Campus Life this month features an interview with Jim Lynch, 1967 Athlete of the Year. From the May 1967 Scholastic.

Athlete of the Year: JIM LYNCH

As told to Bill Sweeny

Jim Lynch sat in his room in the basement of Sorin Hall last Sunday night, feeling "genuinely surprised" by his overwhelming selection as Athlete of the Year. The trophy on his desk helped to offset the infamous photo of Lynch which appeared in a national magazine after the Michigan Stategame, and which he now keeps framed above his bed. "Keeps me humble," he explained. Lynch swelled with pride, though, when he began to reminisce about the times and the people that made his outstanding career possible; about the teammates, coaches, and fellow students of the last four years.

"For me Notre Dame was simply the best around. My brother Tom pressured me a little to go to Annapolis after they gave me an appointment, and I also got offers from Purdue, Ohio State and others. But the choice came down to Navy or Notre Dame. I didn't want the military life though, and
Notre Dame, I thought, offered me the best Catholic liberal arts college in the country. Football was only a small part of the reason, because it was the good education I wanted most. Some guys have the Notre Dame tradition running in their family, but not me. And back then Notre Dame wasn't winning football games too consistently. If I wanted to play for a football factory I'd never have come here.

"In my sophomore year, when Parseghian came, things began to happen. Although we almost won the national championship, the team attitude was completely different from this year's. Nobody expected us to do well, much less win a national championship. Guys like Snowden and Farrell were used to going into a quiet locker room after a game, without reporters and all the things that go with winning. Then all of a sudden we were ranked in the polls and got national attention. The guys reacted differently, since the success we had was beyond our wildest dreams. Complacency was no problem.

"This past year was different; everyone had come to expect great things from our football teams. The turning point of the season was that Oklahoma game. Until then we were relatively untested. People said we might have been lucky against Purdue. Army and North Carolina they called weak sisters. But Oklahoma was ranked number ten in the nation, and going down there it seemed like we would have to play the whole state. It was like walking into a lion's den, and we were all pretty nervous before the game. But after we'd gone on the field and beaten them so convincingly, we knew we had the makings of a championship team.

"I'd have to say that the most exciting game I've played in was at Michigan State. The emotional buildup and publicity was just tremendous. I was especially proud of the way the defense played. When they had us 10-0 and began to drive the game could have turned into a rout right there. But the defense pulled together and held State scoreless for the second half. It was an honor just to be part of that defense.

"But I wouldn't be proud of a football team just because they were the roughest and toughest in the country. The men who played for us this year were more than national champions. We had guys like Duranko, Horney, Hardy...Take John Horney. In my opinion he was an outstanding football player. But he isn't going to play any more ball; he's going to Marquette University to study medicine. A few years ago Father Hesburgh set his goal as striving for excellence. I think that the guys on the team this year have upheld the image of Notre Dame football both on and off the field. All this Notre Dame Man and Tradition business used to seem pretty phony to me. When I first got here I couldn't get far enough away from the Grotto, after four years it grows on you. I think everyone who comes to Notre Dame eventually develops a school spirit, but in his own way and his own different form.

As far as football goes, it's true we have some great athletes -- I don't know how we'll replace Nick Eddy for example. But I suppose ultimately our success all goes back to the coaches. You can't find better coaches in the country than Parseghian and Ray. Ara more than anything else has given us a sense of confidence and pride. Take a team like Duke that gets beaten 64-0. When we stepped on the field we couldn't even imagine losing a game that badly. We were confident that our personnelwas adequate and that we were fully prepared for the game. John Ray is the type who will chew your butt off until you do the right thing. But when Coach Ray says you've done your job well, it means the world to you. I have great respect for all of our coahces.

As for my future, I hope to sign shortly with the Kansas City Cheifs, and also go to law school at the University of Missouri. Combining those two should be quite a challange. I'm looking forward to playing for Coach Stram at Kansas City. I understand that he coached here once under Terry Brennan, so I should be right at home.

When I look back on these last three years, the biggest moment was my election as captian of the team. There are leaders and there are leaders. The meaning depends on the men who elect you. If I were captain of a team of football bums, it wouldn't mean much. The difference lies in the people you represent. I told you before about the type of man we have playing for us, and I meant every word on it. You may be able to find a case or two to the contrary, but overall they are a great bunch of guys. It was a great source of pride to me that they picked me to represent them.

Receiving the Athlete of the Year trophy affected me in the same way that my selection as captain did. It really means more than the Maxwell Trophy [awarded annually to the year's outstanding college football player] because it comes from some people whose opinion I truly respect -- the Notre Dame student body. They're a great bunch of guys and they make Notre Dame what it is. I value their opinion more that any other. The fact that they have voted me this trophy means more to me than I can say. It's great to receive awards from sportswriters, but it's different when you know that you have won the respect of guys you've live with for four years.

"One last point I'd like to make. Some people think that football is overemphasized and overdone here. They seem to think it can't fit in with the pursuit of excellence at Notre Dame. I don't agree. Football contributes to the life of both the players and students. At pep rallies the students actually become part of the team. Even though we might look passive and uninterested, it gives us a tremendous boost to know that the rest of Notre Dame is behind us. When we come off the field and they give us a standing ovation, believe me, we're aware of it, and we appreciate it. I can't emphasize enough my belief that every game Notre Dame wins is a result of an attitude built up by the entire school. Football, I'm sure, will always play an important and useful role in Notre Dame's future."