Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? rounds — not including future All-Pro Mark Bavaro, a fourth-round selection. Brian Boulac, who has been at Notre Dame more than 50 years either as a player, coach or administrator, was Casper's college coach and still con- siders him the best and most versatile football player he's ever been around. The two best blockers he's ever seen at Notre Dame were Casper and tackle George Kunz, who was the No. 2 pick in the 1969 NFL Draft and an eight- time Pro Bowl pick. "He did things at tight end I haven't seen done," Boulac marveled of Casper. of high school at St. Edward's Cen- tral Catholic High School in Elgin, Ill., Casper and his family relocated to Chilton, Wis., for his senior year. Not heavily recruited, Casper vis- After playing his first three years INCIDENTAL CONTACT liked it, but my choice was all about, 'Let's assume I go there for four years and I never play,'" Casper said. "I de- cided I'd much rather go day-to-day to school at Notre Dame." Casper believed his football future "Wisconsin was more fun and I was at linebacker, but he lined up as a tight end his freshman year in 1970, where he was "cannon fodder" while prepping for the scout team against an elite defense led by All-American line- men Walt Patulski and Mike Kadish, who helped the Irish to a 10-1 record and No. 2 finish. Weight training was still relatively foreign back then, but beginning with Christmas break that year, Casper be- gan his own regimen and reported to spring practice at a more robust 230 pounds. With productive junior Mike Cre- ited the in-state Wisconsin Badgers and Northern Illinois University, coached by longtime Ara Parseghian close friend and colleague Richard "Doc" Urich, who had coached at Notre Dame in 1964-65. When Urich put a number of Chi- cago recruits and Casper through some athletic tests, he phoned Par- seghian about the diamond-in-the- rough Wisconsin prospect that needed to play in the big time. "Notre Dame actually had passed on me," recalled Casper of Urich's as- sist. After taking his official visit to Notre Dame and receiving his scholar- ship offer, Casper was attracted to the quiet, smaller setting at Notre Dame. aney returning at tight end, the Irish staff decided Casper's prowess as a blocker would be more valued along a depleted line — even though he might have been the fastest player on offense. He ended up starting the last five games of his sophomore year at offen- sive tackle after starter Jim Humbert was hurt early in the sixth game, and the following year during a "rough" 8-3 finish — the worst under Par- seghian — Casper earned honorable mention All-America notice at tackle. In between the regular-season finale at No. 1 USC, a 45-23 loss, and a 40-6 demolition from Nebraska in the Or- ange Bowl, the football banquet was held and for the first time ever, Notre Dame selected three captains. Safety Mike Townsend was named defen-