The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-01
Laud Irish Mentor As Story-Tel |er
Intimate Friends Call Knute
Rockne Best Entertainer
Of Athletic World

his football accomplishments as 1.-The
wizard Of Notre Dame" but Of all the
figures In the athletic world he was
by far the most entertaining.
His fund Of stories, told about him
self and about his players, was mex
haustible and they were part OF the
tradition that has been built up
around him. He never was back
ward about asserting his opinions
about football and its conduct. He
was involved in more controversies
over rule-making than any other
coach in America. His development
Of the forward pass and the open
game Of which the now much dis
cussed shift" was the leading and
most controversial feature, spread
throughout the country until at pres
ent there are more than 100 coaches
using it.
Although only 43 years old, prema-
ture badness, combined with his re-
cent illness, made many think he was
much older. Rockne vas kidded quite
q bit because Of the absence Of hair
on his head. He stopped the wise
crackers with this remark:
well, Demosthenes, didn't have
any hair either"
Stories Are Gems
Never was Rockne without q wise
crack to tit every occasion. His
tongue was as sharp as q sword ana
he would cut down q star football
player Just as soon as some stumbling
fourth rater. His wise-crackS and
stories were gems.
One Of Knute,s select sayings was:
BE q good loser. don't beef. But
don't lose."
Another one:
ITO hell with the guy who'll die
for Notre Dame, I want men who will
fight to keep 1t alive"
Once during q practice scrinmage
he yelled: i.
Heads up there. Joe. they won't
give you q chance to tie your shoes
In the Army game"
Bend your knees. Joe. Throw
away your knitting needles and get
In the ball game. Remember this Is
football, rough but manly"
Rockne, possessing marvellous per-
sonality and magnetism, was q driv-
er; yet there was nothing harris about
his methods As an instructor in
chemistry and as an instructor on
the gridiron, he gave boys sufficient
time to master his system, but had
no time for the youngster who failed
to grasp them. There was no place
for that type In Rockne's teams or
classes. He was an insistent master
and uncompromising demander OF
discipline. but an understanding one,
who was never harsh or abusive. He
was famed as q master psychologist.
Few had his knack Of inspiring men.
Was Psychologist
In 1925 Northwestern, mi Of Notre
Danes major rivals, was beating the
fighting Irish 10 to 0 at the end OF
the half. Disguised with the STUN
bling OF his players, Rockne walked
into the dressing room between
halves, took one disguised look at the
athletes sprawled on the floor and
snarled to Assistant Coach Anderson:
Fighting Irish, Ell, well you can have
my share of them" Then he walked
out.
That Notre Dame team went back
into the game fighting mad and In
two successive drives down the field
uon tho game n IN n
That was the way Rockne did
things. He knew the reactions Of his
players. He knew their individual
faults. He knew how to correct them.
Rockne made frequent use Of his
storytelling capabilities In teaching
little but important lessons on the
practice field, too. Some Of the most
choice Of his sort were those used to
debate the conceit Of players who
came to Notre Dame with fancy prep
regulations.
Probably his favorite in this cate
CORY was in the form Of his between
coincidence Of a huge and
rated Notre Dame tackle who
had found himself consistently
brushed aside by his opponent dur
ing the first half. 1.-THE whole trouble
u.s." Rockne told him confidentially.
that fellow doesn't know who you
are. Go out there next half and show
him your clippings and he'll let YOU
alone!".
Rockne was beloved by his players.
Jack Elder, one Of Rockne's greatest
stars, how q newspapermau IN Chi
cago, was kidding his former chief.
signing up for . couple Of char
ity games, the night before Rockne
left for Kansas City, to depart west
ward, and to his death In the atr.
mo thanks" he replied, I'm
through. The last two games cost
$500. Hereafter when I'm ap-
preached to put on q charity game
I'll Just send . check for 500. They
found out I'm good for 500 tor any