I'll give it a shot.

 

1. Ed Ziegler - Led team to share of GCL. Leading rusher at Notre Dame. One of the top Environmental Lawyers in the country.

 

2. Frank Jacobs - First Mr. Football in KY history. Member of 1988 ND National Championship team, catching a TD pass in the game.

 

3. Jeff Brady - Member of '84 state champs and '85 runners-up. Walked on at UK and played 10 years in the NFL, starting for the Vikings after Jack Del Rio left. Was mic'ed up by ESPN for a game against the Buccaneers and hit Alstot on the goal line. One of my favorite NFL Films moments.

I must admit that I'm a bit prejudice but I agree with your choice of Ed Ziegler as the number 1 player in NCC history. I was just a kid when he played but my dad often times took me to see my cousin play.

4. Mike Kiernan - He was a Member of the All-State Football Team in 1979 & 1980. His senior year, was an All-American Honorable Mention. He was also named as Northern Kentucky’s Top 22 in Football 1979 & 1980. He was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Hall of Fall in 1990. During his freshman year in college, had the most playing time as a Defensive Lineman and was penciled in as the starting nose tackle going into the spring. He injured his knee that February playing basketball and would not return to the playing field until his junior year. He proceeded to Letter the following two years and won the Defensive Player of the Game Award against the Missouri Tigers in 1985. He had tryouts with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins after his career at Notre Dame. Graduated with a BBA in Accounting with a Mathematics Minor from the University of Notre Dame and then went on to obtain a Teaching Certificate from St. Mary’s College.

4. Mike Kiernan - He was a Member of the All-State Football Team in 1979 & 1980. His senior year, was an All-American Honorable Mention. He was also named as Northern Kentucky’s Top 22 in Football 1979 & 1980. He was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Hall of Fall in 1990. During his freshman year in college, had the most playing time as a Defensive Lineman and was penciled in as the starting nose tackle going into the spring. He injured his knee that February playing basketball and would not return to the playing field until his junior year. He proceeded to Letter the following two years and won the Defensive Player of the Game Award against the Missouri Tigers in 1985. He had tryouts with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins after his career at Notre Dame. Graduated with a BBA in Accounting with a Mathematics Minor from the University of Notre Dame and then went on to obtain a Teaching Certificate from St. Mary’s College.

 

 

My memory says he was a)a stud and b)hurt a lot his senior year.

My memory says he was a)a stud and b)hurt a lot his senior year.

 

He most certianly did, he also hurt quite a few his 1st 3 seasons as well. :lol2:

Frank Jacobs

Ed Ziegler- just from what I have heard and read.

Terry Sandfoss

Frank Jacobs

Ed Ziegler- just from what I have heard and read.

Terry Sandfoss

 

Q nominates two of his contemporaries.

 

My favorite players were Eddie and Rob Sandfoss. Eddie was a special athlete. Had he played in the days of the spread option, you're talking about a 1500 yard passing, 1500 yard rushing regular season, in addition to intercepting 9 passes as a safety. Rob is probably my favorite ever just because he crushed people. He wasn't overly big, but every time there was contact to be found, he was winning. Led the '93 team in rushing, and KO's.

Q nominates two of his contemporaries.

 

My favorite players were Eddie and Rob Sandfoss. Eddie was a special athlete. Had he played in the days of the spread option, you're talking about a 1500 yard passing, 1500 yard rushing regular season, in addition to intercepting 9 passes as a safety. Rob is probably my favorite ever just because he crushed people. He wasn't overly big, but every time there was contact to be found, he was winning. Led the '93 team in rushing, and KO's.

 

I just know Terry was an All State player and tough as nails. Jacobs' career speaks for itself. He could block an entire side of a defensive line himself and had great hands.

Justin Smith? Kevin Smith? Eddie Eviston?

Justin Smith? Kevin Smith? Eddie Eviston?

 

Eddie was who I was referring to in my post above, however, you are talking a different level when you talk about Brady, Jacobs, Mike Kiernan, and Ziegler.

All Smith brothers were very, very good. Eddie was an all-time great at Georgetown.

Eddie was who I was referring to in my post above, however, you are talking a different level when you talk about Brady, Jacobs, Mike Kiernan, and Ziegler.

All Smith brothers were very, very good. Eddie was an all-time great at Georgetown.

 

That is very true. National Player of the Year in '99, '00, and '01

#1 Ziegler. Never saw him play. He was legend.

 

#2 Frank Jacobs. Cornerstone of one of NC's best defenses (1984: 6.2 pts a game). Dominating noseman. At split end he was hard to stop. 6''6' 230 and usually the fastest guy on the field. Jumped like a basketball player to go get it. Easy to throw to. Gary Gabbard had a great career throwing to him.

 

#3 Greg "Red" Kremer. Old school middle linebacker. Left NC leading tackler for a career. Played both ways two years (center and inside backer). National merit scholar. Broke down tape better than the coaches. He knew where the ball was going on every play, got there, and made tackles. Can't say enough about his intellect and how it impacted games. Captain of one of the best defenses in NC history. Went to Rose Hulman and became the program's leading tackler.

 

#4 Jeff Brady. Great jr. year. Out seven games of his sr. year with a broken leg. Came back and played well. Had a better college career and an even better pro career. Put his heart in an ant and your would have a great football player.

 

#5 Mike Kiernan. Unbelievable physical specimen. Ridiculous strength. When he was healthy, he dominated. Seemed to play hurt most of the time.

 

Honorable mention: Mike Kelly.

#1 Ziegler. Never saw him play. He was legend.

 

#2 Frank Jacobs. Cornerstone of one of NC's best defenses (1984: 6.2 pts a game). Dominating noseman. At split end he was hard to stop. 6''6' 230 and usually the fastest guy on the field. Jumped like a basketball player to go get it. Easy to throw to. Gary Gabbard had a great career throwing to him.

 

#3 Greg "Red" Kremer. Old school middle linebacker. Left NC leading tackler for a career. Played both ways two years (center and inside backer). National merit scholar. Broke down tape better than the coaches. He knew where the ball was going on every play, got there, and made tackles. Can't say enough about his intellect and how it impacted games. Captain of one of the best defenses in NC history. Went to Rose Hulman and became the program's leading tackler.

 

#4 Jeff Brady. Great jr. year. Out seven games of his sr. year with a broken leg. Came back and played well. Had a better college career and an even better pro career. Put his heart in an ant and your would have a great football player.

 

#5 Mike Kiernan. Unbelievable physical specimen. Ridiculous strength. When he was healthy, he dominated. Seemed to play hurt most of the time.

 

Honorable mention: Mike Kelly.

 

I used to see Red all of the time, he and my cousin were very good friends. Perfect example of a guy who could really play at a DI level, but didn't have that perfect size and measurables.

#1 Ziegler. Never saw him play. He was legend.

 

#2 Frank Jacobs. Cornerstone of one of NC's best defenses (1984: 6.2 pts a game). Dominating noseman. At split end he was hard to stop. 6''6' 230 and usually the fastest guy on the field. Jumped like a basketball player to go get it. Easy to throw to. Gary Gabbard had a great career throwing to him.

 

#3 Greg "Red" Kremer. Old school middle linebacker. Left NC leading tackler for a career. Played both ways two years (center and inside backer). National merit scholar. Broke down tape better than the coaches. He knew where the ball was going on every play, got there, and made tackles. Can't say enough about his intellect and how it impacted games. Captain of one of the best defenses in NC history. Went to Rose Hulman and became the program's leading tackler.

 

#4 Jeff Brady. Great jr. year. Out seven games of his sr. year with a broken leg. Came back and played well. Had a better college career and an even better pro career. Put his heart in an ant and your would have a great football player.

 

#5 Mike Kiernan. Unbelievable physical specimen. Ridiculous strength. When he was healthy, he dominated. Seemed to play hurt most of the time.

 

Honorable mention: Mike Kelly.

 

IF were talking about what they did in High school then there is one or two names that needs to be added to the list.

 

One would be Billy Vogt. Billy dominated NKY his senior season both on offense and defense. I don't have the stat's in front of me, but he rushed for over 1000 yards with something like a 7.8 yard per carry. He also was the leading reciever on a very good NewCath team. In addition he was an outstanding defensive back one of the leaders in Interceptions both his Jr. and Sr. seasons. Billy then went on to star at Morehead St. as a db and Kick returner.

 

The second would be Keith Ruschell. Keith was an unbelievable LB who though undersized was an absolute beast in the middle of the field. The Defensive player of the year is named after Keith and rightly so. In my 45 + years of watching NewCath Football Keith was the most disruptive LB I can remember. Keith received a scholarship to Xavier, who then dropped football after his Freshman year. Keith sadly died in his early twenties from a fall at Red River Gorge.

 

My list would be:

 

1) Ziegler

2) Frank Jacobs

3) Billy Vogt

4) Keith Rushell

I used to see Red all of the time, he and my cousin were very good friends. Perfect example of a guy who could really play at a DI level, but didn't have that perfect size and measurables.

I remember practicing against Red in gradeschool football; going against him in "hamburger". He would crush you and them help you up off the ground.

Great player and even better person.