Notre Dame’s Top Classes: No. 10

The class ratings were based on 1) impact on the program through production, championship contention and talent level of other classes around them, 2) balance at the various positions and 3) overall depth in number of major producers.

THE 1965 RECRUITING CLASS

Players Originally Signed: Approximately 28

Record At Notre Dame From 1966-68: 24-4-2 (.833)

Associated Press Final Rankings: No. 1 (1966), No. 5 (1967), No. 5 (1968)

Leaders In The Lineup

Quarterbacks: Terry Hanratty, Coley O’Brien

Halfbacks: Bob Gladieux, O’Brien (as senior)

Fullback: Ron Dushney

Wide Receiver: Jim Seymour

Tight End: Jim Winegardner

Offensive Line: George Kunz, Tom McKinley, Tim Monty

Defensive Line: Bob Kuechenberg (offense as sophomore), Eric Norri, Charles Lauck

Linebacker: Joe Freebery

Punter: Gladieux (part time)

IMPACT

In 1965, the Notre Dame team that finished 7-2-1 and No. 9 in the Associated Press poll had all the ingredients to be a national champ except one: a passing attack. Had freshmen eligibility been a part of college football back then, Hanratty and Seymour might have been the starting quarterback and split end, respectively, and the Irish might have finished No. 1.

They had to wait a year later to explode onto the scene, making the cover of Time magazine while helping the veteran-laden Irish squad to the 1966 national title and re-writing the Irish record books in career passing.

Furthermore, when Hanratty was injured early the “Game of the Century” at No. 2 Michigan State in 1966, fellow sophomore O’Brien stepped in and rallied the Irish, highlighted by a 34-yard TD strike to another sophomore, Gladieux. In that same game, sophomore center Monty — all 6-0, 198 pounds of him — had to replace the injured George Goeddeke at center and deal with All-American Bubba Smith.

The next week, O’Brien, Seymour, Kuechenberg and Monty helped the Irish to a 51-0 win at Pac-8 champ USC to clinch the national title. Eight members of this class would start on a record-setting offense as juniors or seniors, and four more started on defense.

The best player in the class was offensive tackle Kunz, the No. 2 pick in the 1969 NFL Draft (behind O.J. Simpson). He started for the 1966 champs before getting injured and replaced by classmate Kuechenberg — and both are Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates.

BALANCE

There is an imbalance with twice as many stars on offense. Even though Kuechenberg would become an All-Pro at offensive guard, he started his last two seasons at Notre Dame (1967-68) at defensive end, filling a void on that side of the ball. Also starting on the defensive line with him from this class in those last two years were Norri and Lauck. Linebacker Freebery was the other starter.

Offensively, the 1968 unit set a record for points per game in a season at Notre Dame that still stands (37.6) and finished second nationally in yards per game (504.4) with eight starters. The entire starting backfield of Hanratty, Gladieux, Dushney and O’Brien was from this class, including moving O’Brien to halfback. The top five receivers also were from this group. Gladieux was one of Ara Parseghian’s most productive backs, rushing for 713 yards and 12 scores as a senior while also catching 37 passes for 442 yards and two scores. Dushney rushed for 540 yards and 5.0 per carry as a senior, and O’Brien 314 at 4.9 yards per pop. Kunz, McKinley and Monty helped pave the way at tackle, guard and center, respecitvely

The one area lacking a starter from this class was the defensive backfield, yet backup Tom Quinn was tabbed by the Chicago Bears with the 325th pick.

DEPTH

Eleven players from this class were drafted by the NFL, including reserves Quinn, linebacker John Lavin, offensive guard Ed Tuck and No. 3 quarterback Bob Belden — who was on the Dallas Cowboys roster for a couple of seasons.

SUMMARY

Overall, this group had a combination of star power (Kunz, Kuechenberg, Seymour and Hanratty) to complement top college players such as Gladieux, Winegardner , McKinley and many others, plus quality depth.

The Irish finished in the top five all three of their varsity seasons. In their senior year, they opened with a 45-21 rout of No. 5 Oklahoma and closed with a 21-21 tie at No. 1 USC.

Another reason we put them in the top 10 is the classes that were recruited before (1964) and after (1966-67) were average by Notre Dame standards. Each had four to six players drafted, whereas this one had 11 — plus other college starters — and had to carry the program a little more in the latter part of the 1960s.