Oct. 5, 2006
By Craig Chval
As a four-year monogram winner at Notre Dame, Ted Burgmeier learned how to battle.
Recruited by Ara Parseghian as an option quarterback, Burgmeier won playing time as a freshman by returning punts and playing in the defensive secondary. The following season, under new Irish head coach Dan Devine, Burgmeier earned the starting split end job. Against North Carolina, he turned a short pass from Joe Montana into a game-winning, 80-yard touchdown play in the closing minutes of a 21-14 comeback win.
During Burgmeier’s senior season in 1977, “What tho’ the odds” was more than a line from the Victory March. As a starting cornerback, Burgmeier helped the underdog Irish rout Southern California, 49-19. In that unforgettable “green jersey game,” Burgmeier intercepted a pass to set up a touchdown, ran 21 yards on a fake field goal to lead to another touchdown and passed to Tom Domin for a two-point conversion after a bobbled snap from center.
Ted Burgmeier saw duty as a punt returner, as a defensive back and as a split end during his Notre Dame career.
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Ten weeks later, Notre Dame clinched the national championship by thrashing overwhelming favorite, undefeated and top-ranked Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl.
A fifth-round draft pick of the NFL Miami Dolphins, Burgmeier lasted until the final pre-season roster cut, before landing with the Kansas City Chiefs. After one season with the Chiefs, Burgmeier began to put his Notre Dame marketing degree to work. Little did he know, the real battles had yet to begin.
At age 27, Burgmeier was diagnosed with Hodgkins’ Disease. Following radiation treatment, Burgmeier was in remission until a recurrence in 1990. He underwent chemotherapy and has had a clean bill of health ever since. “I learned that cancer is not a death sentence,” Burgmeier says. “I learned that I have a lot to live for, and I battled. I learned how to battle at Notre Dame.”
At the top of Burgmeier’s list of things to live for is his family. He married his high school sweetheart, Julie, while a student at Notre Dame. Three of the Burgmeier children are out of the household. Son Chris and daughter-in-law Katie are expecting Ted and Julie’s first grandchild this fall, while Sarah and Stephanie are also married. Meanwhile, 11-year-old John has prompted Ted to get back into the coaching routine he knew while the older children were growing up.
During Notre Dame’s run to the 1977 national championship, Burgmeier turned in a game to remember versus USC, with a pass interception, a 21-yard run on a fake field goal and then passing for a two-point conversion in a 49-19 win in the “green jersey” game.
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Having coached his children in football, baseball, softball and basketball, Burgmeier almost sounds as if he’s having second thoughts, notwithstanding a very successful career in sales.
“Coaching is probably my true calling, although I never really gave it a chance,” he reflects .
Burgmeier grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and he returned to the area once his football career was over.
“It’s a great place to raise a family,” he says. “And the kids love to come back – it’s a real blessing.”
Beyond lots of outdoor activities with the entire family, Burgmeier is active in the local Notre Dame alumni club and keeps in touch with many of his former teammates. He looks forward to the 30th anniversary reunion of the `77 national championship team next fall.
“We had great camaraderie on that team, and we still do.”