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    Home»College Football»Legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3-Sport Athlete Tragically Passes Away
    College Football

    Legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3-Sport Athlete Tragically Passes Away

    Andrew KusleikaBy Andrew KusleikaMay 9, 2024No Comments5 Mins Read
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    Notre Dame will benefit in the New College Football Playoff Format. cfp
    Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a gold Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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    According to a press release from the university, legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, basketball and baseball player Kevin Hardy passed away in Northern California on Monday.

    Hardy, who was born in 1945, was elite in more than one of the sports he played. While multi-sport athletes aren’t as common in the modern era, wide receiver and lacrosse player Jordan Faison continues the legacy of multi-sport athletes at Notre Dame.

    Kevin Hardy was elite on the football field for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

    notre dame fighting irish kevin hardy
    Nov 19, 1966; East Lansing, MI, USA: FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Irish defensive tackle (74) Kevin Hardy pressures Michigan State Spartans quarterback (16) Jim Raye. Notre Dame and Michigan State played to a tie 10-10 at Spartans Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports © copyright Malcolm Emmons

    Kevin Hardy’s best sport as an athlete for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was football as it was the sport in which he ended up going pro.

    At Notre Dame Hardy was a defensive tackle who helped the Fighting Irish to a national title in 1966. He was a two-time All-American. In the year of the national championship victory, Hardy had 79 tackles and four pass breakups.

    The 1966 defense that Hardy played a huge role in is one of the best defenses in college football. They gave up 24 points in the entire season. 10 of those points were to the Michigan State Spartans and they gave up seven points to the Purdue Boilermakers and the Northwestern Wildcats.

    After a move to defensive end, Hardy became a first-round draft pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. Hardy was selected at the No. 7 overall spot by the New Orleans Saints but was moved to the San Francisco 49ers.

    Throughout his career, Hardy also played for the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers.

    Kevin Hardy was also an elite baseball player for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

    notre dame fighting irish kevin hardy
    Jun 21, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; A practice ball sits on the dirt before the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

    On top of being one of the top football prospects in the nation, Kevin Hardy was an elite baseball player. Hardy was the main right fielder for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during his time at the university.

    He was more than just a member of the baseball team when he played. Hardy actually led Notre Dame baseball with a .398 batting average in 1967.

    While Hardy wasn’t as elite as he was in baseball and football, he played an integral role on the basketball team as well. He was a role player for a Fighting Irish squad that made it to the NCAA tournament.

    The Notre Dame Fighting Irish mourn the loss of Kevin Hardy

    Notre Dame will have a great opportunity to host college football playoff games.
    Nov 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Two U.S. Navy EA-18 Growler aircraft fly over Notre Dame Stadium before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boston College Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

    The Notre Dame Fighting Irish took to social media to mourn the loss of one of the most legendary players to ever come through their university.

    The Fighting Irish didn’t only commend him for his accomplishments on the field and on the court, but they also commended him for what he did for the community.

    We mourn the loss of multi-sport alumnus Kevin Hardy and honor the impact he had on Notre Dame and the community as a whole.

    We lift our prayers for Kevin’s family and all those who loved him.

    🔗 https://t.co/COsT7BWTTi pic.twitter.com/LjDPcnEZdj

    — The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) May 8, 2024

    The official Fighting Irish website explains who Hardy is survived by:

    Hardy is survived by his son, Danny (daughter-in-law Julie Hardy), daughter Shannon Kuhl (son-in-law Chris Kuhl and grandson Kevin) and sisters Mary and Barbara.

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    For more news and trends in the NFL and college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew. 

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    Andrew Kusleika

    Andrew Kusleika is an avid football fan with a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He has experience as an sports editor who has covered golf, hockey, basketball, volleyball and more. He has spent his entire life around the game of football, which gives him a unique ability to cover the sport in an in-depth manner.

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