The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-06
HONOR NOTRE DAME
WIZARD FOR MORE
Than GRID SYSTEM
Irish Mentor Won Confidence of
Players and InstiIIed Cour.
age in Their Ranks
DEVELOPED SHOCK TROOPS
Coach Of Champion 1880 Eleven
Showed Persistence in All
Lies Undertakings

WlleIl hI1utC 3VONAAAV WSAV
to his death in q broken plane, he
left the American gridiron gifts that
never will be forgotten.
He left the immortal memory of
his first all-America player, George
Gipp. Other all = America lei de-
yeloped under the careful hand Of the
South Bend genius were Quarterback
Carideo (who won the honor In 1929
and 1890; Clipper Smith, a great
guard; Harry Stuhldreher, quarter
back of the Wanted -Four Horsemen;
Jack Cannon, the bareheaded guard
and Bud Boeringer. center of the 1926
team. ri(4S
Though he scorned a system" as
such, he left a great pattern OF play
for posterity to follow. It was the
precision, rhythm and efficiency Of
the Rockne shift that dominated the
game in the last few years to such an
extent that new rules were directed
against it. He developed this simple
yet devastating maneuver to the same
point Of perfection to which he
brought the forward pass years
earlier.
Exploited Reserves
His "shock troops" have become a
legend of the gridiron. One Of his
greatest coaching desires was for am
pie reserves. Often he sent second
and third string men to the field to
start an important game, many times
thereby gaining a psychological adj
vantage over his football foe.
The seven all-America men he de-
veloped are not many, considering
that the coaching regime of Rockne
goes back IA years. But perhaps the
main reason why more Of his men
were not chosen for the mythical
elevens was Rockne himself. He
placed the ball-carriers second to
blockers. Every man on a Notre
Dame squad caught this spirit-or
left the squad. Rockne chung to plays
that were thoroughly tested. Most o.
the plays we're not complicated, but
he knew that they would click If
every man performed his job Of
blocking.
The Northwestern game last year
was q perfect illustration. Big Purple
linemen and backs for three periods
and part Of the fourth smeared the
same plays time and again, A little
something went wrong on each OF
these failures. Until well past the
middle of the last quarter, Notre
Dame was being showed around.
Won Confidence
Then, suddenly came the perfect
play. Schwartz went through tackle
and ran nearly half the lentgh Of the
field for a touchdown. One after an
other, the Purple tacklers were
dropped In their tracks by the South
Bend blockers.
That play was Rockne all over. AL
Of the much talked Of Notre Dame
system was wrapped In that one
play. To begin with 1t must have
taken great faith for Carideo to Cal
It, after seeing 1t slaughtered SO often
It was faith that Carideo got from
Rockne- and In the pinch, he had 1t
And 1t must have taken great per-
sistence and courage for the player.
to carry through with the play thai
had been knocked cockeyed time anf
again. It was persistence and courage
they got from Rockne, too-and II
the pinch they retained 1t.
Was Persistent
Rockne's life was like that perfect
play. In high school he failed Il
make the team until his senior year
In his first workout at Notre Dame h,
looked like anything but q football
player. But he kept on, calling tn
same plays" with the faith and cour'
age that some day the big click wouls
come.
Rockne almost had to leave schoo
following the death Of his father II
1912. Aided by his sister, he over
came even that obstacle. and it wa!
in the very next year, as captain
that the Dorais Rockne pass as
founded the east and ran an cdds-oI
Army eleven ragged.
After being graduated. Rockne re'
NAMED as assistant coach under
Jesse Harper for four years. Gu
Dorais was another assistant. Thu
story - that when the opportunity Il
become head coach at the Universal,
Of Detroit was presented, Rockne AMI
Dorais tipped q coin to determine
who should take the job. Dorais wol
and took the Detroit offer. Rockns
ut Notre Dame, and wher
Harper left in 1916, Rockne was tn
man for the place.
Had Many Talents
His gifts Of irnpartiality and loyalt,
he leaves only as a tradition. O
course. Hundreds Of coaches through
out the country are copying hi
methods, but 'Rockne's own Qualitie'
Of companionship and Leadership
went down with him in the tori
plane. These r Intangible at
tributes, born Of experience from
within, and there ID no way o
mimeographing those traits and pass
ing them around.
Notrei Dame football men had faitl
In him not only because he knew hi
stuff but because he was loyal Il
than under every condition. Once II
. hard game against Indiana. hi
team pulled out winner BY , singh
touchdown, which stirred to lamep
tatiot some Of the alumni who haA
bet On . our-touchdown victory.
RoclEne heard Of the complaints
and that night at the banquet follow
in9 tiss game. he arose In what Va
the nearest to rage ! ever have seel
him. When be had finished with On
Of the most artistic and damnin
|lhmbastings I have been privileged :
hear, he WAS paid the tribute Of n
loyalty IN Z terrific wave Of applausl
"oM Rock could pour i on "a
when the nesd arose-and they lore
him Is II