Notre Dame and Syracuse first met on the gridiron to conclude the 1914 season, after the Irish had already made two trips East and lost twice, to Yale and Army. With some questioning whether the Irish really belonged in the battle against top Eastern squads, Coach Jesse Harper’s team suffocated the Orange, 20-0, and cemented Read Full Post
100 Years Ago: The First Notre Dame-Syracuse Battle Cements ND’s National Status
September 24, 2014 by
On This Day…100 Years Ago Rockne Wed
July 15, 2014 by
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
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
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
Rockne at 125: Still Teaching Us
March 4, 2013 by
On this day 125 years ago — March 4, 1988 — a carriage-maker in the village of Voss, Norway by the name of Lars Rokne and his wife, Mary Gjermo Rokne, welcomed into the world their second child and first son, whom they would name Knute Kenneth Rokne. So started the remarkable journey of Knute Read Full Post
Coming this September, from Great Day Press:
“Coach For A Nation: The Life and Times of Knute Rockne”
March 4, 2013 by
He transformed the game of football forever and inspired a nation along the way. Knute Rockne’s journey from immigrant child to Notre Dame coaching legend to revered national figure illustrates to us today the endless possibilities of the human spirit. This September, Great Day Press presents the authoritative biography Coach For A Nation: The Life Read Full Post
