Mike Courey

Mike Courey
College	Notre Dame
Position	Halfback, Flanker, Quarterback
Jersey #	2
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Nationality	USA
Born	August 11, 1959(1959-08-11) Watertown, South Dakota
Died	December 11, 2007(2007-12-11) Sioux City, Iowa
High school	Bishop Heelan Catholic

Michael J. Courey (August 11, 1959 – December 11, 2007) was an American football player and a starting quarterback for the University of Notre Dame.

Mike Courey was born to a teenage mother in Watertown, South Dakota, and at five weeks of age was adopted by Michael and Helen (Schlote) Courey of Sioux City, Iowa. At Bishop Heelan Catholic High School he became an All-State athlete in football, basketball and baseball, and was a Parade All-American when he was given a football scholarship to Notre Dame in 1977.

In his freshman year Courey played halfback for the national champion team, and opened eyes when he completed an option pass for 24 yards in a comeback win at Clemson. In 1978 he was moved to flanker, and in 1979 became a backup quarterback.

As a senior in 1980, Courey won the No. 1 quarterback job and went 3-0 as a starter, including wins over ninth-ranked Purdue and fourteenth-ranked Michigan. But then coach Dan Devine, who had a reputation for being fickle with his QBs, decided to give the starting job to freshman Blair Kiel, believing the underclassman to have a stronger arm. Courey would later lead a tying touchdown drive against Georgia Tech, but would never start another game.

Courey earned his degree in business management, and later became president of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades Union Local 214 in Sioux City.

In 2006 Courey was found to have a malignant schwannoma tumor in his back. He succumbed to the cancer nineteen months later, leaving behind three daughters and a son.

References

"Toughest challenge yet faces Courey". Sioux City Journal. November 19, 2007. http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/11/19/sports/terry_hersom/ca7f9dcaadc75a06862573980019abc5.txt. Retrieved 2007-12-13. 
"Michael Courey obituary". Sioux City Journal. 18 December 2007. http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/12/13/obituaries/local/d6e758c1dbbcf820862573b000157530.txt. Retrieved 13 December 2007. 
"Remembering Hogan, Courey". BlueandGold.com. 12 December 2007. http://www.blueandgold.com/content/index.cfm?aid=4823. Retrieved 13 December 2007. 

Persondata
Name	Courey, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1959-08-11
Place of birth	Watertown, South Dakota
Date of death	2007-12-11
Place of death	Sioux City, Iowa