RIP Harry O

[Terry in Crapchester]

I learned earlier today that Harry Oliver, a former ND kicker who earned a permanent place in the annals of ND football, lost a two-year battle with lymphoma yesterday morning. He was only 47.

He'll be forever remembered at ND for this kick (Michigan fans might not want to click the link): http://youtube.com/watch?v=5qiAEeudOs8

I was in high school at the time, and our high school football game was being played at the same time as ND's game. We were coming out of the locker room after our game when one of the Brothers at our high school relayed the story. So I didn't see the kick at the time, but I've seen replays of it 1000 times since. Interesting that I still remember where I was when I heard about it more than a quarter century later.

How big an impact did Harry O have at ND? He graduated right before I got there. One night during my freshman year our dorm had a bowling night. One of my friends was given the "Harry O Award" for field-goaling a 7-10 split.

I was at ND during the Faust years, which is a little of a sore spot for me. But on the bright side, I was there during a sort of golden age of kickers for ND. Harry O left right before I got there. He was followed up by my fellow U&R homeboy Mike Johnston, who went nine games into the '82 season before missing a single FG attempt. After that came John Carney, the best of the group. I remember seeing Carney once hit in practice a 50-yard FG -- from out of bounds. I had to pick my jaw up off the ground after that.

A few retrospectives on Harry O:

Harry Oliver remembered.
The Real Rudy Story
Notre Dame mourns Harry Oliver

An old article from 2004:

Oliver's 15 minutes not up after 24 years

[Qbert]

<snicker>RACK!</snicker>

we don't give a Damn about the whole State of Michigan....we're from O-HI-O....