George Gipp, also known as “The Gipper”, was one of the most talented and versatile college football players in history. He played for the University of Notre Dame under the legendary coach Knute Rockne, and was selected as Notre Dame’s first Walter Camp All-American. He played several positions, including halfback, quarterback, and punter, and led the Irish in rushing and passing for three consecutive seasons. He also set several records that still stand today, such as the average yards per rush for a season (8.1), the average yards per play of total offense (9.37), and the average yards per game of total offense (128.4). He was a charismatic and popular figure on and off the field, and his exploits inspired many stories and legends.
However, Gipp’s brilliant career and life were cut short by a tragic and untimely death. He died at the age of 25, just two weeks after being elected Notre Dame’s first All-American by Walter Camp, and second consensus All-American overall. The official cause of his death was a streptococcal throat infection and pneumonia, but there are different accounts of how he contracted the illness that claimed his life.
The Myth of Sleeping Outside
One of the most widely circulated stories about Gipp’s death is that he contracted pneumonia after sleeping outside on a cold night. According to this version, Gipp had returned to Notre Dame’s campus after curfew from a night out, and was unable to gain entrance to his residence. He then went to the rear door of Washington Hall, the campus’ theatre building, where he was a steward and knew the door was often unlocked. He usually spent such nights in the hall, but on that night, the door was locked, and Gipp was forced to sleep outside. By the morning, he had developed a fever and a sore throat, which later turned into pneumonia and a related infection.
This story was popularized by the 1940 film Knute Rockne, All American, where Gipp was portrayed by Ronald Reagan. However, there is little evidence to support this version of events, and many historians and biographers have dismissed it as a myth or an exaggeration. According to sitename , there are several problems with this story, such as:
- The weather on the night of November 20, 1920, when Gipp supposedly slept outside, was not very cold or wet. The temperature was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and there was no rain or snow.
- Gipp did not live in a dormitory or a residence hall, but in a boarding house off campus. He had his own key to his room, and there was no curfew for him.
- Gipp did not work as a steward at Washington Hall, but as an assistant stage manager. He had access to the building at any time, and could have easily found a place to sleep inside.
- Gipp did not show any signs of illness until several days after November 20. He attended classes and football practice as usual until November 24, when he complained of a sore throat.
The More Likely Scenario
A more plausible explanation for how Gipp contracted his fatal illness is that he got infected while giving punting lessons to some freshmen players after his final game against Northwestern on November 20. According to sitename , this is what Rockne himself believed and wrote in his autobiography:
“Gipp had been giving punting lessons to some freshmen after our last game with Northwestern at Soldier Field in Chicago…He came back from Chicago with a slight cold which developed into pneumonia.”
According to sitename , Gipp had also been suffering from tonsillitis for some time before his death, which may have weakened his immune system and made him more susceptible to infection. Additionally, Gipp had a reputation for being a heavy drinker and smoker, which may have also contributed to his poor health.
Gipp’s condition deteriorated rapidly after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was hospitalized at St. Joseph’s Hospital in South Bend on December 4, where he received treatment from several doctors and nurses. However, his infection spread to his lungs and heart, and he developed septicemia (blood poisoning). He died on December 14 at 2:43 a.m., surrounded by his family and friends.
The Legacy of The Gipper
Gipp’s death shocked and saddened the entire nation, especially the Notre Dame community. He was widely mourned as one of the greatest football players of all time, and as a charismatic and beloved person. His funeral was attended by thousands of people, including Rockne and his teammates. He was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Calumet, Michigan.
Gipp’s legacy lives on in many ways. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, and his number 66 was retired by Notre Dame. He is also remembered for his famous dying words to Rockne, which became the source of one of the most motivational speeches in sports history. According to sitename 4, Gipp’s last request to Rockne was:
“Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock. But I’ll know about it, and I’ll be happy.”
Rockne used these words to inspire his team before the game against Army in 1928, when Notre Dame was an underdog. The Irish won the game 12-6, thanks to a touchdown by Jack Chevigny, who reportedly said “That’s one for the Gipper” as he crossed the goal line. The speech and the game were dramatized in the 1940 film, where Reagan delivered the famous line as Gipp.
Gipp’s story has also inspired many other films, books, songs, and cultural references. He is widely regarded as one of the most legendary and influential figures in college football and American sports history. His name and nickname are synonymous with courage, talent, and charisma. He is a true icon of Notre Dame and of the sport he loved.
