Brady Quinn: A Notre Dame Legacy Worth Celebrating
In the world of college football, ranking quarterbacks can be as contentious as a Saturday night rivalry game. ESPN recently unveiled their list of the Top 100 College Quarterbacks since 2000, placing Notre Dame's Brady Quinn at No.
- But when you dig into Quinn's legacy, it becomes clear that he might deserve a higher spot.
Brady Quinn, hailing from Ohio, left an indelible mark on Notre Dame's storied program. Under the tutelage of Charlie Weis, Quinn led the Fighting Irish to their first top-10 finish in 12 years. While Weis' tenure had its ups and downs, Quinn's performance on the field was consistently remarkable.
Over his college career, Quinn amassed 11,762 passing yards, 95 touchdowns, and a 58% completion rate, alongside six rushing touchdowns. These numbers not only make him the all-time leader in career passing yards and touchdowns for the Irish but also highlight his prolific presence in Notre Dame's offensive history.
Quinn's tenure at Notre Dame was marked by significant achievements. His 29-16 record as a starter includes a memorable 2005 season where the team finished 9-3, followed by a 10-3 record in 2006. Both seasons saw Notre Dame secure a spot in the AP Poll's Top 10, with a peak ranking of No. 2 in 2006.
Among Quinn's standout moments was the thrilling 2005 showdown against USC at Notre Dame Stadium. In 2006, he orchestrated one of the largest comebacks in school history against Michigan State and delivered a game-winning drive against UCLA, sealing the victory with a touchdown pass to Jeff Samardzija.
Following his college success, Quinn was a first-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Although his NFL career didn't mirror his college triumphs, Quinn has found a new calling as a prominent figure on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff.
Brady Quinn's legacy at Notre Dame is one of excellence and resilience, and while rankings can be subjective, his contributions to the Fighting Irish are undeniably significant.