Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1050818
52 NOV. 19, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI T he decision to shift this week's Syracuse game from Notre Dame Stadium to Yankee Stadium for the Shamrock Series was not nec- essarily a popular one among some Fighting Irish faithful. One, it's more travel for the team — which finishes with four of its last five games on the road — and probably no other Power Five school would relin- quish a home date. Two, the state of New York is not renowned as a football recruiting hotbed, although that is not the main purpose of the Shamrock Series. There is only one player on the 2018 Notre Dame football roster from the Empire State: junior defensive end Jamir Jones (Rochester). The Irish did land back-to-back her- alded defensive line prospects from New York in 2011 (Ishaq Williams) and 2012 (Jarron Jones, Jamir's older brother), but even then the caveat in recruiting circles was, "coming from New York, where football competition isn't strong, they were a little raw and needed time to develop." The football power base has shifted to warm-weather states, but once upon a time New York was a more esteemed recruiting area for Notre Dame. The birth of the "Subway Alumni" for Notre Dame was borne in the 1920s with head coach Knute Rockne's de- sire to showcase his team at a promi- nent media location, especially against Army in Yankee Stadium. To continue that tradition, this will be Notre Dame's second Shamrock Se- ries outing in Yankee Stadium, with the first in 2010 versus Army. Four years ago when Blue & Gold Illustrated ranked all 50 states in their impact on Notre Dame football, New York was No. 9. Approximately 115 players from there have suited up for the Irish. Our All-Time Notre Dame Team From New York is: QUARTERBACK: Frank Carideo (Mount Vernon, 1928-30) The first of 16 two-time consensus All-Americans in Notre Dame's his- tory, both on Rockne's unbeaten and untied consensus national champs of 1929 and 1930. QB duties then weren't what they are now, but that was still his position. He also had a team-high five intercep- tions in 1929 (for 151 yards), and 947 career punt return yards. RUNNING BACKS: Louis "Red" Salmon (Syracuse, 1900-03) and Ryan Grant (Nyack, 2001-04) Salmon was the first Notre Dame player ever to receive All-America no- tice — he was named third team by Collier's after the 8-0-1 season in 1903. Grant rushed for 1,085 yards as a 2002 sophomore and finished with 2,200 in his career. He also was one of the NFL's premier backs from 2007- 09 while totaling 3,412 yards on the ground. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: Pete Holohan (Liverpool, 1978-80), Monty Stickles (Poughkeepsie, 1957-59) and Paul Costa (Port Chester, 1961, 1963-64) Former QB recruit Holohan started three years at flanker and averaged 15.6 yards on his 63 catches, not includ- ing the game-winning two-pointer in the closing seconds of the 18-17 win versus South Carolina in 1979. As a 12-year NFL tight end he caught 363 passes, with 16 resulting in scores. A self-admitted dirty player, Stick- les also was one of the most versatile ever to suit up for Notre Dame while becoming the No. 11 overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft and enjoying a nine-year pro career. At Notre Dame his 42 catches averaged 17.7 yards and included 12 touchdowns; he also made 110 tackles, broke up six passes, blocked a kick, and kicked 42 extra points and five field goals, with game- winners versus Army in 1957 and Navy in 1959. Costa was misused at halfback early in his career and moved to defense later, but he became a two-time Pro Bowl tight end before shifting to tackle during an eight-year pro career. OFFENSIVE LINE: Larry DiNardo (Queens, 1968-70), Gerry DiNardo (Queens, 1972-74), Frank Pomarico (Howard Beach, 1971-73), John Scully (Huntington, 1977-80) and Jim Reilly (Yonkers, 1967-69) The one sticking point here is that three-year starter, 1969 All-American and second-round pick Reilly is the lone true tackle. Scully, a 1980 consensus All-America choice, is the center, and today he is better known as the virtuoso pianist who composed "Here Come The Irish Of Notre Dame." The DiNardo brothers both earned consensus All-America notice, with Larry a co-captain on the 1970 team that finished No. 2. Gerry and Po- marico were the starting guards for All-Time Notre Dame New York Team The Shamrock Series game with Syracuse is a return to past Fighting Irish roots Gerry DiNardo was a starting offensive guard for the 1973 national champions and earned consen- sus All-America honors. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS