Greatest Notre Dame Returns (Part 1)

[@cityofchamps66]

Nothing beats hearing Tony Roberts calling a Rocket return for 6

[@veedub8042]

I remember that Miami game i lost my mind when pat Terrell returned that pick 6 & when the rocket returned that kickoff bk for a td my soul left my body!😂

[@IrishRoo12]

All of Notre Dame's best returns came against the state of Michigan. Brown's back-to-back punt returns against MSU and then Rocket's two kick returns against the Wolverines.

[@taydestiny38]

I remember that Orange Bowl game against Colorado. I was going crazy, when Rocket returned that punt......only to seconds later having my heart crushed from that terrible call.

[@ruffian2952]

Especially when the Colorado defender admitted he knew he could never hope to catch the Rocket.

[@scottfriery9091]

It was a terrible call. The ref who threw the flag was some 30 yards from the area where the clip was called. ND won that game.

[@seanrielley185]

I was too young to remember, but I've always been fascinated how, as a collective ND fan base, we have just always regarded Rocket's game-winning TD in the Orange Bowl following '90 as if it actually happened and it wasn't called back. The "phantom clip" was so controversial but more importantly, it is was such an amazing play to cap off Ismail's career!

[@deborahthomas1313]

Still pissed about that

[@marketweis]

As a life-long Domer. I watched Tim Brown when I was in my 20's. After all these years, seeing him again, I forgot just how much giddyup my man had! Go Irish.

[@GuapoSantana]

Before the knee injury he was a 10.3/20.8 guy

[@IrishRoo12]

@NDandColtsMan Agreed. The worst was the phantom clip against Rocket's return. That cost us a defeat of the #1 team in the country.

[@xxxMental187xxx]

win or lose we love ND

[@matthewmullen5486]

This guy makes the best Notre Dame videos. Great music great action. I wish I knew him

[@ripperduck]

The flag on the return against Stanford was pure bullshit! The refs didn't want a repeat of the 82 Cal game so they took it upon themselves to throw a flag. Thanks for including it, it was a great return.

[@greglismonjr1368]

Tom Zbikowski!!!!!! Man I remember that Bush Push Game like yesterday!!! One of my all time Notre Dame Favorite players!!

[@jebarr1]

RIPTony Roberts. Many memories listening to you before every game was televised

[@crystalbrianlarue8803]

I love the Irish notre dame football my dream is to take my family to see the Irish play in South Bend go irish we bleed blue and gold

[@templedown]

before I even watched this video, might as well change to the Rocket Ismail highlight reel. that was no clip in the Orange bowl, even if the guy didn't get blocked at all, he wouldn't have stopped that return.

[@01MaverickTen10]

Fantastic vid Roo. Go Irish!

[@tomd6053]

How the rocket didn’t win a heisman is beyond me

[@IrishRoo12]

@NDandColtsMan Nah man, Vince Young is the USC killer. Officially. I really wish Notre Dame would have been the first to knock them off, though. I was at the 2005 game...

[@randallw1977]

My favorite ones were the 2 for touchdowns at Michigan.

[@ruffian2952]

The beauty of all was that you don't have to coach speed. Just let the runner turn up the jets.

[@johndarrinscottlong]

Thank you!

[@ripperduck]

@NDandColtsMan Them and Pitt, he ran wild against the Panthers too....

[@brianreg6934]

Someone please get up Clint Johnson returns vs Stanford 1993.

[@ripperduck]

@IrishRoo12 You know, the longest int return was Jack Elder against Army back in the 20's if memory serves. I think I saw a vid of it on Utube and I may be wrong on the veracity, but I was pretty sure that it was 100 yard return. Luther's was a tad less than that, but please correct me if I'm wrong....

[@92poux]

wow ND has had a lot of great returners...kudos from Nebraska land

[@ruffian2952]

Thank you for your remark. You had Osborne no problem there. An honorable man and coach.

[@notredameswarrior1]

i would of put golden tates return against hawaii in here also. but its a good vid. a lot of these ive never seen before.

[@greyfox37]

LOOKOUT!!!! IT'S OVER!!!

[@nemesisofthevole85]

At how many minutes and seconds is 1997 Notre Dame V Navy? Hard to tell!

[@ultraollie]

Of course, the Orange Bowl TD was called back.

[@IrishRoo12]

@92poux Johnny Rogers was a heckuva return man for Nebraska.

[@lloydkline3265]

Remember him Canadian football league

[@iwalkinzion]

Irish Roo can you post the Rocket Ismail punt return that was v SMU or Stanford that was called back? It was a home game and I believe the sun was out...

[@diauntefather]

Everytime I see Colorado, I get upset. Those refs robbed us of a National Title! One of the most terrible calls in College football!

[@IrishRoo12]

If I could add to this I would put Terry Brennan against 1947 Army, Ricky Watters against 1988 Michigan, Terrell Lambert against 2006 Michigan State, and Armando Allen against 2008 Hawaii. Perhaps in another video...

[@IrishRoo12]

@4karmel I wasn't able to find any clips of him. If you come across some could you let me know? I'm currently working on part 3...

[@teddyrailroad]

im weeping////

[@scottprebys9692]

Can we turn the music down.....?

[@robertjohns1675]

Don't forget maybe the Rockets best return against Colorado in the orange bowl ruined by a phantom clipping call

[@primusjunkie1]

It don't get better then nd football

[@TheMayor574]

Where is vontez duff???? He was a hell of a return man too!!!

[@IrishRoo12]

@ripperduck Check out the sequel to this video...

[@66605]

7:44 Amazing! Take that Harbaugh!

[@duanemountain4461]

GO IRISH #1 BABY ALL TIME

[@teddyrailroad]

scewed by ref against buffs//////hope he sleeps well...shouldnt

[@dougorosz527]

M GO BLOW!!!! GO IRISH!!!!

[@V_Bruce]

5:53 😂

[@milanphillips9794]

i was born and raised in alabama and i have been here my whole life but im a irish fan 4 life but can any one yell me how i can listen to the nd games on radio i hate listening to the tv commentator s i have an irish app on my phone but it only gives me stats

[@carlismcclanahan6372]

TuneIn radio app

[@ruffian2952]

It started with Mutual Broadcasting then Westwood One.Since the NBC blessing I haven't had to use the radio unless my wife reclaims the TV. I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts so I have to tune in an AM station in Salem about 75 miles away. All I have for easy access is BC.

[@ripperduck]

@NDandColtsMan There is nothing more evil than SC. If Floyd et al can tear them up em up they should name the stadium after them.

[@brianreg6934]

1993 the year I enjoyed like no other. Just to get burned at the end. Someone fire Kelly we need Notre Dame back at the top.

[@dnihilist]

Not only was Rocket robbed of a Heisman, he's still not in the HOF. What's up with that.

[@USCFlash]

Dude, you are crazy. Rocket was not robbed of the Heisman. He was an electric return man, I hated every time we kicked to him, but he was never anywhere remotely near the "most outstanding player" in College football. For example: in 1988 should he have won the Heisman? No. he caught 12 passes for 331 yards and 2 TDs. 17 returns for 505 yards and 2 TDs. So, 11 games, 836 total yards 4 TDs. Not even close to All AMerican status. Barry Sanders won that year. 2628 rushing yards 37 TDs....*PLUS* 515 return yards and 2 TDs. He shattered several records. in 1989, should he have won the Heisman? No. 64 rushes for 478 yards 2 TDs 27 catches for 535 yards 0 TDs 27 total returns 615 yards 3 TDs So, 5 TDs in 12 games? Andre Ware won that year, dude was shattering records left and right. Also, Tony Rice was higher in the voting and he was ND's most important player that year. Major Harris, Darian Hagan, Emmit Smith, all far better. in 1990, he had his "best" year....but should he have won the Heisman? No. 67 rushes 537 yards 3 TDs 32 catches 699 yards 2 TDs 27 returns 487 yards 1 TD So, 6 TD's in 11 games. Sorry, Ty Detmer had far less talent around him. And Bieniemy was amazing that year, he should have finished ahead of both Ismail and Detmer. --- There was a very simple way to neutralize Ismail as a threat....don't kick to him. He was a poor WR and his runs were mostly reverses and gimmick plays. Even then, he had 71 total kick/punt returns...and scored 6 Tds, total. 1 Roughly every 12 kicks. He was always a threat, but let's face it, there have been better returners as well. In terms of punt returns -he is not even in the top 250 of ALL TIME in terms of return yards. -he would crack the top 40 in terms of yards per punt return at #37....except he does not qualify because the minimum is 50 returns and he only has 25. -he only has 1 TD punt return. The place where he made his biggest impact, was clearly Kickoff returns. That was his absolute best skill, out of Kickoff return, Punt return, rushing, receiving. -he has 1271 career kick return yards. NOt even near the career top 250. -his 27.6 yard per return average would have been good enough for a tie for #22 on the list...but again, he did not qualify because you need 50 returns and he has only 46. -he has 5 career kick return TDs, which is good for a tie for #9 all time, with 8 other players. It is definitely possible he would have improved all these numbers if he stuck around for his senior year....but he did not. Ismail was a great returner and very exciting to watch, he was also a good person as well. But he was never close to the most outstanding football player in college football. He was not even the most outstanding player on his own team. He was the most exciting player on his team and college football in 1990. That is very different. He was sort of like the DeAnthony Thomas of the late 1980s. but without the dozens and dozens of TDs from scrimmage. That is what is "up with that".

[@diauntefather]

@@USCFlash you have all the statistics and data, but you fail to understand them. Reason be that Ismail didn't win, was because of the amount of touches he had. He combined for only 99 offensive touches. That's 9 per game, and that was only 3-400 less than Bienamy, who had over 300 touches just on the ground. Detmer eon the award, because he passed for 40+ TD's. Nothing else! He won and averaged 9 ypa, and threw 28 interceptions. He threw the ball over 50-60 times a game. Raghib was a WR who had over 600 yards rushing on. Less than 40 carries! name another WR who rushed like that. His yfs average was better than Bienamy and Detmer.

[@USCFlash]

​@@diauntefather I understand them perfectly. I watched every single game of his during his college career as you guys were our arch rival. And yes, that is exactly the reason he did not win. BECAUSE HE DID NOT TOUCH THE BALL enough. He did not touch the ball enough and he did not impact the games enough. You just admitted it. So Keep whining. He was not the most outstanding player that year. The most exciting, yes. The most outstanding? Nope. Sorry. Bienemy and Detmer were the KEY to their teams. Rocket was not. Exactly. And Detmer did not throw the ball "50-60 times a game". he averaged 46.8 times a game....562 attempts in 12 games. You then said "Detmer eon the award, because he passed for 40+ TD's. Nothing else!" Oh that is all? the 41 TDs? He did not throw for 5188 yards as well? He did not complete 64% of his throws? He did not run for 4 TDs? (which is more than Rocket ran for) His team totally depended upon him. Same with Bieniemy. Ismail, had a lot more help. They had numerous options. ISmail's rushing yards came on fakes, reverses, options and such....ND's *REAL* running backs, were loaded and carried far more often, Unless you don't think that Culver, Watters and Brooks helped out in the rushing department? The NOtre Dame teams RAN RAN RAN RAN RAN. They rarely threw...as evidenced by the fact that Ismail was the leading WR with only 32 catches. He was never even a real wide receiver. they just tried to chuck it long to him 4 times a game. Ismail only accounted for *SIX* TDs in 1990. Sorry, that does not cut it. He only touched the ball from scrimmage 99 times. 91 times the year before from scrimmage and only 12 times as a freshman. That is 202 career touches from scrimmage. And Bienemy was an absolute MONSTER. Bieniemy was the KEY to his team. He had 302 touches from scrimmage in 1990....that is 100 more touches in one year than ISmail had in his whole three year career. "He combined for only 99 offensive touches. That's 9 per game, and that was only 3-400 less than Bienamy, who had over 300 touches just on the ground." Totally incorrect. Bienemy had 288 rushes and 13 receptions...301 touches...that is 202 touches more....not the 3-400 less you incorrectly claimed. You also failed to note that Bieniemy ran INTO THE LINE. He ran for the tough yards, up the middle, behind the guards, into the teeth of the DL. Ismail never did that. Show me once where he was the guy they handed the ball to in short yardage or between the tackles. Never. He received wide off tackle pitches, QB Options, reverses, end runs. He was never a true running back or a true WR. And yes, Detmer threw 40+ TDs...and 5188 yards....so tell me, which was more important, Detmer's 41 TDs and 5188 yards passing, and 4 tds rushing, for a total of *45* TDs or ISmails *TOTAL* of all rushing, receiving and return 6 TDs and 1713 *TOTAL* rushing, return and receiving yards? yeah I thought so. 45 touchdowns vs 6 touchdowns is pretty clear. "Raghib was a WR who had over 600 yards rushing on. Less than 40 carries!" That is because he was not a real Wide Receiver. and there is not another WR who "rushed like that" because real WRs don't spend their time rushing the ball. They are receivers. Ismail never had *ANY* true position. They just got him the ball however they could. It is why he had absolutely zero success in the NFL. Because he was not a receiver, or a running back. He was a return man, that they would use as an X-factor on offense for revereses, tricks, end arounds and the occasional bomb. That's all. He was a great return man and an exciting player. NOthing more, nothing less. Get your facts straight next time.

[@diauntefather]

@@USCFlash you funny but again you don't understand nothing. You can sit here and pull all the stats you wanted, but you still talking like a duck, since you want to call people stuff. Nobody in the game back then was more dangerous then Rocket. You want to hype Bienemy and Detmer up with their stats, but Detmer with his 40+ TDs, also three 28 interceptions. Is that a good thing? You act like throwing/averaging 46 passes a game isn't a lot! Ismail controlled field position, his presence alone led to more of his teammates to shine. Don't forget, Bienemy also had Darian Hagen who wasn't no push over at QB also. BYU was getting blown out by Hawaii and weaker teams that year. Ismail was the face of college football, he impacted more games than Bienemy or Detmer. He wasn't one dimensional like the other two. You sound foolish. Look who even had a better pro career. Ismail first NFL catch he blew past shut downs finest Deion Sanders.

[@USCFlash]

​@@diauntefather Again, do not tell me about understanding things when you cannot reply in simple english. "you don't understand nothing" is a double negative. The stats, the facts, the touches and the importance of the other players to their teams win out. You lost. Both Bieniemy and Detmer were the most important and outstanding players on their team. They were more vital, they touched the ball more PRECISELY because they were more important. Nothing prevented Holtz from throwing the ball to Ismail 15 times a game, if he was so good. Nothing prevented them from running him 20 times a game if they had wanted to. Except for the fact that he did not have the ABILITY to catch 15 passes in a game, or even 10. ANd he did not have the ABILITY to run 20 times in a game like a normal running back. I don't need to "hype" Bieniemy and Detmer. Their performances say it all. They were more vital, more often. Detmer does not heed "hype" he was responsible for 45 TDs...to the Rocket's 7. Repeat those numbers to yourself about 50 times, till you understand that....Detmer accounted for nearly 6.5 TDs for every one of Rockets''NOW do you get it? I already told you he was the most exciting return man, but he was not the most outstanding player... "Nobody in the game back then was more dangerous then Rocket." Oh really? Sure in 1991, on returns he was. But in 1990 : -he kick/punt returned the ball 24 times for 1 TD. one every 24 touches. -he rushed the ball 67 times for 3 TD. one every 22.33 touches. Bieniemy ran 288 times for 17 TDs (1 every 16.9 touches, Darren Lewis had 18 TDs on 291 attempts every 16.1 touches) -he caught the ball 32 times for 2 TDs....one every 16 touches. Herman Moore alone caught 54 passes for 13 TDs...one every 4.15 touches. And as for nobody being more dangerous, yeah, sorry guess you never heard of Barry Sanders, Anthony THompson, Herman Moore, Desmond Howard, Shawn Moore, Darren Lewis all who were flat out amazing from 1988-1990. Ismail had one great year where he put up some big numbers with relatively limited action, 1990. "but Detmer with his 40+ TDs, also three 28 interceptions. Is that a good thing? You act like throwing/averaging 46 passes a game isn't a lot! " Lol nowhere did I say it was not a lot. You claimed he was throwing it "50-60 times a game". Which is simply not true. I simply pointed out it was under 47, not "50-60". And no, 28 interceptions is not a good thing. But when you throw the ball as often as BYU did, it happens. He was still smashing records left and right, despite having nobody of talent around him, unlike Rocket Ismail who had arguably some of the the greatest ND players around him. "Ismail controlled field position, his presence alone led to more of his teammates to shine. " Lol, no he didn't control field position....because teams could avoid kicking to him. THEY controlled field position. he only returned 14 kicks and 13 punts in 11 games in 1990. that is just over 1 kickoff return and 1 punt return a game. he only returned 25 punts in his WHOLE CAREER...and only 1 TD. So tell me how in 34 games, he controlled field position, when he only touched the ball on average less than 1 time per game. The only place where he "controlled" anything, was if they were dumb enough to kickoff to him.... And his presence did not allow the defense to shine. It did not allow the OL to shine. It did not allow Mirer to shine. Watters was a much better runner than Rocket and they did not have any other receivers back then since ND rarely passed the ball. Ismail was an X-factor, nothing more. Exciting to watch, potentially thrilling, but ultimately, amounted to very little for a team that was always totally loaded and was heavily run first. "Don't forget, Bienemy also had Darian Hagen who wasn't no push over at QB also." That is true. Hagan was also a much better football player than Ismail. Colorado had two guys who were better than Rocket. Only problem with Hagan was he could not actually throw the ball. "BYU was getting blown out by Hawaii and weaker teams that year." True. They also beat the same Miami team you did. By a TD. You lost to Stanford that year, as I recall....long before they were any good. So don't get high and mighty about BYU losing to Hawaii. BYU also had no talent around Detmer....just a bit different to what Ismail had at ND. " Ismail was the face of college football" Says who? Lol. When for a year in 1990? He was the face of ND Football, but not college football. Desmond HOward became the face exactly one year later. "he impacted more games than Bienemy or Detmer." Lol....oh right, the same Bieniemy that carried his team to the national championship, while Rocket scored 6 TDs and carried his team to 9-3? More impact than the QB who touched the ball 47 times a game and was responsible for 45 TDs? "He wasn't one dimensional like the other two." Bieniemy wasn't one dimensional. He was a classic running back, who could catch the ball and was a fantastic blocker. Detmer was a classic drop back passer, what did you want him to do, return punts? " You sound foolish. Look who even had a better pro career. Ismail first NFL catch he blew past shut downs finest Deion Sanders." Foolish? Says the guy touting 6 TDs vs 18 tds. And if you are trying to make someone look foolish, mentioning Ismail's pro career is the way to do it lol. So Ismail made one catch in the NFL that was so good when he went by Sanders? Why couldn't he do that against all the lesser CBs, if he was so amazing? His pro career was a failure. 28 TDs in 126 games. Two half decent seasons. Not a single Punt return or Kickoff return for a TD. he averaged less than 3 catches a game. Never even made a Pro Bowl. He and Bieniemy and Detmer, were all busts. So was almost the entire top 10 of the 1990 Heisman trophy class. you know who was *NOT* a bust? Herman Moore. who was a REAL Wide Receiver, unlike Ismail. He went on to become a three time first team all pro. That says all that needs to be said. Sorry, 34 career games and only 9 TDs from scrimmage does not even compare to Bieniemy, Sanders, THompson and what others accomplished. Just so you know, Desmond Howard had 23 TDs in 1991, his Heisman season. Ismail had 15 TDs in his WHOLE career of 34 games. 40% on kick returns. Back to the insane asylum you go, friend. Don't bother writing back till you know what you are talking about.

[@ndschroede23]

Looks like Tim Brown could've benefited from a better pair of spikes.

[@taylormilton3]

Let's get real.. any return called the greatest at Notre Dame starts and stops with Raghib "the Rocket" Ismail. I didn't forget about Time Brown but cone on...

[@scottdaniels6495]

10-0 whats michigan? and were number 3 btw

[@bobrisdon]

trash call in the orange bowl

[@russellmeyer8893]

Who is the white guy? #9?

[@CANIBUS4EVER]

ZBIKOWSKI

[@donaldbrady3850]

Tommy!

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

NOTRE DAME football is way better!! GO IRISH

[@TheWolverinesofmich]

MICHIGAN football is way better!! GO BLUE BEAT THE IRISH 2012

[@ellamarie6004]

TheWolverinesofmich u realize that on notre dames last game with Michigan they won 0-31 notre dame

[@trisha20072007]

You are a idiot

[@biezzerlaj3522]

You do realize Bo kicked to the Rocket 3x the last return called back on a clip...yeah the officials just felt sorry for Bo

[@johndarrinscottlong]

@@biezzerlaj3522 often forgotten!!!! Good call on your part

[@crystalbrianlarue8803]

I love the Irish notre dame football my dream is to take my family to see the Irish play in South Bend go irish we bleed blue and gold

[@BloodStainedTear]

Crystal Larue Should have brought them this season tickets were as cheap as $35.00

[@michaelmcgee2026]

Headed to my first ND football game this year against Ball State