Knute Rockne

Born March 4, 1888, in Norway, Knute Rockne came to the United Staes at age 5.

In high school, he ran track and played football for a brief time, but didn't graduate. After working for several years, he decided to take the entrance exam for the University of Notre Dame...and was accepted.

In 1910, he entered Notre Dame and by his sophmore year was a starter for the football team.

Upon graduation in 1914, Rockne had considered going to medical school until Notre Dame offered him a job as graduate assistant in chemistry. Rockne accepted, but only on the conditionthat he could help coach the football team. He became head coach in 1918.

As coach Rockne led the Fighting Irish to six national championships. His lifetime winning percentage was .881.

The 43-year-old Rockne died in a plane crash on this day in 1931. He was enroute to Los Angeles to help with the production of the movie, "The Spirit of Notre Dame".
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On this day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinkley. Reagan had played George Gipp, "the Gipper" in the 1940 movie, "Knute Rockne All American".

There is still debate whether Rockne was actually at Gipp's bedside to hear the famous, "Win one for the Gipper".