The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-02
"A National Loss

When President Hoover, In q message to Mrs. Knuta
Rockne, expressed the thought that her husbands dealt
was a national loss, the idea may have shocked those
among US who attach Importance only to material things
But the vast bulk Of Americas citizens viii credit TIT
president with insight into true human values and vii
agree with him, for Rocknes death was a national los
In the truest sense. There will be more real grief, ex-
pressed and silent, at his passing than would be the case
with any single financial leader one could name, for 1t
has been given to few men to stir the minds and hearts
Of America as Rockne has done.
To q startling degree he was an American prophet
and one who forced recognition and honor in his own
land. He was a prophet Of clean. hard. successful play:
the apostle of Americas young manhood and Of one
Of the nations greatest games.
II all the world loves q lover 1t may also be said that
it loves a winner and few men, In any line Of endeavos,
can show a better record than Rockne had. The out
ward evidence Of his greatness was his achievement as
a football player and more particularly as a coach. The
inner fire which made him great was his love Of Americas
, fine college game and Of its young manhood, and the
talent-it is not too much to say genius-which he
brought to it.
Football IS a strongly competitive game and for one
man to stand out above his fellows, year after year,
is as truly q mark Of ability as to negotiate . bank
merger or to organize an industry. Each task requires
capacity but it Is barely possible that more genius is
required to teach and inspire a football team than to-
deal with material facts alone.
A comparatively young man when he died. Rockne will
leave a more lasting name than many to whom greater
acclaim has been given and who will be regarded BY
some as having performed more lasting deeds.
But there are millions Of Americans who will never
forget the thrill which was theirs as they watched the
parade of the Notre Dame eleven to its second successive
national championship in 1880. Their hearts viii thrill
to the memory Of climax heaped upon climax in that
struggle through a schedule Of games which other coach
es regarded as suicidal.
They will see again the gallant fight Of the Rockne|
against Northwestern, q worthy foe II ever there
was one. Those who saw and read Of it will remember
the gruelling game with q fighting Army eleven tn|
which the victors battled not only with the vanqushed
but with the weather.
And then the climax. That golden day in Sunny
California, where, with the odds estimated to be against
them, Rocknes proteges turned into a rout q contest
which was expected to mark their downfall.
If it means anything to thrill q nation as few Other
men have done; to inspire the youth Of q land in a way
which will be Of lasting benefit to them and to this coun-
try: to give a practical demonstration OF what true
craftsmanship means and of what true craftsmanship
is, then Knute Rocknes death was indeed a national
loss.
There were tears in the eyes Of Americas boys as they
read Of a great heros death. Staid businessmen, no
longer young but who again breathed the spirit of youth
because of Rockne,s proweSs and personality, regarded
his death as a personal loss.
An immigrant lad. it was given to Rockne to plumb the
depths of the American heart to vitalze the American
mind, to stir the American ambition and to dramatic
the American spirit.
In view Of these things, who can disagree with the
presidents estimate of the importance Of his death?
Who will deny that it was a national loss?