The class ratings were based on 1) impact on the program through production, championship contention and talent level of other classes around them, 2) balance at the various positions and 3) overall depth in number of major producers.
THE 1971 RECRUITING CLASS
Players Signed: 30
Record at Notre Dame from 1972-74: 29-5 (.853), with a victory over 11-0 and No. 1-ranked Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl (24-23) followed by a conquest of the 11-0 No. 1 Crimson Tide in the 1975 Orange Bowl (13-11).
AP Final Rankings: No. 14 (1972), No. 1 (1973), No. 6 (1974)
LEADERS IN THE LINEUP
Quarterback: Tom Clements
Fullback: Wayne “The Train” Bullock
Halfbacks: Eric Penick, Al Samuel, Ron Goodman
Receiver: Pete Demmerle
Offensive Line: Gerry DiNardo, Steve Sylvester, Steve Neece, Ed Bauer, Steve Quehl
Defensive Line: Mike Fanning, Kevin Nosbusch
Linebackers: Greg Collins, Drew Mahalic, Sherm Smith
Defensive Back: Reggie Barnett
IMPACT
Head coach Ara Parseghian’s greatest class during his 11-year reign (1964-74) was this one because of 1) its powerful role during the1973 national title and 2) the way it carried the program for the deficiencies in the 1969, 1970 and 1972 classes that surrounded them.
• The 1969 recruits had only one player who had an NFL career — 12th-round pick Jim O’Malley.
• The 1970 haul two who played in the NFL: Hall-of-Fame tight end Dave Casper, and kicker Bob Thomas.
• The 1972 recruiting class had two players drafted: defensive tackle Steve Niehaus and halfback Art Best. Niehaus was the second pick in 1976 — but he missed the last seven games of the ‘73 title run with a knee injury. Best finished his career at Kent State.
The 1971 recruiting class possessed the preponderance of talent (11 players drafted, not including star quarterback Clements) and leadership that enabled Notre Dame to rebound from two straight finishes out of the top 10, with 1972 ending with 45-23 and 40-6 losses to USC and Nebraska (Orange Bowl), respectively.
This was the last recruiting class that was ineligible as freshmen per NCAA rules. When the 1971 team lost 28-14 at home to USC, Sports Illustrated did a feature on it with the headline, "Hang On Ara, Here Come The Freshmen." The story centered on the tremendous talent in the 1971 recruiting haul. It proved prophetic.
BALANCE
Propelling Notre Dame’s rise from the ashes was Clements, the three-year starting QB who finished No. 4 in the ‘74 Heisman Trophy balloting. His 1,148 career yards rushing (including bowls) are second to Tony Rice among Irish signalcallers. In the 24-23 victory over No. 1 Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl, Clements was named the MVP by completing 7-of-12 passes for 169 yards and rushing for 74 more. His 35-yard pass completion out of the end zone to Robin Weber on 3rd-and-8 in the waning moments is one of the clutch plays in college football annals.
Augmenting Clements’ leadership was Demmerle at receiver, fullback Bullock and halfback Penick.
Demmerle was a consensus All-America in ‘74, and an Academic All-American, who nabbed 69 receptions and 11 TDs for the run-oriented units of 1973-74.
Bullock posted the two highest single-season rushing totals under Parseghian with 855 (1974) and 752 (1973). That doesn’t include game-high totals of 79 versus Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl, and 83 more in the 13-11 Orange Bowl victory over the Crimson Tide the ensuing year. Bullock’s 25 career TDs were the second most in the Parseghian era, behind Bob Gladieux (26 from 1966-68). Before The Bus (Jerome Bettis from 1990-92), Notre Dame rode The Train.
Penick had the third most rushing yards in one season under Parseghian (727), as a sophomore in 1972. The next year he amassed 586, with 85 coming on a TD jaunt in the 23-14 victory over USC, snapping the Trojans’ 23-game unbeaten streak.
When Penick was injured in ’74, classmate Samuel stepped in and was second to Bullock in rushing (525 yards, 5.5 yards per carry) and second to Demmerle in receiving (14 catches). Another backup from the class, Goodman, tied Samuel in receiving in ‘74.
The ‘71 crop featured five offensive line starters, a feat seldom achieved by one recruiting class: tackles Steve Sylvester and Steve Neece, guards Gerry DiNardo and Ed Bauer, and center Steve Quehl.
Sylvester played or started on the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders squads that won three Super Bowls. Neece was a Bengal Bouts finalist, and DiNardo was a consensus All-America pick in 1974. Bauer and Quehl both missed one season with injuries, but started in 1975 for Dan Devine, with Bauer serving as a captain.
The defense was not a complete unit like the offense but it featured five mainstays who were instrumental in Notre Dame’s No. 2 ranking in total defense in 1973 (201.3) and No. 1 in 1974 (195.2).
Tackle Fanning recorded 146 stops his last two seasons (24 for loss) en route to becoming a first-round NFL pick and 10-year NFL player. He also was a finalist for the NCAA heavyweight wrestling title.Nosbusch racked up 136 career tackles and helped replace the injured Niehaus during the ‘73 title run.
Linebacker Collins was a fireball who compiled 277 stops his last two seasons, earned 2nd-team AP All-America notice and was a second-round draft pick.
“I have never been around a kid who had so much joy in making contact,” said George Kelly, who coached the linebackers at Notre Dame from 1969-85. “...I never coached a kid who was better than he was.”
Meanwhile, quarterback recruit Mahalic was shifted to linebacker, where he netted 253 tackles as a three-year starter and was a third-round selection. He reportedly became the first (and maybe still lone) player in the NFL to graduate from Harvard Law School.
This class was thin at defensive back, but Barnett provided three strong years at corner, earning Academic All-America recognition, along with Demmerle, in 1974. His last play at Notre Dame was an interception deep in Irish territory that clinched the two-point win over Alabama in Parseghian’s final game.
DEPTH
Most classes don’t have 16 contributors. This one had 16 full-time starters, most of who were instrumental during Notre Dame’s 11-0 national title campaign in 1973.
Samuel and Goodman provided strong backfield depth, as did Smith at linebacker (44 tackles for the 1973 champs). Quehl and Bauer pushed for starting roles throughout their careers along the offensive line, enhancing the competition, before breaking through as fifth-year seniors in 1975.
Also from this class, tight end Tom Fine, was drafted in the 16th round.
SUMMARY
The offense was the best overall group of recruits assembled during Parseghian’s 11 years, and maybe the best all-around at the school since World War II.
The three elements missing in this class were a tight end, a dominant defensive end, and a fierce safety. Those voids were filled magnificently when Casper shifted from offensive tackle to tight end prior to his senior season in 1973, and 1973 recruits Ross Browner and Luther Bradley became the two greatest impact freshmen in school history.
The No. 4 class (1987) played a more difficult schedule and was an astonishing 11-2 versus Top 10 teams from 1988-90, while the ‘71 group was only 3-3 from 1972-74. But strong classes buoyed that ‘87 haul ahead and behind it, while the ‘71 class had less aid around it.
As seniors, this class “graduated” with Parseghian, who resigned after the 1974 campaign. It was fitting that he departed with his most distinguished haul.
