15 Greatest QB/WR Duos of All Time

1964: Notre Dame

John Huarte and Jack Snow

John Huarte grew up on a farm, listening to Notre Dame football on the radio.

By the time he made his way to South Bend to play quarterback for the Fighting Irish, Huarte, a lean 190 lbs, didn’t look like a huge threat. But he was tough enough to play some linebacker during one particular practice. The clean-cut slinger, wearing number seven on his jersey entered into the glorious ’64 season with a new game plan: throw the football.

As soon as Huarte started throwing, the nation’s eyes were on Notre Dame. Huarte and his tremendous target, Jack Snow, were showing the state of Indiana that passing the ball could be as much a part of the Irish tradition as running it had been.

In Ara Paseghian’s first year as head coach, the Fighting Irish went from a 2-7 team the previous season to a 9-1 team.

To give you an idea about how radical the change was, take a look at these comparative facts:

In 1963, John Huarte threw 42 passes (the entire season) for 243 yards (again, the entire season) and one touchdown (you get the point). Even with his long strides and soft hands, Jack Snow had an equally unimpressive season. He had the second most receptions on the ‘63 team with six and the second most receiving yards on the team with 82. Snow didn’t catch a single touchdown.

Then, like an unexpected storm, 1964 happened. Huarte threw about five times as many passes as the previous season for 2,062 yards and 16 touchdowns. He led the nation in passing yards per attempt (10.1), was second in passing efficiency rating (155.1), third in total yards (2,069), and fourth in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Snow caught ten times as many passes as the previous season for 1,114 yards and nine touchdowns. The sensational receiver finished third in the country in receptions (60), receiving yards, and touchdown receptions, just as his team finished #3 in the final AP Poll.

The clichéd words “night and day” come to mind.

By the end of the ’64 season, John Huarte took the Heisman Trophy while Jack Snow came in fifth in the voting, and both Huarte and Snow earned Consensus All-America honors.