Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2019 45 title in 1943 as the coach of the Bears — defeating 1919 teammate and Washington Redskins head coach Alfred "Dutch" Bergman (the start- ing right halfback opposite Gipp) in the title game. Bergman also won the 1936 Orange Bowl at Catholic Uni- versity, defeating Ole Miss. • Center George Trafton joined An- derson on the 1920s NFL All-Decade team and later was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. • All-American right end Eddie Anderson was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame after winning 201 games as a college head coach — and also was a doctor. • Left tackle Frank Coughlin played in the NFL — as did quar- terback and team captain Leonard Bahan — and later served as assistant Attorney General of Indiana. • Tackle Lawrence "Buck" Shaw was the head coach of the Phila- delphia Eagles when they defeated Vince Lombardi's impending future dynasty at Green Bay to capture the 1960 NFL championship. • Center Edward "Slip" Madigan was a college head coach 21 years and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. • End Roger Kiley, who replaced Kirk in 1920, was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as United States Circuit Court Judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Dis- trict in 1961. Such talent alone merits recogni- tion and awe even a century later. ✦ George Gipp did it all for the Irish in 1919, rush- ing for 729 yards and 6.9 yards per carry, com- pleting 41 of 72 passes (56.9 percent) for 727 yards, intercepting three passes on defense, and handling kicking and punting duties. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED MOTHER- (Never known to fail) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, as- sist me in this necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my neces- sity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, Mary, conceived with- out sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands. (3 times). Sweet Mother I place this cause in your hands. (3 times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for 3 days and after 3 days your request will be granted and the prayer must be published. Thank you. R.M. PERSONALS M A R K E T P L A C E Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room ND Stadium Items, Jerseys, Helmets, Autographs and One-of-a-Kind Rockne Items. COME INTO THE STORE TO SEE OUR RARE NOTRE DAME HELMET DISPLAY, 1900 - PRESENT!! Voted Best Notre Dame Collectibles in the Country! 1811 South Bend Ave. South Bend , I n 46637 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! Want a prayer published? Call 800-421-7751 Notre Dame's Greatest Opening Play On the 125th anniversary of Notre Dame football in 2012, Blue & Gold Illustrated did a top 50 count- down of the most famous/crucial plays in its history. Coming in at No. 47 was "The Greatest Opening Play" at Nebraska on Oct. 18, 1919. There have been a handful of occasions where Notre Dame returned the opening kickoff for a touch- down, but none as vital than on that day. Second-year head coach Knute Rockne was 3-1-2 in his first season at Notre Dame in 1918 (a national crisis with the Spanish Influenza cancelled the October portion of the schedule), concluding with a scoreless tie at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers had become quite the nemesis, handing Notre Dame and head coach Jesse Harper their lone defeats in 1915 (20-19) and 1917 (7-0). All the games between the two teams from 1915-20 were played in Lincoln, Neb., because the larger and more accommodating facilities there made for a more profitable payday. In 1919, Notre Dame opened with tune-ups against Kalamazoo and Mount Union at home, which drew only 5,000 and 4,000 fans (the game at Nebraska would have 10,000). Rockne wasn't even at the Kalamazoo game because he was busy scouting the Huskers, who would also topple his Irish in 1922 and 1923. But on this day in 1919, the 31-year-old head coach couldn't ask for a better start to a game. On Nebraska's opening kickoff, junior star George Gipp fielded the ball, and immediately drew the attention of the coverage team. As he veered to his right, Gipp passed a lateral to Alfred "Dutch" Berg- man, who raced for a 97-yard touchdown after future Irish head coach Hunk Anderson removed the final would-be tackler. Although Nebraska outscored the Irish the rest of the game, the return proved to be the catalyst in Notre Dame's 14-9 triumph. Not only was if Rockne's first marquee victory, but it propelled a 9-0 season, resulting in Notre Dame being declared "Western Champions" and even national champions. The glory days under Rockne had commenced. — Lou Somogyi