32 Days Away From College Football Kickoff. Today we have Johnny Lujack from Notre Dame and John Riggins from Kansas. Two equally impressive football players. July is coming to a close. Football season is so close you can almost taste it and those tasty tailgate treats. Have a GREAT Tuesday and see you tomorrow for #31 in our countdown to kickoff.
Johnny Lujack (32) Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Johnny Lujack became Notre Dame’s quarterback as a sophomore in 1943 after Angelo Bertelli left to join the Marines. He went on to help the Irish win three national titles and built a reputation as one of the best T-formation quarterbacks in college football history. In his first start against Army in 1943, he threw two touchdown passes, ran for another, and made an interception in a 26-0 win. After spending almost three years in the Navy, he returned to Notre Dame and earned consensus All-America honors as a junior and senior on the undefeated 1946 and 1947 teams.
Lujack was also a strong runner and played halfback as a sophomore. He handled punting duties and made what many consider his best play on defense. In 1946, he kept a game against top-ranked Army scoreless by tackling Cadet fullback Doc Blanchard near the goal line from his defensive back position. That year, as a junior, he finished third in the Heisman voting behind Army’s Glenn Davis.
In his senior year, Lujack led the 1947 Fighting Irish to a 9-0 record. He completed 61 of 109 passes for 777 yards and ran for 139 yards on 12 carries, earning the Heisman Trophy. Lujack won Notre Dame’s second Heisman. He earned varsity letters in four sports—baseball, football, basketball, and track, becoming only the third person to achieve this. He was a two-time All-American in 1946 and 1947 and helped Notre Dame win three national championships in 1943, 1946, and 1947. Along with the Heisman, he was also named Associated Press Athlete of the Year.
After returning from military service, Lujack was drafted with the fourth pick in the 1946 NFL draft. He played four seasons with the Chicago Bears, leading the team in scoring each year. As a rookie, he tied a record with eight interceptions, and in 1949, he set a record by throwing for 468 yards in a single game. He played in the NFL Pro Bowl during his last two seasons. After retiring in 1952, Lujack spent two years as a backfield coach for Notre Dame before running an automobile dealership in Davenport, Iowa, until his retirement in 1988.
Another Great #32, John Riggins, Kansas
John Riggins was the second of three Riggins brothers to play in the Jayhawks backfield during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was nicknamed “The Diesel.”
Riggins led the Jayhawks in rushing from 1968 to 1970 and still ranks fifth on KU’s all-time career rushing list with 2,659 yards. In 1970, he tied for second in school history for rushing touchdowns in a season with 14, and his 1,131 rushing yards that year put him fourth on the single-season list. Riggins also stands 15th in total offense for a career at KU. Riggins earned All-Big Eight honors twice while at Kansas, but his achievements continued in the NFL.
Riggins was drafted in the first round by the New York Jets in 1971. He later joined the Washington Redskins in 1976 and helped them reach the Super Bowl three times. In Super Bowl XVII, his 43-yard run secured the win for the Redskins and earned him the Most Valuable Player award. Riggins was honored in Washington’s Ring of Honor at RFK Stadium, entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 during his first year of eligibility, and was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years. They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff. The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers. Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites.
Main Photo: Notre Dame Athletics
