Best Player in Notre Dame History?
All the names mention are notable but the Best Player in ND history was noted in the first post.
Only two players are listed on both the Greatest ND Offensive Players of All Time and Greatest ND Defensive Players of All-Time.
Leon Hart is a Second Team Tight End and a Second Team Defensive End on those lists.
George Gipp is the First Team Halfback , the First Team Kicker, and the First Team Free Safety.
Gipp only played in 27 games as Rockne had to talk him into playing football his freshman Fall. Gipp had not played HS football. Despite only 27 games Gipp rushed for 2341 career yds on 369 attempts and scored 21 TDs. His career rushing total was the record at ND for 58 years til Jerome Heavens broke it in 1978. His 6.3 career ypc is 3rd best in ND history. He averaged 8.1 ypc as a senior.
He broke his leg as a freshman, scored a TD with a dislocated shoulder as a junior.
Gipp ran for big yardage, completed over 50% of his passes, punted, returned kick offs and punts, kicked PATS and FGs and was a shutdown Free Safety as a 60 minute man.
He was an every down player.
Against Army as a Senior, a month before he died, he rushed for 150 yds, passed for 123 and a TD, has 207 yds on kick returns, kicked 3 PATs and averaged over 43 yds punting. In his career he handled the ball 594 times and gained 4781 yds.
I went to college near his hometown-on Saturday's before BIG games I would go out to his grave. A very moving experience!
