Dec. 8, 2009
MIAMI – Former University of Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Zorich was one of three players selected to the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Committee announced Tuesday.
Joining Zorich as a 2009 inductee were former Clemson linebacker Jeff Davis and former Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward.
Zorich played in the 1990 and 1991 Orange Bowls and was named the defensive most valuable player in the 1991 Orange Bowl, his final collegiate game. The Irish played Colorado both years, knocking off the Buffaloes, 21-6, in 1990 but losing to Colorado, 10-9, in 1991.
Zorich tallied four tackles in the 1990 Orange Bowl as the fourth-ranked Irish held the top-ranked Buffaloes 28 points below their season scoring average. In the 1991 Orange Bowl, Zorich recorded 10 tackles including eight solo stops, two tackles for loss and one sack to earn defensive MVP honors.
After beginning his collegiate career as a linebacker, Zorich was moved to nose tackle early in his freshman year. In his first game, he had one and a half sacks and 10 tackles against Michigan. He finished his first season with 70 tackles and 3.5 sacks while helping the Irish to the 1988 national championship.
Zorich was a two-time consensus All-American in 1989 and 1990 and was recipient of the 1990 Lombardi Award, presented annually to college football’s top lineman. He totaled 219 career tackles including 21 tackles for loss and was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears in the 1991 NFL Draft.
Zorich becomes the second Notre Dame player named to the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame joining former flanker Raghib Ismail. Former Irish head coaches Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz are also enshrined in the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame.