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Five old Notre Dame Football photos for a Friday — Bring your sack

Go and blitz your Friday away!

By Joshua Vowles
Notre Dame v Michigan State
EAST LANSING - SEPTEMBER 21: Defensive end Ryan Roberts #95 of Notre Dame University Fighting Irish sacks quarterback Jeff Smoker #9 of the Michigan State University Spartans in the second half on September 21, 2002 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 21-17.
Photo by Tom Pidgeon/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.

Welcome to the last “offseason” version. This series will continue throughout the season.

We’re all pretty excited about the start of the season, and one of the things we are eagerly waiting on is Marcus Freeman and his defensive scheme. We’ve heard a lot this offseason about the different pressure packages, and I think we can expect Notre Dame to really try and get after the opposing quarterback.

The goal is a sack (types “sack” in the search bar) so LFG!

Verify this notable man

In truth, being verified by Twitter is one of the dumbest things that supposedly “matter” in today’s world. Alan Page was recently denied by Twitter, and was told he was not a “notable” person — Alan Page. Yeah — okay Twitter.

Notre Dame Alan Page...
UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 24: College Football: Notre Dame Alan Page (81) in action, making sack vs Purdue QB Bob Griese (12), South Bend, IN 9/24/1966
Photo by James Drake/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Speaking of notable men...

Trevor Laws was a freaking warrior at Notre Dame. Laws tallied 110 tackles during his senior year in 2007 — and no one ever talks about it. He was a SDE in a 3-4 scheme that year (but did slide inside at times as well). Put some respect on that name.

Army Black Knights v. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 18: Trevor Laws #98 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moves to sack Carson Williams #10 of the Army Black Knights at Notre Dame Stadium on November 18, 2006 in South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish beat the Black Knights 41-9.
Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

The best ever

Justin Tuck was probably the best Notre Dame defensive player to rush the passer in school history. He was a nightmare for the enemy, and can you even imagine if Tuck would have stayed in South Bend for his final year in 2005? Tuck finished his Notre Dame career with 24.5 sacks. His career 43 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in a single season are also school records.

Michigan QB Chad Henne...
UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 11: College Football: Michigan QB Chad Henne (7) in action during sack vs Notre Dame Justin Tuck (44), South Bend, IN 9/11/2004
Photo by John Biever/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Roll that beautiful 1988 footage

There aren’t many photos from the win over the West Virginia Mountaineers for the national championship that I haven’t seen — but this is actually one of them.

West Virginia University vs University of Notre Dame, 1989 Fiesta Bowl
College Football: Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame Frank Stams (30) in action, sack vs West Virginia QB Major Harris (9) at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989
Photo by Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Wild

Pat Kuntz wasn’t the most dynamic player in Notre Dame history, but people loved him for his blue-collar attitude and his wild ass style. He was a fan favorite, and when he made a play it always felt a little more electric.

Michigan v Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND,IN - SEPTEMBER 13: Pat Kuntz #96 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates the sack during the game against the Michigan Wolverines on September 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Photo by: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

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