George Gipp

Bio

The "Win one for The Gipper!" pep talk is one of college footballs most famous half time speeches. Knute Rockne's words came with a special emotion as he urged his Notre Dame players to remember and respond accordingly. It was not just Rockne's impassioned pleas which had made George Gipp a Notre Dame legend. It was the talents of a free-spirited, untamed athlete scoring touchdown after touchdown and leading Irish teams to a pair of perfect nine-game seasons in his final two years. It was remembering that late afternoon in South Bend's St. Joseph Hospital when the failing Gipp, losing the battle with pneumonia, slipped through death's door. "I gotta go, Rock," Gipp had said. "Someday, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are going bad and breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go on 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." December 14, 1920; George Gipp, age 25, died. In four varsity years Gipp rushed for 2,341 yards. This was a school record that lasted until 1978. He also completed 93 passes for 1,769 yards, punted, and returned kicks. He scored 156 points, counting touchdowns, extra points, and field goals. The speech Rockne gave using Gipp's plea, was at halftime Nov. 10, 1928, against Army. Notre Dame trailing 6-0, came back to win 12-6.

Career Highlights

• 1920 Consensus All-America
• 1919 Third Team All-America