Rockne of Notre Dame: The Making of a Football Legend

by Ray Robinson

To say that Knute Rockne was the best coach who ever lived is to understate his importance to football. True, in a mere twelve years, his "Fighting Irish" won 105 games, including five astonishing undefeated seasons. But Rockne was more than the sum of his victories--he was an icon, a legend
on a par with Babe Ruth, a sports giant who, more than anyone, made football an American obsession.
In Rockne of Notre Dame , Ray Robinson delivers a memorable portrait of one of the great American sports figures. The book gives us colorful descriptions of such Rockne teams as the undefeated 1924 eleven led by the illustrious Four Horsemen, and the 1930 squad, Rockne's last and greatest. Here
too are vivid accounts of some of the great games in Notre Dame history, including epic battles with arch rivals Army, Nebraska, Carnegie Tech, and USC. But the heart of the book is Rockne himself. A renowned motivator whose "Win one for the Gipper" is the most famous locker-room speech ever, Rockne
was also football's most brilliant innovator, a pioneer of the forward pass, a master of the psychological ploy, and an early advocate of conditioning. Though Robinson doesn't pull punches, Rockne emerges as an exemplary and complex figure, a fierce competitor who was generous in victory and
defeat, an inspiring father figure to his players, and a man so revered nationwide that when he died in a plane crash in 1931, at the height of his career, he was mourned by the entire country.
A feast for all Notre Dame grads and for subway alumni everywhere, this engaging biography is the finest portrait we have of the man who changed football in America.

Genres: Football, Sports

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really interesting and informative. I love reading books set at the University of Notre Dame. There is so much history in this book, and I really learned a lot about the University of Notre Dame. This is a good read for anyone that likes college football or Notre Dame. This book is about a lot more than just football, it has a lot about what is going on at the time of Rockne's life.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just remembered I had read this book when I was in grade school. A friend had read it and talked about the event of the first forward pass thrown in football. As I remember what my friend highlighted was, "Hey, you can't do that." That inspired my interest. Firsts are often interesting, just because, and if for no other reason, they are what they are.

[Lib DM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent walkthrough of the man and the legend. Rockne was an absolutely critical reason for the growth and success of the Fighting Irish as a brand, institution and program. It is very comprehensive and walks the reader through some key games throughout his illustrious career. Recommended for all interested in Rockne or Notre Dame in general.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine biography of the man who put Notre Dame football on the map.