Notre Dame’s most explosive player ever was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but was a prep star at Elmer L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre in Northeast Pennsylvania in the fertile Lehigh River Valley. Notre Dame had to fend off Joe Paterno’s “anti-poaching” rules to snag Ismail.
When Ismail arrived in South Bend, he immediately dazzled on the practice field and “Raghib” went into atrophy. He became, and ever will remain, the Rocket.
1988-THE SNIPER
Lou Holtz had plans to fully weaponize Rocket Ismail, but Lou strove to let patience do its perfect work and unwrapped Ismail slowly.