100 years ago today, on July 15, 1914, exactly one month after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame, Knute Rockne married Bonnie Skiles in a simple ceremony in the parish rectory of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Sandusky, Ohio. The witnesses were Charles “Gus” Dorais, the groom’s Read Full Post
On This Day…July 2
July 2, 2014 by
On this day (July 2) in 1891, Charles Emile “Gus” Dorais was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. As a child, Gus had a difficult home life, as his father “abandoned the family, and his mother Malvina was taking in laundry, working as midwife, and doing other odd jobs to clothe and feed Gus, older sister Read Full Post
On This Day…July 1
July 1, 2014 by
On this date (July 1) in 1961, former Notre Dame football coach Jesse Harper died in Sika, Kansas, at age 77. Harper, a product of the University of Chicago under Amos Alonzo Stagg, became Notre Dame’s first full-time athletic employee when he was hired as athletic director and head coach of football, basketball, and baseball Read Full Post
Sacred Sod—Or A Move Forward?
May 27, 2014 by
Notre Dame traditionalists were struck by the images last week of backhoes removing the sod from Notre Dame Stadium in preparation for the installation of artificial turf. Yes, it is an emotional change in the House That Rockne Built. After all, back in 1930, the sod from legendary Cartier Field—where Rockne, Gus Dorais, George Gipp, Read Full Post
Rockne Biography Wins National Award
May 2, 2014 by
We are pleased to announce that Coach For A Nation: The Life and Times of Knute Rockne, the comprehensive biography by Jim Lefebvre, has been honored for excellence by the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Known in the book trade as the IPPYs, the awards are the highest honor for independent book publishing in North Read Full Post
What Would Rockne Say…
February 2, 2014 by
Author Jim Lefebvre shared his insights as to what Coach Knute Rockne may have had to say about the the recent announcement of the $400 million building project called Campus Crossroads announced by Notre Dame. Listen to his interview (below) with WSBT’s Eric Hansen and Darin Pritchett. The legendary coach, known as a visionary in Read Full Post
A Notre Dame Family’s Home
October 28, 2013 by
This year’s Notre Dame-Southern Cal game was to be a special occasion for the Bob Cronin family of Elmhurst, Illinois. Bob, a 1982 Notre Dame graduate and former president of the ND Club of Chicago, was told by his old buddies from Dillon Hall that they had something special they wanted to present to the Read Full Post
More Than Scores
October 9, 2013 by
Every day, there seems to be more stories swirling around the world of football beyond wins and losses, strategies and statistics. Here are just a few from recent days: A PBS Frontline documentary details the efforts of the NFL to deny and undermine evidence linking violent football collisions with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which has been Read Full Post
The Alma Mater: What Would ‘Rock’ Do?
October 2, 2013 by
Amidst the flap over whether Notre Dame football players should join their fellow ND students in the singing of “Notre Dame, Our Mother” after the conclusion of games—win or lose—was this statement from Brian Kelly: “I just don’t think it’s appropriate to put your players after defeat in a situation where they are exposed.” Exposed? Read Full Post
Rockne and Leadership
September 17, 2013 by
We happened to read a piece on leadership, and were struck by these words: “This is the thing about great men and women. They aren’t so star-struck by their own persona that they can’t share power. Too often, playmakers hoard knowledge, process and command. Afraid of losing control, they resist the process of mentoring successors. Read Full Post
