Golden Boy Established Football Excellence

Anyone who ever watched the “Golden Boy" perform, knows EXACTLY what a football player looks like. “I’m not sure enough people recognize how talented this man was.”  ~ Bart Starr – Packers Quarterback (1956 – 1971)

His Name Is Paul Hornung. 

At Notre Dame he was a quarterback, fullback, halfback, place kicker (sometime punter), defensive back (safety), a pass receiver and could block as well as anyone on the team.  

The two touchdowns he scored on offense and his two interceptions on defense led the Irish to their victory over fourth ranked Navy.  He threw a touchdown pass and kicked a field goal to beat Iowa.  Hornung produced 354 total yards against Southern California.  A record setting performance in 1955.  His Heisman Trophy award remains the only time a player received that award while playing on a losing team.  In 1956 The Irish finished 2-8 that year. 

As a Green Bay Packer (1957 to 1966) he played halfback, was a pass receiver, passed the ball from the halfback option and was the teams place kicker (sometime punter).  Hornung led the NFL in scoring for three straight seasons.  He set an all-time scoring record of 176 points during a 12-game schedule in 1960.  He also passed for two additional touchdowns that are not reflected in this 1960 total.  This record held until 2006 when it was broken during a 14-game schedule. 

In October of 1961 Hornung’s 77 points set a record for the most points ever scored in a calendar month.  That record also stood until 2006.  Also in 1961, his 19 points scored in an NFL championship game stood for 56 years. 

On December 12, 1965, at the age of 29, Hornung set a packer team-record that still stands today.  He scored five touchdowns, three rushing and two by pass receptions. 

Hornung holds the record for most games with 30+ points (2), the most games with 25+ points (3), and the most games with 13 points in a season (8 games in 1960). 

Paul Hornung is the first pro football player to win the Heisman Trophy, to then be selected as the first overall draft selection in the NFL Draft; to then win the NFL most valuable player award, and to then be inducted into both the professional and college football halls of fame. 

What Paul Hornung demonstrated is that specializing in just one aspect of a profession is unacceptable if you have the ability to excel in other aspects.

“I’m not sure enough people recognize how talented this man was.  Not only was he a Heisman Trophy winner but he was an excellent runner.  He was an excellent blocker. He was a great pass receiver.  He threw our option pass very, very well.  He was a great kicker.  Everything we called on him to do he excelled at.”  ~ Bart Starr – Packer Quarterback – 1956 – 1971 

So you will have to pardon those of us who were honored to have seen him play as we smirk and shake our heads whenever ESPN tells us how dominate a current player is in the game of football today.

 SEEING IS BELIEVING.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbh128TcHKk