Notre Dame Irish quarterback # 5 Terry Hanratty in action during the 1968 season. (USA Today Sports Images)

Ask 10 Notre Dame fans and you might get 10 different answers. Their opinion may be influenced by the player’s NFL performance or penalized for not living up to expectations.

I’ve developed a simple and easy formula to determine who was the greatest quarterback in Notre Dame history (minimum 10 starts).

I measure a quarterback by his completion percentage, his total yards, his yards per attempt, his touchdown percentage, his interception percentage and the number of fourth quarter comebacks. I also assign a bonus point for each national championship won or major bowl victory. (Sorry, fans. No points for a victory in the Ragu Tomato Sauce Bowl.)

This may be where there’s some controversy. I used who I felt was the greatest quarterback in each decade of Notre Dame football from 1960 to 2010 to develop a standard. I used Terry Hanratty (60s), Tom Clements (70s), Tony Rice (80s), Rick Mirer (90s) and Brady Quinn (00s).

You certainly could argue a different quarterback for each decade, but I believe it wouldn’t change the results significantly.

By averaging each player’s career, the following standard is developed:

Completion percentage: 55%
Yards: 2,051
Yards per attempt: 7.8
TD percentage: 4.9%
Interception percentage: 4.7%
4^th quarter comebacks: 3

Here’s how you complete the measurement. (No slide rule necessary!)

For yards, take a quarterback’s career yardage, average it and divide that average by 2,051. If their interception percentage is below 4.7, you add the difference to get their score to 4.7. If it over, you penalize the player by taking the different out of their final score.

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

I’ll show you how the formula works by using a player outside the Top 10. Some of you may recall Matt LoVecchio, a starter during the Bob Davie era. Matt came in and helped lead the Irish to a Fiesta Bowl berth, during which the Irish subsequently got pummeled. (This foreshadowed that Davie was probably better off at ESPN or at New Mexico.)

Here are LoVecchio’s numbers:
Completion percentage: 55%
Yards: 634
Yards per attempt: 6.5
TD percentage: 6.2%
INT percentage: 2.6%
4^th quarter comebacks: 0.

Remember to divide each of his numbers versus the standard and then add the totals together. Then to arrive at his final score, divide it by the number of categories (six).

Completion percentage: 1 (55/55)
Yards: .31 (634/2051)
Yards per attempt: .83 (6.5/7.8)
TD%: 1.27 (6.2 – 4.9)
INT%: .45 (1 – (2.6 / 4.7))
4^th Quarter comebacks: 0

Total score: 3.86
Matt LoVechhio Rating: 3.86 / 6 = 64

My baseline score is 100, so a 64 is a below average rating for a Notre Dame quarterback. I didn’t compile this project to highlight below average play to conjure up memories of the somewhat lean post-Holtz years.

So here are your Top 10 signal callers in Notre Dame history:

#10 John Huarte
Record as a starting QB: 9-2
Rating: 79

Huarte was a one-year wonder in Ara’s first year, guiding the Irish to a 9-1 mark and narrowly missing the National Championship. He went on to the win the Heisman.

#9 Joe Theismann
Record as a starting QB: 20-2-3
Rating: 83

One major bowl win to his credit and a somewhat high interception percentage keeps Joe further down in the ratings than some may agree with.

#8 Tony Rice
Record as a starting QB: 28-3
Rating: 95

Rice was the last quarterback to pilot the Irish to a national title. He also has a higher winning percentage than anyone on the list.

#7 Tom Clements
Record as a starting QB: 29-5
Rating: 100

Clements has a national championship and a major bowl victory to his credit, but not much in the way of passing numbers. Again, some may argue/question if his placement is too low.

#6 Jimmy Clausen
Record as a Starting QB: 14-17
Rating: 111

Only quarterback with a losing record on the list. Clausen has incredible passing numbers. To be fair, a leaky defense and questionable decision making by Charlie Weis probably cost him several wins.

#5 Brady Quinn
Record as Starting QB: 29-17
Rating: 111

I loved watching Brady Quinn play. Quinn has the most starts on this list, with standout signature moments against Michigan State and UCLA.

#4 Ron Powlus
Record as a Starting QB: 28-16-1
Rating: 113

Although much maligned by press and fans alike, numbers show that Powlus had a more than solid career. Detractors will point to his zero bowl wins. Powlus authored seven fourth quarter comebacks during his career at ND, the most on this list.

#3 Jarious Jackson
Record as a Starting QB: 14-9
Rating: 114

Excellent passing numbers and five fourth quarter comebacks place Jackson surprisingly into the Top 3.

#2 Joe Montana
Record as a Starting QB: 20-5
Rating: 127

Montana is the gold standard for starting quarterbacks at Notre Dame. A national championship, epic comebacks, bowl victories place Joe Cool near the top.

#1 Rick Mirer
Record as a Starting QB: 28-7-1
Rating: 137

The passing numbers combined with bowl victories place Mirer at the top. Some will point to his poor NFL career. For this list, it is irrelevant. (But he makes a pretty good bottle of wine!)

So you have your Top 10.

Some may argue that they don’t like the standard being used or with the results. What I’ve simply done here is use numbers to attempt to quantify rankings rather than anecdotal evidence or the blatherings of beer-fueled relatives at a summer cookout. I placed no bias into the rankings the numbers are the numbers. For what it’s worth, my childhood favorite Steve Beuerlein rates a 78 — sadly missing the list.

The post Who Was The Greatest Irish Signal Caller In Modern History? appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

My weekend started out on Thursday with a day of research in Notre Dame Archives sifting through decades of Notre Dame football photographs. It was a lovely walk down memory lane for me, along with some bitter sweet memories of those who are no longer with us, but I was able to get my work done with time to spare!

Notre Dame Archives

Notre Dame Archives

Then I made a side trip to the second floor of the library for a little editing work on the manuscript. Oh the hours that I’ve spent in this building! Look familiar Miss Quinn?

Second Floor – Hesburgh Library

Thursday night I caught up with friends, regrouped, and got ready for another hectic day. Friday got off to a busy start with a photo shoot on campus for the upcoming book.

(Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Then I got the chance to meet USA Network’s “The Moment” star Vince Moiso and his lovely family.

USA Network’s Vince Moiso from “The Moment”

And producer Charlie Ebersol …

USA Network producer, Charlie Ebersol

Followed by a delightful 45 minute conversation with Notre Dame head photographer, Matt Cashore.

My best pal Lynne and Matt Cashore!

Quick outfit change and off to the Alumni Football Dinner we go!

Football Alumni Dinner

At my table I got to sit with current football players Austin Collinsworth and Ben Councell. A pair of delightful young men that I am proud to call Notre Dame men.

Ben Councell and Austin Collinsworth, oh and me!

At the table next to me was my best pal and classmate, Irv Smith, sitting with Big Lou, Louis Nix III.

Louis Nix III and Irv Smith. (Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Dinner was awesome. The keynote speakers included TJ Jones, Bennett Jackson, Kyle Rudolph and head coach Brian Kelly. I am so very proud of these young men, especially TJ Jones. He has really stepped up, not only as a true Notre Dame man, but as the man of his house since the passing of his father, Andre. God bless you TJ!

TJ Jones

I had the chance to catch up with one of my Dad’s classmates, Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte. What a truly wonderful man.

Heisman Trophy winner, John Huarte

And I also had the chance to catch up with my classmate, Irv Smith. It seems like not a day has passed since we were in school!

Irv Smith

Following dinner I had the opportunity to go to a reception in the stadium which included a tour of the locker room and a chance to touch the “Play Like A Champion Today” sign. Yep, I could die right now a very happy girl!

The Notre Dame locker room!

Cindy and I in the locker room!

See, Notre Dame and St. Mary’s girls can get along!

The sign!!

Play Like a Champion Today

All this and I’m not even to the game yet! Saturday was another bright and early day! First stop, the TNNDN tailgate and some time with classmate Oscar McBride.

Oscar McBride

Then a quick stop to the monogram lunch to catch up with a few more friends …

Oscar McBride, Kapron Lewis Moore, Irv Smith

And …

Former teammates Irv Smith, Lee Becton and Oscar McBride

Game time and I had the honor of being down on the field with some of my pals. You could not have asked for better football weather … sunny, crisp air, blue sky … perfect.

2013 Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game

On the sideline with the boys …

Irv Smith and Oscar McBride

Tight End U …

Wide Receiver Bobby Brown and Tight Ends: Irv Smith, Kyle Rudolph, Oscar McBride

THE moment of the game? Manti Te’o coming over to hug my friend Lynne … Amazing. The Notre Dame family is truly just that … family.

This says it all … Notre Dame is family. (Photo Credit: Matt Cashore)

It was a truly amazing weekend. I love my Notre Dame family more than words can express, and I have absolutely no complaints when football is part of my weekend schedule. Now I am just more in need for football season to get here.

My Notre Dame ladies!

How many days until Temple?

Sigh.

Cheers!

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