The Shanley Deacons of Fargo, N.D. didn’t lose a single game between 1975 and 1977, and Steve Cichy was a big reason why.
Steve, the son of Deacons coach Sid Cichy, was a defensive back recognized as the best male high school athlete in the state. He was aggressively pursued by several big programs, but ultimately chose the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
In Cichy’s time with the Irish, the safety would record 79 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 3 tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles. His biggest moment came during the 1979 Cotton Bowl, when he returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and helped spark the Irish’s comeback from a 22-point deficit.