Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish honor guard hats sit along the wall on the sideline during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
The most celebrated position in Notre Dame football history is the quarterback. Who are the best in the modern era?
Notre Dame football and the quarterback position are a marriage made in heaven. Beano Cook used to say that if you played quarterback at Notre Dame, you always have a shot at the Heisman Trophy. While recent history has proved otherwise in terms of the Heisman, there is no position on any team across the country with more eyeballs and more scrutiny on it.
Throughout the pages of Fighting Irish history, one will find an almost endless supply of tales about the quarterback position and its importance to how Notre Dame became the most storied college football program of all time. Names like Bertelli, Lujack, Hornung and others have not only imprinted their names in record books, but in the hearts of Irish fans everywhere- and they keep the legends alive.
With all that, the position of quarterback isn’t exactly what it used to be, and it is impossible to judge a guy like Bertelli against a guy like Brady Quinn. The difference in style due to the era is just too great to properly weigh the results. With that in mind, we give you a top 10 that is from the modern era, or in simpler terms; from the last 50 years. This will be a much cleaner examination due to the advancement of the position from then to now.
We begin…
Next: The Forgotten Gun Slinger
#10 Steve Beuerlein 1983-1986
It might be easy to forget about Steve Beuerlein and his career at Notre Dame. There were no Heismans for Steve or national championships- or even a decent run at a national championship. He played for a mediocre coach (Gerry Faust) in a mediocre era for Notre Dame football. Still, Beuerlein was able to make a name for himself as he completed one pass after another for the Fighting Irish.
In four years at Notre Dame, Steve played in 42 games and threw for over 6000 yards. His interception numbers are also a bit gaudy- however, it would be a shame to dismiss a guy who played hard for four years as the quarterback of Notre Dame. He had horrible coaching until his senior year when Lou Holtz took over as the head coach, and there didn’t seem to be much “help” around him. Still, Beuerlein left Notre Dame having broken nearly every passing record.
In all honesty, Beuerlein could just as easily have been trumped here by Tommy Rees. There were two “stats” that put him over the top. The first is something without real measure, he was just better and his long career in the NFL proves it so. The second, is that Steve Beuerlein was 4-0 against the USC Trojans- and THAT is one of the ost important and sacred stats to have as a Notre Dame quarterback and no one else has it.
Next: Captain Jack
#9 Jarious Jackson 1996-1999
Jarious Jackson is probably the one name on this list that most of you failed to put forth from your mouths. What a shame that is considering the great quarterback play that Jarious Jackson displayed while wearing a Fighting Irish uniform.
Although it was the 1998 season that saw much more success on the field as that team went 9-3 with victories over Michigan and LSU, it was the 1999 season that saw Jarious Jackson flourish as a passing quarterback that was more than capable of getting yards on the ground as well. Jackson was the lone captain in 1999 (the first time that has happened since Rodney Culver in 1991). Jackson set several single season school records that year with his 2,753 yards being the greatest of them all.
The 1999 season also saw Jackson’s Fighting Irish finish the season 5-7 with losses to Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Boston College, Pitt, and Stanford. However, it was two of those 5 wins that will forever live in the hearts of Notre Dame fans. Those two games are the Oklahoma game and the USC game. The Irish came back from a 16 point deficit in the 3rd quarter to beat the Sooners, and they came back from 21 points down to to the Trojans for a huge win against their biggest rival.
Jackson competed on every single play.
Next: Two Stiff Arms?
#8 Ron Powlus 1994-1997
There is no one in the history of Notre Dame football ( and perhaps only a small handful of players elsewhere) that came to college with more hype and more hope and more expectations than Ron Powlus did when he arrived at Notre Dame from Berwick, Pennsylvania. Beano Cook declared that Ron Powlus would win two Heisman’s while at Notre Dame- which emphatically sealed his fate as an “underachiever” in most people’s eyes.
Powlus had a rough start to his career as he was basically penciled in as the starter his freshman year until a a collarbone injury forced him to redshirt the entire year. Once Powlus got to start at quarterback in the 1994 season, he set all the hype on fire with a 4 touchdown performance against Northwestern.
Despite not winning a sinle Heisman Trophy, Ron Powlus was one hell of a quarterback during his time in South Bend. He was unfairly crowned a god, and never lived up to those expectations. Injuries and some strange offensive play-calling didn’t help his cause. Powlus started 42 games at Notre Dame and thew for over 7,000 yards and 52 touchdowns. When he left Notre Dame he held 20 school records, but he never added an eight Heisman- or a ninth.
Next: Pretty Name
#7 Brady Quinn 2003-2006
Brady Quinn from Dublin, Ohio was right out of central casting for the Fighting Irish. This number 7 ranking might be a great disservice to Quinn’s career while at Notre Dame. After all, his name ended up being plastered all over the record books.
Quinn got his first career start against Purdue in his freshman year, and then went on to start the next 43 games for the Irish. Although he had a rocky road in the first two years under Tyrone Willingham, his game flourished under Charlie Weis. In Quinn’s final two years, he thew for over 7,300 yards 69 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He was a man on fire, and came a “Bush Push” away from locking down what would have been one of the greatest Notre Dame victories of all time- rivaling the 1988 Miami clash and the 1993 Florida State win.
Quinn set 36 different records at Notre Dame before he left that included 10 career marks, 12 single season records, 4 single game records, and 10 other records. What Quinn failed to do was to beat USC and win (or at least play for) a national championship. His rise saw the rise of players like Jeff Samardzija, Maurice Stovall, and another beginning of a string of dominant tight ends.
Next: One Hit Wonder?
#6 Kevin McDougal 1990-1993
When Kevin McDougal entered his senior season at Notre Dame, the signal caller from Pompano Beach, Florida had a mere 21 passing attempts in his career, and he just ot beat out for the starting job by incoming freshman Ron Powlus. Everything changed after Ron Powlus broke his collarbone in camp. McDougal was named the starter and would then go on to have the greatest single season at quarterback in school history.
Although McDougal was a mobile quarterback, he was not a “running” quarterback. After all, Lou Holtz would bring in Paul Failla in goaline situations to run the option. McDougal could distribute the ball like no other quarterback before him at Notre Dame. His 151 passer rating is still a season record.
What sets McDougal apart besides being the ultimate “next man in” story, is what Notre Dame did in the 1993 season. The Irish went on a 10 game winning streak that included wins over #2 Michigan and #1 Florida State in what was called the “Game of the Century” as well as the first game that ESPN went on the road to cover as the genesis to College Gameday. A loss to Boston College via a last second field goal knocked the Irish out of national title contention- despite winning their bowl game. The “champions” were Florida State, and innocence died as voters gave a title to Bowden because he had not yet won one yet.
Next: Golden Boy
#5 Rick Mirer 1989-1992
Rick Mirer truly was the Golden Boy for Notre Dame. Rick Mirer, the son of a high school football coach in Goshen Indiana, amassed 29 wins in 3 seasons as the starter for Notre Dame and had the dubious task of taking over for Tony Rice after Rice had won a title and who went 24-1 in two years.
Mirer was somewhat soft spoken, but he was loud in play as he lead some of the most talented Notre Dame teams in history to a large number of big wins. When Mirer left Notre Dame, he held the record for touchdons and was 2nd all time in total offense. He had accounted for more points running and throwing than any other player in Fighting Irish history.
One of the great tragedies of the Rick Mirer story is that of his legacy. Mirer was drafted #2 overall by the Seattle Seahawks and had a rookie of the year season. However, he sharply fell off and is now considered one of the greatest draft busts of all time. As awful as that sounds, his true legacy will always reside in South Bend as he captained some great Irish teams.
Next: Name Change?
#4 Joe Theismann 1967-1970
By just a couple years, Joe Theismann makes this list for the past 50 years. Joe came in for an injured Terry Hanratty and won a few games at the end of the season for the Irish. Joe was a true pocket passer for the Irish and established himself as a national threat with the ball in his hands.
Theismann only lost three games as a starter for the Irish, and won 20. Theisman set single season records for yards and touchdowns for the Irish, and in one game- one GIGANTIC game against the rival USC Trojans, he threw for 526 yards. 526 yards in an era when 300 yards was jaw-dropping.
One of Joe’s bigger claims to fame is when he changed his name a bit his senior year to rhyme with “Heisman” as he and the school were making a big push to bring the Heisman Trophy back to Notre Dame. Sadly, the other most well known thing about Joe was how his playing career ended with a gruesome leg injury after being sacked by Lawrence Taylor. Despite all of this, in South Bend he was and is known as a wizard with the football and made all the trows he needed.
Next: A Winner
#3 Tony Rice 1986-1989
Tony Rice doesn’t hold any passing records for the Irish, and that doesn’t matter. In fact, the most impressive number that pertains to Rice is “48.” Rice was a Prop 48 player and had to sit out his freshman year. In today’s world he would have never been a student at Notre Dame. The fact remains, however, is that he made it to Notre Dame and he made it at Notre Dame.
Rice led Notre Dame to a 24-1 record in the 1988 and 1989 seasons and helped the Irish win a national title in 1988. That 1988 season was magical and holds the Miami victory and another HUGE win over the #2 ranked Trojans in Los Angeles. That year saw Notre Dame get wins over the #1, #2, and #3 ranked teams in the country.
Rice was a true leader on the field and equally dangerous. His running ability was exactly what Lou Holtz wanted to help run the option style offense that he employed, but he could do more than enough with his arm to connect with some of the most dangerous targets in Notre Dame history in guys like Raghib Ismail and Ricky Watters. Rice will forever be a legend at Notre Dame and deservedly belongs in a debate for #1 on this list with career record and championship ring.
Next: A Stretch
#2 Jimmy Clausen 2007-2009
When Jimmy Clausen arrived to the College Football Hall of Fame in a stretched Hummer limo and announced his decision to play for Notre Dame, he basically made every non Notre Dame fan in the country hate him. Heck, he made about half of the Notre Dame fanbase hate him as well. You may hate me right now for putting him on this list and at #2 no less. Trust me, I had a hard time not putting him at #1.
As far as a pure passing quarterback goes, Notre Dame has never seen nor may ever see again the likes of Jimmy Clausen. He was the most accurate quarterback the Irish have ever fielded. He didn’t win enough for you? well, he was on one of the worst teams that Notre Dame has ever seen, and his offensive line during his career should be charged with attempted murder.
Through it all, Jimmy Clausen never once complained and never once looked like the prima donna that everyone made him out to be. In fact, a great many of Jimmy’s former teammates have done nothing but ding his praises as a teammate. His junior year was a thing of beauty as he racked up 3,722 yards passing, 68.8% completion rate, 161.42 passer rating, 28 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. If only he had a defense (or a running game or an offensive line).
Next: The Best
#1 Joe Montana 1974-1978
There could be some debate about this position, but not any doubt. The greatest quarterback in the last 50 years at Notre Dame is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time- college and in the NFL. It was at Notre Dame where Montana created and cultivated his legend as one of the greatest of all time and in particular, one of the greatest comeback players of all time.
Montana kept winning games that could have been in the loss column with comeback wins over the like of Clemson, Air Force, Purdue, and one of the most famous games; the 1979 Cotton Bowl against Houston, also known as the Chicken Soup Bowl (you know the legend).
If there was one simple way to decide which quarterback should own this top spot, it would be “who would you want?” Who would you want to be playing quarterback for the Irish when they needed a win- or a comeback win at that? Who will wake up the echoes and make that Irish magic spring forth from their hands. Although I stick by the statement about Clausen being the greatest passer on this list, there is no one I (or any of you- admit it) would want tossing the ball for the win than Joe Montana.