ROCKNE, KNUTE (KENNETH)

born March 4, 1888, Voss, Nor. died March 31, 1931, Chase County, Kan., U.S. football coach who built the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, into a major power in U.S. college football. The success of his teams and his humorous, colourful personality captured the public's imagination during the 1920s, the golden age of American sports. From 1893 Rockne's immigrant family lived in Chicago. At the age of 22 he entered Notre Dame, where he played end on the football team and also was a track star. In 1913 the passing from Charles (Gus) Dorais to Rockne enabled Notre Dame to upset powerful Army (U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.) and popularized the forward pass, which had not been widely used. From 1914 he taught chemistry and served as assistant football coach at Notre Dame, and in 1918 he became head football coach and athletic director. He also played end for numerous professional teams during that period. In 13 seasons Rockne's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame won 105 games, while losing only 12 and tying 5. Notre Dame was undefeated in 1919, 1920, 1924, 1929, and 1930, and was considered national champion in 1924, 1929, and 1930. Rockne trained such famous players as George Gipp and the 192224 backfield men known as the Four Horsemen, and he prefigured the modern platoon system by substituting complete teams, which he called shock troops, during games.