November 10, 1928: 'Win One for the Gipper'
Nov 10, 2023 5:34:13 GMT -5
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Post by Graveyardbride on Nov 10, 2023 5:34:13 GMT -5
November 10, 1928: ‘Win One for the Gipper’
Ninety-five years ago today, legendary head football coach Knute Rockne of Notre Dame gave his team an impassioned halftime pep talk that has echoed through the decades, becoming part of American cultural, political and military folklore.
Rockne had lost only 12 games in 13 seasons at Notre Dame, and four of those losses came in 1928. His team, recently dubbed the “Fighting Irish,” was playing undefeated Army at Yankee Stadium before an audience of 85,000, and at the end of the first half, the score was 0-0.
To inspire his players, Rockne decided it was time to tell the story of his all-purpose and most famous player, George Gipp (above), who died of strep throat and pneumonia eight years earlier on December 14, 1920. Rockne, who was at Gipp’s bedside, recalled the young man’s final words: “I’ve got to go, Rock,” Gipp told his coach. “It’s all right. I’m not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock. But I’ll know about it, and I’ll be happy.”
“Men, this is that day! Let’s go!” Jack Chevigny, Notre Dame’s star halfback, shouted, as the Fighting Irish stormed out of the locker room and onto the field.
The Cadets scored a touchdown, after which Chevigny did the same, yelling, “That’s one for the Gipper!”
The score was tied 6-6 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. Then, in the gathering dusk, Johnny O’Brien scored on a 32-yard pass from Johnny Niemiec, securing a 12-6 victory for Notre Dame.
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In 1940, Ronald Reagan played The Gipper in the film Knute Rockne, All American. He relished the role and adopted the nickname “Gipper” in his later political career. “George Gipp was a man I had always admired, and one of the greatest football players of all time,” he said. When he ran for president of the United States and throughout his eight years in office, “Win one for the Gipper” was Reagan’s favorite line.
John Edward “Jack” Chevigny went on to become an attorney and Marine Corps officer. He was killed in action February 19, 1945, the first day of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Some believe the ghost of George Gipp haunts Notre Dame’s Washington Hall. The story is that Gipp came in late one night, the doors were locked, and he was forced to wait outside in the cold until morning. A few days later, he came down with a cold and sore throat which led to his death. While there is no evidence he was ever locked out and, in fact, he spent most of his nights at the Oliver Hotel in South Bend, apparently, students reported strange activity in the Hall following their classmate’s death, and to this day, unexplained noises, cold spots and other odd occurrences are attributed to The Gipper.
Sources: Kathy J. Byrne, Fox News, November 10, 2023, and Richards Vidmer, The New York Times, November 10, 1928, and The Observer, University of Notre Dame.
