Who are the 5 Greatest ND receivers

[obi wan mahoney]

With one of them, Floyd, about to play his last game in ND stadium, I thought it would be appropriate to start a thread about the five greatest ND receivers and why. I'm not set on my list, but here's what I have so far...
1. Brown
2. Ismail
3. Floyd
4. Tate
5. Samardzija
Why?
Brown-great receiver and special teams threat.
Rocket-big play guy with explosive speed and a winner.
Floyd-he's put up great numbers and has learned how to do the little things well.
Tate- is on my list based on stats.
Samardzija- big numbers and a clutch playmaker.
What's your take?

 

[tadman95]

I like, wouldn't change a thing

 

[irishog77]

Shaq Evans prolly belongs on that list.

 

[NDPhilly]

Shaq Evans prolly belongs on that list.

U mean this guy? Lol

 

[obi wan mahoney]

You're right; Evans should be in the #2 or 3 slot. He did big things for us.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

It's hard to fairly compare WRs pre- and post- Weis.

Jim Seymour and Jack Snow set records that are especially impressive based on the era in which they were set.

 

[Veer option]

2. Ismail
3. Floyd
4. Tate
5. Samardzija

A much better list would be receivers who Notre Dame has had which did not make your cut. The Irish have several good to great receivers who didnt put up big numbers due to Notre Dames triple option.

 

[obi wan mahoney]

Yeah, let's start that thread right after I start my thread about the best fullbacks of the Kelly era.

 

[Veer option]

Yeah, let's start that thread right after I start my thread about the best fullbacks of the Kelly era.

 

[Junkhead]

1. Floyd
2. Brown
3. Tate
4. Samardzija
5. Derrick Mayes?

I know Tim Brown won the Heisman, but purely on receiving skills, I'm comfortable with Floyd #1.

 

[Patulski]

In historical order by era:

1. Leon Hart
2. Jack Snow-Jim Seymour-Tom Gatewood
3. Tim Brown-Rocket-Derrick Mayes
5. Golden Tate-Mike Floyd

 

[Whiskeyjack]

In historical order by era:

1. Leon Hart
2. Jack Snow-Jim Seymour-Tom Gatewood
3. Tim Brown-Rocket-Derrick Mayes
5. Golden Tate-Mike Floyd

/thread

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Where's the love for Lake Dawson?

 

[kmoose]

Where's the love for Lake Dawson?

Screw Lake Dawson. No love for Dave Casper? I mean, Casper is only a Hall of Famer!!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Threads like this make my head hurt. What's the criteria? Glibly going for the most recent guys and ignoring someone like Hart, is like making a list of greatest baseball hitters and ignoring Williams or greatest sluggers and ignoring Ruth. Hart literally and physically TOWERED over the college game.

Even in my own day, after the Big Man was in the pros, we had a two-time All-American wide receiver [and violently successful defensive end; and one of the best field goal, kick-off specialists; and a dozen year starter with the 49ers] named Monte Stickles. We didn't just run Nick Pietrosanti into the line every play. Stickles wasn't a two-time All-American because he blocked well [he did that too].

How many two-time All-Americans have we had at receiver? Maybe that's a criterion to begin with before our prejudices take over. P.S., even in 1959, Stickles was a 6'4", 235 end with a very bad attitude. Even on that criterion most of the guys mentioned wouldn't have wanted any piece of him --- can't imagine what sort of "thing" he'd have become with the modern methods behind him.

 

[obi wan mahoney]

Well, I was trying to come up with wide receivers; Casper would find his way on my tight end top five even though he spent half of his time at ND as a tackle.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Threads like this make my head hurt. What's the criteria? Glibly going for the most recent guys and ignoring someone like Hart, is like making a list of greatest baseball hitters and ignoring Williams or greatest sluggers and ignoring Ruth. Hart literally and physically TOWERED over the college game.

Even in my own day, after the Big Man was in the pros, we had a two-time All-American wide receiver [and violently successful defensive end; and one of the best field goal, kick-off specialists; and a dozen year starter with the 49ers] named Monte Stickles. We didn't just run Nick Pietrosanti into the line every play. Stickles wasn't a two-time All-American because he blocked well [he did that too].

How many two-time All-Americans have we had at receiver? Maybe that's a criterion to begin with before our prejudices take over. P.S., even in 1959, Stickles was a 6'4", 235 end with a very bad attitude. Even on that criterion most of the guys mentioned wouldn't have wanted any piece of him --- can't imagine what sort of "thing" he'd have become with the modern methods behind him.

Stickles was a dirty player.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

As some others mentioned, Derrick Mayes has to be on the list. In Weis/Kelly offense, his numbers would have been bigger than they already were.

Not that either of these guys would have made the list, I'm not arguing that, but wish we couldve seen numbers that Stovall/McKnight combo could have put up with the right coach/stayed healthy

 

[Old Man Mike]

Yes, Stickles WAS a dirty player. I used to even get over to the side of the sidewalk when he was walking down it [his mentality seemed just erratic enough that I wasn't sure what he was capable of]. I told the story of him veering off after a kickoff to slam down a Navy tackle and just punch the crap out him on the ground, earlier on this board.

He would not make my list of wide receivers I would take to dinner. But I can compartmentalize my mind to just go with the question asked. If however the inquiry was for the best Notre Dame receivers who were also gentlemen, then that mad dog wouldn't make my list.

Two things about that Navy play: the student body egged him on specifically, yelling the tackle's number right at him when he turned towards us before kicking off [I plead innocence on that]. Secondly, despite being the most overtly egregious unsportsmanlike action that I've ever seen out of an ND player, no flag was thrown. He was not playing around, the tackle had to leave the game.

 

[irish1958]

A guy by the name of Rockne wasn't too shabby.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Shark

 

[tussin]

Personally, Shark > Tate

 

[palinurus]

Ken McAfee was excellent. But I agree it's impossible to compare across eras. I also have a soft spot for Robin Weber and Mark Bavaro.......

 

[Riddickulous]

In no order:

Wayne Millner
Jim Seymour
Tim Brown
Golden Tate
Michael Floyd

Honorable Mention:

Jack Snow
Tom Gatewood
Rocket Ismail
Derrick Mayes
Jeff Samardzija

 

[obi wan mahoney]

With all of these tight ends mentioned, it seems that we will have to do a top 5 TE list someday

 

[choo choo]

Screw Lake Dawson. No love for Dave Casper? I mean, Casper is only a Hall of Famer!!

hell to the yeah...love the list but love casper

 

[choo choo]

hmm..would have to go:

brown
floyd
shark
mayes
tate

rocket, stoval, casper, snow

 

[Old Man Mike]

To Riddickulous: My Dad would have loved your inclusion of Wayne Millner. He was one of his "associates" at ND [since Dad roomed with Andy Pilney, and Pilney, Millner, and Bill Shakespeare were the stars].

 

[rocket66]

Personally, Shark > Tate

Fo sho.

 

[mrmiller8]

Brown
Ismail
Floyd
Tate
Samardzja

This only takes into account pure receiving ability, not special teams. Otherwise Tate would prolly be ahead of floyd...

Top 5 Tight Ends
Fasano
Carlson
Rudolph
Casper
Eifert (I know its early but this dude is a stud, watched him play in high school and he was dominant on both sides of the football.)