RIP Paul Hornung...

[Some Irish Bloke]

Sad news, gentlemen. *uck 2020. RIP, Golden Boy.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1327301409570697217

 

[zelezo vlk]

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord

 

[gkIrish]

Legend. RIP

 

[GowerND11]

Sad, sad news. RIP to a legend

 

[Irish#1]

RIP Golden Boy

 

[Bishop2b5]

I was happy to see him join the Nissan Heisman House commercials a year or so ago and be part of that. Hornung was a legend on several levels.

 

[Irishize]

Damn. Rest In Peace Golden Boy.

Paul was from Louisville & his mom wanted him to go to ND like any good Catholic mom. Paul, however; knew that ND was not coed (at the time) and preferred chasing tail.

Luckily mom won out and the rest is history. Paul was the last (& probably only) player to ever win the Heisman while playing for a team w/ a losing record. That was in an era when one could make a claim that ND got more love than other programs from the media b/c of their national appeal.

The guy ran the ball, passed the ball & kicked the ball for ND. He beat out Jim Brown & Johnny Majors for the Heisman.

He then turned in a HOF career for the Packers. Lombardi would reference Hornung when explaining that with some players, he had to kick them in the ass while with others responded better w/ a pat on the ass. That’s coaching in a nutshell.

 

[ulukinatme]

You guys did something right, you educated Koon on Hornung a few years ago. Pretty sure he posts from the Knute account:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In 1956, Heisman trophy winner Paul Hornung led ND in passing, rushing, scoring, punt and kick returns, passes defended, and punting yards. He also was 2nd on the team in interceptions and tackles.<br><br>He was 1961 NFL MVP and a 4 time NFL champion.<br><br>RIP Golden Boy</p>— Knute Rockne (@Rocknes_Ghost) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rocknes_Ghost/status/1327318645983178752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Paul Hornung's 176 points scored in 1960 is still the second highest scoring total for a season in NFL history, which is especially impressive considering it was done in a 12 game season. <br><br>The only season with more points scored was Ladanian Tomlinson in 2006 (16 game season)</p>— Knute Rockne (@Rocknes_Ghost) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rocknes_Ghost/status/1327322148881395712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[NorthDakota]

Paul Hornung is a national treasure and deserves a 30 for 30 all his own

 

[Irishize]

Paul Hornung is a national treasure and deserves a 30 for 30 all his own

That would be a great idea as he was never really out of the public eye until his latter years when his health was likely deteriorating.

 

[irishtrain]

As a kid this guy was one of my hero's and I loved his commentary with Roberts --God bless Mr Hornng the Golden Boy would like to see a 5 on the sleeve next week.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Damn. Rest In Peace Golden Boy.

Paul was from Louisville & his mom wanted him to go to ND like any good Catholic mom. Paul, however; knew that ND was not coed (at the time) and preferred chasing tail.

Luckily mom won out and the rest is history. Paul was the last (& probably only) player to ever win the Heisman while playing for a team w/ a losing record. That was in an era when one could make a claim that ND got more love than other programs from the media b/c of their national appeal.

The guy ran the ball, passed the ball & kicked the ball for ND. He beat out Jim Brown & Johnny Majors for the Heisman.

He then turned in a HOF career for the Packers. Lombardi would reference Hornung when explaining that with some players, he had to kick them in the ass while with others responded better w/ a pat on the ass. That’s coaching in a nutshell.

With all due respect, back then they voted the Heisman like it was supposed to be voted on - 'The most outstanding football player'.


Now they vote for differently.



No disrespect to your post... just a different time and how they voted on the winner.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

How much of a wild man did you have to be back then to be widely known for it? It's not like there was Twitter or camera phones.

 

[Classic Irish]

With all due respect, back then they voted the Heisman like it was supposed to be voted on - 'The most outstanding football player'.


Now they vote for differently.



No disrespect to your post... just a different time and how they voted on the winner.

For all intents and purposes ESPN chooses the Heisman winner now.

 

[philipm31]

Paul Hornung is a national treasure and deserves a 30 for 30 all his own

Absolutely.

 

[philipm31]

How much of a wild man did you have to be back then to be widely known for it? It's not like there was Twitter or camera phones.

Yeah, everyone always talks about Joe Namath as being wild, yet Paul was likely wilder or just as wild.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Yeah, everyone always talks about Joe Namath as being wild, yet Paul was likely wilder or just as wild.

There's an awesome book called "When Pride Still Mattered" written about Vince Lombardi, it's a fascinating read.

Paul Hornung is obviously talked about a lot during Lombardi's Packers' years. The guy just loved to be social and hit the town, no matter where they were. Lombardi was known as a strict disciplinarian with his team with a strict curfew but he always looked the other way for The Golden Boy. No doubt he was his favorite, for a man who didn't pick favorites. Certainly gave him a long leash.

Hornung even got drafted to the Army the week ahead of the Super Bowl, so Vince Lombardi called President Kennedy who gave him an extension so that "both teams can play at their best."

Sounded like quite the guy. I still love that they featured him in the Heisman House commercials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbqY_1A0T3c

 

[Irishize]

With all due respect, back then they voted the Heisman like it was supposed to be voted on - 'The most outstanding football player'.


Now they vote for differently.



No disrespect to your post... just a different time and how they voted on the winner.

None taken. Your point is fair and I think the criticism towards that particular Heisman race is revisionist history as members of the press & other pundits like to look back and lazily claim Hornung won b/c he was at ND and how could anyone beat the great Jim Brown.

Look to how it’s devolved as it now seems to be the most prolific QB on a CFP contending team (save for the occasional Bama RB the past decade).

 

[Irishize]

For all intents and purposes ESPN chooses the Heisman winner now.

I agree. And worse, they hold some sway in the CFP. Watch this weekend how they pump up tOSU’s win over Indiana. Someone will inevitably point out how down the B1G is this year and that’s when the “eye test” talk will shift into high gear. I can’t believe there’s minimal debate that any B1G or P12 team should be viewed as if they played 11 regular season games.

 

[philipm31]

There's an awesome book called "When Pride Still Mattered" written about Vince Lombardi, it's a fascinating read.

Paul Hornung is obviously talked about a lot during Lombardi's Packers' years. The guy just loved to be social and hit the town, no matter where they were. Lombardi was known as a strict disciplinarian with his team with a strict curfew but he always looked the other way for The Golden Boy. No doubt he was his favorite, for a man who didn't pick favorites. Certainly gave him a long leash.

Hornung even got drafted to the Army the week ahead of the Super Bowl, so Vince Lombardi called President Kennedy who gave him an extension so that "both teams can play at their best."

Sounded like quite the guy. I still love that they featured him in the Heisman House commercials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbqY_1A0T3c

I think I read that book way back in the day, as I think it delved into the Red Blaik connection that Lombardi had, as well. Is that the right book?

That Army staff, IIRC, was stacked. Landry and Lombardi, I believe, were on the staff at the same time.