Shannon Green, the video you've requested since the dawn of this channel has finally been made. I hope that you, an everyone else, enjoys this video. As an aside note, I actually believe that Rocket would've had a better NFL career if he had just converted to tailback rather than stick it out as a WR. As a WR, Rocket was a one-dimensional deep threat who couldn't make contested catches (aside from a few exceptions) and didn't have the route-running ability to be a great receiver either. But as a runner, he ran with power and speed that was reminiscent of a tiny Adrian Peterson. Heck, he probably could've been a 1500 yard rusher in college if Lou Holtz had been so inclined to use him that way. - Pocky -
Tony rice was my favorite qb growing up , Lou holtz was my favorite coach & Ismail was my all time kic off & punt returner👍 he was like tha hall of famer Dion primetime Sanders !
I agree with you as he was a natural running back but due to his size and the needs of Notre Dame he had to play receiver but when given a chance to play running back he was electric.
He's a huge reason that I'm a diehard too. My only regret is that I only started watching religiously in 1990 which was his final year. I was only a casual fan in 1988 and 1989. I was at the 1991 Orange Bowl where he had the greatest punt return of all time. The clipping call was crap. Notre Dame won that game in my book.
Definitely I cried the first time I seen ND lose I was like 9 years old started in 88 been a regretful fan ever since..so disappointing haven't had nothing even slightly close to the Rocket.."it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Nd's Rocket Ismail is the most explosive player in college football" I had a picture on my door at 10 with that caption.
@@ROLLIN-DUB yes I remember the starter jackets and I also had a notre dame one. Just about everyone at school had one of those jackets with there favorite team on it.
The best playmaker I have ever seen. He could take it the distance every time he touched the ball!! If Rocket had a more innovative offense he could have put up numbers that were off the charts!! There is only one Rocket and he was the fastest big play machine in the history of college football!!
@@rfplaw1 I agree that he would be a great player today. However, both the NCAA and the NFL are basically trying to eliminate the kickoff play by moving the tee up to the 35 and having teams start at the 25 on touchbacks. Most big-time college kickers can consistently kick the ball either 7-8 yards deep into the end zone, or out of the end zone completely. So Rocket wouldn't have as many kickoff return opportunities as he had in '88-'90. On punt returns, he was obviously still extremely dangerous, but he only had one official TD on a punt return at Notre Dame. (I say "official" because he got robbed of a game-winning punt return touchdown in the' 91 Orange Bowl; a bogus clipping penalty negated it.)
These Notre Dame teams are a big reason why I am huge Notre Dame still today. These teams were loaded. With Rocket, Ricky Watters, Tony Rice, Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis etc.
Tim Brown, Chris Zorich, Bryant Young..... great period. For some reason, I am not feeling that same spirit that they had back in the late 80's through the mid 90's. They were my favorite program back then too.
I was at the 1990 Tennessee game in Knoxville. Dad (Notre Dame alum 74) was a Major stationed at the Defense Depot in Memphis. My Dad held me up when Rodney Culver (RIP) scored and I was waving my gold finger at him and he held up his #1 finger to me. Also, the Leprechaun asked to borrow my gold finger in that game. That was awesome. Seeing my favorite ND player of all time score and run those punts deep into Volunteer territory was great. I'm an Arizona alum from 05, but have been an Irish fan since 1988, when my Dad first introduced me to them. ND didn't have a CIS program and I became an Arizona fan in 94 when they beat Miami, whom I hated so much, 29-0 in the Fiesta Bowl. I fell in love with them instantly. The basketball team came the same year when they fell short to Arkansas. Dad suggested in 99 when ND and Arizona met in the preseason NIT in hoops I root for Arizona and go to that school since they had a great great program. No regrets.
It was like you knew what was going to happen when every time the Rocket touches the football, he brought that electricity to that Notre Dame crowd, he was so amazing to watch back then
Thomas, Moss both great in college but The Rocket did it against the best competition an was spectacular at doing it. All U N.D haters are gonna feel the heat in a yr or so.
Awesome vid and great memories. I still recall (with surprising lingering resentment) the *fantom clip* on his 90+ yard return that cost them the game against Colorado in the Orange Bowl.
I'd forgotten just what a great combo Rice and the Rocket were----what a blast, what great fun it was watching these guys---and Ismail particularly---back in the day.......finally finished watching the entire video----Ismail was almost beyond words: what a whirling dervish of a player! What a joy to watch!......the guy was simply astounding----what a great era of ND football! "Reverse to the Rocket!.....Goodbye!" :)
Rocket Ismail is the most electrifying college football player I have ever seen! He made so many huge plays for The Irish. One of my favorites is the 76 yard TD run vs Pitt, he looks like he's in fast forward and the defense is in slow motion!! Ismail absolutely should have won The Heisman!!
My favorite, too. And please understand that I was a year behind Joe Montana. BTW, he threw 25 touchdowns and 25 interceptions during his Career there. But that aside... RI ran for ND's track team. And there was some guy whose name and school I do not remember who used to OWN him. I have said for Decades that RI was not a track guy who happened to also play football (look up Jimmy Hines), but a football player who also ran track. I do not believe the 40 yard dash numbers they attributed to him (track times people in the 60 yard dash, not 40...I know...I was on the Track Team, but LONG before him). His Truest Talent was that he wasn't necessarily that fast, but he was that elusive. Trying to tackle him was like trying to tackle a cat. I wish he would have been more successful in the NFL. But Success at one level doesn't necessarily translate to success at the Next Level. Just ask Gary Beban or Eric Crouch, among others.
@@domjervis You nailed it. A lot of guys can run fast. Fewer guys can run fast in pads, with a football in their hands, with 11 guys trying to bring him down. For me, the Rocket is the fastest college football player I've ever watched. In the NFL, it's Devin Hester for me (although I might be a little biased as a Bears fan).
Thank you making for making this video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have ever seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen in over 35 years of watching football!! I can't even imagine that kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His game really developed by the time he went to the Cowboys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
YESSS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. I grew up watching this man and he was awesome. I will tell you that he was CHEATED in the 1990 Heisman Race. I would agree on the part with regards of his receiving skills. My retort to that is he was a pure athlete. A track star who if was taught fundamentals of the position, who be the school's all time leader. Running back wise he would have to put on some weight big time. Nothing crazy but something in the vein of Marshall Faulk, or a Warrick Dunn. Remember, Lou Holtz was a disciple of the Big Ten. 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Again, I thank you for your time to do this Shannon Green
I can see where you're coming from when you mention the amount of weight he would need to gain. I think that he was up to 190 by the time he was a junior, so I don't think that gaining 10 more pounds would've been too difficult. And I think that he would've probably settled into a 3rd down back role, like Darren Sproles. Anyways, I'm glad you liked it. And yeah, he deserved the Heisman over Detmer, as did Eric Bieniemy and Herman Moore and several other candidates. PS: Ricky Watters needs a video too. He was so talented.
Thank you making for making this video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen!! I can't even imagine the kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His game really developed by the time he went to the Boys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
Thank you very much for making this video! It is by far the best and most comprehensive Rocket Montage I have seen! Well done! The Rocket is my all-time favorite player!!
top scariest college players ever: Rocket, Reggie Bush, Peter Warrick, and Desmond Howard. There were more but if those guys touched the ball it was "hold your breath time"
Rocket was awesome, but redshirt Freshman Michael Vick was the most exciting player ever. Leads Va Tech to their first and only national championship game. And then against a stacked Florida State team, he almost wins it.
Don’t forget Derek Henry. He completely murdered everyone his senior year. Nobody on Michigan State could tackle him Edit: I was at the 38-0 Alabama Thrashing of Michigan St.
He was my favorite player and still one of my all-time favorite players but one day I looked up his passing statistics and didn't realize how bad they were. l didn't remember them being that bad but they weren't good. Still, great leader, ran the option well, hit passes when he needed to
Thank you for making this video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen!! I can't even imagine the kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His game really developed by the time he went to the Cowboys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
I declare Rocket Ismail as the true Heisman Winner as the Best College Football Player! The judges who gave Detmer the award should have been jailed! Shame on them forever!
I didn't realize Raghib Ismail was so beloved before I started this channel. And I'd say that he has more in common with Percy Harvin than Reggie Bush.
PockyCandy Man he was so exciting to watch at the time, especially since it was during the Catholics vs Convicts rivalry between ND and the U. Keep up the good work with your channel, man!
The most exciting player in Notre Dame history. For as little as he was he broke a lot of tackles. Can you imagine him in today's more wide open offense. Wow!!!
Thank you for making this awesome video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen!! I can't even imagine that kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His have really developed by the time he went to the Boys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
This dude was playing back when I first started loving college football. I was only 7 years old and the Rocket was the Holy Grail of college football as far as I'm concerned.
Exactly...Demetrius DeBose is forever the goat on that play, which is unfortunate. It should have been a storybook ending and the ref injected his misperception and it cost Notre Dame a second title with Lou Holtz.
Besides Knute Rockne, there is no bigger name in Notre Dame football history than Rahib "Rocket" Ismail imop... Still breaks my heart that the KR against Colorado was called back. They was mad that he did the impossible!
There have been 3,4 massive Heisman Trophy travesties, George Rogers over Hugh Green, Jason White over Larry Fitzgerald and perhaps Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning(although both will be in Canton soon) but Ty Detmer over The Rocket was a complete joke, he was the most exciting and talented player in America by a landslide
Johnny Fuckup over Manti T'eo was another Heisman heist. Manziel did have an incredible season in 2012. But Te'o was the most decorated college football player. Ever. He won: -The Maxwell Award -The Lott Trophy -The Lombardi Trophy -The Butkus Award -The Nagurski Award -The Bednarik Award He won basically every award that he was eligible for except the Heisman. 2012 was the last time that I ever watched the Heisman presentation. It's clearly exclusively for quarterbacks and running backs. Charles Woodson is still the only defensive player to win it and he wouldn't have gotten it without his special teams success. It's not even available to WRs anymore. Desmond Howard was the last receiver to win it, and that was in 1991. And he also was a pretty good kickoff and punt returner.
The only one could slow down the Rocket Ismail was the option offense (I love Holtz but they were conservative) which limited his touches. Rocket was so good and easily deserved 15-20 touches a game!! Most exciting player I have ever seen!!!
(13:55). might be the most indelible CFB memory I have growing up, I even remembered the play by play call. great to see this first time in bout 20 years. im from Toronto, and I was a ND fan. then bruce McCall bought the Argos and lured him to Canada. At the time I thought Rocket was the greatest thing ever, hehe. OK, so he never went on to the pro career I thought was before him a the time, but thanks for the memories
I have friends that went to Meyers HS with Rocket and his brother when they were both there. Both are class acts off and on the field. Still dumbfounded that Rocket never got a Heisman for how good he was as a multipurpose athlete.
Awesome highlights as usual. How about Peter Boulware, Reinard Wilson and Andre Wadsworth? Florida State's monster defensive ends from the 96 and 97 seasons.
I still can’t believe they threw that flag against Colorado. Probably the most heartbreaking sports loss I’ve ever experienced as a fan…and I’m a Cubs fan
Rocket was fast but he's not even in the top 20 fastest men ever in the NFL. He only ran a 10.30 something in the 100 meters FAT. They have him at 10.20 but that was hand time. That's extremely fast for football but no where near the top 5. 5. Alvin Whitted 10.07 4. Bob Hayes & Ron Brown, tied 10.06 3. Jeff Demps & Jacoby Ford, tied 10.01 2. Tribdon Holliday 10.00 twice 1. Jim Hines 9.95 Just to give you some true insight, Tyreek Hill is not even in the top 20. He's 21st with a 10.19, Deion Sanders is 34th with a 10.26. Herschel Walker was faster then Deion with a 10.23. These are the facts.
Rocket was THE MAN!!!! The reason I'm a HUUUGE ND fan today! Also just wanna say Keith Jacksons eyes musta been HORRIBLE! Rice wasn't NOWHERE NEAR the back of the endzone! Lol dude had like 2yds from the back line! I loved Keith Jackson but he was suuuch a homer for USC it was sickening! EVERYTIME he called their games u could tell
Jackson had a great voice and was dramatic, one of the best in CFB. Having said that, he HATED Notre Dame...it showed sometimes. I loved to watch games he called, except for ND games. Good call, Eric!!!!
I taught with a guy who went to HS with Rocket in Wilkes-Barre. He said that Rocket could score whenever he wanted and made the other great players on every other team look ridiculous.
Raghib Ismail is originally from Newark,NJ but according to his brother QADRI they kept getting into fights with local kids so they moved to Pennsylvania.
The thumbnail I his rookie fleer card. He was in the cfl. But his rookie card still got released with nfl player cards. I remember my friend getting that a card. In a pack he opened at the Woolworth diner! And being siked.
At 4.28 40-time he was one of the fastest football players EVER. Should have beaten Detmer for the Heisman. Would have been the #1 NFL draft if he didn't pick the CFL instead. Not only was he almost the fastest, but also the highest paid football player in history (at the time) as "his yearly salary was then the largest in Canadian or American football history", according to his wiki page. His salary was higher than the cap of some ENTIRE TEAMS in the CFL. Holy crap!
20:05 is the BS clipping penalty that negated what should have been Rocket's game-winning punt return. I was at that game; I was 9. My heart was torn to pieces when they announced that penalty. If I ever meet the ref who threw that flag, there will be violence.
Same here...I was 17 and watching with other ND fan friends and I could not believe he actually returned it for a TD....then that bogus call crushed me...I couldn't believe they stole that moment
It’s crazy to think that his speed (4.3) is damn near the norm nowadays for NFL guys… he was an absolute standout back in the day but he’d just be a run of the mill return guy in todays climate smh
Shannon Green, the video you've requested since the dawn of this channel has finally been made. I hope that you, an everyone else, enjoys this video. As an aside note, I actually believe that Rocket would've had a better NFL career if he had just converted to tailback rather than stick it out as a WR. As a WR, Rocket was a one-dimensional deep threat who couldn't make contested catches (aside from a few exceptions) and didn't have the route-running ability to be a great receiver either. But as a runner, he ran with power and speed that was reminiscent of a tiny Adrian Peterson. Heck, he probably could've been a 1500 yard rusher in college if Lou Holtz had been so inclined to use him that way.
- Pocky -
PockyCandy
Well since we takin requests and everything...Can we get a Santana Moss Vid?
...And good work, per the usual
Great videos porky, love them. I have a request, can we a compilation of Leeland McElroy?
Damn autocorrect, meant pocky
Tony rice was my favorite qb growing up , Lou holtz was my favorite coach & Ismail was my all time kic off & punt returner👍 he was like tha hall of famer Dion primetime Sanders !
I agree with you as he was a natural running back but due to his size and the needs of Notre Dame he had to play receiver but when given a chance to play running back he was electric.
The Rocket is the entire reason I fell in love with Irish football. Go Irish!
He's a huge reason that I'm a diehard too. My only regret is that I only started watching religiously in 1990 which was his final year. I was only a casual fan in 1988 and 1989.
I was at the 1991 Orange Bowl where he had the greatest punt return of all time. The clipping call was crap. Notre Dame won that game in my book.
Same here- I’ve been a fan since 88. I was 14yrs old when I was watching him even had a ND starter jacket (does anyone remember those:-)?
Same here… 88-89 Rocket turned me into a Notre Dame fan
Definitely I cried the first time I seen ND lose I was like 9 years old started in 88 been a regretful fan ever since..so disappointing haven't had nothing even slightly close to the Rocket.."it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Nd's Rocket Ismail is the most explosive player in college football" I had a picture on my door at 10 with that caption.
@@ROLLIN-DUB yes I remember the starter jackets and I also had a notre dame one. Just about everyone at school had one of those jackets with there favorite team on it.
In tears watching this.......I've been calling him the greatest college football player i ever seen.....this brings back so many memories 🌴🏆👑‼️💯
The Notre Dame games at night on CBS were special
The 1st college superstar I can remember watching!
The best playmaker I have ever seen. He could take it the distance every time he touched the ball!! If Rocket had a more innovative offense he could have put up numbers that were off the charts!! There is only one Rocket and he was the fastest big play machine in the history of college football!!
More innovative offense no one ran the bubble wr screen until N.D did reverses , kickoffs , tailback thats innovative. Go IRISH
well said. The best college football player I have ever seen. He would put up major #'s in a modern offense.
@@rfplaw1 I agree that he would be a great player today.
However, both the NCAA and the NFL are basically trying to eliminate the kickoff play by moving the tee up to the 35 and having teams start at the 25 on touchbacks.
Most big-time college kickers can consistently kick the ball either 7-8 yards deep into the end zone, or out of the end zone completely.
So Rocket wouldn't have as many kickoff return opportunities as he had in '88-'90.
On punt returns, he was obviously still extremely dangerous, but he only had one official TD on a punt return at Notre Dame. (I say "official" because he got robbed of a game-winning punt return touchdown in the' 91 Orange Bowl; a bogus clipping penalty negated it.)
Rocket would be insane in today's NFL....most explosive player I've seen
Until Reggie Bush
Still waiting on an explanation of the phantom flag thrown in the Colorado game. That was a tragedy!
This guy and Peter Warrick....two of the most electrifying receivers/all purpose players in the last 35 years.
Great vision, ability to break tackles, toughness, oh and speed and super quickness. Sensational football player!
Rocket was the best. We need a player like him now to push us over the top. Go Irish. I forgot how nice Tony Rice was.
These Notre Dame teams are a big reason why I am huge Notre Dame still today. These teams were loaded. With Rocket, Ricky Watters, Tony Rice, Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis etc.
Lee Becton. Tim Brown.
Tim Brown, Chris Zorich, Bryant Young..... great period. For some reason, I am not feeling that same spirit that they had back in the late 80's through the mid 90's. They were my favorite program back then too.
I was at the 1990 Tennessee game in Knoxville. Dad (Notre Dame alum 74) was a Major stationed at the Defense Depot in Memphis. My Dad held me up when Rodney Culver (RIP) scored and I was waving my gold finger at him and he held up his #1 finger to me. Also, the Leprechaun asked to borrow my gold finger in that game. That was awesome. Seeing my favorite ND player of all time score and run those punts deep into Volunteer territory was great.
I'm an Arizona alum from 05, but have been an Irish fan since 1988, when my Dad first introduced me to them. ND didn't have a CIS program and I became an Arizona fan in 94 when they beat Miami, whom I hated so much, 29-0 in the Fiesta Bowl. I fell in love with them instantly. The basketball team came the same year when they fell short to Arkansas. Dad suggested in 99 when ND and Arizona met in the preseason NIT in hoops I root for Arizona and go to that school since they had a great great program. No regrets.
It was like you knew what was going to happen when every time the Rocket touches the football, he brought that electricity to that Notre Dame crowd, he was so amazing to watch back then
To this day I still cannot figure out how Ismail didn't win a Heisman trophy.
Bias towards the position.
Ty Detmer had gawdy numbers at Mtn West School. A blind man could see that Rocket was the best college player and should have won the Heisman.
@@MB-fv9jh | the sports writers really couldn't stand Lou Holtz or Notre Dame at that moment in time.
That's when I stopped caring about the award. I knew it wasn't based on talent. 🤷...and I'm an SC fan. 🤷....
He was a Muslim
Ahhh good ol days 1988 natl champs. Love the rocket became an irish fan in 1989..
Way to jump on the bandwagon been a irsh fan since birth🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Greatest college player to not win the heisman. Not only fast but breaks tackles an kickoff vs miami an mich priceless
I'd put Randy Moss ahead of him in that category. Moss finished third, behind Woodson and Manning.
Derrick Thomas had 26 sacks his junior year... Best ever to not win the 🏆 IMO
Thomas, Moss both great in college but The Rocket did it against the best competition an was spectacular at doing it. All U N.D haters are gonna feel the heat in a yr or so.
Awesome vid and great memories. I still recall (with surprising lingering resentment) the *fantom clip* on his 90+ yard return that cost them the game against Colorado in the Orange Bowl.
I'd forgotten just what a great combo Rice and the Rocket were----what a blast, what great fun it was watching these guys---and Ismail particularly---back in the day.......finally finished watching the entire video----Ismail was almost beyond words: what a whirling dervish of a player! What a joy to watch!......the guy was simply astounding----what a great era of ND football! "Reverse to the Rocket!.....Goodbye!" :)
Rocket Ismail is the most electrifying college football player I have ever seen! He made so many huge plays for The Irish. One of my favorites is the 76 yard TD run vs Pitt, he looks like he's in fast forward and the defense is in slow motion!! Ismail absolutely should have won The Heisman!!
My favorite ND player of all time- The Rocket. He was fast as shit!
💯
4.28 in the 40.
@@southbend3406 I heard 4.18 hand. Who really knows. I know he ran a 10.34 in the 100 meters. That's extremely fast for football!
My favorite, too. And please understand that I was a year behind Joe Montana. BTW, he threw 25 touchdowns and 25 interceptions during his Career there. But that aside...
RI ran for ND's track team. And there was some guy whose name and school I do not remember who used to OWN him. I have said for Decades that RI was not a track guy who happened to also play football (look up Jimmy Hines), but a football player who also ran track.
I do not believe the 40 yard dash numbers they attributed to him (track times people in the 60 yard dash, not 40...I know...I was on the Track Team, but LONG before him). His Truest Talent was that he wasn't necessarily that fast, but he was that elusive. Trying to tackle him was like trying to tackle a cat.
I wish he would have been more successful in the NFL. But Success at one level doesn't necessarily translate to success at the Next Level. Just ask Gary Beban or Eric Crouch, among others.
@@domjervis You nailed it.
A lot of guys can run fast.
Fewer guys can run fast in pads, with a football in their hands, with 11 guys trying to bring him down.
For me, the Rocket is the fastest college football player I've ever watched.
In the NFL, it's Devin Hester for me (although I might be a little biased as a Bears fan).
Thank you making for making this video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have ever seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen in over 35 years of watching football!! I can't even imagine that kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His game really developed by the time he went to the Cowboys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
Rocket forever
The most explosive player to ever play the game.
At the college level I absolutely agree.
Bo Jackson and Chris Johnson
We will never again see the likes of the fabulous Rocket.
YESSS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. I grew up watching this man and he was awesome. I will tell you that he was CHEATED in the 1990 Heisman Race. I would agree on the part with regards of his receiving skills. My retort to that is he was a pure athlete. A track star who if was taught fundamentals of the position, who be the school's all time leader. Running back wise he would have to put on some weight big time. Nothing crazy but something in the vein of Marshall Faulk, or a Warrick Dunn. Remember, Lou Holtz was a disciple of the Big Ten. 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Again, I thank you for your time to do this
Shannon Green
I can see where you're coming from when you mention the amount of weight he would need to gain. I think that he was up to 190 by the time he was a junior, so I don't think that gaining 10 more pounds would've been too difficult. And I think that he would've probably settled into a 3rd down back role, like Darren Sproles.
Anyways, I'm glad you liked it. And yeah, he deserved the Heisman over Detmer, as did Eric Bieniemy and Herman Moore and several other candidates.
PS: Ricky Watters needs a video too. He was so talented.
You finally did one on the Rocket. One of my all time favorite college players.
He was the best ever back then and he should of won the Hisman hands down ☘️🏈
Thank you making for making this video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen!! I can't even imagine the kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His game really developed by the time he went to the Boys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
Greatest offensive football talent I ever saw play. It almost looks like the defense is running in slow motion.
I remember his speed of course, but I'm stunned at how tough he was also, 170 lbs and breaking tackles, not dodging anyone. A great player for sure.
Yeah I agree. I forgot how much they featured him at HB and ran him in between the tackles. He's one of one.
The Rocket changed recruiting for college football. This is when 40 time was everything.
People don't realise how much of a star rocket Ismail was.
ND legend! Loved watching the Irish play in the 90s.
Thank you this upload. The Rocket was the sole reason why I am a huge Notre Dame fan today. Thanks for those memories.
Thank you very much for making this video! It is by far the best and most comprehensive Rocket Montage I have seen! Well done! The Rocket is my all-time favorite player!!
You're welcome! I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
PockyCandy I grew up near the Rocket and got to see him play in high school. He's a legend around here!
Oh, that's really cool! Well, I hope that I did his skills justice with my video.
Dude was doing the Tebow before Tebow!
top scariest college players ever: Rocket, Reggie Bush, Peter Warrick, and Desmond Howard. There were more but if those guys touched the ball it was "hold your breath time"
Rocket was awesome, but redshirt Freshman Michael Vick was the most exciting player ever. Leads Va Tech to their first and only national championship game. And then against a stacked Florida State team, he almost wins it.
@@klumszy I'll take Johnny Manziel
Christian Mccafrey, Lamar Jackson and now I’d say Devonta Smith from Alabama.
Don’t forget Derek Henry. He completely murdered everyone his senior year. Nobody on Michigan State could tackle him
Edit: I was at the 38-0 Alabama Thrashing of Michigan St.
Tony rice was such a good quarterback Notre Dame had the dream team this year lol
He was my favorite player and still one of my all-time favorite players but one day I looked up his passing statistics and didn't realize how bad they were. l didn't remember them being that bad but they weren't good. Still, great leader, ran the option well, hit passes when he needed to
Thank you for making this video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen!! I can't even imagine the kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His game really developed by the time he went to the Cowboys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
This man was my childhood
I wish ND would bring back this uniform
Me too!!!
Arguably the best to do it in NCAA history...
I declare Rocket Ismail as the true Heisman Winner as the Best College Football Player! The judges who gave Detmer the award should have been jailed! Shame on them forever!
Him and Reggie Bush may have been the two most explosive players in college football history
I grew up watching the rocket he was all around a unbelievable player catching and running one of my favorite players ever 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Tremendous player. Every time he touched the ball a threat to go the distance.
Yes sir, this is the one. Let me get my popcorn ready. My generation's Reggie Bush.
I didn't realize Raghib Ismail was so beloved before I started this channel.
And I'd say that he has more in common with Percy Harvin than Reggie Bush.
PockyCandy Man he was so exciting to watch at the time, especially since it was during the Catholics vs Convicts rivalry between ND and the U. Keep up the good work with your channel, man!
EXACTLY
Pure greatness
The most exciting player in Notre Dame history. For as little as he was he broke a lot of tackles. Can you imagine him in today's more wide open offense. Wow!!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome.
Thank you for making this awesome video!! It is by far the most complete Rocket montage I have seen. Rocket was the most electrifying player I have ever seen!! I can't even imagine that kind of stats he would have had in a more wide open offense. He was the most exciting player and could take it the distance on any play. Injuries and going to the CFL held down his NFL numbers, but he did have a few thousand yard seasons. His have really developed by the time he went to the Boys and he had some huge plays for The Boys!! Hands down my all-time favorite player!! There will never be another Rocket!!
This dude was playing back when I first started loving college football. I was only 7 years old and the Rocket was the Holy Grail of college football as far as I'm concerned.
Still can’t find the block in the back... 😒
Exactly...Demetrius DeBose is forever the goat on that play, which is unfortunate. It should have been a storybook ending and the ref injected his misperception and it cost Notre Dame a second title with Lou Holtz.
Besides Knute Rockne, there is no bigger name in Notre Dame football history than Rahib "Rocket" Ismail imop...
Still breaks my heart that the KR against Colorado was called back. They was mad that he did the impossible!
That "illegal block", 15 yards behind the play, was all that kept ND from 2 national championships in a row.
#NeverForget I didn't cry, but I sho felt like it.
There have been 3,4 massive Heisman Trophy travesties, George Rogers over Hugh Green, Jason White over Larry Fitzgerald and perhaps Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning(although both will be in Canton soon) but Ty Detmer over The Rocket was a complete joke, he was the most exciting and talented player in America by a landslide
Johnny Fuckup over Manti T'eo was another Heisman heist.
Manziel did have an incredible season in 2012. But Te'o was the most decorated college football player. Ever.
He won:
-The Maxwell Award
-The Lott Trophy
-The Lombardi Trophy
-The Butkus Award
-The Nagurski Award
-The Bednarik Award
He won basically every award that he was eligible for except the Heisman.
2012 was the last time that I ever watched the Heisman presentation. It's clearly exclusively for quarterbacks and running backs. Charles Woodson is still the only defensive player to win it and he wouldn't have gotten it without his special teams success.
It's not even available to WRs anymore. Desmond Howard was the last receiver to win it, and that was in 1991. And he also was a pretty good kickoff and punt returner.
i'll watch Johnny Football's reel tapes over Teo Manti's anytime
CHARLES WOODSON ALL DAY PEYTON JUST HAD THE HYPE TRAIN BEFORE HE EVEN PLAYED HIS FIRST GAME
Adrian Peterson not winning his freshman year
The reason I was a ND fan in the late 80’s & 90’s.
Great work! Helluva compilation!
I can't wait to get home to use my wifi so I can check this PockyCandy!
The only one could slow down the Rocket Ismail was the option offense (I love Holtz but they were conservative) which limited his touches. Rocket was so good and easily deserved 15-20 touches a game!! Most exciting player I have ever seen!!!
Rocket got screwed out of the National Title and Heisman trophy all in the same year. Damn shame it was.
Man he was a quick mf
There is only one rocket and no one has the right to be called by that name and in any sports period.
How about "The Missile" Qadry Ismail
I imagine that Rocket Richard is unknown to you. Montreal Canadiens great. First NHL 50 goal scorer.
@@ruffian2952 Nice call. He played well before I was born, but the fact that he has a trophy named after him means that he was pretty special.
Very well worth the wait!!!...👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Those WR and Backs Holtz stockpiled back then made turned Mirer and Paulus into NFL prospects
Hats off to Colorado #13. He never gave up and kept hussling till the end.
(13:55). might be the most indelible CFB memory I have growing up, I even remembered the play by play call. great to see this first time in bout 20 years. im from Toronto, and I was a ND fan. then bruce McCall bought the Argos and lured him to Canada. At the time I thought Rocket was the greatest thing ever, hehe. OK, so he never went on to the pro career I thought was before him a the time, but thanks for the memories
I remember this guy, I have his card from when he was with the Baltimore Ravens.
That's his brother qaudry ismail 😂😂
great player and storyteller
I have friends that went to Meyers HS with Rocket and his brother when they were both there. Both are class acts off and on the field. Still dumbfounded that Rocket never got a Heisman for how good he was as a multipurpose athlete.
Dude I get this, I went to school with his son from 3rd to senior year of high school. It's the weirdest thing to see him now.
Awesome highlights as usual. How about Peter Boulware, Reinard Wilson and Andre Wadsworth? Florida State's monster defensive ends from the 96 and 97 seasons.
DAMM RIGHT
KNOCKING OUT QBS IN 7 STRAIGHT GAMES 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I still can’t believe they threw that flag against Colorado. Probably the most heartbreaking sports loss I’ve ever experienced as a fan…and I’m a Cubs fan
Legend💯💯💯
Still one of the top 5 fastest football players ever
Rocket was fast but he's not even in the top 20 fastest men ever in the NFL. He only ran a 10.30 something in the 100 meters FAT. They have him at 10.20 but that was hand time. That's extremely fast for football but no where near the top 5.
5. Alvin Whitted 10.07
4. Bob Hayes & Ron Brown, tied 10.06
3. Jeff Demps & Jacoby Ford, tied 10.01
2. Tribdon Holliday 10.00 twice
1. Jim Hines 9.95
Just to give you some true insight, Tyreek Hill is not even in the top 20. He's 21st with a 10.19, Deion Sanders is 34th with a 10.26. Herschel Walker was faster then Deion with a 10.23. These are the facts.
Wrong Darrell Green 10.01
Rocket was THE MAN!!!! The reason I'm a HUUUGE ND fan today! Also just wanna say Keith Jacksons eyes musta been HORRIBLE! Rice wasn't NOWHERE NEAR the back of the endzone! Lol dude had like 2yds from the back line! I loved Keith Jackson but he was suuuch a homer for USC it was sickening! EVERYTIME he called their games u could tell
Jackson had a great voice and was dramatic, one of the best in CFB. Having said that, he HATED Notre Dame...it showed sometimes.
I loved to watch games he called, except for ND games. Good call, Eric!!!!
Over a thousand yards rushing on only 131 carries!? I hope people appreciate how impressive that stat is!!
Such an underrated channel
Another great video. Thank you.
The greatest Irish player to never win a Heisman.
How you don't have a Warrick Dunn highlight video????
One of the best
I taught with a guy who went to HS with Rocket in Wilkes-Barre. He said that Rocket could score whenever he wanted and made the other great players on every other team look ridiculous.
The most exciting player at ND of all time. THE HEISMAN AWARD TRULY BELONGED TO HIM. Eternal Shame on the Judges!
Oh Pocky, you've done it again!
The Rocket!!!!
Rocket with a Mike Leach offense would’ve been borderline illegal.
Watched him when I played high school football
Super quick
Raghib Ismail is originally from Newark,NJ but according to his brother QADRI they kept getting into fights with local kids so they moved to Pennsylvania.
Moved when their father died in 1980-81.
My top 5 Irish ever. ❤
Notre dame use to have do it all guys. Them and Michigan always were stacked at tailback and receivers
The thumbnail I his rookie fleer card. He was in the cfl. But his rookie card still got released with nfl player cards. I remember my friend getting that a card. In a pack he opened at the Woolworth diner! And being siked.
can you do deion sanders florida state highlights?
maybe later?
Lol the only person I know with the same name as me. It’s an honor.
I love.Rocket!!!
the rocket not winning the heisman is as silly as val kilmer not winning oscar for tombstone
At 4.28 40-time he was one of the fastest football players EVER.
Should have beaten Detmer for the Heisman. Would have been the #1 NFL draft if he didn't pick the CFL instead.
Not only was he almost the fastest, but also the highest paid football player in history (at the time) as "his yearly salary was then the largest in Canadian or American football history", according to his wiki page. His salary was higher than the cap of some ENTIRE TEAMS in the CFL. Holy crap!
4.28 as a Freshman!!
The best!!!!
20:05 is the BS clipping penalty that negated what should have been Rocket's game-winning punt return.
I was at that game; I was 9. My heart was torn to pieces when they announced that penalty.
If I ever meet the ref who threw that flag, there will be violence.
..broke my heart too 💔...the guy is the ultimate college 🏈 legend
Same here...I was 17 and watching with other ND fan friends and I could not believe he actually returned it for a TD....then that bogus call crushed me...I couldn't believe they stole that moment
That Bullshit clipping call against Colorado still bugs me
His style reminds me of an earlier version of Tavon Austin from WVU.
It’s crazy to think that his speed (4.3) is damn near the norm nowadays for NFL guys… he was an absolute standout back in the day but he’d just be a run of the mill return guy in todays climate smh