Notre Dame Quarterbacks & Crisis Situations
It’s been well documented on this site that during Brian Kelly’s first seven seasons at Notre Dame, his greatest success occurred with quarterbacks suddenly thrust into action for the first time: freshman Tommy Rees (now the Irish quarterbacks coach) directing a 4-0 finish in 2010, Everett Golson at the throttle during a 12-1 campaign in 2012, Malik Zaire’s MVP performance versus LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl, or DeShone Kizer helping lead a 10-1 start in 2015.
Kelly will have another newcomer to the scene in 2017 with Brandon Wimbush, red-shirted last year and having tossed only five mop-up passes in his collegiate career.
Fortunately, like the aforementioned predecessors, Wimbush will be surrounded by experience everywhere else on offense that can help carry the freight, unlike freshman Jimmy Clausen during a 3-9 season in 2007. It is Kelly’s most seasoned unit on offense when combining the line, receivers, tight ends and running backs.
A full season of health for Wimbush also is seen as imperative because the reserve unit is even greener at quarterback, led by sophomore Ian Book (redshirted last year). Yet when one looks at the 50 years from 1966-2016 at Notre Dame, many of its finest seasons were defined by a “where did he come from?” performance at QB just when it appears the walls are about to cave in.
DeShone Kizer (2015)
Not only did incumbent Everett Golson transfer to Florida State for his graduate season at the end of spring drills, but new starter Malik Zaire — whose ascent helped prompt Golson’s departure — was lost for the season because of a fractured ankle in game 2.
Yet the No. 3 option Kizer, red-shirted as a freshman the year prior, came out of nowhere with a marvelous season that included steering three fourth-quarter comeback wins during a 10-1 start, and in game 12 leading the Irish on an 88-yard touchdown march to move ahead 36-35, before losing.
While posting one of the higher pass efficiency rates in school history, he became the first QB for the Fighting Irish to pass for more than 2,500 yards (2,880) and rush for more than 500 (525) in the same season.
Tommy Rees (2010 and 2012)
After stunning back-to-back losses to Navy and Tulsa dropped Kelly’s first Irish outfit in 2010 to 4-5, the freshman Rees stepped in for an injured Dayne Crist and helped Notre Dame to an uplifting 4-0 finish. His presence almost seemed like a galvanizing element that forced the entire team to play better.
Two years later with Golson the new starter, it was Rees who was inserted to lead game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime versus Purdue and Stanford, provide a stabilizing force in a victory versus Michigan, and even start and help lead another second-half rally against Brigham Young.
Matt LoVecchio (2000)
Starter Arnaz Battle suffered a season-ending injury in the second game and No. 2 man Gary Godsey, a former tight end, led a victory over Drew Brees-led Purdue before getting benched when the Irish fell to 2-2.
The freshman LoVecchio started 7-0 and led the Irish to a BCS bid while throwing 11 touchdowns to only one interception — and also rushing for 300 yards. He would later transfer to Indiana University (2002). Rees often was compared to LoVecchio in that he was the right man at the right time as a freshman, but had a lower ceiling for the future.
Kevin McDougal (1993)
The senior, who had thrown only 21 career passes while apprenticing behind three-year starter Rick Mirer (1990-92), was leapfrogged in the 1993 pre-season by freshman phenom Ron Powlus. A broken collarbone suffered by Powlus a week before the opener left head coach Lou Holtz crestfallen, and some opinion held that the season was now shot
McDougal, with some assistance from Paul Failla, emerged and soared to become the all-time pass efficiency leader in school history while leading the Irish to a debatable No. 2 finish despite defeating No. 1 Florida State.
Tony Rice (1987)
Senior starter Terry Andrysiak helped lead a 3-0 start before suffering a broken clavicle while trailing Pitt 27-0. The sophomore Rice came off the bench and nearly led a miraculous rally before falling 30-22 — but a cornerstone in Holtz’s empire from 1988-93 had been found.
That same year, Rice would lead the Irish to victory over Pac-10 champ USC (26-15), No. 10 Alabama (37-6) and come off the bench to spark a 32-25 win over Boston College after trailing 25-12.
Joe Montana (1977)
Why do Notre Dame faithful (and others) often clamor to see the backup quarterback? Montana might be the No. 1 reason. The senior was behind both junior Rusty Lisch and senior Gary Forystek in 1977 when the Irish sputtered to a 1-1 start, and then trailed Purdue 24-14 in the fourth quarter.
Lisch was replaced by Forystek, who suffered a career-ending injury at Purdue, and then Lisch was in the game again before Montana was given his shot. He rallied the Irish to a 31-24 victory, and the Irish went on to capture the national title that season.
What if Forystek hadn’t been injured? How would history have changed?
Coley O’Brien (1966)
In one of the greatest showdowns in college football history with the national title on the line, Notre Dame starting QB Terry Hanratty had his shoulder wrecked by Michigan State’s Bubba Smith early in the contest.
Trailing 10-0 on the road against a vaunted defense, the sophomore diabetic O’Brien rallied the No.1 Irish to a 10-10 tie.
A week later, O’Brien (who would move to running back later in his career) was at the throttle in a 51-0 demolition of Pac-8 champion USC to clinch the national title.
In reality, there are also plenty of stories of newcomers not quite being able to seize the day. However, there are always shining examples of someone emerging when a crisis arises.
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