If you told a story about a small-town boy who became a Notre Dame football captain, played on a national championship team, served the United States with distinction in Vietnam and then recovered from severe injuries to become a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, it would be laughed off as fiction.
But Rocky Bleier’s story is fact, and the captain of the 1967 Irish football team will be returning to campus this Saturday, October 13, to share his story at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, signing copies of the new book, The Pluck of the Irish, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Notre Dame will play the University of Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium later that day.
Bleier’s life story is the stuff of movies and, in fact, a movie was made of his life in 1980. He was a running back on the undefeated 1966 national title team, captained the 1967 Irish squad that went 8-2, and after being drafted by the Steelers, was drafted into the Army. Deployed to Vietnam in 1969, he was injured so severely that doctors feared he wouldn't walk again. He spent nearly a year in recovery, and his heroics brought him the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Despite being told he would never play football again, Bleier began working out with the Steelers in late 1970 and played on special teams in 1971. He eventually became a 1,000-yard rusher and was a key member of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl champion teams between 1975-80.
He retired in 1980 and has remained active through speaking and in financial management and planning.
He’s featured in The Pluck of the Irish, a collection of 10 profiles of Notre Dame athletes, coaches, journalists and administrators who were transformed by, and who transformed, Notre Dame. Written by Notre Dame alum Jim Hayden, he profiles include Father Theodore Hesburgh, for 35 years the university’s president; Tommy Hawkins, Notre Dame’s first African-American basketball player; Red Smith, only the second sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize; Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw, coach of the 2018 NCAA women's basketball championship team, and others.
Bleier shares some of the story of his life, takes questions and signs copies of The Pluck of the Irish at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Copies of the book ($12.99 retail) will be available for purchase.
“It never gets old, coming back to Notre Dame,” said Bleier. “I am excited for people to see this new book.”
But Rocky Bleier’s story is fact, and the captain of the 1967 Irish football team will be returning to campus this Saturday, October 13, to share his story at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, signing copies of the new book, The Pluck of the Irish, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Notre Dame will play the University of Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium later that day.
Bleier’s life story is the stuff of movies and, in fact, a movie was made of his life in 1980. He was a running back on the undefeated 1966 national title team, captained the 1967 Irish squad that went 8-2, and after being drafted by the Steelers, was drafted into the Army. Deployed to Vietnam in 1969, he was injured so severely that doctors feared he wouldn't walk again. He spent nearly a year in recovery, and his heroics brought him the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Despite being told he would never play football again, Bleier began working out with the Steelers in late 1970 and played on special teams in 1971. He eventually became a 1,000-yard rusher and was a key member of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl champion teams between 1975-80.
He retired in 1980 and has remained active through speaking and in financial management and planning.
He’s featured in The Pluck of the Irish, a collection of 10 profiles of Notre Dame athletes, coaches, journalists and administrators who were transformed by, and who transformed, Notre Dame. Written by Notre Dame alum Jim Hayden, he profiles include Father Theodore Hesburgh, for 35 years the university’s president; Tommy Hawkins, Notre Dame’s first African-American basketball player; Red Smith, only the second sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize; Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw, coach of the 2018 NCAA women's basketball championship team, and others.
Bleier shares some of the story of his life, takes questions and signs copies of The Pluck of the Irish at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Copies of the book ($12.99 retail) will be available for purchase.
“It never gets old, coming back to Notre Dame,” said Bleier. “I am excited for people to see this new book.”
