Feb. 28, 2011
Austin Carr Event Photo Gallery
Austin Carr Video Board Tribute
Austin Carr One-on-One with Jack Nolan
Ring of Honor Press Conference
NOTRE DAME, Ind. –
The legacy of legendary guard Austin Carr `71 has shaped the Irish men’s basketball program for more than 40 years, and on Saturday night, the Monogram Club partnered with Notre Dame athletics to recognize Carr for his contributions during a historic career.
A number of Carr’s former teammates and other basketball monogram winners returned to campus for a reception in the Monogram Room prior to the men’s basketball game versus Seton Hall in Purcell Pavilion. Attendees included All-American forward Bob Arnzen ’69, John Egart ’72, Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson ’83, David Rivers ’88, and Monogram Club board member Scott Paddock ’90.
Carr flew in from his home in Cleveland earlier in the day and was overwhelmed by the turnout and by the number of former teammates present to share in the celebration of his career.
“I really appreciate the fact that my teammates are here, because they’re just as responsible for this as I am,” Carr said. “To me, it’s an accomplishment for all of us, because these type of things don’t happen overnight. To have them here with me, it’s a great feeling to receive this honor. It’s good to know that we had that type of relationship.”
At halftime of the basketball game, Carr was welcomed onto the court by Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick ’76, who unveiled a banner welcoming Carr as the newest member of Purcell Pavilion’s prestigious Ring of Honor. He joins Ruth Riley ’01 and Luke Harangody ’10 as the only Irish athletes to earn the distinction.
Swarbrick also announced that the lower concourse of the Joyce Center will now be called the Austin Carr Concourse as a lasting tribute to his accomplishments.
Carr became emotional as the ceremony unfolded, and spoke passionately about how his time at Notre Dame prepared him for a successful career as both a player in the NBA and his current role as television broadcaster and front office executive with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“This is where I cut my teeth. I learned how to be a man and how to be a contributing member of society,” Carr said. “All of that is what you learn during your time at Notre Dame. This is my home and it will always be my home as long as I live.”
Carr had a profound impact on countless individuals during Notre Dame career, and long-time Irish basketball supporter Ed O’Rourke spoke candidly about Austin’s persona off the court.
“He’s absolutely the nicest, kindest man you’d ever want to meet,” O’Rourke said. “He’s always been great to me, he has been since he was playing, and we’ve been good friends ever since.”
O’Rourke was on hand during the men’s basketball team’s 94-93 win at Providence on Feb. 23 and witnessed the Friars’ Marshon Brooks score 52 points against the Irish. While the current Irish team discussed how incredible that performance was, O’Rourke reminded the young student-athletes that Notre Dame once had a player that posted those type of scoring totals on a regular basis.
Carr remains one of the most talented players and is arguably the best pure scorer to ever don the Notre Dame uniform. In 74 career outings, he failed to score in double figures on just two occasions. Inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007, he was a consensus All-American as a senior in ’71 and was named the national player of the year by both Associated Press and United Press International. As junior and senior, Carr ranked second nationally in scoring with averages of 38.1 and 37.9, respectively. At the time of his graduation, he held 33 different Notre Dame records for scoring and field goals, 25 of which still stand today.
Carr ranks as the greatest scorer in NCAA tournament history with a 41.3 career scoring average. His single-game record 61-point effort against Ohio University in a first-round NCAA tournament game still stands. He recorded 22 double-doubles during his career and scored 20 or more points in each game during his junior and senior seasons — 58 straight contests — and in 70 of 74 career games.
A native of Washington, D.C., Carr’s legacy on the court with the Irish helped Notre Dame recruit a number of the District’s prized athletes over the course of the next decade, including Adrian Dantley ’76 and Don Williams ’78.
Bob Arnzen was a junior when Carr arrived on campus in 1968 and was awestruck by his raw talent and ability level that was a sign of things to come for Notre Dame basketball.
“I’d never seen anybody like him,” Arnzen said. “When he came in here as a freshman, you just couldn’t believe what you saw. He was already by far the best kid on the team and probably the best player I’d seen in my life. He certainly lived up to those expectations during his exceptional career.”
–ND–