Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/388723
THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI B ack in the summer of 1977, my next door neighbor Vince God- dard, an aerospace engineer pro- fessor at Notre Dame and a deeply- faithful man of service to others, honor and integrity, suddenly passed away. In the ensuing weeks, his widow cherished the cards and letters she re- ceived from his former students that had a familiar refrain: "He taught me not just about making a living, but on how to live." As a 15-year-old, I didn't quite yet grasp that concept. Years later, I would hear 1949 Heisman Trophy winner Leon Hart make an identical quote about Notre Dame imparting in him a mission of living the right way. During the recent football bye week at Notre Dame, sophomore running back Greg Bryant did similar reflect- ing. On the surface, Bryant has the ear- marks of someone ready to bolt from Notre Dame, a la an Aaron Lynch, and he won't deny the thought has crossed his mind. The Florida native, rated as high as five stars, is an "SEC back," with a future NFL career written all over him. He loves warm weather, the sunny lifestyle and having the ball in his hands. Talk to him for about five minutes and you'll hear him say "make plays" at least a dozen times. Even though Bryant was Notre Dame's top rusher (119 yards) through the first three games, he was the third option and had only 22 carries — A Primer On 'Living' With Notre Dame Sophomore running back Greg Bryant (right) has been frustrated by, but also benefitted from, his Notre Dame experience so far. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA