Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2017 45 Panelli joined Sitko in the starting backfield, with Panelli averaging 5.5 yards per carry as a fullback. DEPTH-DEFYING What separated the 1947 team, though, from any in college football annals was its unparalleled depth. Forty-two players from this unit went on to play professional football. Given that the starters played both of- fense and defense, it would be like 84 members of a current college roster performing at the next level. Consider: • Fourth-team left halfback Coy McGee was inserted with the starters in the 1946 finale against No. 16 USC by acting coach Edward "Moose" Krause, who was substituting for an ailing Leahy. McGee carried six times for 146 yards in the 26-6 victory over the Trojans — yet never was higher than fourth team on the 1947 and 1948 depth charts. After the 1946 game, Leahy asked Krause who McGee was. • Fifth-team tackle Al Zmijew- ski, was considered finally worthy enough to make a road trip to No. 3 USC in the 1947 finale. He returned an interception for a touchdown in Notre Dame's 38-7 romp. • Center Art Statuto barely saw any action behind Walsh, Strohmeyer, Walt Grothaus — and freshman Jerry Groom, who would be a future Col- lege Football Hall of Fame enshrinee. Statuto, who never won a monogram during his playing days, was the start- ing center for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1950 NFL Championship Game. He would be awarded an honorary monogram in the early 1990s. • Lujack was backed up by George Ratterman in 1946 and Frank Tri- pucka in 1948. Both understudies had decade-long careers in the pros. Plus, future College Football Hall of Fame inductee Bob Williams was just a freshman in 1947. • When fourth-team tackle George Tobin asked Leahy about potentially returning for one more season in 1947, the Irish head coach recom- mended he turn pro, because he would have a better chance of start- ing there. Indeed, Tobin played for the New York Giants in 1947. Is this the greatest team ever as- sembled? "That's for other people to say or determine," Lujack told Blue & Gold Illustrated 10 years ago on the 60th anniversary of the team. "Our egos wouldn't carry us that far to make such a statement. "What I remember most fondly is there was no desire on the part of anyone to win any individual award. It was all about doing everything for the team. We weren't aiming for the Heisman, the Outland, Man of the Year, nothing like that. There was no jealousy or animosity because every- thing was for the common good of Notre Dame. "It was just a marvelous group to be a part of, not just for the winning but be- ing able to have so much fun together in the pursuit of our team goals." Players today are bigger, stronger and faster … but in the context of its own era, no college football team had more talent than Notre Dame in 1947. To learn more, order the remark- able feature documentary at www. GreatestTeam.com. ✦ Halfback Coy McGee rushed for 146 yards on six carries in a 26-6 win over USC in 1946, but never was higher than fourth team on the 1947 and 1948 depth charts. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! Want a prayer published? Call 800-421-7751 M A R K E T P L A C E MEMORABILIA MEMORABILIA Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room ND Stadium Items, Jerseys, Helmets, Autographs and One of a Kind Rockne Items. COME INTO THE STORE TO SEE OUR RARE NOTRE DAME HELMET DISPLAY, 1900 - PRESENT!! Voted Best Notre Dame Collectables in the Country! 1811 South Bend Ave. South Bend , I n 46637 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 Never Behind In the two consecutive seasons of 1946-47, Notre Dame's football team never trailed in a game. Like Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941 or Wilt Chamberlain's 50.4 points-per-game scoring average during the 1961-62 NBA campaign, this standard ranks in the "untouchable" category. Bear Bryant's 1961 Alabama squad is the only other national champion since 1947 that never trailed (not even the great Army teams of 1944-45 achieved the feat). But a 10-1 mark the next season by the Crimson Tide dashed hopes of matching the 1946-47 accomplishment by the Irish. To appreciate such a streak, look at Notre Dame's four most recent national champions. The 1988 squad trailed in five different games — and none of those were in contests against No. 1 Miami, No. 2 USC and No. 3 West Virginia that season. The 1977 unit trailed in five games as well. Yet it wasn't ever behind in the famous 49-19 victory over No. 5 USC in the "Green Jersey Game," nor in the 38-10 drubbing of No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The 1973 team fell behind in four different contests. The 1966 edition found itself on the trailing end two times during the 9-0-1 finish. Notre Dame's 39-game unbeaten streak from 1946-50 is well documented. Overshadowed is the two straight seasons Notre Dame never fell behind. — Lou Somogyi