Notre Dame Box

The Notre Dame box (single wing) is the first offense I ran as a QB in the 1950's . It was the perfect power formation for the ND game of "3 yds. and a cloud of dust". It is still in use today, and was successfully used by a now retired or deceased (I don't know which) college coach who hung his hat on it until just a few years back. The alignment seems to vary somewhat from when I actually played in the formation, but as the QB (blocking back) I aligned directly behind the PSG at one yd. off the LOS. The FB was directly behind the center at 4 yds with the tail back to his right or left with a split of about 1 yd. The wing back aligned at about 2 yds. off the TE and 1 yd. deep to form the "box". The ball was snapped directly to the FB about 95% of the time and as I pivoted around during the cadence so that my back was to the LOS he would come as on a dive right up the middle and hand the ball off to me on the snap. At that point, depending upon the play, I could run a "spinner series" where I would spin a full 180 degrees and follow him through the line, sprint out and throw, or pitch to the TB coming around. This latter option got my twin brother and I some pub when we were playing our arch rival in a tight 0-0 ball game late in the 4th quarter. On that particular play called a "Buck Lateral" I used to roll out and pass. But, on this occasion just as I had taken the handoff from the FB coming on the dive action and was trying to make my escape on the roll out, a guy cut me down from the back just as pretty as you please, I never saw him! But, as the football gods were smiling on us that night just as I was on my way down, here came my brother (our tailback) in a perfect pitch relationship and I just pushed the ball to him. He went 65 yds for the score and with just a minute or so to go in the game, that was all we needed for the 6-0 win!
The next year we went on to the old straight T-formation with a full house backfield and it was the first time I ever took a snap from under the center. I went home for the first time since 1964 a few years back, and drove over to the field where I had played that game. It was late in the afternoon, the school long since turned into a nursing facility. I got out of my car, walked over to the field and low and behold the old goal posts were still in place, and the grass had been cut. As I stood there, the old memories came rushing back like a flood of that day and instead of being a 63 year old man, for a brief period of probably a full 2 minutes or so, I was a 15 year old kid with a burning memory of that play to ever be etched into my personal history file. I could still feel the guy hitting me from the blindside, and still see my brother gather in the pitch and in full stride head for the endzone and making it! He is very ill now, and just a shell of the man he once was. We are expecting the Lord to call him home very shortly and when he does, a part of me will go with him. But, for those brief minutes standing there alone just staring at the field like I was mesmerized, we were young and srong as bulls and playing our hearts out.
Football, love it or leave it.

Coach Easton

Coach Easton,
I echo what Keith said, yes, thank you. That story was terrific, like a scene from a movie. I will lift your brother up in prayer. In 88 I had the pleasure to go to work for Ed Reed at Central of Tuscaloosa, AL. I was with him for his last four years. He had thirty years in Mississippi and got ten here. What a man, he taught me alot about people, football and The Box. He ran it thirty plus years and won over 270 games. The formation is the same as you mentioned but the tailback behind the center and fullback to the side. In 96 I got my first head job. I was able to hire Scott Booth, former tailback and offensive coordinator. The second year we put it in. 2-8, 5-5, 5-5, 7-4 and playoffs for first time in 15 years. Because of illness, I was forced to resign and Scott took over. He went 8-4, and 13-1. He is now back in Tuscaloosa at the new Paul Bear Bryant High School. He runs it and runs it well. My question is why did coaches change to the T formation? I love it. It is more versitale than most think. When we went spread, it was the same as the gun you see now. The only drawback is if you are on your on one and need to run out the clock, victory formation is not an option. I have never seen that situation ever. I now enjoy designing plays on playmanager. I see a play on TV and I draw it up. I am sure you ran some plays that I don't have. Would you interested in taking a look and see what I missed.
Thanks,
Craig

Coach,

What a great story. That play, and your brother, will live with us for ever now.
Thanks for sharing that with us.

You will be happy to know that the Single Wing is alive and well. There are many coaches across the country at highschool and youth levels that are reviving this great old offense.

The buck lateral is playing out the same way you described. There is not a more beautiful play to watch than a well executed Buck Lateral.

With your permission, I would be honored to rename my Buck lateral after your brother. If you agree email me with the particulars. tjhill@hal-pc.org

May the God of Glory shine brightly upon you and your family.

JC, that was a cool story.
Your parents must have been cool to name you guys that.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

As soon as I get some time I'll diagram the "Larry Easton" and send you a copy. You never know there might just be a "Jerry Easton" companion play that makes it into the playbook as well.

With your permission, I would love to read your and your brothers story to the kids and give them the background behind the play names.
As well as teach then a life lesson as well.

God Bless

Tom