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2006 |
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 Basilica’s
bells to ring in memory of Knute Rockne
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By: |
Dennis Brown |
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Date: |
March 30, 2006 |
The 75th anniversary of the death
of legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne will be
marked Friday morning (March 31) by the ringing of bells in
the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus.
The bells will ring for five minutes
beginning at 10:45 a.m., the time when Rockne’s plane
crashed March 31, 1931, in a field in Bazaar, Kan. He was
43.
Also on campus Friday, there will be
multiple showings of a 52-minute video documentary on Rockne
titled “Knute Rockne and His Fighting Irish.” The
documentary, which originally aired on the PBS show “The
American Experience,” will be shown free of charge on the
hour from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Hesburgh Library’s Carey
Auditorium.
Other tributes to Rockne will take place at
the crash site and in Voss, Norway, his birthplace. More
details are available at
http://und.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032706aaa.html.
Rockne was a receiver for the Notre Dame
football team in 1912 and ’13, earning third-team
All-America honors as a senior. He majored in chemistry,
graduating magna cum laude with a grade average of 90.52 on
a scale of 100.
As an undergraduate, Rockne worked as a
chemistry research assistant in the laboratory of Rev.
Julius A. Nieuwland, C.S.C., the renowned Notre Dame chemist
who discovered the formula for synthetic rubber. Upon
graduating, Rockne was offered a position at the University
as a graduate assistant in chemistry, which he accepted on
the condition that he be allowed to work as an assistant to
football coach Jesse Harper.
When Harper retired after the 1917 season,
Rockne was appointed head coach and Notre Dame's football
program soared to national prominence. He coached from 1918
through 1930, finishing with a 105-12-5 (.881) career record
that still ranks as the best winning percentage in the
history of college football. His teams won consensus
national championships in 1924, 1929 and 1930, and he was
inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with the
inaugural class in 1951. |
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From
one of our great research associates, Chuck Johnson:
Saturday,
November 20, 1925
Log
Chapel-University of Notre Dame
Father Vincent Mooney poured water over his
head and said, "Knute, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the
Son and the Holy Ghost."
Rock knew how to use silence and not even his
children were aware of his baptism. Father Mooney knew Rock well as he
played baseball for him in past years.
Sunday,
November 21, 1925
Saint Edwards
Hall-University of Notre Dame
On that morning,
Knute Rockne, Jr. was making his First Communion. He was so pleased to see
his Dad had come to be with him. When young Knute marched to the altar to
receive Communion, Rock walked up with him. The young lad whispered,
"Daddy, you know you can't come with me; only Catholics receive
Communion." Rock thought it best not to try to explain but the boy again
told Rock he couldn't receive. Rock then said, "Father Mooney will tell
you all about it."
They knelt together
and as Father Mooney approached with the Ciborium and Sacred Hosts, Knute,
Jr. had a most troubled look about him. Father Mooney realizing the worry
in the boys mind said to him in a low voice, "Everything is all right
Junior, your Dad was baptized yesterday."
The lads face was now
a pure smile and he said to Rock:
"Daddy, I'm so happy.
I'm going to offer my Communion for you today."
We Remember.
Rest in Peace, Rock and Rock, Jr.
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