By The Numbers: 40-41

#40
First Team: Reggie Brooks (1989-92)
This was a tough choice between The Brothers Brooks. Tony (1987-88, 1990-91) had the better career stats, but Reggie had the greatest single season by a Notre Dame running back we’ve ever witnessed. 

Brooks had the greatest single season by a Notre Dame running back we've ever witnessed.

In the end, Reggie received the nod because of his indelible impact during his senior season (1992) in which he rose from relative obscurity to become a second-round pick and a 1,000-yard rusher as an NFL rookie.

The Notre Dame backfield was so loaded in 1990, Reggie actually had to move to cornerback that year as a sophomore. He made a late interception of an Elvis Grbac pass to help clinch a 28-24 victory over Michigan that year.

As a senior, playing in the same backfield as first-round picks Rick Mirer and Jerome Bettis, Reggie rushed for 1,394 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging an astounding 8.04 yards per carry, nearly breaking George Gipp’s yards per carry average in a season set in 1920. He also didn’t lose a fumble until the 28-3 Cotton Bowl victory versus Texas A&M.

Last summer when we rated 50 of the most timeless plays in Notre Dame history, Brooks had three of them in the top 25, all from his senior season: One was a breathtaking 55-yard scoring run in a 31-23 victory at USC in which he rushed for 227 yards and three scores. Another was his “unconscious” run against Michigan in which he was knocked out cold near the end zone after a remarkable individual effort, but still held on to the ball to score. Finally, there was his diving catch of Mirer’s two-point conversion pass in the closing seconds of the 17-16 “Snow Bowl” win versus Penn State.

His 7.6 yards per rushing attempt is easily the school record. No. 2 is Four Horseman Don Miller at 6.83.

Second Team: Tony Brooks (1987-88, 1990-91)
Although he often found himself the center of controversy, Tony also finished in the top 10 on Notre Dame’s career rushing chart once his career ended. Unlike his brother, he didn’t have the powerful signature plays, but he did produce 2,274 yards on the ground during his career and a robust 5.4 yards per carry.

Through 10 games during the 1988 national title season, the sophomore Brooks was the leading rusher with 667 yards. But because Lou Holtz sent Brooks and Ricky Watters home (for repeated tardiness) before the USC game in the season finale, quarterback Tony Rice became the rushing leader that year.

Third Team: Terry Eurick (1974-77) & Gary Potempa (1971-73)
Although he didn’t pose eye-popping stats as a running back, Eurick is the lone No. 40 to serve as a captain at Notre Dame — and it happened to be on a team that won the 1977 national title unit.

His seven touchdowns during the 1977 regular season tied him with Vagas Ferguson for the team lead — and then Eurick tallied the first two TDs (6- and 10-yard runs) in the 38-10 demolition of No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. One of those scoring runs made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

And speaking of national titles…Potempa was the starting middle linebacker/nose guard for the 1973 champs. He finished second in tackles that year with 75.

Honorable Mention & Notes: Bob Livingstone (1942, 1946-47) served three years in World War II before returning and helping the most depth-laden teams in college football history win back-to-back national titles. He wasn’t a starter, but even some of the fourth-team players from that era made NFL rosters.

Tom O’Leary (1965-67) was a two-year starter in the defensive backfield, including the 1966 national champs. The first-team defense allowed 17 points the entire 1966 season.

Pat Ballage (1982-85) started 32 games at cornerback during his career and finished with 162 tackles, 17 passes broken up and six interceptions.

Steve Cichy (1978-82) earned honorable mention All-America notice as a sophomore safety before an injury truncated his career. He’s best known for returning the blocked punt for a touchdown against Houston in the 1979 Cotton Bowl that began Notre Dame’s dramatic rally from a 34-12 deficit.

#41
First Team: Ted Twomey (1927-29)
A second-team All-America pick by the AP for the 1929 national champs, the tackle is the lone Irish player to don No. 41 who received All-America notice.

The 1930 national champs would have seven All-America picks, but the 1929 unit had only three. Twomey joined quarterback Frank Carideo and guard Jack Cannon on the list.

Second Team: Mike Goolsby (2001-04)
Paced the Irish in tackles during his senior year with 97, with 7.5 for loss.

In a 17-13 victory at Tennessee that year, Goolsby was named National Defensive Player of the Week. He made 14 tackles against the Vols (two for loss) and returned a tipped Rick Clausen pass for a 26-yard touchdown.

Goolsby finished his career with 177 tackles.

Third Team: John Dubenetzky (1974-76)
As the starting strong safety for Ara Parseghian’s final Notre Dame team, he recorded 56 tackles (six for loss) and two interceptions during the regular season, and then added a crucial fourth-quarter interception in the 13-11 Orange Bowl victory versus 11-0 Alabama.

His career wasn’t as prominent under Dan Devine, but he still was a regular as a junior with 48 tackles, an interception and a blocked punt.

Honorable mention: Along with Wayne Edmonds, running back Dick Washington (1953) was the first black player to suit up for Notre Dame. He backed up 1953 Heisman Trophy winner John Lattner.