85-year-old Hall of Fame enshrinee gives insights to his days at Notre Dame
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Updated: 12:06 AM Jul 18, 2009
85-year-old Hall of Fame enshrinee gives insights to his days at Notre Dame
In the 40's there were not the restrictions on a player going to a certain school. Tucker either played at or took classes at North Carolina, Florida, University of Miami and West Point. WNDU also found out that he was once a student at Notre Dame.
Posted: 12:03 AM Jul 18, 2009
Reporter: Jeff Jeffers
Email Address: jeff.jeffers@wndu.com
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One of the best things about enshrinement weekend is that the past, present and future are intertwined as the enshrinees tell their stories.

One man who has more stories than anyone is Lt. Col. Arnold Tucker, army class of 1947.

85 years young -- who remembers his days at West Point as if they happened this morning.

In his career as the quarterback for the Black Knights of the Hudson, Tucker never lost a game and helped lead Army to three national championships

But Arnold Tucker's story is much, more than football. In the 40's there were not the restrictions on a player going to a certain school.

Tucker either played at or took classes at North Carolina, Florida, University of Miami and West Point. WNDU also found out that he was once a student at Notre Dame.

"Coach Leahy told me frankly -- he said, 'Arnold I cannot guarantee you entrance into the Notre Dame Law School. But if you play for us, and you make good grades, and you're admitted, your football scholarship will carry all the way through law school'," remembers Tucker.

"It was January. It was frigid outside. I had my suntan lotion, and my light clothe," Tucker remembers laughing.

"I enrolled, I took my classes, but after 10 days I said, what the dickens am I doing up here? So, I turned around and went back to the University of Florida."

So yes, the quarterbacks in the 1946 0-0 tie at Yankee Stadium, Tucker and Johnny Lujack, could have both been on the field for the Irish.



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