The Notre Dame Nightmare: The Gridiron Legacy of Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis cemented his status as one of college football’s most electric tailbacks by dominating Notre Dame and winning two national championships before embarking on a nomadic pro career spanning the WFL, CFL, NFL, and USFL.

Born on September 8, 1952, in Huntsville, Texas, Anthony “A.D.” Davis emerged as one of the most explosive and celebrated running backs in gridiron history.

College Career

Playing for the USC Trojans from 1972 to 1974 under legendary head coach John McKay, Davis became the engine of a dominant powerhouse. He captured two national championships (1972, 1974), won three Rose Bowls, and became the first player in Pacific-8 history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.

Davis earned eternal football lore as the “Notre Dame Nightmare,” scoring 11 touchdowns across three matchups against the Fighting Irish. In 1972, he stunned Notre Dame with six touchdowns, including two kickoff returns for scores. In the legendary 1974 “Comeback Game,” with USC trailing 24–0, Davis sparked a 55–24 rout by scoring four touchdowns—opening the second half with a dazzling 102-yard kickoff return. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1974. [National Football Foundation]

He was a weapon indeed, as our guest, USC historian Rich Shmelter, described in a 2022 interview;

“Anthony Davis was a squat 5 foot, 985 pound halfback and he was a sophomore that year (1973) and he was just, just magnificent and just watching him play and if it wasn’t for him, to be honest with you, if it wasn’t for him, they were playing Notre Dame and he was just, he was called the Notre Dame killer at that time.

I mean, as a sophomore, he ran for six touchdowns in the victory in the very last game of the year before they went into the Rose Bowl, and you know, they already had the Pac-8. It was at that time, as the Pac-8 championship wrapped up.

Then they had the game against Notre Dame, and that game made him a legend. And in a few weeks we’ll be talking about the 74 team. And I want to talk even more about AD at that time because what he did in 74 was amazing.”

Road to the Pro Game

Selected 37th overall in the second round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, contract disagreements led Davis to bypass the NFL initially. Instead, he inked a lucrative contract with the Southern California Sun of the World Football League (WFL). When the WFL folded during its 1975 season, Davis moved north in 1976, joining the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts as the league’s first “million-dollar man”.

Davis transitioned to the NFL in 1977, reuniting with McKay on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1978, he split time between the Houston Oilers and the Los Angeles Rams before injuries derailed his tenure. In 1983, Davis concluded his pro career back home in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Los Angeles Express, making him one of the rare athletes to play in four distinct professional leagues.

Football Legacy

Davis remains a towering figure in USC lore. His lethal blend of breakaway speed, vision, and return acumen set modern benchmarks for all-purpose backs. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005, permanently honoring his imprint on autumn Saturdays.

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

• College Accolades: 2× National Champion (1972, 1974); Unanimous All-American (1974); 2nd-Team All-American (1972); Pop Warner Trophy (1974); 3× First-team All-Pac-8; College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2005).
• College Stats (USC): 784 carries, 3,772 rushing yards, 44 rushing TDs; 37 kickoff returns, 1,299 yards (35.1 avg), 6 kickoff return TDs (NCAA record).
• Pro Stats & Honors: All-WFL (1975). Combined Pro Totals (WFL, CFL, NFL, USFL): 453 rushes, 1,953 rushing yards, 19 rushing TDs; 85 receptions, 880 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs; 58 kickoff returns, 1,357 yards, 1 TD.

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