Paul Hornung

This week, Sports Illustrated features on one of its regional college football preview covers Brady Quinn and two other Irish players, sending shivers down the spines of believers in the alleged "Cover Jinx." As the hype for Quinn builds, it is interesting to look back at another winner of the Heisman Trophy for Notre Dame. The incomparable Paul Hornung was one of the most talented players ever to come through N.D., all while playing as a senior for one of the worst teams the school has ever had. Sorry for the lateness, as it's been hard to find time for typing during my honeymoon in Mexico!

Go Irish! Beat Jackets!

Mike

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During the recent media maelstrom surrounding Notre Dame's firing of Tyrone Willingham in December 2004, a frequently cited but oft-overlooked fact was that Notre Dame had suffered three losing seasons out of five years for the first time in the program's history (1999, 2001, 2003), a fact that may have hastened Willingham's departure. Indeed, losing seasons at Notre Dame are an historical anomaly, happening on average only once every eleven or so seasons. Of all the losing seasons, one of the worst came in 1956, when the Irish went 2-8. Even in that season, the nadir of the Terry Brennan Era, an era that spanned 1954 to 1958, there was one bright spot: Irish QB Paul Hornung became Notre Dame's fifth Heisman Trophy winner. Among the seventy individuals to have won the Heisman Trophy since 1935, Hornung still stands fifty years after winning the honor as the only one to play for a team with a losing record. The fact that he still holds this distinction speaks in large part to the appeal of Notre Dame's famed football program, but also to the unique abilities of the versatile Hornung.

Hailing from Louisville , Kentucky , Hornung was heavily recruited to the University of Kentucky by an up and coming Paul "Bear" Bryant. Listening to the desires of his devoutly Catholic mother, however, Hornung, a four-year letterman in baseball, basketball, and football in high school, decided to play for Frank Leahy at Notre Dame, making him (eventually) the fifth separate Heisman winner that The Master recruited to the Irish sidelines.

Hornung, however, never got the opportunity to play for Leahy. Because of health considerations (and perhaps other administration-related reasons), Leahy stepped down after the 1953 season at the tender age of 45. In stepped the 25-year-old Terry Brennan, who had played for Leahy in the late 1940s, and who had most recently served as Leahy's freshman squad coach. Undoubtedly, Brennan would have worked closely with Hornung, and would have seen his abilities very closely during the talented back's freshman season of 1953.

As a sophomore, Hornung saw limited playing time as a reserve fullback. The following season, however, he started at halfback and safety, and finished fourth in the nation in total offense. His impressive offensive numbers were enough to garner him acclaim as an All-American for the 1955 season. The following year, he would lead the Irish in passing, rushing, scoring, kickoff and punt returns. As if that were not enough, he also led the team in punting. For his achievements during the 1956 season, Hornung again received All-America honors, and was awarded with the Heisman for that season. One wonders with a player of such prodigious talents how the Irish only managed a mere two victories that season. Perhaps this contributed to the later departure of Terry Brennan, who only lasted two seasons more after Hornung graduated and headed for the NFL.

After leaving the friendly confines of Notre Dame, Hornung continued to excel in football, perhaps as much as any Notre Dame footballer ever has. During his distinguished career for the Green Bay Packers, Hornung would live up to the expectations that accompanied him as the number-one overall pick in the 1957 NFL draft. Playing for the legendary Vince Lombardi, Hornung played primarily as a halfback and kicker. In a 12-game season in 1960, he set an NFL record by scoring 176 points. During the following season's championship game, he scored 19 points, which still stands as a record for NFL championship games to this day. His versatility translated well to the professional game, where he was twice honored as the league's Most Valuable Player, making him one of only five players to win that award and the Heisman.

Hornung's career was blemished by a potentially career-ending suspension by the NFL during the 1963 season. That year, a scandal was uncovered involving Hornung and Detroit Lions star Alex Karras (later of television "Webster" fame) involved in a gambling ring which involved betting on games. Hornung fessed up to his mistake and was reinstated during the following season. His career lasted long enough for him to be on the roster when the Packers played in and won the first Super Bowl following the 1966 season.

Following his career in the NFL, Hornung pursued a number of businesses in real estate, while always keeping connections to the game of football. In 1985 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and in 1986 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has over thirty years of experience in broadcasting games on the radio and television, most notably as a host for Westwood One's coverage of Notre Dame football. That affiliation ended two seasons ago after Hornung made what some considered to be racially insensitive remarks.

Despite the recent controversy surrounding Hornung, he remains always "The Golden Boy." Deemed by Vince Lombardi as "the most versatile man who ever played the game," Hornung still stands as one of Notre Dame's most outstanding athletes and will be always on the short list of the greatest football players the school has ever produced.

Originally published August 18, 2006
copyright Michael D. McAllister 2006