Paul Hornung, ND’ original “golden boy”, is the namesake for college football’s newest honor: “most versatile player” (a player that can help their team the most in a large variety of ways).

Hornung is one of college football’s all-time greats (think the original Rocket Ismail, plus he could throw, and play defense), the only player special enough to win the Heisman on a losing team, so his name belongs right up there with the Biletnikoffs and Nagurskis.

However, he might have even more fame for the statement “ND must lower admissions to get the black athlete and win”. Technically, he may be right on lowering admissions, he just made the mistake of using the qualifying term “black”. (That’s what we call racial profiling.)

So, occasionally in his honor, the Blarney will bring you Hornung’s Words of Wisdom, or technically true statements that are worded wrong, and perhaps show some prejudice or some kind of political incorrectness.

Paul Hornung’s Words of Wisdom For 9-01-11:

“Texas A&M made it official yesterday, they are leaving the Big-12 for the SEC. More moves to follow (The SEC will have to get up to at least 14 teams). What could it lead to? Super conferences are the meme for college football these days. I don’t think it is a good thing. Super conferences will lead to more regional play, doing away with the excitement of big intersectional games, and they may be the final catalyst to bring about a playoff-which will dilute the most exciting regular season in sports. Greed and money are the names of the game. Too much greed and money. Conference commissioners are going too far, trying to acquire more and more assets to make their respective conferences more valuable/powerful. These are actions that could end up biting them all in the ass. Let me put it this way: When I was a star, I had lots of girls. I mean lots. But, when I got too greedy, I had to make a visit to the ‘ole clinic, and receive a hearty shot of penicillin.”

The Blarney (at one time) thought that Brady Quinn could be an NFL starting quarterback. Not Tom Brady, but at least Matt Hasselbeck. A very solid leader, could throw around the 20 touchdowns/year area, not throw too many picks, and, in general, keep his team in contention. He wasn’t a Swiss Army Knife, but he had plenty of tools; height to stand tall in the pocket; strength to shake off would-be tacklers; smarts; an arm enough to make all the throws, above-average accuracy; and he was schooled in quarterback know-how by a quarterback guru. I mean, Quinn put up staggering numbers under Weis (64% completion percentage, 35-plus touchdowns/year, close to 4,000 yards/year, and single-digit interceptions). He was even good enough to fool everybody into thinking that Weis was the “chosen one” to put ND on top again. Looking back, do you realize how hard that was to do? That’s like making a 4th grader think that brussel sprouts are as tasty a treat as an ice cream sundae with extra fudge.

However, as soon as he left Notre Dame, the good times ended. He didn’t show enough to get on the field. For the Browns. He couldn’t beat out Derek Anderson. Derek Anderson, who threw such bad interceptions Brett Favre would have been left shaking his head had he seen them. Imagine Favre having to ask this sentence: “Why didn’t he check down?!” Then, Cleveland shipped him to Denver, he couldn’t beat out Kyle Orton (who is probably a top 15 quarterback), which was fine, but then they drafted Tebow. All indications were that Quinn would be third-string behind both of them. At this point, we’re not talking “bust”. Tim Couch was a “bust”. Jeff George was a “bust”. We’re talking “Ryan Leaf-level bust”. Like stuck in a mental institution from the trauma of a failed career, carving “Peyton Manning couldn’t hold my jock strop” or “laces out!” into the walls.

However, it didn’t reach that point, because Tebow isn’t ready to be an NFL quarterback, and because (from what I’ve read) Quinn is playing better than he has at any time up to this point. He is still a “bust”, and a career backup, but he’ll get to stay in the NFL, make some scratch as a #2, and avoid being a “Ryan Leaf-level bust”. You know what? That ain’t so bad.

The Bonus:

What thoughts must have been going threw Quinn’s head when he was elevated to #2 over Tebow? (In a moment of complete honesty.)

(Falls to knees, looking up at the heavens, shouting “Yes! Yes! Thank God! Glory be! Thank you for this moment! Dear God yes!” Tears are rolling down his cheek now. He gathers himself.)

“Oh man, I’m just relieved I didn’t lose out to a quarterback whose signature throw is the fullback dive. What an embarrassment that would have been.”

“I would have had to retire on the spot if I lost to a guy whose throwing motion makes him look like he’s avoiding being attacked by a hive of bees.”

“Had Josh been planning to make the jump-pass a staple of his offense? Is that why I got put on the back-burner?”

“This will be okay for Tim, he can play tight end better than I could.”

(Stands up, and starts doing the moonwalk.)

Paul Hornung, ND’ original “golden boy”, is the namesake for college football’s newest honor: “most versatile player” (a player that can help their team the most in a large variety of ways).

Hornung is one of college football’s all-time greats (think the original Rocket Ismail, plus he could throw, and play defense), the only player special enough to win the Heisman on a losing team, so his name belongs right up there with the Biletnikoffs and Nagurskis.

However, he might have even more fame for the statement “ND must lower admissions to get the black athlete and win”. Technically, he may be right on lowering admissions, he just made the mistake of using the qualifying term “black”. (That’s what we call racial profiling.)

So, occasionally in his honor, the Blarney will bring you Hornung’s Words of Wisdom, or technically true statements that are worded wrong, and perhaps show some prejudice or some kind of political incorrectness.

Paul Hornung’s Words of Wisdom For 8-11-11:

“Three weeks until the college football season kicks off (ESPN and SI season previews are here!), and I gotta tell ya, all seems right with the world. Notre Dame is expected to do well (most informed media members are thinking 9-10 wins), and opposing fan bases are hating any small seasoning of Irish love that is sprinkled on (the Irish will lose to USF right out of the gates, ND doesn’t have enough athletes to keep up with the team speed of Florida’s fifth-best team, you idiots). It makes me smile, good things are coming if people are feeling the need to put down ND. Honestly, it feels like driving down the highway in a ‘66 Shelby Cobra 427 on a sunny day, with three skirts next to you (don’t ask me how, it’s all about excess), fighting to see who gets to put their hands on your gear.”