Former USA Today Defensive Player of the Year is now a ‘franchise player’ in pizza
Fourteen years ago, linebacker recruit Kory Minor was the Manti Te’o of Notre Dame football.
In September 1995, Minor arrived as maybe the most heralded defensive recruit in Notre Dame history, or at least since such ratings became more mainstream in the early 1980s. Moreover, there are a number of other similarities between Te’o and Minor:
- Like Te’o, Minor was named USA Today’s Defensive Player of the Year. (Since 1982, when USA Today began publishing, Te’o, Minor, linebacker Oliver Gibson in 1989 and linebacker John Foley in 1985 are the four Notre Dame recruits to be so honored.) The Parade All-American from Bishop Amat in LaPuente, Calif., also was feted by the Atlanta Touchdown Club as the national Prep Lineman of the Year and was the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year in California.
- Like Te’o, Minor’s commitment to Notre Dame came late in the process, and he surprised many by opting for the climate in South Bend over the West Coast, including nearby USC and UCLA.
- Like Te’o, Minor donned a singledigit number (4), a rarity at linebacker, although Minor and fellow starting Irish linebackers Kinnon Tatum (2) and Lyron Cobbins (6) all had that look in the mid-1990s.
- And like Te’o, Minor arrived with a reputation as a genuine leader whose congenial personality reflected his Christian-based lifestyle. Minor’s motto was simple: “If you wake up every morning, what is there to get mad about?”
Arriving with so much fanfare does have the drawback of immense expectations. No matter what is achieved individually, it is almost impossible to live up to the hyperbole. Minor and wide receiver Randy Moss (who later would not be admitted) were the crown jewels of the 1995 Irish class that featured a record six USA Today first-team All- Americans.
Joining Minor and Moss on the unit were linemen Mike Rosenthal, Jerry Wisne and Tim Ridder, and linebacker/ rush end Jimmy Friday. The class also featured Irish record-setters at running back (Autry Denson, who originally started off at cornerback) and quarterback (Jarious Jackson).
A four-year starter at rush end or drop backer for the Irish from 1995-98, Minor was selected as a tri-captain (with Rosenthal and linebacker Bobbie Howard) as a senior, and led the Irish to a 9-1 start before they lost their final two games.
Minor totaled 245 tackles in his career, including 44.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. Only the peerless Ross Browner had more stops at Notre Dame for lost yardage. Yet, because he wasn’t a collegiate All-American, wasn’t tabbed until the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft (by San Francisco) and played four seasons as a reserve at the highest level, Minor is sometimes perceived as a bust.
However, Minor would never trade the prep accolades he received, mainly because of the doors it opened.
“I think it becomes a stigma only if you come in with a big head and think you’re better than everybody else,” reflected Minor, who moved back near the Los Angeles area after playing his final three NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. “That’s definitely not my character, and once I got to Notre Dame, I knew it didn’t mean anything anymore. It’s all in how you’re able to handle it.”
Having been in a similar situation to Te’o, Minor had some valuable advice for the heralded freshman.
“Just be yourself,” Minor said. “It’s a tough game to play. You have to be prepared mentally and physically, and keep a level head. I don’t know Te’o at all, but I do know if he’s a Notre Dame recruit, I’m sure he has great character. It all starts with character.
“You can’t control what people say and you can’t control what people do — all you can control is your actions and how you approach success and setbacks. Let his actions on the field speak for themselves and I’m sure it will work out for him.”
Today, Minor remains a franchise player, this time as an entrepreneur not far from his hometown. In August 2007, Minor purchased a Domino’s Pizza franchise in Hemet, Calif., and last fall he brought another Domino’s in Montclair, Calif.
“I managed a store for a year and a half, because that’s required before you purchase a franchise,” Minor said. “There are some sleepless nights that come with this kind of responsibility of owning your own stores, but it’s all worth it.
“Even while I was in the NFL I was doing internships, was on different boards and got involved with different organizations. I knew I wasn’t going to play forever, and I wanted to have a plan in place when that day would come and I would have to be in a different arena. I’m truly happy with it.”
Nicknamed “Fast Forward” during his days at Notre Dame because of his talent for speaking at a blistering pace without pausing, Minor is a natural-born salesman. This summer he appeared in Domino’s “American Legends” pizza commercials that were broadcast nationally. Representing his home state, Minor promotes the Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza over the Memphis BBQ Chicken pizza.
“I’ve gotten so many telephone calls from people I played with in the NFL and college asking, ‘Was that you?’” said Minor, who said he is also known by the moniker “Hollywood,” which is located about 40 miles east of his home.
The 32-year-old Minor has been married seven years to his wife Lisa, a Double Domer who graduated in his class. They have two children, daughter Ilyanna (4) and son Noah (2), and are awaiting their third in November.
With his family, franchises and active community service, including reading and speaking at schools, Minor hasn’t been able to return Notre Dame in several years. “I’ve been so far removed and I’m so busy now and don’t get the time to be as involved as I want to,” he said. “But I still watch the games, I still hurt when they lose, I still go to the Notre Dame- SC games out here — I hate going there because I’m sick of hearing the SC fans.
“I still bleed the blue and gold.”
And he still remains a franchise person.
