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Five old Notre Dame Football photos for a Friday — The Rocket, Raghib Ismail

LIFTOFF to the weekend!

By Joshua Vowles
West Virginia University vs University of Notre Dame, 1989 Fiesta Bowl
Notre Dame Raghib Ismail (25) in action during tocuhdown reception to take 23-3 lead vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989 CREDIT: John Biever Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Happy Friday everyone! I have access to thousands and thousands of Notre Dame Fighting Irish photos, and will never use a small fraction of those on this site. The thing is though — I want to, and I’m going to give it a solid shot as a way to bless the beginning of the weekend throughout the offseason.

While talking about all of the new NIL stuff going on around college football, the question of which former players would have made a mint during their collegiate careers has come up quite often.

Perhaps the most mentioned name for the Irish is that of legendary speedster, Raghib Ismail. The Rocket has a special place in the hearts of many Notre Dame fans, and during his playing days he would have been as marketable as any player in the country. So let’s take another look at him.

The famous kneel

One of the things about Rocket that I remember most was him kneeling for that short prayer after a touchdown.

West Virginia University vs University of Notre Dame, 1989 Fiesta Bowl
Notre Dame Raghib Ismail (25) victorious, kneeling in endzone after making tocuhdown catch to take 23-3 lead vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989
Photo by Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

BONUS PICS... How did he get here? He separated very well.

West Virginia University vs University of Notre Dame, 1989 Fiesta Bowl
Notre Dame Raghib Ismail (25) in action, making catch vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rich Clarkson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
West Virginia University vs University of Notre Dame, 1989 Fiesta Bowl
Notre Dame Raghib Ismail (25) in action, approaching endzone to score touchdown after making catch vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989
Photo by Rich Clarkson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Smile

I mean... just look at the glow on his face. The kid was amazing.

Purdue University Boilermakers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Raghib Ismail #25, Wide Receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with his team mates after winning the NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Purdue University Boilermakers on 24th September 1988 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Notre Dame won the game 52 - 7.Raghib Ismail was also known as The Rocket.
Photo by Brian Masck/Allsport/Getty Images

Greetings

Is this a postcard? It looks like a postcard. I think it’s a postcard.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish v Stanford Cardinal

Seriously?

Did this Purdue defender really think he was going to keep up? He wasn’t even rocking the white tape spats.

Purdue v Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Raghib Ismail #25 of Notre Dame in action against Purdue during an NCAA College football game September 29, 1990 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won the game 37-11.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

By land and by sea

That’s what a rocket does — SO LIFTOFF!

Notre Dame v Navy
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 3: Raghib Ismail #25 of Notre Dame catches a pass against Navy during an NCAA College football game November 3, 1990 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Notre Dame won the game 52-31.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

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