Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have been a fan of Irish football for as long as I can remember. I grew up with my Dad telling me stories of Knute Rockne, the Notre Dame shift, the Four Horseman and of course... the Gipper. All fans of Notre Dame football should read this book. I thought I knew all there was to know about George Gipp but I was wrong. More importantly, there was much about the early days of football, of which Notre Dame is an integral part, that I was unaware of.
During his career at Notre Dame, Gipp set records that still stand. He led the Irish in rushing and passing each of his last three seasons (1918, 1919, and 1920). His career mark of 2,341 yards stood for over 50 years, until Jerome Heavens broke it in 1978. Gipp did not allow a pass completion in his territory throughout his entire career. He scored 83 touchdowns from 1917 to 1920. He was even the first Notre Dame player to become an All American, an honor he achieved while on his death bed.
No one knows for sure whether his deathbed discussion with Rockne about "winning one more for the Gipper" is true or not, but one thing that is certain, any fan of Notre Dame will love this book. I gave it 4 stars - only because it was a little dry at times but worth the effort!
No one knows for sure whether his deathbed discussion with Rockne about "winning one more for the Gipper" is true or not, but one thing that is certain, any fan of Notre Dame will love this book. I gave it 4 stars - only because it was a little dry at times but worth the effort!
No comments:
Post a Comment