The ep15 Footballs Beloved Knute Rockne

It's time for yours truly, Jimmy Powers with another Grantland Rice story. This is Jimmy Powers transcribed with another chapter from Granny Rice's life story, The

Tombald and the Shouting. Today's chapter gives us another penetrating look at Newt Rockney, who made Notre Dame a byword for the best in college football throughout America. So with a nod to the every young spirit of Grantland Rice, I take up his narrative once again in First Person.

New Blocney was a great man of force, deep charm, and an amazing personality. Whenever there was a gathering of coaches in any city, there was usually just one question, where's Rock staying? That's where they all gathered.

There have been so many fine coaches, such great inventors as Pop Warner, Lonnie Stag, and Bob Zuppke that no one can pick the greatest. But Rockney had the greatest of all in the way of human appeal.

It was in 1928 that Rock brought perhaps his least successful Irish team to New York to meet a splendid Army 11 that featured Red Cagle, a great runner who could handle a half-back slot on anybody's all-time team.

Friday night before the game, Rock called me at our flat. Grant, he said, the boys are tucked in for the night. How about coming down to the hotel? We need a crying towel. Better still, I replied, hop in a cab and come up here.

We can warm our sides by an open fire. a spot of Tennessee milk and much the rest of the world go hang. That evening, sitting by the fire, Rock said that he expected to be up against it but good next day.