Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1431491
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 27, 2021 53 lege football. But "Hornung, however talented, had to share the role of hero and goat. Five of his passes were inter- cepted, four in the final period." USC won 42-20 and the Irish season ended at 8-2. Hopes were high for 1956, even though Hornung and halfback Jim Morse were the only returning starters. Hornung would "do it all" — leading the Irish in passing, rushing, scoring, kick- off returns, punt returns, punting and passes broken up, and finishing second in interceptions and tackles made. Yet the team struggled to a 2-8 record. And it wasn't a matter of hard-fought, close losses. In a five-game midseason losing streak, the Irish were outscored 174-48 by Purdue, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Navy and Pitt. Still, with the recent history of the Irish, Heisman Trophy voters' attention was habitually fixed on South Bend. It seemed time for another Irish winner, to follow Angelo Bertelli (1943), Johnny Lujack (1947), Leon Hart (1949) and Johnny Lattner (1953). Hornung won one of the closest votes in Heisman history, edging out Tennes- see's multi-talented star Johnny Majors to become the only winner ever from a losing team. Syracuse's future All-Pro running back Jim Brown finished fifth. It would be five years before Ernie Davis would become the first Black winner of the award. As a pro for the Packers, Hornung's relationship with Lombardi mirrored that of George Gipp's with Rockne. Carefree and fun loving away from the playing field, and the ultimate clutch player once the game started. In 1960, he set an NFL record by scoring 176 points in just 12 games. The next year, he was named league MVP and scored 19 of the Packers' 37 points as they trounced the New York Giants for the NFL title, 37-0. "Inside the 20-yard line, he is one of the greatest I have ever seen," Lombardi said. "He smells that goal line." Upon Hornung's death, NFL com- missioner Roger Goodell said Hornung was "instrumental in growing the pop- ularity of the Packers and the National Football League." ✦ Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jlefebvre@blueandgold.com Hornung, "The Golden Boy," was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame one year later. He was the league MVP while leading the Green Bay Packers to the 1961 NFL title. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Your book order supports the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. Order your autographed, inscribed copy of these books TODAY by visi ng www.RockneSociety.org/Shop or calling 612-242-3581 Get the full story on these iconic Notre Dame figures These books make great gi s for any Notre Dame fan "A must-read real jewel… wonderfully researched and detailed." --SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE "The defini ve piece on this American hero." --COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Loyal Sons: The Story of The Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football's 1924 Champions Winner – Independent Publisher Book Awards Coach For A Na on: The Life and Times of Knute Rockne Winner – Independent Publisher Book Awards