Notre Dame’s Ian Book makes case as program’s best modern-era quarterback
Ian Book #IanBook
Book it. Ian is the best quarterback in Notre Dame football modern history.
Notre Dame football is playoff-bound and Ian Book is quickly becoming a Fighting Irish legend.
Saturday’s easy victory over the Syracuse Orange got the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to 10-0 on the season and 9-0 in ACC play. With their spot in the ACC Championship game already locked up before Saturday’s game vs. the Orange, all Notre Dame had to do was win to ensure it would make the four-team College Football Playoff field. It was also career win No. 30 for Book at Notre Dame.
Book has already quarterbacked the Irish to two College Football Playoff berths in three seasons, including the appearance at the end of this season. He did so as a sophomore in 2018 by way of an undefeated regular season. While the Irish did get trounced by the Clemson Tigers in the Cotton Bowl Classic, their win over Dabo Swinney’s team two years later up in South Bend helped guarantee the Golden Domers will make it in again.
Regardless of what happens in Notre Dame’s game vs. Clemson, the Fighting Irish will make the College Football Playoff. If they beat Clemson for a second time, they will get in as a top-two seed, depending on what happens between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game. If they were to fall to Clemson, Notre Dame gets in as a one-loss, at-large.
With his 30th career win at Notre Dame, Book is the all-time wins leader in school history, surpassing legends like Tom Clements, Ron Powlus and Brady Quinn. Entering play on Saturday, Book ranks second in passing yardage and passing touchdowns a good ways back of Quinn. He ranks third in career completions behind Quinn and within striking distance of Jimmy Clausen.
At this juncture, the only guy who may have a claim over him in the modern era of Notre Dame football is Quinn, and that is only because of Quinn’s impressive passing numbers. While Quinn put up stats in South Bend, he never won anywhere to the degree of Book. Should Book lead the Irish to an ACC Championship and a national championship game appearance, he will be the best Notre Dame quarterback. If Book returns in 2021, which he may since there is no year of eligibility incurred this year, he may blow Quinn out of the water statistically and compete for another playoff appearance.
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