"Win one for the Gipper". The story is resurrected every football season. The retelling of Knute Rockne's last conversation with the greatest player he'd ever coached; George Gipp.
Gipp contracted strep throat in Notre Dame's last game of the 1920 season against Northwestern. The infection worsened during the following weeks, and Gipp was confined to hospital bed at the St. Joseph's Hospital in South Bend. He was visited by Rockne in the hospital on the evening of December 13, 1920 - just hours before he died at the age of 25. But not before extracting a promise from his coach of some distant and unknown Notre Dame team.
It was to be eight years before Rockne asked a beleaguered Notre Dame team to make good of the Gipper's deathbed request. And this is how it happened:
Knute Rockne was desperate. His 1928 team, decimated by injuries, already had lost two of it's first six games. Three powerful teams - Army, Carnegie Tech and Southern California loomed on the schedule before the season (the worst in Rockne's illustrious coaching career) would mercifully draw to a close. Rockne knew that if his Ramblers could upend Army - winner of six straight games - in Yankee Stadium, a losing record could be averted. His critics were claiming he's lost his touch; the magic was gone.
But Rockne knew better. The week of the game he quietly told his neighbours that Notre Dame would beat Army. Rockne had a plan. His team might not be able to win on talent, but Notre Dame would win on emotion and spirit. Rockne would deliver what would later become the most famous pep-talk in sports history. After pre-game warm-ups, Rockne huddled his players in the locker room. They laid down on Warld War I blankets that covered the cold, clammy floor. Rockne waited until the room was silent.
He lowered his head before speaking. He began slowly - telling the team about George Gipp, a Notre Dame player who had died during his senior season eight years ago. Although none of the players had known Gipp personally, each and every one of them had heard of his exploits. They knew Gipp had been the greatest player of his time. Rockne who had been at Gipp's bedside, repeated the young athlete's last wish.
Gipp's last words was when he said to Rockne: "I've got to go, Rock. It's allright. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock, but I'll know about it, and I'll be happy."
Rockne continued: "The day before he died George Gipp asked me to wait until the situation seemed hopeless - then ask a Notre Dame team to go out and beat Army for him. This is the day, and you are the team". "There was no one in the room that wasn't crying", recalled line coach Ed Healey. "There was a moment of silence, and then all of a sudden those players ran out of the dressing room and almost tore the hinges off the door. They were all ready to kill someone".
Army didn't have a chance. After falling behind 6-0 in the third period, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and held off a last-chance rally by the Cadets for a 12-6 win. Jack Chevigny tied the score at 6-6 with a one-yard plunge. As he picked himself up in the end zone, he jumped up and shouted : "That's one for the Gipper".
The story is resurrected every football season. The retelling of Knute Rockne's
last conversation with the greatest player he'd ever coached; George Gipp.
Gipp contracted strep throat in Notre Dame's last game of the 1920 season against
Northwestern. The infection worsened during the following weeks, and Gipp was
confined to hospital bed at the St. Joseph's Hospital in South Bend. He was visited
by Rockne in the hospital on the evening of December 13, 1920 - just hours before
he died at the age of 25. But not before extracting a promise from his coach of
some distant and unknown Notre Dame team.
It was to be eight years before Rockne asked a beleaguered Notre Dame team to
make good of the Gipper's deathbed request. And this is how it happened:
Knute Rockne was desperate. His 1928 team, decimated by injuries, already had
lost two of it's first six games. Three powerful teams - Army, Carnegie Tech and
Southern California loomed on the schedule before the season (the worst in
Rockne's illustrious coaching career) would mercifully draw to a close. Rockne
knew that if his Ramblers could upend Army - winner of six straight games - in
Yankee Stadium, a losing record could be averted. His critics were claiming he's
lost his touch; the magic was gone.
But Rockne knew better. The week of the game he quietly told his neighbours
that Notre Dame would beat Army. Rockne had a plan. His team might not be
able to win on talent, but Notre Dame would win on emotion and spirit. Rockne
would deliver what would later become the most famous pep-talk in sports history.
After pre-game warm-ups, Rockne huddled his players in the locker room. They
laid down on Warld War I blankets that covered the cold, clammy floor. Rockne
waited until the room was silent.
He lowered his head before speaking. He began slowly - telling the team about
George Gipp, a Notre Dame player who had died during his senior season eight
years ago. Although none of the players had known Gipp personally, each and
every one of them had heard of his exploits. They knew Gipp had been the
greatest player of his time. Rockne who had been at Gipp's bedside, repeated
the young athlete's last wish.
Gipp's last words was when he said to Rockne: "I've got to go, Rock. It's allright.
I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things
are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all
they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then,
Rock, but I'll know about it, and I'll be happy."
Rockne continued: "The day before he died George Gipp asked me to wait until
the situation seemed hopeless - then ask a Notre Dame team to go out and beat
Army for him. This is the day, and you are the team". "There was no one in the
room that wasn't crying", recalled line coach Ed Healey. "There was a moment
of silence, and then all of a sudden those players ran out of the dressing room
and almost tore the hinges off the door. They were all ready to kill someone".
Army didn't have a chance. After falling behind 6-0 in the third period, Notre
Dame scored two touchdowns and held off a last-chance rally by the Cadets
for a 12-6 win. Jack Chevigny tied the score at 6-6 with a one-yard plunge.
As he picked himself up in the end zone, he jumped up and shouted :
"That's one for the Gipper".
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