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at 180lbs, his tackle on the 6'4" 245# Army TE to maintain a victory is still one of the greatest plays in ND history. It couldn't have been a better tackle...

he would be behind about three players but he was solid corner...

No knock on Ivory. Heck of a competitor. Overcame a lot because of his size. Made a tackle all ND fans will remember forever. But he's among the four best CBs in ND history?

Holy fucking shit. All I can do is shake my head.

your pajamas might fall down around your ankles. The guy was good, not great. He was behind three players and he deserves to be mentioned. Shouldn't there be an a nurse giving you and injection right about now????

If you think there are only three corners in the history of ND football better than Covington, you need to just stop talking; with every syllable you utter you make this boarder more stupider.

It's positively insane. Ivory Covington himself would laugh in your face if you told him you thought he was in the all-time top 4.

There is nothing wrong with saying I'm not old enough to remember some of the greats if you are limiting the discussion to the last 15 years. Even then, I'd disagree about Covington's place. But you can't seriously contend IC is one of the 4 best CBs in ND history. You just can't.

Covington trivia: As a high school safety, he played along side none other than Ryan Seacrest. Yes. That Ryan Seacrest.

And who are the other guys you'd list as ND's best defensive players?

Ivory Covington will ALWAYS have my deepest respect, for something that isn't found on the football field. He earned a degree in the hardest area of study, Engineering, from one of the finest unis in the nation. He did this while playing at the highest level of CFB. An undersized CB, who was good at coverage, not so much at run support, but he achieved something that I think maybe one, two other guys has ever done at ND, that I'm aware of. And the reason that I have this respect is because I went back to school and received and Engin. Physics degree from OSU, prior to them dropping that major. How he did that, while playing CFB, is a remarkable achievement and he may have been the only defensive player to have done it. (Was it Tim Ruddy who did it on offense?)

Now I remember he played good corner, good not great. But while he may not have played to your standards, he far exceeded mine, and a whole lot of others. Do I think he should be recognized for that achievement and be included in this list? IMO, hell yes! If you don't like my standards, that's your problem. But in this day, when the idea of student/athlete is nothing more than a sham, that he worked as hard as he did for what he achieved in the classroom, is to be admired and what ND is truly about.

Now go have your nurse re-inflate your hemorrhoid ring....

Do I respect Ivory Covington? Of course. What have I posted to suggest otherwise? Do I think he was a good not great player? Yep. That's pretty much my whole thesis here. Am I impressed that he got his degree in Engineering? Absolutely. Do I think he overachieved through hard work and dedication? You bet I do.

Here's the rub: None of the above has much to do with being among the greatest defensive players ever at ND. Shouldn't take much brain power to see that.

You have identified Covington as a good but not great player. But you've also said he's one of the four best at his position in the history of Notre Dame football. Are you seriously posting this crap? Good but not great gets you on the list of all-time greats? Do you not see the folly in that?

Ivory Covington far exceeded my standards for being a good football player at ND. If the discussion was related to good, but not great football players who deserve our respect, I'd absolutely put Ivory Covington on the list. But that isn't the discussion. And, no, Ivory isn't one of the four best CBs in ND history. He just isn't. Is that a knock on him? I don't think so.

So go ahead and make the old man jokes because I remember ND players from before 1995. That simply exposes the kind of fan you are -- one who really doesn't know much about the history of the program. I guess that's why you aren't able to answer my questions. If you knew the great players of ND history, you wouldn't be including good, but not great players on the list of the best players in history. What else do you say? Pat Kuntz on the list of greatest DLs? Robby Parris as one of the top 4 WRs ever? Bobby Brown as one of the very elite ND WRs? Have you ever even heard of Luther Bradley before today?

Ivory Covington has my deepest respect. I can respect a good but not great player without pretending he was one of the greatest in school history. That seems like common sense. Maybe common sense is an old man concept too.

very good cover corner.

I know guys that played for Holtz are more loved than those that played for Davie/Ty, but Walton was nothing short of great in 2002, and was a consensus All-American.

He'd be on my 2-deep at CB (he and Rossum would back up Taylor and Lyght).

Or doesn't know anything about ND football pre-Holtz.

IMHO.

I can only rate players I saw play.

I know about the other greats in ND's history, but all I know is that others thought they were great. I really wasn't old enough to know what was going on myself until Holtz came on board in '86 (when I was 10 years old).

Therefore, any list I make would be from Holtz on. Sorry I didn't caveat that in my post.

Did you see Luther Bradley play?

For two National Championship teams.

I kid.

btw...How did he play in both 73 and 77? Isn't that a 5 year career?

Started for ND in both NC years ('73 and '77) and was a consensus All-American. Also a first round draft pick. He's a first tier guy. Like Browner and Crable. I'm just old enough to remember them.

Of course, Luther was no Ivory Covington or anything.

The only highlights I could find were special teams. I remember him returning an INT for a TD -- against Washington I think. He was a good player. Not making my all-time D list, though.

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Steve Niehaus and Kevin Hardy were the best pure defensive tackles to come along. Kevin Hardy was top notch at three sports and Steve Niehaus was the best combingation of strength and nimbleness there was. Both careers ruined by knees.

out like others but they have had some good/great ones. Jr Bryant, Dove, Fanning, Flanigan, Toran, Gann,Mike McCoy, Jerry Groom the Golics and a dozen more that played both ways...........

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maybe not the most talented but both had attitude and were gamers.

Smagala was very talented. Strong and very, very fast. He hit like a tank, played in the pros for a short time but was too small supposedly. Pritchard was slow but knew how to play. What about Ned Bolcar who never missed a tackle. returned a pick for a TD in 89 against Miami with a great catch and nimble move. Unfortunately he succommed to injuries as a pro.

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Connor, Ziggy Czarobski, Kevin Hardy, Mike McCoy, Pete Duranko, Mike Kadish, Steve Niehaus, Mike Fanning.

Kevin Hardy was a freak of nature and probably the most gifted athlete. He was a basketball and track star too I believe, who would have had a great career if not injured. Almost ditto for Steve Niehaus who to quote Johnny McKay "was built like a whale and moved like a porpoise."

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Perhaps you meant to say "Poor Us"?

a second team QB.

Go on....

At least compared to the rest of the Pac-10, you can hardly blame ND for that.

4-0...go on...

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it seems you prefer the male cheerleaders given the large number of times you have posted the same male UCLA cheerleader picture.

Because it is a great picture. And it is a good representation of UCLA.

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You can keep the Oregon/SC girls, the Bruin honeys are the best.....

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Link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/455750-100-hottest-cheerleaders-in-college-football#page/6

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they were good and also on the all name team.

In terms of putting the best pure safeties on the field, he doesn't come close to making my All-Star team.

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is Zbikowski and he was a great punt returner but a not a good DB.

I'll assume a 4-3 defense....

DE- Alan Page

DT- Chris Zorich

DT- Bryant Young

DE- Ross Browner

OLB- Mike Stonebreaker

MLB- Bob Crable

OLB- Manti Te'o

SS- Dave Duerson

FS- Jeff Burris

CB- Todd Lyght

CB- Luther Bradley

PR- Tim Brown

KR- Raghib Ismail

and I doubt he ever will because he probably leaves after this season.

He had made big hits but hasnt been a play maker.He may make the big plays this season but hasnt so far.

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I liked Quinn's choices. But I might have had a few different. Not sure about Taylor. He was super. But Bradley was too. That's a very tough call.

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or Jeff Burris

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if I would be the first to hype JB, well played, well played

DE Browner and Leon Hart
DT Young and Alan Page
LB Crable, Jim Lynch and Nick Buonoconti
Corners Agree with Taylor and Lyght
Safety Dave Duerson and Bradley

There are many more. Bruton shouldn't be included on an "all-tome" list. Johnny Lujack might be able to outplay Bruton today.

He beat Alabama by himself in 1980.

Luther Bradley is your safety. Look up the 1973 USC game on YouTube and watch him destroy Lynn Swann.

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player. If you saw both Page and Browner play and say Page was better than I am even more impressed with Mr. Page.

Page was just as dominant in college as he was in the pros, moreso at times because he played DE in college. Thing is, ND didn't count sacks or tackles for loss back then; those started around 1967-72, so there's no statistical record for Page at ND.

There are copies of the '66 Michigan State game floating around. If you can get your hands on one, give it a look. Bubba Smith got all the press, but Page and co. held MSU to 10 points as well.

As for the pros, Page was named NFL MVP in 1971. As a DT. Amazing.

He's pretty smart, too. Law school, judgeships, state supreme court, and all.

I have been watching since Theisman and Gatewood.

When Browner was a stud at ND, I was a stupid kid.

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When someone says great college linebacker, Crable is the first name to come to mind.

all things considered was the best offensive player I have seen at ND, although there are many others who right there with him.

Beg to differ Rocket Ismail best of all time so that includes offense. I agree that Crable was the best middle linebacker but Bob Olson was close.

I settled on MacAfee because he was as dominant a force in the Irish offense during his four years and opponents had no answer for him. Not only was he a great pass catching tight end, but he was a devastating run blocker, at a time when the Irish lived and died with the running game. I believe he was named All-America each of his four seasons and was named first team All-America his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

better player than the Rocket. I think the Rocket was phenomenal and more fun to watch because he was such a threat to score every time he touched the ball, but Ross Browner was actually triple teamed and still got to the quarterback.