Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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52 APRIL 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED IRISH ECHOES JIM LEFEBVRE R ev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., the founder of Notre Dame, once pre- dicted that the university would become "one of most powerful means for good in this country." And while this has always been an institutional goal, it is most often achieved through the ef- fort and spirit of individuals. On St. Patrick's Day, in the suburbs of Minneapolis, the life of one such individ- ual was remembered and celebrated. Leo Collins '67 died on Feb. 19 in Pensacola, Fla., of complications of COVID-19 at age 76, struck down while enjoying his winter stay in nearby Sandestin. Collins may not be a household name among most Fighting Irish fans, but his story should resonate. He was someone who lived a life full of service, achieve- ment and love of Our Lady's university. His broad smile, infectious enthusiasm and relentless optimism made a positive impact on countless others. The oldest of eight children, Collins came out of Shanley High School in Fargo, N.D., as a prep football All-Amer- ican, and he joined dozens of others at Notre Dame on one of the most talent- laden college teams ever assembled. A reserve linebacker at a position led by Jim Lynch, Collins did whatever was asked of him for the 1966 national champions. "Leo was one of those guys who came to practice every day and worked his tail off, while knowing he wouldn't likely get in the game," Irish teammate Steve Quinn recalled. "He was just a great guy — as a friend, teammate and a true Notre Dame man." In the week leading up to a mid- season battle of unbeatens — a trip to Norman, Okla. — Collins emulated the Sooners' star nose guard, All-American Granville Liggins, who had displayed his athleticism in a prior game by leapfrog- ging the center to sack the quarterback. Irish center George Goeddeke recalled preparing to face Oklahoma. "All that week, the three of us, Tom Regner at left guard, myself at center, and Dick Swatland at right guard, we just beat up Leo mercilessly," Goeddeke said. "But he kept coming back, gave it his all. He showed his will, his determination, to make us better. That was Leo." After the No. 1 Irish hammered the Sooners 38-0, head coach Ara Parseghian recognized Collins with a special award. "You gave us a great effort, and I am just as proud of you [as the starters]," Parseghian said. At a reunion of the '66 champs, Col- lins was named the Prep Team Player of the Year. The award is emblematic of Leo's life. It was never about seeking personal glory, but rather working hard to make others successful. Collins played an important role in an- other sport at Notre Dame, serving as the starting goalie and one of the leaders of a fledgling hockey program. In a two-year period (1966-68), hockey was planning to transition from a club to a varsity sport — if certain conditions were met. "By the time we were seniors, we were accomplishing what Fr. Joyce told us we had to accomplish," hockey team- mate Tom Heiden said. "Schedule var- sity teams; beat varsity teams. Sched- ule scholarship teams; beat scholarship teams. Make money. "We had to find players, opponents, ice time, coaches, publicity and reve- nue. Thankfully, we had a group of play- ers who willed it to happen." Along with Heiden, Bill Pfeffer, Paul Beliveau and football teammates Eric Norrie, Phil Wittliff and Peter Laman- tia, Collins helped set the stage for the modern era of Notre Dame hockey, with the 1968 opening of the Athletic and Convocation Center and hiring of Lefty Smith as head coach. Along the way, Heiden joined Collins in earning tuition money by working on summer road construction projects in North Dakota and Minnesota. One summer, though, there was no Leo. "He spent that summer in Botswana — trying to help people," Heiden ex- plained. "It turned out to be a common theme for Leo throughout his life. Leo was concerned, caring, considerate and compassionate. He wanted to help, and to help with a smile on his face and a friendly cheer to his voice." Indeed, throughout a career that be- gan as a Twin Cities teacher and coach at St. Thomas Academy, Henry Sibley High School and Macalester College, before getting into financial services, Collins was always about helping oth- ers, through his enthusiasm and peo- ple-centered personality. "Leo Collins reflected the true mean- ing of ' being a force for good,'" said Mike Schnaus '75, who served with Leo Collins — a prep football All-American from Fargo, N.D. — was a member of Notre Dame's 1966 national championship squad and served as a backup linebacker during his time in South Bend. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Remembering Leo Collins '67: A Life Lived In The Spirit Of Notre Dame Collins also was the starting goaltender for the Fighting Irish's fledgling hockey program from 1964-67. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS