rockne (1913, head coach from 1918-30); Louis "Red" Salmon (1902-03, head coach in 1904); Frank Hering (1896, served as head coach and captain in same year)

• Only brothers to captain Notre Dame: Bob Golic (1978) and Mike Golic (1984)

• Only season without a permanent captain: 1946 (captains were elected game-by-game; Tyrone Willingham also had game captains but permanent captain were named at the end of the season)