Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com FEBRUARY 2018 15 UNDER THE DOME 105 Years Ago: Feb. 2, 1913 Edward Walter Kraucuinas is born in Chicago. In later years his last name would be shortened to "Krause," but eventually he would be better known as "Moose" or "Mr. Notre Dame." Recruited by Knute Rockne to play football at Notre Dame and a freshman on the 1930 national cham- pions, Krause would earn All-America notice as a tackle and earn even greater renown in basketball as a three-time All-American who would get inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. A line coach for Frank Leahy, he would help Notre Dame capture national titles in 1943, 1946 and 1947, and go 3-0 as the acting coach when Leahy took ill. An intelligence officer in the South Pacific during World War II, Krause returned to the campus as a football assistant and as the basketball head coach from 1946-51. On March 22, 1949, he was named the school's athletics director, where he would serve the next 32 years. 30 Years Ago: Feb. 11, 1988 Despite losing the final three games of the 1987 season and producing a 43-36-1 record the past seven years, Notre Dame signs the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class for the second straight season with a 23-man haul (although two would later not get admitted). The crown jewel is tight end and Parade National Player of the Year Derek Brown, prompting head coach Lou Holtz to shift two-year starting tight end Andy Heck to left tackle that spring. Speed also highlights the class with six running back/athlete recruits who also are champion sprinters, including Raghib "Rocket" Ismail from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Rodney Culver from Detroit. Holtz also announces the promotion of outside linebackers coach Barry Alvarez to defensive coordi- nator, plus the hiring of three new assistants: Joe Moore (offensive tackles/tight ends), John Palermo (defensive line) and Chuck Heater (defensive backs). 25 Years Ago: Feb. 3, 1993 National Player of the Year and quarterback Ron Powlus signs with Notre Dame to form the "Dream Backfield" that includes fellow USA Today first-team All-American tailback Randy Kinder, Parade All- American tailback Robert Farmer and fullback Robert Farmer, Ohio's "Mr. Football." The 22-man class is ranked No. 2 nationally by SuperPrep and No. 3 by Tom Lemming, although ques- tions do arise about how drop-back passer Powlus fits into head coach Lou Holtz's ground-oriented offense. "I can hear it already — 'We aren't using his talents and abilities … we aren't doing this, we aren't doing that,'" Holtz said on National Signing Day, a comment that would prove prophetic. 10 Years Ago: Feb. 6, 2008 Only at Notre Dame can you suffer the most defeats in one season in school history — 3-9 in 2007 — yet follow with one of the top-two-ranked recruiting classes (along with Alabama). Third-year head coach Charlie Weis' haul includes three five-star figures in quarterback Dayne Crist, wide receiver Michael Floyd and tight end Kyle Rudolph. Equally noteworthy is 12 of the 23 players include top defensive prospects such as linemen Ethan Johnson, Sean Cwynar and Kapron Lewis-Moore, lineback- ers Darius Fleming and Steve Filer, and defensive backs Robert Blanton and Jamoris Slaughter. "This is the type of day where everyone has got to feel good and say, 'God, what a good day!'" Weis said on National Signing Day. "And I think we all needed that — especially me." 5 Years Ago: Feb. 6, 2013 On the heels of playing in the BCS National Championship Game, a 42-14 loss to Alabama, Notre Dame signs its first top-five class in five years, headlined by five-star linebacker Jaylon Smith. The defense also inks a five-star in the secondary with Max Redfield and along the line with Eddie Vanderdoes. The 24-man harvest includes five-star running back Greg Bryant, complemented by fellow Flo- ridian Tarean Folston; speedster Will Fuller at wideout; and an elite quintet along the offen- sive line in Hunter Bivin, Steve Elmer, Mike Mc- Glinchey, Colin McGovern and John Montelus. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: February NOTRE DAME AUTO MATS *PLEASE ADD SALES TAX IN IN, MI, AND NC Mats are shipped direct from manufacturer. Please allow time for processing and delivery. BLUE AND GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO BOX 2331 • DURHAM, NC 27702 800-421-7751 www.BlueGoldOnline.com #6503 - 2pc Vinyl Front Mat Set $39.95 + $9.99 S&H #6504 - 2pc Vinyl Utility Mat Set $27.95 + $7.99 S&H #6518 - 4pc Vinyl Front & Utility Mat Set $59.95 + $12.99 S&H Front Mats 18"x27" • Utility Mats 14"x17" 31"x31" VINYL CARGO MAT $39.95 + $12.99 S&H CHOICE OF LOGO DESIGN: ND Logo (Item #6519-ND) Leprechaun Logo (Item #6519-LEP) VINYL AUTO MATS Available in 2-pc or 4-pc Sets Logo Choice: ND or Leprechaun In 2013, five-star linebacker Jaylon Smith head- lined Notre Dame's first top-five recruiting class in five years. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM