Knute Rockne was born in March 4,1888 in Voss, Norway. The Rockne family came to the United States in 1893 and they settled in the Logan Square district of Chicago, Illinois. The young Rockne first played football on the sandlots in his neighborhood. In high school Knute played not only football but he also ran track.
In 1910, at the age of 22, Knute Rockne became a freshman at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. His first year in college he played football on the varsity team but it wasn't something he wanted to continue so he quit football and joined the track team. His success on the track team motivated him back to playing football, where he eventually was named captain of the team in 1913. This was the year that he lead his teammates to victory 35-13 upset over the top ranked Army Cadets.
Rockne not only excelled in football but also achieved a 90+ grade average and graduated magna cum laude in 1914. The university hired Rockne as a graduate assistant in chemistry and also as an assistant football coach. In 1917 at 29 years old Knute Rockne became the head coach of the Fighting Irishmen of Notre Dame.
Knute Rockne lead the Fighting Irishmen for 13 years with 305 wins, 12 losses, 5 ties and 6 national championships. His contribution to football is immeasurable from the Four Horsemen, the Notre Dame backfield that lead the team to a 28-2 record, to his motivating speech "Win one for the Gipper". From his creating the forward pass to developing new protective gear and uniforms that were lighter and more efficient, Knute's influence in football was far reaching.
On March 31, 1931 Knute Rockne boarded Transcontinental-Western Flight 599 to Los Angeles. During the flight one the plane's wings detached from the plane causing it to crash into a farmer's wheat field near Bazaar, Kansas. Knute Rockne died at the age of 43.
Celebrate an American icon, Knute Rockne; football coach, All American player, teacher and family man. Rockne was and still is an example of what makes America great - freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom of self determination and freedom to pursue all our hopes and dreams.
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