Bobby Taylor and Shane Walton were very good, but

Bobby Taylor and Shane Walton were very good, but
by tsl4264 (2018-10-16 18:47:28)

In reply to: Seriously? posted by Irishdemon

the two best cornerbacks/defensive backs I ever saw play for ND were Luther Bradley and Mike Townsend. Both were selected as consensus All-Americans - Townsend in 1973 and Bradley in 1977.

Bradley, who was on both the 1973 and 1977 national championship teams, is ND's all-time leader in career interceptions with 17. Luther delivered the memorable ("Welcome to ND Stadium") hit on Lynn Swann on the first defensive play of the 1973 USC game. Mike Townsend set the single season interceptions record - 10 in 1972. He was one of the captains of the national championship team in 1973. Alums who were at ND in 1972 and 1973 will remember that both Mike Townsend and his older brother Willie, a wide receiver on the football team, were recruited as walk-ons by Digger to play basketball in Digger's first two seasons at ND (1971-72 and 1972-73). If the Townsend brothers weren't suited up for the Irish in football or basketball, you could usually find them in a pick-up basketball game at the Rock.

I was alive but a hair before my time...

I think though from a historical perspective, Luther Bradley is the consensus “best corner in ND history”. I’m not sure many would argue that.

I watched Bradley pick off six passes in one game while playing for the Chicago Blitz.

Great notes on Townsend. Thanks for that. Winning national championships and collecting all-america honors - that’s a tough combo to beat - for both Bradley and Townsend.