When you think of great multiple sport athletes in the history of Notre Dame, a few names come to mind.
[autotag]Jeff Samardzija[/autotag] and [autotag]Golden Tate[/autotag] both tore up the baseball field while starring as wide receivers for the Fighting Irish.
Raghib “Rocket” Ismail wasn’t just a speedy football star at Notre Dame but also a track sensation with his blazing speed.
Currently [autotag]Jordan Faison[/autotag] isn’t just perhaps Notre Dame’s best wide receiver but is also a key member of its top-ranked lacrosse program.
There are plenty more we should discuss at length one day but let’s take this moment to remember one of the greatest multisport athletes in the history of Notre Dame.
Former defensive tackle Kevin Hardy, who starred on Notre Dame’s 1966 national championship team, died on May 6 at 78 years old.
Hardy lettered in three sports at Notre Dame. In football, he was a key defensive lineman on the 1966 team that famously tied Michigan State en-route to winning the national championship. His 38 tackles and four pass breakups helped earn him All-American honors that year.
Hardy also played a key role on the basketball team that went to the NCAA Tournament. In 1968, he led the Fighting Irish baseball team, hitting .398.
Hardy was a first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1967 and was moved to the San Francisco 49ers shortly after. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers during his career.
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