The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-22
Developing All
american Stars

.T
South Bend, Inc, Feb. 21.-A sys-
tenn Of football Coaching which in
cludes boxing, wrstling and skating
as methods Of making All-Ameriean
stars out Of men who previously had
never played the game, Is partly re-
sponsible for placing Notre Dame uni
versity's gridiron eleven among the
country's leaders for several years.
This system and scholastic ar
rangement which brings some of the
students through course of outdoor
activities almost from the kindergar-
ten to the athletic field are looked up
on as the secrets of Notre Danes
ethletic supremacy, testified to by a
football record which includes only
one game lost in three years-to. Iowa
10 to z last fall, and consistent tri-
umphs over eastern teams.
Knute Rockne, the football coach,
attributed his success to the "never
say die" spirit of his athletes. The
school authorities, however, give Mr..
Eockne's unique coaching system most
of the credit, this system being ex-
planned by the mentor as follows:
Gail of the candidates for end on
the football team 60 through a course
of boxing. This, makes them shifty
on their feet, teaches them to stand
hard knocks without losing their feet,
to keep their wits no matter how hard
they are hit and never to lose sight
of the objective-the man with the
ball.
"The linemen, during the off season,
go through course of wrestling. This
makes it hard for the opposing play
ers to shove them back and improves
their leg and arm muscles.
"Thc backfeld men do a great deal
of skating. Thus they learn to move
quickv-improving their dodging-
and to stop or make sharp turns with
out tearing their muscles"
Mr.. Rockkne gave three requisites
for man trying for Notre Dame
athletic team:
l. Speed. 2. Brains. 3. Good class
grades.
The success Of his ideas is shown
by the number of "Rockne- made" men
on every Notre Da re eleven since he
has been coach-men who never play
ed football until he took hold of them.
Some of these are Johnny Mohardt,
| All-American ba the late George
Gipp, All-Americ,. back and conceded
to be the greatest forward passer of
modern times; Roger Kiley, All-West-
ern end; Chester Wynne, All-Western
fullback; Smith All-Western guard;
Gus Dcsch, star back and member Of
the American Olympic team; Mahre,
first rate Gnenan. None of these
man thought of playing football until
Rockne got them out after noticing
that they had his three requisities-
speed, brains and good grades.
Another factor in the schools ath-
letic success is the arrangement of
departments and the intra mural con-
tests. First comes the minime depart
men-the youngsters in grade school.
Then comes the Nnior dIv1sion-cor-
responding to high school-and finally
the university itself. Mr.. Rockne
watches the youngsters closely, help
ing many of them develop as they
pass through the different depart
ments.
Every dormitory and class has ath-
letic teams, coached by varsity play
ers. Intense rivalry results in many
stars being brought out through these
games.
There are no co-eds, and conse-
quently few social functions. The
students, from the time they are
'minims" to the university concen-
! trate on sound minds and sound bodies
! dividing their time equally between
| class room and athletic field. They
| grow up out of doors and are always
in perfect physical condition.
The big part played by physical de-
velopment in the students lives in no
, ways detracts from their class work,
for the records shows that most of
! the athletes make unusually high
! grades and their extra athletic acti-
! vites simply take the place Of the
afternoon teas popular at some
! schools.