Better QB at ND: Montana or Rice?
- Thread starter IrishBlooded
- Start date
Results count. I love Joe, who was the QB my soph and junior years. But Rice performed much better and had better results.
Well it's really hard to compare with 2 different styles of offense. Montana is the best all time as far as his pro career goes. However, he had a good not great college career. Tont a Rice was a terrific college QB. He was the perfect guy for the offense Holtz ran. I would give the edge to Rice as a college QB. Remember, Montana wasn't even the starter at the beginning of the season the year they won it all in 1977. He wasn't the starter his senior year either, Rusty Lisch was. He eventually became the starter. Rice on the other hand started his sophomore year in the 2nd half against Pitt and never looked back. He also led the Irish to a 24 game win streak. He won a championship as Montana did but also was one win away from another. The only loss being Miami. So if you look at both careers in totality, a Rice had the better career as a college QB.
Rice was not nearly as good, not remotely, he played well on a better team. Kudos to Rice, he got the trophy but he wasn't close to as good as Joe, not remotely!
montana is my favorite qb that played in the nfl but it is a toss up college wise as both lead there teams to a title. both had a lot in common like having to beat the best team of there decade in usc and Miami to win there one title
If you want to compare which QB Rice or Montana was more successful at ND, then you're right it was Rice.
If you want to compare which QB was better at ND, then its a different story. Can't really compare them because they played for different coaches in different offenses.
If you want to compare which QB was better at ND, then its a different story. Can't really compare them because they played for different coaches in different offenses.
I'd go with rice. two totally different offensive philosophies. I just think rice achieved more. he was an excellent decision maker given the offense he ran. both had strong supporting casts. if you can separate montanas nfl success I think rice clearly was the better college qb.
Echo, yes. Rice was the more successful QB at ND. But he was playing in the right offense system.
If you look back at Montana … he often rode the bench, and Devine put him in when ND was behind. How many times had he brought us back to victory coming off the bench?
Just think … if Rice and Montana played for different coaches at ND, how would they perform? Or would they ever see the field? Imagine Rice playing for Charlie Weis … could he pass well enough to ever see the field? Or Montana playing for Holtz … could he run the option?
What I"m getting at is Rice - Holtz was a perfect fit at that time. Result was Rice was great. Montana-Devine was kind of rocky … don't know if Devine got the full potential of Montana to show.
If you look back at Montana … he often rode the bench, and Devine put him in when ND was behind. How many times had he brought us back to victory coming off the bench?
Just think … if Rice and Montana played for different coaches at ND, how would they perform? Or would they ever see the field? Imagine Rice playing for Charlie Weis … could he pass well enough to ever see the field? Or Montana playing for Holtz … could he run the option?
What I"m getting at is Rice - Holtz was a perfect fit at that time. Result was Rice was great. Montana-Devine was kind of rocky … don't know if Devine got the full potential of Montana to show.
didn't devine change the offense in mid season while montana was leading our irish toward a date with texas for the title
They both were great in their own right -- the question is -- Could Montana play in Holtz's offense, or, could Rice play in Devine's offense. Both had their strengths and weaknesses -- but, both also won a NC in their junior seasons. And then came back and pretty darn good Senior seasons as well.
gotta think rice sees a position switch if he played for weis. it's impossible to compare as their individual circumstances were so different.
It's all pure speculation but clearly, both were great and were at Notre Dame to fulfill a destiny.
Montana over Rice but Joe Theismann was the very best. Among others better than Rice, in no particular order, were Rick Mirer, Terry Hanratty, John Huarte, Tom Clements, Stever Beuerlein, Daryle LaMonica, Paul Hornung, Jimmy Clausen and Brady Quinn.
Rice = NC win - great CFB QB - Joe was the best in the pro game - did not have to deflate footballs either.
Joe Montana! Great come back to won game vs Houston. Joe have been play very good in NFL. 5 Super Bowl rings!!! Rice play great every games but close scores most of games. Rice play very hard vs Miami. Joe Theiman--- (uncorrect spell last name) was great QB. JT pass high total of yards than Joe Montana and Rice. Go Zaire!!
I was trying to keep it to Rice and Montana.
But in your list......
Johnny Lujack laughs at you.
Tough call.
Great point. Our thoughts about Montana's cfb career might be clouded by what he did as a pro.
Great point. Our thoughts about Montana's cfb career might be clouded by what he did as a pro.
Montana stats while at ND:
1975 - 7 games - 28 completions / 66 attempts 42.4% for 507 yards 4 TD / 8 INT 102.7 Rating
1977 - 9 games - 99 completions / 189 attempts 52.4% for 1604 yards 11 TD / 8 INT 134.4 Rating
1978 - 11 games - 141 completions / 260 attempts 54.2% 2010 yards 10 TD / 9 INT 124.9 Rating
Rushing his totals are:
1975 - 25 attempts -5 yards 2 TD
1977 - 32 attempts 5 yards 6 TD
1978 - 72 attempts 104 yards 6 TD
(*note this includes all plays that rushed, including scrambles from the line of scrimmage)
Rice stats while at ND:
1987 - 11 games - 35 for 82 passing 42.7% 663 yards 1 TD / 4 INT 104.9 rating
1988 - 11 games - 70 for 138 passing 50.7% 1176 yards 8 TD / 7 INT 131.3 rating
1989 - 11 games - 68 for 137 passing 49.6% 1122 yards 2 TD / 9 INT 110.1 rating
Rushing his totals are:
1987 - 89 attempts 337 yards 7 TD
1988 - 121 attempts 700 yards 9 TD
1989 - 174 attempts 884 yards 7 TD
1975 - 7 games - 28 completions / 66 attempts 42.4% for 507 yards 4 TD / 8 INT 102.7 Rating
1977 - 9 games - 99 completions / 189 attempts 52.4% for 1604 yards 11 TD / 8 INT 134.4 Rating
1978 - 11 games - 141 completions / 260 attempts 54.2% 2010 yards 10 TD / 9 INT 124.9 Rating
Rushing his totals are:
1975 - 25 attempts -5 yards 2 TD
1977 - 32 attempts 5 yards 6 TD
1978 - 72 attempts 104 yards 6 TD
(*note this includes all plays that rushed, including scrambles from the line of scrimmage)
Rice stats while at ND:
1987 - 11 games - 35 for 82 passing 42.7% 663 yards 1 TD / 4 INT 104.9 rating
1988 - 11 games - 70 for 138 passing 50.7% 1176 yards 8 TD / 7 INT 131.3 rating
1989 - 11 games - 68 for 137 passing 49.6% 1122 yards 2 TD / 9 INT 110.1 rating
Rushing his totals are:
1987 - 89 attempts 337 yards 7 TD
1988 - 121 attempts 700 yards 9 TD
1989 - 174 attempts 884 yards 7 TD
I know you were comparing Montana and Rice but I feel like there are a bunch of QBs between them. Thank you for including Lujack. I also forgot to include Ralph Gugliemi.
Blooded:
I know you were comparing Montana and Rice but I feel like there are a bunch of QBs between them. Thank you for including Lujack. I also forgot to add Ralph Gugliemi.
