1947 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
Encyclopedia
The 1947 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame
during the 1947 college football season
. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy
, ended the season with 9 wins and no losses, winning the national championship. The 1947 team became the sixth Irish team to win the national title and the second in a row for Leahy. The squad is the second team in what is considered to be the Notre Dame Football dynasty, a stretch of games in which Notre Dame went 36-0-2 and won three national championships and two Heisman Trophies
from 1946-1949. The 1947 team was cited by Sports Illustrated
as the part of the second best sports dynasty
(professional or collegiate) of the 20th century and second greatest college football dynasty.
All-Americans:
{| border="0" style="width:100%;"
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="background:#c5b358;"| Name
! style="background:#c5b358;"| AP
! style="background:#c5b358;"| UP
! style="background:#c5b358;"| NEA
! style="background:#c5b358;"| INS
! style="background:#c5b358;"| COL
! style="background:#c5b358;"| AA
! style="background:#c5b358;"| SN
! style="background:#c5b358;"| L
! style="background:#c5b358;"| FC
|- style="text-align:center;"
| † John Lujack, QB || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 ||1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| George Connor
, T || 3 || 1 || 2 || || 1 || 1 || 1 || ||1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Bill Fischer, G || 1 || 1 || 1 || 2 || || || 1 || 1 ||3
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Zygmont Czarobski
, T || 2 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || || || ||3
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Leon Hart
, E || || || || || || || 1 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="10" style="background:#003;"| †denotes unanimous selection Source:
|}
College Football Hall of Fame
Inductees:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Position
!Year Inducted
|- style="text-align:center;"
| George Connor
|| Tackle ||1963
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Zygmont "Ziggy" Czarobski
|| Tackle ||1977
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Bill Fischer || Tackle/Guard ||1983
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Leon Hart
|| End ||1973
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Frank Leahy
|| Coach ||1970
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Johnny Lujack
|| Quarterback ||1960
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Jim Martin || End/Tackle ||1995
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Emil "Red" Sitko
|| Halfback/Fullback ||1984
|}
Notre Dame leads all universities in players inducted.
, a greater margin that by which Notre Dame had beaten USC. Notre Dame and Michigan
had traded the top spot in the polls through much of the season. Michigan took the #1 spot in the AP poll on November 16, 1947, and Notre Dame moved into the #1 spot on November 23, 1947, by a margin of 1,410 points to 1,289 points. This last regular season poll determined the recipient of the AP's national championship trophy.
Debate arose among some prominent sports writers, among them football writer Pete Rozelle
" and Grantland Rice
, the dean of the nation's sports writers. Rice lauded the Wolverines, saying, "It is the best all-around college football team I've seen this year..." Red Smith
of the New York Herald Tribune
said, "No other team that I have seen this season did things with so little effort. Crisler has so many that do so much."
Notre Dame supporters argued that the post-season AP poll was final and should not be revisited. They contended that Michigan had run up the score on USC, noted that Notre Dame had not had an opportunity to play in a bowl game, and asserted that Michigan and other Big Nine schools were unwilling to schedule Notre Dame in the regular season.
Detroit Free Press
Sports Editor Lyall Smith argued the debate should be answered by comparing the two team's performance against common opponents. Smith noted: "They played three common foes. Notre Dame beat Pitt, 40–6, a margin of 34 points: Michigan beat Pitt 59–0. Notre Dame defeated Northwestern, 26 to 19, a margin of seven points: Michigan beat the 'Cats 49 to 21, for a 28-point advantage. Notre Dame dropped USC, 36 to 7, in what Coach Frank Leahy
termed his team's 'greatest game of the year,' while Michigan slaughtered the same Trojans, 49 to 0. Against those three common opponents the Irish scored 104 points to 32. Michigan's margin was 167 to 21."
In response to the debate over which team truly deserved to be recognized as the nation's best, an unofficial post-bowl ballot was held, with the only two options being Michigan and Notre Dame. The AP reported on the rationale for the special poll this way: "The Associated Press is polling sports editors of its member papers throughout the country to help settle the argument as to which is the better football team -- Michigan or Notre Dame. The AP's final poll of the top ten teams, released Dec. 8 at the conclusion of the regulation season, resulted in Notre Dame winning first place with 1,410 points. Michigan was second with 1,289. . . . Returns so far received indicate that voting in this latest poll is likely to be the heaviest ever recorded." Another AP report indicated the special poll was "conducted by popular demand" to answer "the burning sports question of the day" and to do so "at the ballot box."
Commenting on the post-Rose Bowl poll, Michigan coach Fritz Crisler
said "the men who voted couldn't have made a mistake if they had picked either team." He described Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy
as a "superb coach." Notre Dame President, Father John Cavanagh said, "We at Notre Dame feel grateful for the magnanimous statement of Coach Crisler. I listened to Michigan against Southern California and have only praise for the skill and accomplishment of your fine team."
Despite the magnanimous statements of Coach Crisler and Father Cavanagh, the reversed decision in the post-Rose Bowl poll only stoked the debate over which team was best. Said one columnist: "Hottest argument of the moment is the one over which had the better football team, Michigan or Notre Dame. To settle it the Associated Press polled better than 350 sports writers in 48 states . . . with a two to one nod for the Wolverines."
Forty years later, the debate was still ongoing. In 1988, Michigan All-American Dan Dworsky
noted: "Notre Dame still claims that national championship and so do we."
The NCAA, the governing body for college athletics, presently cites Notre Dame as the official AP title winner. The Associated Press also does not recognize the special poll and the special poll does not supersede the original final poll.
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
during the 1947 college football season
1947 college football season
The 1947 college football season finished with Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State all unbeaten and untied, but the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were the first place choice for 107 of the 142 voters in the AP writers poll, and repeated as national champions...
. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
, ended the season with 9 wins and no losses, winning the national championship. The 1947 team became the sixth Irish team to win the national title and the second in a row for Leahy. The squad is the second team in what is considered to be the Notre Dame Football dynasty, a stretch of games in which Notre Dame went 36-0-2 and won three national championships and two Heisman Trophies
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
from 1946-1949. The 1947 team was cited by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as the part of the second best sports dynasty
Dynasty (sports)
A sports dynasty is a team that dominates their sport or league for multiple seasons or years. Such dominance is often only realized in retrospect...
(professional or collegiate) of the 20th century and second greatest college football dynasty.
Schedule
Award winners
- Johnny LujackJohnny LujackJohn Christopher Lujack Jr. is a former American football quarterback and 1947 Heisman Trophy winner.Lujack was born on January 4, 1925, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame, and professionally for the Chicago Bears. Lujack was the first of...
- Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
All-Americans:
{| border="0" style="width:100%;"
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="background:#c5b358;"| Name
! style="background:#c5b358;"| AP
! style="background:#c5b358;"| UP
! style="background:#c5b358;"| NEA
! style="background:#c5b358;"| INS
! style="background:#c5b358;"| COL
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
! style="background:#c5b358;"| AA
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
! style="background:#c5b358;"| SN
! style="background:#c5b358;"| L
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
! style="background:#c5b358;"| FC
|- style="text-align:center;"
| † John Lujack, QB || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 ||1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| George Connor
George Connor (American football)
George Leo Connor was an American football offensive tackle/linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1948 to 1955. He was originally a number one draft pick by the New York Giants in 1946. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and of the College Football Hall of Fame. He attended the...
, T || 3 || 1 || 2 || || 1 || 1 || 1 || ||1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Bill Fischer, G || 1 || 1 || 1 || 2 || || || 1 || 1 ||3
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Zygmont Czarobski
Zygmont Czarobski
Zygmont "Ziggy" Peter Czarobski was an American football defensive tackle. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.-External links:*...
, T || 2 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || || || ||3
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Leon Hart
Leon Hart
Leon Joseph Hart was an American football tight end and defensive end. He was raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh....
, E || || || || || || || 1 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="10" style="background:#003;"| †denotes unanimous selection Source:
|}
College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
Inductees:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Position
!Year Inducted
|- style="text-align:center;"
| George Connor
George Connor (American football)
George Leo Connor was an American football offensive tackle/linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1948 to 1955. He was originally a number one draft pick by the New York Giants in 1946. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and of the College Football Hall of Fame. He attended the...
|| Tackle ||1963
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Zygmont "Ziggy" Czarobski
Zygmont Czarobski
Zygmont "Ziggy" Peter Czarobski was an American football defensive tackle. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.-External links:*...
|| Tackle ||1977
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Bill Fischer || Tackle/Guard ||1983
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Leon Hart
Leon Hart
Leon Joseph Hart was an American football tight end and defensive end. He was raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh....
|| End ||1973
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
|| Coach ||1970
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Johnny Lujack
Johnny Lujack
John Christopher Lujack Jr. is a former American football quarterback and 1947 Heisman Trophy winner.Lujack was born on January 4, 1925, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame, and professionally for the Chicago Bears. Lujack was the first of...
|| Quarterback ||1960
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Jim Martin || End/Tackle ||1995
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Emil "Red" Sitko
Emil Sitko
Emil "Red" Sitko was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those...
|| Halfback/Fullback ||1984
|}
Notre Dame leads all universities in players inducted.
The 1947 national championship dispute
While Notre Dame was voted national champion in the final official AP poll, Michigan went on to beat USC, 49–0, in the 1948 Rose Bowl1948 Rose Bowl
The 1948 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1948. It was the 34th Rose Bowl Game, and the second since the Big Nine Conference and the Pacific Coast Conference reached an exclusive agreement to match their champions in the game each year. In the game, the Michigan...
, a greater margin that by which Notre Dame had beaten USC. Notre Dame and Michigan
1947 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1947 Michigan Wolverines football team, nicknamed the "Mad Magicians", represented the University of Michigan in the 1947 college football season. Coached by Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines finished undefeated and untied with a 10–0 record...
had traded the top spot in the polls through much of the season. Michigan took the #1 spot in the AP poll on November 16, 1947, and Notre Dame moved into the #1 spot on November 23, 1947, by a margin of 1,410 points to 1,289 points. This last regular season poll determined the recipient of the AP's national championship trophy.
Debate arose among some prominent sports writers, among them football writer Pete Rozelle
Pete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....
" and Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, the dean of the nation's sports writers. Rice lauded the Wolverines, saying, "It is the best all-around college football team I've seen this year..." Red Smith
Red Smith
Red Smith may refer to:* Red Smith , 1910s baseball third baseman* Red Smith , Pittsburgh Pirates catcher, 1917–1918* Red Smith , MLB shortstop in the 1925 season...
of the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
said, "No other team that I have seen this season did things with so little effort. Crisler has so many that do so much."
Notre Dame supporters argued that the post-season AP poll was final and should not be revisited. They contended that Michigan had run up the score on USC, noted that Notre Dame had not had an opportunity to play in a bowl game, and asserted that Michigan and other Big Nine schools were unwilling to schedule Notre Dame in the regular season.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
Sports Editor Lyall Smith argued the debate should be answered by comparing the two team's performance against common opponents. Smith noted: "They played three common foes. Notre Dame beat Pitt, 40–6, a margin of 34 points: Michigan beat Pitt 59–0. Notre Dame defeated Northwestern, 26 to 19, a margin of seven points: Michigan beat the 'Cats 49 to 21, for a 28-point advantage. Notre Dame dropped USC, 36 to 7, in what Coach Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
termed his team's 'greatest game of the year,' while Michigan slaughtered the same Trojans, 49 to 0. Against those three common opponents the Irish scored 104 points to 32. Michigan's margin was 167 to 21."
In response to the debate over which team truly deserved to be recognized as the nation's best, an unofficial post-bowl ballot was held, with the only two options being Michigan and Notre Dame. The AP reported on the rationale for the special poll this way: "The Associated Press is polling sports editors of its member papers throughout the country to help settle the argument as to which is the better football team -- Michigan or Notre Dame. The AP's final poll of the top ten teams, released Dec. 8 at the conclusion of the regulation season, resulted in Notre Dame winning first place with 1,410 points. Michigan was second with 1,289. . . . Returns so far received indicate that voting in this latest poll is likely to be the heaviest ever recorded." Another AP report indicated the special poll was "conducted by popular demand" to answer "the burning sports question of the day" and to do so "at the ballot box."
Commenting on the post-Rose Bowl poll, Michigan coach Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
said "the men who voted couldn't have made a mistake if they had picked either team." He described Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
as a "superb coach." Notre Dame President, Father John Cavanagh said, "We at Notre Dame feel grateful for the magnanimous statement of Coach Crisler. I listened to Michigan against Southern California and have only praise for the skill and accomplishment of your fine team."
Despite the magnanimous statements of Coach Crisler and Father Cavanagh, the reversed decision in the post-Rose Bowl poll only stoked the debate over which team was best. Said one columnist: "Hottest argument of the moment is the one over which had the better football team, Michigan or Notre Dame. To settle it the Associated Press polled better than 350 sports writers in 48 states . . . with a two to one nod for the Wolverines."
Forty years later, the debate was still ongoing. In 1988, Michigan All-American Dan Dworsky
Dan Dworsky
Daniel Leonard Dworsky has been a leading Southern California architect since the early 1950s. He is a longstanding member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. Among other works, Dworsky designed Crisler Arena, the basketball arena at the University of Michigan named for...
noted: "Notre Dame still claims that national championship and so do we."
The NCAA, the governing body for college athletics, presently cites Notre Dame as the official AP title winner. The Associated Press also does not recognize the special poll and the special poll does not supersede the original final poll.