Evening star., 1941-04-01

the chances of another Rockne glory
era ever coming to Notre Dame.
The world of sports knows the
Rockne record, which stamped the
Norwegian immigrant as the great
est strategist football has known, a
man who developed the shift play to
its highest degree of perfection and
as perhaps the greatest all-around
coach the game ever knew.
The book, too, tells of his great
teams and individual stars. But it
cannot tell Of the character of the
him to leave to his beloved Notre
Dame a heritage of memory on
which time has made no inroads.
Rockne reigned at Notre Dame as
benevolent despot, driver who
never was abusive, an inSistent
master, but always an understand
ing one. His boys loved him. Year
after year great squads passed
through his hands, all convinced he
was great man, a great coach. No
player ever left Notre Dame with
an unkind word for Rock"
Dramatic in Everything.
His teams, in 13 seasons, had the
amazing record of los victories, only
IL defeats and ties. His 1919, 1920,
1924, 1929 and 1880 (his lasD teams
were undefeated and united. Legion
are the stars he produced-Gipp,
Anderson, Kizer, Schwartz, Brill,
Carideo, Mullins, Cannon, Metzger.
His -Four Horsemen of 1924
Stuhldreher, Crowley, Miller and
Layden-carved for themselves a
special niche in Notre Dame grid
iron history.
Had he not been dramatic
Snowman, however, it is doubtful If
even that great coaching record
would have made Rcckne what he
was. For his fame as wit and
speaker was about as great as his
football teaching ability.
Dramatic in everything he did
even to his death-he packed sus-
pense, laughs, thrills into almost
every situation with a skill which
made the obvious seem natural. A
polished story teller, master psychol-
ogist and remarkable inspirer
Rockne's fame of the field, in his
dressing room talks, in his after
dinner addresses, may outlast his
coaching record.
Family Had to Toll.
Oldsters on the campus never tire
relating Rockne anecdotes. After
one undefeated, particularly brilliant
season, they rendered him civic
banquet. Governors, industrial ty-
coons, successful men of all walks
Of life lined the tables. The guest
speaker was a famed diplomat ano
he wound up with one of the longest
most eulogistic speeches Rock ever
had heard.
The coach, squirming uncomfort-
ably, heard the speaker refer to him
as great man, great coach, who
brought with him the strength ol
Norway's rock-bound coast, the
strength of his mothers milk. >
and on and on. Finally Rockne go,
to his feet to respond.
II don't know anything about
that rock-bound coast or mother.
milk stuff" he said, biting his words
off at the corner Of his mouth as
he always did.
II know that everything that ]
got came from hard work All OF
my family had to work hard. Work
hard and be tough.
Grandfather No SOfty.
Makes me think of my grand
father. He was a hod carrier ir
Chicago, yu' know. One day he
was carryin' load of bricks up Q
ladder on the eighth floor Of a new
building. He slipped and down hi
went, bricks and all. He fell eigh
floors to the basement. Everybody
rushed to him, expecting to pick ur
the pieces. Imagine their surprise
when they saw him get up, unaided
and start brushing himself off.
AREN'T you hurt?' they yelled
In amazement.