the rugged, captain-level Irish tackle who powered Notre Dame’s 2003 line
In the 2003 season, Jim Molinaro started all 12 games at left tackle for Notre Dame, was one of four team captains, and helped drive a run game that featured Julius Jones’ big outings against Pittsburgh, Navy, and Stanford. He stood out for durability, leadership, and reliable blocking consistency rather than flash—Notre Dame named him its Guardian of the Year as its top offensive lineman. The fit is obvious: if you want a tough, experienced, tone-setting tackle who leads with confidence and steadiness, Molinaro was your kind of guy.
