Joe Montana Comes to Notre Dame

Joe Montana is one of the most famous Notre Dame QB’s of all time. He’s so famous in fact, that a U.S. state and a sandwich at Arby’s were both named after him. Actually, that’s not entirely true. What is true is that a town was named after him. Indeed, Joe, Montana has a population of about 30 people. It was named Ismay, Montana until 1993 when word of Joe Cool’s football prowess reached the town by the Pony Express. An old man at the post office read the note aloud at first, then adjusted his spectacles to reread the note silently. He burst from the doors of the building, running down Main Street waiving the letter in the air and alerting the citizens of Ismay. The church bells were rung for three minutes, a town meeting was called, and the rest is history.
Joe was actually an exceptional athlete in basketball, baseball and football. He declined an offer for a scholarship to play hoops at North Carolina State University, wanting to see how far his football career would go with the Irish, considered to be the best in the business at the time. Joe was recruited out of Ringgold High School in Pennsylvania, where he received Parade Magazine All-American honors. Many believe that a game Montana played against rival school Monessen High, where he led his team to a 34-34 tie against an overwhelming favorite, was the game that convinced Notre Dame to recruit Montana.

It’s a shame you can’t still get Notre Dame Fighting Irish tickets to see Joe Montana play in South Bend. If StubHub.com could make it possible, I’m sure they would.

Permalink - Posted in General on May 18, 2007 - Post a comment