Three From Notre Dame On Ballot For College Football Hall Of Fame

In Notre Dame’s football history, there have been 16 two-time consensus All-Americans, and four of them are not in the College Football Hall of Fame. Two of those four are among 75 members on the ballot this year that was released on Wednesday: linebacker Bob Crable (1978-81) and offensive lineman Aaron Taylor (1992-93).

That duo joined receiver/tailback/return man Raghib “Rocket” Ismail (1988-90) on this year’s ballot, of which about 12 to 15 players are annually selected. The announcement of those elected will be announced Jan. 6, 2017.

The two other Notre Dame two-time consensus All-Americans not on this year’s ballot are cornerback Todd Lyght (1987-90) — who was one of the nominess in 2016 — and 1986-90 linebacker Michael Stonebreaker.

Among the criteria to be eligible, a player must have been named first-team All-America by an NCAA recognized source — thereby making someone such as Joe Montana, an AP honorable mention choice in 1978, ineligible — not played a college game in at least 10 years and he can no longer be playing in the pros.

Three other national title/first-team All-America quarterbacks at Notre Dame — Terry Hanratty (1966), Tom Clements (1973) and Tony Rice (1988) — also are not in the Hall and less likely to make it it because of sheer numbers and statistics that are dwarfed by today’s game.

Other Notre Dame luminaries not on the ballot this year include 1969 consensus All-America defensive tackle Mike McCoy, 1971 Lombardi Award winner consensus All-America Walt Patulski, two-time All-America lineman Steve Niehaus (1974-75), two-time consensus All-America linebacker Stonebreaker (1986-90), and wide receiver Jim Seymour (1966-68).

Wide receiver Thom Gatwood (1969-71) was the most recent of Notre Dame’s record 45 inducted players to make the Hall, in 2015 — 30 years after he appeared on the ballot for the first time.

To give you an idea how difficult it is to be selected, consider that among the 75 players nominated this year are former Heisman Trophy winners Rashaan Salaam (1994) and Eric Crouch (2001), running backs Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk, plus receiver Kirk Gibson, who played 17 years in Major League Baseball. The defensive list includes names such as Dan Hampton, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Troy Polamalu and Troy Vincent.

Here is our top half-dozen (plus one) eligible Notre Dame players who are not in the Hall:

1. Raghib “Rocket” Ismail (1988-90)

In three seasons, Ismail became the first Notre Dame player to eclipse 1,000 career yards in three different categories: rushing, receiving and returns (Theo Riddick later did it in four years). The 1990 Walter Camp Award winner and Heisman runner-up as a junior averaged 7.7 yards per carry, holds the Irish career record for yards per catch (22.0) and had six returns of kickoffs or punts for scores.

Simply stated, he was the most electrifying Notre Dame player ever when the ball found his hands. He helped the Irish to a 24-1 ledger (including a school record 23-game winning streak) and a national title his first two seasons. In his third year, Notre Dame was 9-0 in the full regular season games he played, and 0-2 in the ones he was injured. In the loss to Penn State that year, the Irish were ahead 21-7 at halftime when he played — and then lost 24-21 when he was sidelined with an injury near the end of the first half. In the 10-9 Orange Bowl loss to No. 1 Colorado, his 91-yard punt return for a score in the closing seconds was called back because of a debatable clipping penalty.

This is his sixth consecutive year on the ballot.

2. Luther Bradley (1973, 1975-77)

Remarkably, Bradley has never been nominated and put on the ballot, an egregious oversight.

A freshman strong safety for the 1973 national champs — he led the team with six intercpetions and 11 passes broken up — and a consensus All-America cornerback on the 1977 national champs, Bradley started all 46 games during his college career. He also received some first-team All-America recognition as a junior and as a sophomore. His 17 career interceptions are the school record, and his 27 passes broken up are third.

We consider him the greatest all-around defensive back in Notre Dame history because he could apply the thunderous hits of a linebacker with his 6-2 frame, yet still cover elite receivers such as USC’s Lynn Swann. As a freshman he had two interceptions, broke up a deep ball to Swann and forced a fumble in 1973 to help end USC’s 23-game unbeaten streak.

3. Bob Crable (1978-81)

His career tackles mark of 521 (not including two bowls) is unbreakble, and there was no one who played with greater ferocity or hit with greater force. His block of Michigan's game winning field goal attempt in 1979 is legendary (see photo below). The lone Notre Dame linebacker ever drafted in the first round, he led the 1980 defense to a school record 23 consecuive quarters without allowing a TD. This is his seventh time on the ballot.

4. Todd Lyght (1987-90)

Recruited to be 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown’s successor in 1988 (a role Ismail took the following year), Lyght was crestfallen when he was shifted to the defensive backfield, where he started a few games at free safety his freshman year.

The second-year Notre Dame defensive backs coach then started at corner as a sophomore for the 1988 national champs, and in 1989 he became a consensus All-American, highlighted by recording eight interceptions, the third most in one season at Notre Dame. The following year as a senior he became one of 16 players in school history to earn two-time consensus All-America recognition. He made the ballot for the first time in 2015, but not this year.

5. Bob Golic (1975-78)

Second to Crable in career tackles (479), he was an AP and UPI second-team All-America for the 1977 national champs at middle linebacker and nose guard, and a consensus All-America pick in 1978 at middle linebacker. In the 38-10 Cotton Bowl win over No. 1 Texas to win the national title, he was named Defensive MVP with 17 tackles (almost all on Heisman winner Earl Campbell) and blocked a kick. He was powerful enough to line up at nose, yet fluid enough to play linebacker, including six career intercpetions. He also was an All-America wrestler.

6. George Kunz (1966-68) & Aaron Taylor (1990-93)

Consensus All-America offensive tackle Kunz, also a tight end, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft (behind O.J. Simpson) and would play in eight Pro Bowls, although that has no bearing on his college career.

A two-time consensus All-American for the Irish, Taylor lined up at both guard and tackle for the Irish and was the 1993 Lombardi Award recipient while being a tremendous leader during a 17-game winning streak.

Along with Zack Martin (2010-13), this duo is among Notre Dame’s three greatest offensive linemen the past 60 years.