Manti's rank

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

Where would you rank Manti among the all time greatest irish players top 5? top 10? top 15?

 

[greyhammer90]

Where would you rank Manti among the all time greatest irish players top 5? top 10? top 15?

He's got 8 games left. Those will decide it for me. He's top 20 right now at least. For ND that's amazing enough.

 

[Ironman8]

Where would you rank Manti among the all time greatest irish players top 5? top 10? top 15?

I'm inclined to let the season play out before I try to rank Manti. His ranking as a person, leader, and face of a program are hard to beat though.

 

[jason_h537]

I am too young to answer this. Definitely the best LB i have ever seen at ND.

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

these last 8 games will be interesting i cant wait to see how manti plays against Oklahoma, Stanford and usc

 

[Grahambo]

I am too young to answer this. Definitely the best LB i have ever seen at ND.

Same here. I'm only 26 so the best ND football was before me. I'm sure my Pops would be better able to answer as will some of the more senior members of this world.

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

im only 19 but i still know a lot of the history but i should ask my grandpa kinsey. hes been a fan since for 70+ years

 

[jason_h537]

im only 19 but i still know a lot of the history but i should ask my grandpa kinsey. hes been a fan since for 70+ years

I know history too but it is one thing to know Jim Brown was great and another thing to have seen his greatness. I know my fair share of ND history but I can only go off of what I have seen.

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

I know history too but it is one thing to know Jim Brown was great and another thing to have seen his greatness. I know my fair share of ND history but I can only go off of what I have seen.

you have a point there.

 

[Dizzyphil]

funny how time can work for you or against you.... you guys that are in your 20s that was not able to see Rocky Boiman, Cedric Figaro, Jeff Alm, Luther Bradley to name a few that played defense for the Irish really missed on some good hitters that played with heart. I know there is nothing you can do about it but maybe research to see if there are archives online and see how they played but, these guys were one of a kind. There are plenty more, but these were the guys that my father, grand-father and uncle used to scream when they made plays.

To sit on the hardwood floor in the early 70's beside my Grandfather and Dad and watch the Irish play in 70's was surreal. Everybody talked about two teams in the 70's and it was the Irish and Alabama. And we had the Tide's number even in 1980 to end the 70's and Bear Bryant was PISSED!!!!!!

1980 Alabama 0 - Notre Dame 7
1976 Alabama 18 - Notre Dame 21
1975 Alabama 11 - Notre Dame 13 !! Orange Bowl !!
1973 Alabama 23 - Notre Dame 24 !! Sugar Bowl !!


Diz

 

[irishfanjho15]

The Bear never beat the Irish. I always bring this up when people want to compare the Tide to ND historically.

0-4

 

[Bubba]

funny how time can work for you or against you.... you guys that are in your 20s that was not able to see Rocky Boiman, Cedric Figaro, Jeff Alm, Luther Bradley to name a few that played defense for the Irish really missed on some good hitters that played with heart. I know there is nothing you can do about it but maybe research to see if there are archives online and see how they played but, these guys were one of a kind. There are plenty more, but these were the guys that my father, grand-father and uncle used to scream when they made plays.

To sit on the hardwood floor in the early 70's beside my Grandfather and Dad and watch the Irish play in 70's was surreal. Everybody talked about two teams in the 70's and it was the Irish and Alabama. And we had the Tide's number even in 1980 to end the 70's and Bear Bryant was PISSED!!!!!!

1980 Alabama 0 - Notre Dame 7
1976 Alabama 18 - Notre Dame 21
1975 Alabama 11 - Notre Dame 13 !! Orange Bowl !!
1973 Alabama 23 - Notre Dame 24 !! Sugar Bowl !!


Diz

Hard to believe you included Boiman in this... not because he wasn't good, but because that was only about 10 years ago! Of course, if you're only 20 then you were probably in 4th or 5th grade!! Damn I feel old.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Hard to believe you included Boiman in this... not because he wasn't good, but because that was only about 10 years ago! Of course, if you're only 20 then you were probably in 4th or 5th grade!! Damn I feel old.

Man, I loved Boiman. Dude had a nasty streak and laid the wood. Remember him playing for the Titans and Colts also. Won a ring with the horses.

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

i can't believe the bear was 0-4 against ND love it tho haha.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Hard to believe you included Boiman in this... not because he wasn't good, but because that was only about 10 years ago! Of course, if you're only 20 then you were probably in 4th or 5th grade!! Damn I feel old.

just trying to give a wide spectrum, we know Manti will go down in the books - there is no doubt. He is definitely one of the top 5, 4, 3, 2, possibly best people to ever be at ND. But to grade someone to be the best Linebacker or defensive player at ND is really, really hard to do - IMO. There have been so many for 125 years. Someone would have to do some very good, extensive research to make that decision.

Diz

 

[phillyirish]

I would say top 10 for sure. The guys is not only the best Notre Dame player in a generation (at least 20 years), he is also seems to be starting something special in his last year with the Irish.

I say top 10 now because you have to at least consider the 7 Heisman winners, and remember Rocket Ismail is widely considered one of the top 100 player EVER. However after this year is over, and remember we still got 8 games plus a bowl left, we will now for sure. At the very least he is the starting MLB in the All-time Irish Squad. Not looking to far ahead, one game at a time. Lets see Manti up his legacy by demolishing Stephon Morris this saturday.

 

[irishfanjho15]

I'll be 28 in December so I only have since really 1987 to compare, because that is when I first remember watching games. But my Dad says Manti is as great if not greater than Bob Crable was. That's some rarefied air.

 

[woolybug25]

Per ESPN:

Speaking of which, Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te'o has five turnovers, more than 19 FBS teams, including Michigan (four) and No. 17 Oklahoma (somehow, only one).

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Tough question. I have to see how he finishes the great start he got off to this season. Such an outstanding young man.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

It would be very difficult to compare Manti's on-field performance to ND's past greats.

But when you consider where the program was at when Manti committed, and what he's done to help rebuild the program, one could easily argue that he's among the most significant players to ever put on an Irish uniform. If ND is truly "back", history will look kindly on Manti as one of the cornerstones of this turnaround.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

It is really hard to compare the greatness of past and present ND players. The school has more consensus All Americans than any other program and has 7 Heisman Trophy winners.

 

[TDHeysus]

its very difficult to try and put a number on it, whether he is #1, #4, top 15, or whatever...but what I have been saying the last few weeks to anyone who will listen, and to my USC co-workers is that Manti Te'o has achieved true 'Legend' status at Notre Dame, he transcends football at ND. Manti is up there with all the Legends of ND past. I cant say where he ranks, but he is in the club. His legendary status is all but cemented and he can only add to it from here on out.

 

[ACamp1900]

All time Linebacker... or All Time player period???

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

its very difficult to try and put a number on it, whether he is #1, #4, top 15, or whatever...but what I have been saying the last few weeks to anyone who will listen, and to my USC co-workers is that Manti Te'o has achieved true 'Legend' status at Notre Dame, he transcends football at ND. Manti is up there with all the Legends of ND past. I cant say where he ranks, but he is in the club. His legendary status is all but cemented and he can only add to it from here on out.

Here, Here! I agree 100%!

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

i say top 10

 

[Dizzyphil]

I believe it becomes a mixture that includes personal tastes as well (from a fan perspective that is). Stats will show tackles, tackles for losses, sacks, take-aways etc.... but stats do not show heart, playing when hurt or fatigued, or playing with heart-ache, or just plain, good hustle that created a play for a teammate. So to say that Teo is the best linebacker ever at ND or top - whatever number - is going to have to include a lot of variables outside of statistics.

My 2-cents,

Diz

p.s. I love Manti Teo too. So frikin glad he has been Irish - for 4 years!!!!!!!

 

[ACamp1900]

He's one of my favs but so is Autry Denson... I would put Denson on my all time top five favs... but nowhere near my all time top ten PLAYERS... this is Notre Dame guys... seriously...

 

[stlnd01]

I would say top 10 for sure. The guys is not only the best Notre Dame player in a generation (at least 20 years), he is also seems to be starting something special in his last year with the Irish.

It's so hard to compare across eras and positions, but I think it's certainly fair to say he's our best defensive player since at least Chris Zorich. Maybe best overall since Bettis (though I think you could make an argument for Michael Floyd, among others).

But if we go to a BCS bowl this year on his shoulders, and especially if the culture he's helping to build within the team lasts long after his departure (by instilling it in today's freshmen and sophomores and even recruits), then, yes, he's be on the very short list over a much longer period of time.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

I think we will understand how big a force he has been next year.

 

[ND101]

As much as I love Manti. This is is silly talk. Top ten ever? Come on man this is Notre Dame long list of great ones who one ships.