Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? the starting job over several candidates, including two who would move to the defensive backfield (Corny Southall and D'Juan Francisco). The Irish finished 5-6 again under A Professional Outlook point out about Notre Dame's 1988 national champions is that among the 22 starters that season on offense and defense, 21 played in the NFL. The only one who didn't was the proverbial One of the favorite stats Mark Green likes to "straw who stirred the drink" — quarterback Tony Rice. So when Green assesses the 2012 Fighting Irish, he's not necessarily concerned about whether the Irish have pro potential at quar- terback, but does think the defensive line and running backs are the strengths to complement big-time performers Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert at linebacker and tight end, respectively. "I measure a team's power or ability by 'How champ Michigan, 21-19 at SEC champ LSU and 24-19 to national champ Penn State. Green split time with freshman Holtz, but had established a fiercer competitiveness, losing 24-23 to Big Ten Anthony Johnson at tailback, and he capped the season with 119 yards in a thrilling 38-37 comeback win at USC to end the season. The recruiting kept improving un- der Holtz, and that winter Notre Dame landed two elite tailbacks in Ricky Wat- ters and Tony Brooks. Green remained undaunted, easily leading the 1987 team in rushing with 861 yards and 5.9 yards per carry. "The big thing I had going for me is I was consistent," said Green of out- shining the bigger, faster and stronger young stars. "I didn't make big mis- takes, I ran real hard, caught some balls … I didn't care about the yards and the accolades and the touchdowns, I cared about doing my job and helping other people do their job and making the team better." Although Notre Dame lost its last many people are going to play at the highest level?'" Green said. " If they're good enough to play pro ball, that means you have a lot of talent. I'm not sure 21 of 22 will have the op- portunity, but plenty will. "They're strong and they're steady. I love that defensive line. The secondary is okay, but I don't think they have a Todd Lyght, a Stan Smagala and a Pat Terrell … "The running backs I think are going to be pro — Lou Somogyi three games, it finished in the AP top 20 (No. 17) and played in a New Year's Day bowl (Cotton) for the first time in seven years after winning at Michigan (26-7), crushing No. 10 Alabama (37-6), and defeating Rose Bowl participants Michigan State (31-8) and USC (26-15). "We finally got to the point where we knew how to win games," Green said. SELFLESS LEADERS players. The receiving corps, still to be seen. I'm not sure if they're going to be pro receivers. The offensive line is steady." linebacker Ned Bolcar and tight end Andy Heck were voted the tri-captains for the 1988 team. "When you consider all of the acco- At the end of the 1987 season, Green,