Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 11, 2021 53 HALFBACKS Johnny Lattner, 1950-53 • 6-1, 195 • Oak Park, Fenwick H.S. Lattner is one of the greatest stars in Notre Dame history and one of its seven Heisman Trophy win- ners. He nearly at- tended Michigan be- fore heading to South Bend to play for Frank Leahy, who had won four national titles during the 1940s. As a junior in 1952, Lattner led the Irish in rushing with 732 yards. In 1953, he did it all — No. 14 rushed for 651 yards (averaging 4.9 yards a carry) and scored nine touch- downs, caught 14 passes for 204 yards, had four interceptions and recorded two touchdowns on just 10 kickoff returns. He edged Minnesota's Paul Giel in the Heisman Trophy voting. Backup: Joe Pliska, 1911-14 • 5-10, 172 • Engle- wood H.S. Andy Pilney, 1933-35 • 5-11, 175 • Harrison Tech H.S. Pilney is best remem- bered for making several key plays in Notre Dame's three-touchdown fourth- quarter comeback to up- set top-ranked Ohio State 18-13 on Nov. 2, 1935 in the first contest called by sportswriters "The Game of The Century." He would go on earn All- American honors that season. B a c k u p : Bo b Ke l ly, 1943-44 • 5-10, 182 • Leo H.S. FULLBACK Mario "Motts" Tenelli, 1936-38 • 5-11, 188 • DePaul Academy Tenelli is recognized as one of the toughest individuals ever to don a Notre Dame jersey, as evidenced by his survival of the infamous Bataan Death March in April 1942 in the Philippines when he was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. Tonelli was the starting fullback for the 1938 Irish, who went 9-0-1, just missing a national championship with a season- ending loss at USC. Backup: Robert Hughes, 2007-10 • 5-10, 257 • Hubbard H.S. KICKER/PUNTER Nick Setta, 2000-03 • 6-0, 194 • Lockport, Lockport Township H.S. In high school, Setta set the Illinois high school record for longest field goal at 59 yards. He was successful on 46 of 66 field goal attempts in his career with the Irish, ranking fourth all time in field goals made. Twice he kicked five field goals in a game, sharing the school record. He also con- nected on 104 of 105 career extra point attempts. Next week: Defense. The Knute Rockne Memorial Society Invites you to a end the 2021 Knute Rockne Spirit of Sports Awards Celebra on Friday, Sept. 24 Chicago Sports Museum 7 th level, Water Tower Place 835 N. Michigan Avenue Join our co-hosts Chris Zorich '91 and Chris Ackels (New ND Stadium PA announcer) as we honor these ND Chicagoans: the families of Moose Krause '34 and Johnny La ner '54 along with Jay Standring '70, Peter Schivarelli '71, Bob Thomas '74, Danielle Green '99, Darius Fleming '12, Molly Seidel '16 and the Barry Sullivan family. Also, 2020 Award winners including Barry Alvarez. For more details, visit: www.RockneSociety.org Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jlefebvre@blueandgold.com Irish halfback Johnny Lattner, a product of Oak Park's Fenwick High School, won the 1953 Heisman Trophy. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS