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Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State is only 15 days away

On3 imageby:Todd Burlage•08/19/22•

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Countdown to Notre Dame vs. Ohio State reaches only 15 days. Carmen Mandato via Getty Images.

To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.

This daily series of 99 stories celebrates by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football. 

Today, with 15 days remaining until kickoff, we look at a collection of three terrific Irish players who donned the jersey number over the years.

Because it was difficult to decide on one player, today we look at safety Pat Terrell (1986-89), cornerback/kick return man Allen Rossum (1994-97), and quarterback Kevin McDougal (1990-93). 

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Hurricane Terrell

Of the three highlighted players, Terrell clearly deserves the first mention.

Best known for his heroics in the “Catholics vs. Convicts” game between No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 1 Miami in 1988, Terrell is forever an Irish legend. 

In the epic 31-30 Irish win that fueled a national championship, Terrell first scored on a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Hurricanes in the second quarter.

But more memorable, the junior safety batted away a pass on Miami’s two-point conversion attempt late in the game that preserved the one-point Irish win.  

Terrell picked off five more passes and scored another touchdown as an Irish senior in 1989. He became a second-round draft pick in 1990 and enjoyed a nine-year NFL career.

Can’t touch this

With no scientific data, Rossum might still stand alongside Rocket Ismail as the two fastest players in Notre Dame history. 

A Dallas native, Rossum in 1993 set the Texas High School record with a 10.02 in the 100-meters. And like Ismail, Rossum became an indoor and outdoor track star and a two-time All-American sprinter for Notre Dame. 

A solid Irish cornerback, a 1997 Irish team captain, and a legendary return man, Rossum was a “hold your breath” nightmare for coverage units. 

Rossum still holds the Notre Dame record with four kick returns for touchdowns (3 PR, 1 KR) in one season. Rossum also remains tied with Ismail and Tim Brown with six TD returns in a career.  

Yet, as memorable as his work was at Notre Dame, Rossum’s NFL career might be even more impressive. 

Rossum played in 12 seasons. He was a Pro-Bowler in 2004 and he retired as the Atlanta Falcons all-time leader in both punt and kickoff return yardage. 

Rossum still ranks second all-time in NFL history behind Brian Mitchell with 15,003 combined punt and kickoff return yards, and scored eight touchdowns.  

Who’s this guy?

Playing behind starter Rick Mirer for the three seasons from 1990-92, McDougal wasn’t on anyone’s radar to ever play, let alone start.

Entering his senior year in 1993, McDougal had 14 career pass completions with three touchdowns and one interception. That was it. 

Primed to spend his senior season holding a clipboard behind hyped freshman starter Ron Powlus, McDougal unexpectedly went from backup to starter when Powlus suffered a broken collarbone during training camp.

With opportunity knocking, McDougal answered with a win over No. 5 Michigan in Week 2 on his way to 10 straight victories after he beat No. 1 Florida State in the epic one-vs-two “Game of the Century” that made the Irish the top-ranked team in the country.

A week later, national title hopes were dashed when Boston College upset McDougal’s top-ranked Irish 41-39 in the regular-season finale.

McDougal capped his Notre Dame career with a win over Texas A&M in the 1994 Cotton Bowl, a victory that remains Notre Dame’s most recent in an elite bowl game. 

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