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Editor’s Note: When our late colleague Lou Somogyi suddenly passed away, he was working on a book examining every football number in Notre Dame history, to help celebrate the first century that numerals had been in use. There was nobody better to write such a piece, but only a few numbers had been completed while others remained works in progress.
Still, we figured what better way for Lou to continue to contribute to the publication he loved than to use some of the completed copy in our annual football preview. These aren’t necessarily the best numbers — Lou had not even begun to work on any digits higher than 71 yet — but they are some of the most notable among the group that he was close to completing.
The finished product would’ve been a great book, but what was done will instead serve as another informative walk down memory lane for Blue & Gold Illustrated readers and a tribute to our dearly missed friend.
NUMBER 3
This edges No. 7 as the most prominent number among Irish quarterbacks who were starters. George Izo, the No. 2 pick in the 1960 NFL Draft, and Daryle Lamonica, who enjoyed a prolific career as “The Mad Bomber” with the Oakland Raiders, donned it from 1957-62.
Two other signal-callers that eventually changed positions also wore it — Coley O’Brien (1966-68) helped finish the 1966 national title run after Terry Hanratty was injured and the Irish trailed No. 2 Michigan State 10-0.
After he led that rally, he shredded Pac-8 champ USC in a 51-0 rout, then later moved to running back.
Arnaz Battle (1998-2002) finished his career playing wide receiver, where he was a productive NFL player, but it began under center.
Rick Mirer (1989-92) started each of his final three seasons and helped direct victories against six top-10 teams, before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, while Ron Powlus (1994-97) had over-the-top expectations placed on him from the outside but enjoyed his share of stellar moments as a four-year starter.
FIRST TEAM: QB Joe Montana (1975, 1977-78)
Few numbers have had more Notre Dame luminaries than 3, and Montana is football royalty. Three other Irish QBs who wore 3 were drafted by the NFL among the first three picks — Izo and Mirer were selected No. 2 in 1960 and 1993, respectively, and Ralph Guglielmi No. 3 in 1955 — whereas Montana didn’t go until the third round.
Also, Montana’s 4,399 career passing yards at Notre Dame were nearly eclipsed in one season by Brady Quinn (3,919 in 2005).
But this isn’t about stats or honors. Montana was the fourth-team quarterback on the junior varsity as a 1974 freshman, completed only 42 percent of his 66 passes as a sophomore — with twice as many interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (four) — sat out his junior year with a separated shoulder and began his senior year on the third team.
After rescuing Notre Dame from defeat in game three by rallying the Irish from a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit at Purdue, he sparked the 1977 national title run, combining both championship leadership with a Horatio Alger rags-to-riches storyline.
Seven times during his career he spearheaded a spectacular rally, culminating with the 35-34 win versus Houston in the 1979 Cotton Bowl.
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