BGIF is Older than I am.
Here's a random story: when I was a senior, and suffering with Joe Kuharich's inability to assess talent, the Notre Dame fans were in hysterical joy that Kuharich had recruited the Elephant Backfield --- so huge that no one would be able to stop us. It was going to be a return to paradise for as long as we had Paul Costa and Jim Snowdon at halfback and fullback, and Frank Budka at quarterback.
So, Budka/Costa/Snowdon came to save us. Budka was installed at Quarterback replacing the obviously incompetent Daryle Lamonica ... yep, you heard correctly. Lamonica, the veteran, was backup to Budka. Budka dazzled us by being intercepted EVERY SEVEN PASS ATTEMPTS that year. {Lamonica was picked once every 13}. The following season {"I gone"} some sanity was restored, Lamonica put up NFL numbers and Budka was fourth string.
Costa [6'6", 235] and Snowden [6'5",250] could not beat out Mike Lind or Angelo Dabiero [Angelo was one helluva football player at 5'8" max {I played BBall against him and I think he was closer to 5'6"} and 160 pounds]. Costa, a future all-star NFLer at TE caught one pass for minus nine yards. Ah, yes, salvation indeed. We went 5 and 5 with a great senior class [Nick Buoniconti's] and finished with a losing record for my four year stretch --- the second class in ND history to do so, I believe.
When Parseghian came in, these guys were still there as seniors. Ara looked them over and thought: you know, that guy Costa doesn't look like a running back to me, let's try him at tight end. Several seasons later, and NFL stardom for the Buffalo Bills, Big Paul became one of the first of Notre Dame's assembly line productions at "Tight End U".
Ara then looked at Snowden and said: You know that guy doesn't look like a running back either. Let's try him at Offensive Tackle. After a decade of starting for the Washington Redskins at OT, Snowden became an original "Hog".
Then he turned his eye on Budka. Now Frank Budka wasn't a terrible football player by a long shot, but Ara thought that we might do a little better. Buried on our roster was a young fellow named John Huarte. ... and the rest is history.
When you guys are whining and crying about Kelly, Longo, Heistand et al, reflect a bit on what bad coaching REALLY looks like, and do me a favor and zip it up.
Upon "retiring", Kuharich found his true calling --- and joined the NFL officials, where he was quite good.