George Connor played hard-even in practice

George Connor played hard-even in practice
by olson (2019-08-21 14:14:18)
Edited on 2019-08-21 14:40:05

In reply to: ChiTrib votes George Connor 16th-best Bear of all time. posted by G.K.Chesterton

1946

It's lucky Notre Dame had a lot of fullbacks.

#1 A preseason practice before the opener vs Illinois

Connor tackles ND Fullback Bob Hanlon so hard that Hanlon ends up with a deep thigh bruise- so bad that he could barely walk for days afterwards....Connor broke his hand during the tackle...likely when he banged his hand off Hanlon's helmet...

Hanlon was a war vet like Connor-just back from the Navy...Hanlon had lettered on the '43 ND National Champs & then was a backfield teammate of Ara Parseghian on the '44 Great Lakes team.

As I said, Hanlon could barely walk after his collision with Connor...but the ND coaches wanted him to 'shake it off' and keep practicing (after all, Connor shook off the broken hand & never missed a day)....Hanlon thought the coaches were nuts & quit the team-transferring to play for former ND QB Wally Fromhart at Loras College.

Hanlon led Loras to an undefeated season and was named Little All American before a career in the NFL & then the longtime coach at his HS Alma Mater- Chicago Leo

One fullback down....

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#2 Midseason practice & ND is preparing for Iowa. ND Fullback Joe Yonto is playing the part of Iowa star fullback named Hoerner...

Yonto ran off-tackle and is hit by Connor...from the book 'Leahy's Lads'

"...when the players un-piled, Yonto was on the ground with the most badly broken leg any of us had ever seen. Yonto's foot was at a 90 degree angle from where it should have been."

Yonto never played again. Instead he became a student assistant football coach on his way to eventually becoming a legendary assistant at ND.

two Fullbacks down

#3

A practice before the upcoming game with Army....Gerry Ramsburger, a Bronze Star winning vet is playing Army's Doc Blanchard...reportedly, Ramsburger runs like Blanchard & even looks a little like him.

Ramsburger runs off tackle and takes a terrific shot by Connor....but to everyone's surprise, Ramsburger pops right up after the hit and head back to the huddle...but in the huddle, Ramsburger tells a teammate he doesn't feel right...the teammate takes one look at Ramsburger and calls for the trainer Hughie Burns.

Connor had broken Ramsburger's jaw.

From the book 'Leahy's Lads'

"Ramsburger did have his jaw wired, but was never able to play again. He was a good one and would have played a lot of football for Notre Dame...."

Three fullbacks down

All of the Irish played and practiced hard in 1946....the Irish defense only gave up 24 pts all season(the 1st string gave up 2 tds and the reserves gave up the other 2 tds)....

it was said that the Irish players 'caught hell' from the coaches after each of the 4 tds scored against them...interestingly- no opponent made an extra point against the irish the entire season!

Olson seems like the appropriate person to ask ...

If you don't mind.

What relationship did ND's remarkable dominance right after WW II have to do with the fact that ND had served as an officer training school for the US Navy during WW II? I've heard suggestions that is was a factor in recruiting talent but it's always been a bit unclear. Thanks.

well,

I usually don't post on Rock's House anymore...I hang out on Cartier

Thanks!

Excellent information. I hope you write a book, I'll buy it.

John Lujack said Connor was terrifying in practice.

And this from a guy who, pound for pound, might be the toughest guy to ever play for either the Irish (Leahy's opinion) or Da Bears (Halas' opinion).

Butkus is omitted from this conversation because he is in a category where he is the only player.

Then, of course, there is Ditka.

I’ve always loved Coach Leahy’s promise to George Connor

if he came to play at Notre Dame. First, that Connor would be an All-American and second, that he’d also be a national champion.

Both predictions came true. Twice.