Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
Laimbeer began to blossom before he was declared academically ineli- gible for the second semester on a top 10-ranked team, and eventually ex- pelled for repeatedly cutting classes. Laimbeer attended a community college in Toledo for a year before get- ting readmitted in 1977 and helping Notre Dame to its first, and still lone, Final Four appearance. He also was a starter for the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pis- tons that won NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. 12. TONY BROOKS — A month after the 1988 national title campaign, he was involved in a vehicular accident and other mishaps of his doing that led to his enrolling at Holy Cross College, across the road from Notre Dame, in 1989. He was readmitted in 1990 and fin- ished his career fifth on the Irish all- time rushing chart. 11. JULIUS JONES — Questioned for his work ethic on the field, Jones saw it spill over into the classroom, leading to his expulsion for the 2002-03 school year. He spent the year in Arizona with his brother, Thomas, an NFL run- ning back for the Arizona Cardinals, before he was readmitted to Notre Dame in 2003. "I had to change my attitude," said Jones upon his return to Notre Dame. "… I learned some responsibility and I grew up a little bit while I was out in Phoenix with my brother." Jones went on to rush for 1,268 yards as a senior, highlighted by a single- game school record 262 in a 20-14 vic- tory at Pitt (the first of three 200-yard rushing efforts by him), and was cho- sen in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. 10. KYLE MCALARNEY — Twelve games into his sophomore season in 2006-07, McAlarney was booted from school for possession of marijuana in his car after he was pulled over. Embittered, he was determined to transfer until head coach Mike Brey took a visit to his New York home and convinced him otherwise. McAlarney returned the next season to make first-team All-Big East and start all 69 games his final two cam- paigns. 9. MICHAEL STONEBREAKER — Like Brooks, Stonebreaker was involved Michael Stonebreaker earned All-America notice at linebacker in 1988 and 1990 despite getting set back by two suspensions. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS