In all of the celebration of the great recruiting news of the last 24 hours a number of posters on another ND site (which I am not a member) are revisiting the great frosh class of 1973 (Browner, Bradley, Fry). It was a great class and this recent news does make one thing back about those players- but it wasn't the first year of freshmen eligibility as numerous posters at that site claim.
The first class of frosh eligibility was the year before- 1972. The first freshman to start his first game at ND was Steve Niehaus DT (not Browner and Bradley the next year). Niehaus was so good in his first 4 games as a starter that Sports Illustrated send a photographer to take his picture for the next cover of SI (along with a planned feature article). After the photographer had taken the picture and left practice, Niehaus blew out his knee in a non contact drill and was lost for the season (SI cover jinx struck again). When SI was told that Niehaus was out for the year it cancelled the article-no cover, no article.
Art Best was also a freshmen in 1972. In his first carry of his career he went 56 yds for a TD against PITT. His next two carries were both for no gain but on his 4th carry (vs TCU) Best went 57 yds for a TD. Four carries/ 113 yds/ 2 tds. Not a bad start.
The first class of frosh eligibility was the year before- 1972. The first freshman to start his first game at ND was Steve Niehaus DT (not Browner and Bradley the next year). Niehaus was so good in his first 4 games as a starter that Sports Illustrated send a photographer to take his picture for the next cover of SI (along with a planned feature article). After the photographer had taken the picture and left practice, Niehaus blew out his knee in a non contact drill and was lost for the season (SI cover jinx struck again). When SI was told that Niehaus was out for the year it cancelled the article-no cover, no article.
Art Best was also a freshmen in 1972. In his first carry of his career he went 56 yds for a TD against PITT. His next two carries were both for no gain but on his 4th carry (vs TCU) Best went 57 yds for a TD. Four carries/ 113 yds/ 2 tds. Not a bad start.