Rockne of Notre Dame : The Making of a Football Legend

To say that Knute Rockne was the best coach who ever lived is to understate his importance to football. True, in a mere twelve years, his "Fighting Irish" won 105 games, including five astonishing undefeated seasons. But Rockne was more than the sum of his victories--he was an icon, a legend on a par with Babe Ruth, a sports giant who, more than anyone, made football an American obsession. In Rockne of Notre Dame, Ray Robinson delivers a memorable portrait of one of the great American sports figures. The book gives us colorful descriptions of such Rockne teams as the undefeated 1924 eleven led by the illustrious Four Horsemen, and the 1930 squad, Rockne's last and greatest. Here too are vivid accounts of some of the great games in Notre Dame history, including epic battles with arch rivals Army, Nebraska, Carnegie Tech, and USC. But the heart of the book is Rockne himself. A renowned motivator whose "Win one for the Gipper" is the most famous locker-room speech ever, Rockne was also football's most brilliant innovator, a pioneer of the forward pass, a master of the psychological ploy, and an early advocate of conditioning. Though Robinson doesn't pull punches, Rockne emerges as an exemplary and complex figure, a fierce competitor who was generous in victory and defeat, an inspiring father figure to his players, and a man so revered nationwide that when he died in a plane crash in 1931, at the height of his career, he was mourned by the entire country. A feast for all Notre Dame grads and for subway alumni everywhere, this engaging biography is the finest portrait we have of the man who changed football in America. To say that Knute Rockne was the best coach who ever lived is to understate his importance to football. True, in a mere twelve years, his "Fighting Irish" won 105 games, including five astonishing undefeated seasons. But Rockne was more than the sum of his victories -- he was an icon; a legend on a par with Babe Ruth; a sports giant who, more than anyone, made football an American obsession. In Rockne of Notre Dame, Ray Robinson delivers a memorable portrait of one of the great American sports figures. The book gives us colorful descriptions of such Rockne teams as the undefeated 1924 eleven led by the illustrious Four Horsemen and the 1930 squad, Rockne's last and greatest. Here too are vivid accounts of some of the great games in Notre Dame history including epic battles with archrivals Army, Nebraska, Carnegie Tech, and USC. But the heart of the book is Rockne himself. A renowned motivator whose "Win one for the Gipper" is the most famous locker room speech ever, Rockne was also football's most brilliant innovator, a pioneer of the forward pass, a master of the psychological ploy, and an early advocate of conditioning. Though Robinson doesn't pull punches, Rockne emerges as an exemplary and complex figure. He is at once a fierce competitor who was generous in victory and defeat; an inspiring father figure to his players; and a man so revered nationwide that when his plane crashed in 1931 at the height of his career, the entire country mourned him. A feast for all Notre Dame grads and for subway alumni everywhere, this engaging biography is the finest portrait we have of the man who changed football in America. To Say That Knute Rockne Was The Best Coach Who Ever Lived Might Be To Understate His Importance To Football. True, In A Mere Twelve Years His Fighting Irish Won 105 Games, Completing Five Astonishing Undefeated Seasons. But Rockne Was More Than The Sum Of His Victories - He Was On Icon, A Legend On A Par With Babe Ruth, And A Sports Giant Who, More Than Anyone, Made Football An American Obsession.--jacket. In Rockne Of Notre Dame, Ray Robinson Delivers A Memorable Portrait Of One Of The Great Figures In American Sports. The Book Gives Us Colorful Descriptions Of Such Rockne Teams As The Undefeated 1924 Eleven Led By The Illustrious Four Horsemen, And The 1930 Squad, Rockne's Last And Greatest. Here, Too, Are Vivid Accounts Of Some Of The Great Games In Notre Dame History, Including Epic Battles With Arch Rivals Army, Nebraska, Carnegie Tech, And Usc. But The Heart Of The Book Is Rockne Himself.--jacket. 1. In The Land Of Fjords -- 2. Boyhood Heroes -- 3. Notre Dame -- 4. Knute Suits Up -- 5. On The Wings Of The Forward Pass -- 6. A Man Must Coach -- 7. The Legend Of George Gipp -- 8. An Athlete Dying Young -- 9. The Ku Klux Klan On The March -- 10. Life After Gipp -- 11. The Ride Of The Four Horsemen -- 12. Charges And Countercharges -- 13. On A Blue-gray October Afternoon -- 14. The Smell Of Roses -- 15. After The Four Horsemen -- 16. The Coach Plays Hooky -- 17. Ten Years At The Helm -- 18. Twelfth Man -- 19. On The Rebound -- 20. The Last Season -- 21. A Final Flight. By Ray Robinson. Includes Index.

In a mere twelve years, Rockne's "Fighting Irish" won 105 games, including five astonishing undefeated seasons. But Rockne was more than the sum of his victories—he was an icon who, more than anyone, made football an American obsession.
The book gives us colorful descriptions of such Rockne teams as the undefeated 1924 eleven led by the illustrious Four Horsemen, and the 1930 squad, Rockne's last and greatest. A renowned motivator whose "Win one for the Gipper" is the most famous locker-room speech ever, Rockne was also football's most brilliant innovator, a pioneer of the forward pass, a master of the psychological ploy, and an early advocate of conditioning. In this balanced account, Rockne emerges as an exemplary and complex figure: a fierce competitor who was generous in victory and defeat; an inspiring father figure to his players; and a man so revered nationwide that when he died in a plane crash in 1931, at the height of his career, he was mourned by the entire country.
"A solid portrait of one of football's most solid figures."—The New York Times Book Review

In a mere twelve years, Rockne's "Fighting Irish" won 105 games, including five astonishing undefeated seasons. But Rockne was more than the sum of his victories--he was an icon who, more than anyone, made football an American obsession. The book gives us colorful descriptions of such Rockne teams as the undefeated 1924 eleven led by the illustrious Four Horsemen, and the 1930 squad, Rockne's last and greatest. A renowned motivator whose "Win one for the Gipper" is the most famous locker-room speech ever, Rockne was also football's most brilliant innovator, a pioneer of the forward pass, a master of the psychological ploy, and an early advocate of conditioning. In this balanced account, Rockne emerges as an exemplary and complex figure: a fierce competitor who was generous in victory and defeat; an inspiring father figure to his players; and a man so revered nationwide that when he died in a plane crash in 1931, at the height of his career, he was mourned by the entire country. "A solid portrait of one of football's most solid figures."-- The New York Times Book Review Contents......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1 In the Land of Fjords......Page 24 2 Boyhood Heroes......Page 32 3 Notre Dame......Page 38 4 Knute Suits Up......Page 44 5 On the Wings of the Forward Pass......Page 54 6 A Man Must Coach......Page 64 7 The Legend of George Gipp......Page 84 8 An Athlete Dying Young......Page 94 9 The Ku Klux Klan on the March......Page 110 10 Life After Gipp......Page 116 11 The Ride of the Four Horsemen......Page 132 12 Charges and Countercharges......Page 144 13 On a Blue-Gray October Afternoon......Page 160 14 The Smell of Roses......Page 172 15 After the Four Horsemen......Page 182 16 The Coach Plays Hooky......Page 194 17 Ten Years at the Helm......Page 204 18 Twelfth Man......Page 216 19 On the Rebound......Page 234 20 The Last Season......Page 250 21 A Final Flight......Page 272 A......Page 290 C......Page 291 E......Page 293 F......Page 294 G......Page 295 J......Page 296 M......Page 297 N......Page 298 P......Page 299 R......Page 300 S......Page 301 U......Page 303 Y......Page 304 Z......Page 305 "To say that Knute Rockne was the best coach who ever lived might be to understate his importance to football. True, in a mere twelve years his "Fighting Irish" won 105 games, completing five astonishing undefeated seasons. But Rockne was more than the sum of his victories - he was on icon, a legend on a par with Babe Ruth, and a sports giant who, more than anyone, made football an American obsession." "In Rockne of Notre Dame, Ray Robinson delivers a memorable portrait of one of the great figures in American sports. The book gives us colorful descriptions of such Rockne teams as the undefeated 1924 eleven led by the illustrious Four Horsemen, and the 1930 squad, Rockne's last and greatest. Here, too, are vivid accounts of some of the great games in Notre Dame history, including epic battles with arch rivals Army, Nebraska, Carnegie Tech, and USC. But the heart of the book is Rockne himself."--BOOK JACKET IN THE ROARING TWENTIES, when sports icons were as potent as bathtub gin, Knute Rockne of Notre Dame was to college football what Babe Ruth was to baseball, what Jack Dempsey was to boxing, what Bill Tilden was to tennis, and what Bobby Jones was to golf. Explores the life and career of Notre Dame's legendary football coach and examines his contributions to the sport as an innovator and renowned motivator IN 1888 NORWAY was a country of some two million people.