Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/181992
to wide receiver in 2003 when freshman Brady Quinn, who would become Notre Dame's all-time passing leader, enrolled. Holiday also played receiver in the NFL. RUNNING BACKS: Christie Flanagan (1925‑27, Port Arthur) and Coy McGee (1945-48, Longview) Flanagan was a two-time All-American for Knute Rockne who totaled 1,822 yards on the ground while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. McGee, the older brother of former Green Bay Packers standout receiver Max McGee, often was fourth team on the 1946-47 Notre Dame national champions that are classified as the greatest collection of college football talent ever assembled. Yet as a sophomore in 1946, McGee was inserted into the starting lineup in the finale against USC by assistant head coach Ed "Moose" Krause, serving as the acting coach in place of an ailing Frank Leahy. McGee carried six times for 146 yards against the Trojans, highlighted by a 78-yard jaunt to open the scoring in the 26-6 Irish victory to clinch the national title He also scored on an eight-yard run. WIDE RECEIVERS: Tim Brown (1984-87, Dallas) and David Givens (1998-2001, Humble) The 1987 Heisman Trophy winner, Brown is the most famous Notre Dame player from Texas. He still holds the two highest single-season all-purpose yardage totals at Notre Dame, accumulating 1,937 as a junior in 1986, followed by 1,847 the ensuing season. Tied with defensive lineman Alan Page for most career Pro Bowl selections (nine) by a Notre Dame alumnus, Brown is fifth on the NFL's all-time list for career recep- tions with 1,094, accounting for 14,934 yards and 100 touchdowns. Givens caught 72 passes during his Irish career and achieved greater fame in the NFL, where he won two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots while becoming one of quarterback Tom Brady's favorite targets. He snatched a total of 90 passes for the 2003 and 2004 Patriots, hauling in a touchdown reception in both Super Bowl wins. Honorable mention notice goes to Omar Jenkins (2000-03, Dallas), who caught 73 passes in his last two seasons with the Irish. TIGHT END: Robin Weber (1972-76, Dallas) Playing in the shadow of consensus All-Americans Dave Casper (1973) and Ken MacAfee (1975-77), Weber still grabbed what might be considered the most famous pass in Notre Dame history. With the national title on the line and the Irish clinging to a 24-23 lead with two minutes left against No. 1 Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl, Weber caught a 35-yard heave from quarterback Tom Clements on third-and-eight from the Notre Dame 3-yard line. Weber succeeded Casper as the starter the next year and caught 13 passes for 206 yards before a midseason injury slowed his football career. OFFENSIVE LINE: Dave Huffman (1975-78, Dallas), Tim Huffman (1977-80, Dallas), Jordan Black (1999-2002, Rowlett), Mike Gandy (1996-2000, Garland) and John Dampeer (1970-72, Kermit) Players at center included 1946 AllAmerican George Strohmeyer (McAllen) and four-year starter Bob Morton (2003-06, McKinney), but Dave Huff-