Ask anyone who was on the Notre Dame practice field in the fall of 1973 when Luther Bradley arrived as a freshman from Muncie, Ind., Northside High School. A decades-long rule that made freshmen ineligible for varsity ball was history. Suddenly, first-year players were real candidates.

And people noticed quickly. Luther had “it.”

Not just speed, quickness, great hands, and superb instincts. But the bravado, the confidence that marks all great defensive backs. From the very beginning, Bradley contested everything thrown his way. He became an immediate starter, and star.

Notre Dame rolled to a 5-0 start, outscoring the opposition, 168-20, before the biggest test arrived at Notre Dame Stadium—undefeated No. 6 Southern Cal. On the Trojans’ first offensive play of the game, quarterback Pat Haden rifled a pass toward All-American receiver Lynn Swann. The football and Bradley arrived simultaneously. Luther hit Swann with ferocity: the receiver went flying, the ball going one way and Swann’s helmet going another way.

This play set the stage for Notre Dame’s 23-14 victory. The Irish followed with four more one-sided regular seasons wins, followed by their epic 24-23 triumph over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to secure the 1973 national championship.

Four years later, as a fifth-year senior, Bradley became a consensus All-American in leading the Irish to another national championship season, this one concluding with a 38-10 thrashing of No. 1 Texas.

A first-round pick in the 1978 NFL draft, Bradley played for the Detroit Lions for five seasons and has made Detroit his home ever since. Bradley and his wife, Sylvia, have four children: daughters Rashida and Lutasha, and sons Samuel and Daniel. Education has always been highly valued in the Bradley home.

Luther is winding down a career as a long-time sales consultant with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan. He has served as a trustee at their church and played a major role with Youth for Christ: as chairman of the board of directors for the local chapter, and board member with the national organization.

“We focus on disadvantaged children in the inner city,” Bradley explains. “We serve approximately 300 kids a day at two locations. It’s the recreation and the activities that draw them to the centers. From there, we expose them to Christ and the Bible, and provide role models for them to emulate, to become well-rounded people of faith and achievement.”

Luther finds time to get back to Notre Dame for numerous games each year. “Always a special place to me,” he says. “I enjoy being back with teammates, meeting fans, watching the Irish. It’s a wonderful, lifelong bond.”