Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-27
COACH IS TOO BUSY
FIXING TICKET BIDS
irish Tutor, Great Snowman
of Foot Ball, Wonder at
Handling Players.

~ UTH BEND, Ind, November
27.-The American stage
- lost a great entertainer when
Knute Rockne took up foot
ball coaching. The stage knows
it, too, for Rockne daily turns
stone deaf when a Chicago book
ing agency tries every trick of the
trade in an attempt to get his sig
nature on a contract calling for
$4,000 per week for four weeks in
vaudeville.
Only those who know Rockne realize
how fully developed in this grld1ron
genius are the qualifications OF the
actor, the Snowman and the dramatist.
A day with him in his Office or along
the sideline on the practice field is a
day to be remembered. This droll man
enjoys life, in spite of its complexities.
The incidents to be related here are
the pathetically ineffective attempts to
reproduce in cold type, without the in
Elections which are Rockne's alone, some
of his classic remarks.
The scene is Rockne's Office in the
Administration Building at Notre
in an upholstered steamer chair, fin
gers a well chewed cigar as he converses
lightly with half dozen visiting sports
writer's. A girl secretary appears at the
open door of his Office.
No Chicago Calls.
s'This man Friedland has called you
six times today from Chicago. Will you
talk with him?" she asks, with her
hand over the transmitter of the tele-
phone.
mo, tell him I can't be reached"
says Rockne.
This bird" says Rock to the sports
writer's, wants to sign me up at SIS 900
q week in vaudeville. What would do
with S20,000?"
A battalion Of young men appears at
the door of the outer Office and the
overflow extends far down the wall 1t
Is the varsity foot ball squad reporting
for tickets They form a semblance Of
a line. Moon Mullins, the fullback,
enters.
"Well2" says Rock.
Gould get some tickets for the
Southern California gRme?"
How many?"
Twenty" answers Moon, without
hesitating.
Rockne feigns swoon, but ultimately
RECEIVERS.
"Are you relative of the Army?
Who are they for?"
Friends and relatives" answers Null
Inns, who comes from Pasadena.
None for friends and few for rela-
tives," says Rock He gives Mullins
four tickets. Mullins departs and
another athlete appears.
Well?" says Rock, as if he didn't
know why the boys we're there
Gould get some tickets for the
Army gamer"
How many?"
Eight"
"EishtP Who for9"
"My aunts."
Lets see. Well, two of your aunts
can see the game"
Through the open window Rock
watches some OF his athletes outside.
Moon Mullins in earnest conversation
with scrub players. Eventually one of
the scrubs takes his turn in front of
Rockne's desk.
Rock, could get eight tickets for
Southern California;"
Too Many Friends
"You could not" answers Rock
"Who are they for, Mullins?"
A grin spreads over the innocent
mo, no, Tom. Tell Mullins we can't
let him have them
And so on.
A long line of foot ball players passes
m review before Rockne. He knows
them. If they have relatives where
the game is to be played they get
tickets. If they have no relatives, no
tickets for them. To each boy a hear
ing. Some of them get a tip on their
particular fault on the playing field
before they pass on. This formality
over, Rockne's office is cleared. He
starts for the foot ball field and the
urrifarS trail along
Out on the foot ball field Rockne's
wit, humor and sarcasm are at their
best. He sits in his armchair. His
varsity squad. in formation, is directly
in front of him, working on plays. Two
defensive ends are in position.
Hey. john" calls Rockne to one of
the defense ends. Are you in this
practice?"
Eyes" answered the surprised John.
Pardon me, I thought you were the
head linesman," said Rock, and John
played the defensive end position more
to Rockne's liking after that.
Far down the field freshman GRABS
a pass in scrimmage against one OF the
varsity teams.
who is that freshman? If you fell
lows can't stop the freshman what are
you going to do when real end goes
: down on passes?"
Another varsity squad scrimmages on
announcer uelQ. fOOCh1lC, nAbl AiAo blAOA-
sand eyes, sees everything. A running
backs activities come under Rocks at
tention.
Move. Larry" he yells across the
field. LAY back your ears and run"
A blocker fails to block in the APP
proved Rockne fashion.
Hey, Mamie, are you diving on
blocking?" he yells to the distant ath-
Iete. 1.-THE springboard season is over
None of Rockne'S men is too far away
for him TO overlook mistakes.
Keeps Eye on All.
Some remark for every one from
Rockne. Sometimes praise, sometimes
singing rebuke, sometimes gentle cor
rection.
'sNo, no, you're spelling the play" he
tells one.
Mice work, Jack" to another.
"Hey. Chevigny, why is Hanley run
ming straight out along the line OF
scrfInmaRe?" he calls to Jack Chevigny,
far down the gridiron.
A day at Notre Dame is an eye
ouener. The amazing alertness of Knute
Rockne the efficiency OF his system and
the industry Of his athletes are things
that will be remembered.
And through 1t all Knute Rockne, the
man whose tremendous energy carries
him through endless activities In ad-
. dition to his coaching, always maintains
his poise, and his unfailing fountain Of
wit. hunor and sarcasm always func-
tons.