Brey Picks Up a Fourth, Joe Harden

A couple of years ago Mike Brey picked through the bin of overlooked recruits after the bigs had feasted on their McDonalds' All-Americans and nabbed a small school diamond in the rough from New Jersey named Russell Carter. Carter may have turned into Notre Dame's best player by the end of this year. This spring signing season, Brey may have found two more in wings Jonathan Peoples and Joe Harden who yesterday indicated he would soon be Irish. It's pretty much a done deal," said Harden, who averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in leading the Rams to a 31-4 record and the CIF Division III runner-up spot. "When he calls me later this week, I'll make it official."

Harden is a anywhere between 6'5" and 6'7" (not sure which is "in his bare feet",) has played guard and inside for his St. Marys team in Northern California, really wherever he is needed. The good news is that's a great combination for the three spot where Notre Dame has been unable to land a consistent threat who's big enough to go inside and deft enough to add an outside scoring threat (Miller,Graves.) His pictures on the St. Mary's web site indicate Harden has the ability to get above the rim and his experience as a guard should serve him well on the perimeter, which is where he'll play with three guards already slated for the back court (Jackson, McAlarney, Peoples.)

Harden would appear to be a great late in the game pick-up for Brey who already has Luke Harangody (Bamm Bamm,) Tory Jackson (Pebbles - kidding) and Jonathan Peoples, a group that quite unexpectantly stacks up well with last year's class, considered Brey's best at Notre Dame.Joe Harden, 6-5 JR SG Stockton (Calif.) St. Mary’s.

Greg Hicks of Scout saw Harden at Pangos and had this to say:

"Harden had an outstanding camp, displaying a very good outside shot and a great feel for the game. He’s much bouncier than we remembered him from last summer and, overall, he’s a good athlete. He’s got a solid frame and should end up pretty strong by the time he gets to college. He’s got great hands on defense – he had a ton of deflections and steals. He’s very good at ripping the ball from unsuspecting opponents who let him get too close. Harden’s unselfishness was refreshing in a camp full of gunners. We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: in an age where very few kids know how to play the game, the ones that do get it stand out in a very obvious way. Harden gets it and that’s why he is, in our opinion, a high major prospect."

Scout's blurb on Harden reads: "Harden has a great feel for the game. May end up a two or three. Solid frame, moves well and terrific instincts. A likely mid major prospect who could go higher."

But his local press is an even better read.

Sure they were the top-seeded Division III team in the Sac-Joaquin Section, but how could they make a serious playoff push without one of their star players?

Harden, always the consummate team player, has had to take charge offensively of late, turning up his scoring output during his team's playoff run.

In the NorCal quarterfinal game, Harden exploded for 40 points to lead St. Mary's in a 95-80 shoot-out victory over Seaside. He followed that performance with a 30-point effort in a 64-49 semifinal win over DeAnza. In the NorCal title game against Sacramento, he only scored 13 points, but that was just enough as the Rams won a defensive struggle 37-35.

"He just produces on both ends," Green said. "Obviously his scoring, but he rebounds, handles the ball and helps out on defense. He just does so many things well right now. We wouldn't be here without him."

Harden's production has also helped his college stock, with more coaches from around the country showing interest in the senior. Major programs such as Notre Dame, Virginia and USC have been contact with him, as well as mid-majors, like UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount and San Diego.

Although Green is quick to point out his star player is not focused on that right now.

"He's gotten more attention, but that's not what drives him," Green said. "He's playing like he's focused on just helping us win as much as possible."

"A lot of our guys have stepped up," Harden said. "Joe Reyes has filled his (Simi's) shoes, making big shots. Ty Kelly, a starter all year, has really stepped up when we needed him. I think that's what a championship team does, a lot of guys make big plays."

Added Harden: "It's just been fun. We're just enjoying it. Probably a lot of people didn't pick us to go this far, so we're just going out and having fun and enjoying it."

***

Joe Harden scored a career-high 40 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as top-seeded St. Mary's advanced to the CIF Northern California Regional semifinals for the first time in 27 years.

"Tonight, we needed 40 because we couldn't stop (Seaside)," coach Ken Green said after the Rams' 95-80 victory over eighth-seeded Seaside in the Division III showdown on Tuesday night at Morelli Gym. "We definitely had an advantage height-wise, and we were patient enough. We were able to find (Harden) cutting and slashing to the basket."

St. Mary's will face No. 5 DeAnza of Richmond (24-6), a 81-58 winner over Oroville, at 7 p.m. Thursday in a semifinal game at Delta College.

***

Harden scored 16 of his 40 points as the Rams (29-3) jumped out to a 30-13 lead on 11 of 14 shooting, but it was senior guard Joe Reyes, who connected on four 3-pointers in the first quarter, who sparked St. Mary's.

"When the first one went in, I got more confidence," said Reyes, who finished with 16 points. "They left me open, and I hit them. I knew we needed to get a good start. I was just the spark to get us going."

Harden, who scored his previous high (36 points) against Edison this season, had two dunks, including a one-handed jam and a thunderous slam on a breakaway.

"Thanks to Ty Kelly - he hooked me up with both of those (dunks)," Harden said. "We had some guys step up, and they gave us a little energy - we fed off it."The Rams remained hot in the second quarter, stretching their lead to 50-31 at halftime."They shot the ball extremely well that first quarter, and after that, we had a lot of defensive breakdowns," Trojans coach Kelvin Garnett said."That first quarter set the tone for the game, and we got ourselves in a big hole. If we played the same intensity of the last 12 minutes, it might have been a different ballgame."

***

St. Mary's senior Joe Harden will play the shooting guard or small forward positions in college, but he does not mind playing all over the court for the Rams this season.

"You get to work on all of your game instead of just one aspect," the 6-foot-7, 210-pound senior said.

Because of Harden's versatility and unselfish attitude, St. Mary's (28-3) has won its first Sac-Joaquin Section title since 1989 and earned the top-seed in the Division III CIF Northern California Regionals. The Rams will host eighth-seeded Seaside at 7 p.m. today at Morelli Gym.

"Joe makes it easy for our staff," Rams coach Ken Green said. "He's willing to accept any role - whether it's point guard, power forward or center. There's not a position he can't play, and he's played them all."

Harden, who averages 17 points and 10 rebounds, recently was named most valuable player of the Tri-City Athletic League and has earned the attention of Division I college basketball coaches by both his prep accomplishments and his efforts on a Fresno-based AAU team.

Harden plans on visiting several schools after the season, and his list includes an eclectic mix of schools from Notre Dame, Virginia and Kansas to UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount.

"A lot of the Big West and WCC schools said I could potentially start as a freshman," Harden said. "If I played high-major basketball, I'd have to work on a few things and possibly redshirt. I think I want to play at the best place where I can play."

Before settling on basketball, Harden was among the top teenage tennis players in California. He also played baseball, football, soccer and hockey.

"In the seventh and eighth grade, I kind of narrowed it down," Harden said. "I wanted to be pretty good at one, rather than mediocre at all of them."

One advantage that the Rams have today over the visiting Spartans is size. Along with Harden, the Rams start 6-6 point guard Mark Payne, who averages nine points and 5.5 rebounds. Junior Joe Brum and sophomore Patrick Jemerigbe both average eight points.

Seaside, which lost to third-seeded Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco 72-53 in the Central Coast Section championship, makes its first NorCal appearance since 1992 and the first with 10th-year coach Kelvin Garnett.

Jermaine Carter leads the Spartans with 14 points is averaging 17.3 in the playoffs.

"It's going to be a challenge for us," Garnett said. "We need to contain and box out. (Not doing that), killed us against Riordan."

Green said he was impressed with what he saw of Seaside on film and knows that any team that contends for a CCS championship is a dangerous one.

"The CCS is a very tough section, and to get to the finals of that (tournament) is a major accomplishment," Green said. "Their strengths are their quickness and their tenacity. They're playing their best basketball right now, so we more than have our hands full."

***

Sure they were the top-seeded Division III team in the Sac-Joaquin Section, but how could they make a serious playoff push without one of their star players?

The answer: Lodi native Joe Harden.

The 6-foot-7 senior with shaggy, surfer-blonde hair has scored in flurries, rebounded like a madman and come up clutch time and time again.

"I kind of know my role, if it's to score points then I try do my best at it," Harden said. "We needed it the last couple games. Coach told me that I needed to step up and do whatever it takes to win."

Harden did whatever took and now he has his Rams in the school's first-ever state title game.

Harden Earns Applause

It came as no great surprise that when Joe Harden's glorious three-year career at St. Mary's came to an end, he left to a loud, heartfelt ovation.

What was a little shocking was that it was opposing players, from Artesia of Lakewood, who led the applause.

James Harden, who'd been in Joe Harden's face guarding him throughout the game, hugged him. So did Artesia sophomore Malik Story.

Shawntell Norman, a 6-foot-11 bear of a player who'd traded elbows with Harden underneath, walked to midcourt, turned and clapped as Harden made his way down the sideline to the Rams' bench.

The gesture screamed class act on the part of Artesia, which was well on its way to winning the California Interscholastic Federation Division III basketball championship, 60-41, by the time Harden fouled out with 3:17 left.

It also spoke volumes about Harden.

Artesia, ranked sixth in the country by USA Today, saw enough film of St. Mary's to know Harden was the player it had to stop if it was going to win a fourth title for the school. If holding him to 17 points and seven rebounds constitutes a stop, the Pioneers succeeded.

They did so by fronting him on the perimeter with their own Harden, James, and sticking the behemoth Norman underneath to impede his drives. It worked to limit Harden to seven first-half points.

"I've been face guarded this season, but usually I'm taller or quicker than the person guarding me and I can get by him," Harden said. "James is my size and he's quick."

It took until the fourth quarter for Harden to get into a scoring rhythm, the kind of flow that led him to score 40 in the first round of the Northern California playoffs, 31 in the second.

He penetrated and took feeds from his teammates to deliver those rolling lay ups that are something of a trademark. He'd scored eight in a row during a two-minute span and looked like Joe Harden. At the defensive end, the whistle blew and his game, his season, his Rams career was over, 3 minutes and 17 seconds shy of the final buzzer.

He showed no great emotion as he left the floor for the last time, stopping to hug his coaches and teammates as he made his way to a chair. There were no tears. He held his head high.

"It was a great senior year," Harden said. "We shared a lot of good times, and went farther than any St. Mary's team has ever gone, so I couldn't ask for a better season. It was quite an accomplishment. I'm proud of this team."

As much as he shared the credit with his teammates, he had to have felt he was going 1-on-5 in the state title game. With senior point guard Mark Payne on crutches, his foot broken, it was left to Harden to take the ball up the floor for the Rams.

Defensively, he took his 6-foot-7 self into the middle of the Rams' 2-3 zone and bellied up to the taller, thicker Norman.

"He's been like that all year," coach Ken Green said. "He'd say, 'Wherever you want me, just tell me. In college he'll play on the wing, but because of his ball handling skills, we needed him back."

Harden has yet to pick a college. He's visited UC Santa Barbara, and plans visits to Notre Dame, San Diego, Loyola Marymount and Virginia.

The team that signs him gets something more than a guard with ball handling, shooting and rebounding skills.

"He's a great student, has a strong work ethic and is a very good teammate," Green said. "He's been so unselfish, sometimes too unselfish."

Arriving at St. Mary's with great expectations already upon him - and playing on the sophomore team as a freshman - didn't faze Harden. Neither did playing big-time talent in big-time summer league games.

His success and growing reputation never breached the head under that floppy blond hair. Harden's ego never ran ahead of his talent. As good as he was on the court, he was of equal quality off of it.

That, as much as leading the Rams to their first-ever state title game, will be his legacy.

"I could have gone to Lodi," Harden said. "My sister (tennis player Kate Harden) did, but my friend (Payne) was going to St. Mary's and we'd played AAU ball together. Then coach came here and it all worked out. I couldn't ask for a better four years. It's gone by fast, but I've made great friendships."

And left a great impression on fans and opposing players, alike.

Press Clippings

Joe Harden Named "Player of the Week"

The Record named Joe Harden it's player of the week March 15, 2006. This is the third time this season that Joe has been named a Player of the Week.. Joe scored scored 84 points in three CIF Northern California playoff games, including 40 in a 95-80 win over Seaside. He is a Division 1 college prospect

Joe Harden scored a career-high 40 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as top-seeded St. Mary's advanced to the CIF Northern California Regional semifinals for the first time in 27 years. The Rams' posted a 95-80 victory over eighth-seeded Seaside in the Division III showdown. Joe Reyes had 16, Mark Paine had 16 and Ty Kelly had 10 in the win. St. Mary's moves on to the second round of the NorCals on Thursday at SJ Delta's gym.

Joe Harden scored 31 points and all other starters scored as top-seeded St. Mary's beat De Anza High School 65-49 to advance to the CIF Northern California Regional championship game at ARCO Arena against Sacramento HIgh.

Joe Harden and Jackie Gemelos Named Players of the Year

St. Mary's seniors Joe Harden and Jacki Gemelos were named the most valuable players of the Tri-City Athletic League for boys and girls basketball, respectively.

Men's Basketball Takes First Section Crown Since 1989

The Rams Men's basketball team overcame a strong Sacramento team to earn a 44-38 victory over the Dragons. With the win in the Division III final at ARCO Arena on Friday night, St. Mary's had its first Sac-Joaquin Section championship since 1989.

Joe Harden had 16 points and 12 rebounds, Mark Payne and Ty Kelly, who scored eight points apiece. With less than four minutes remaining Joe Reyes made one of three 3-pointers for St. Mary's and Mark Payne and Ty Kelly closed the game out with clutch free-throw shooting.

Men's Basketball Advances to Sac-Joaquin Section Final With Win

The St. Mary's Rams' 65-41 semifinal win over No. 5 Union Mine (22-8) on Wednesday at Warrior Gym sets up a re-match with Sacramento High School at ARCO Arena on Friday, March 3, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. for the championship of the Sac-Joaquin Section. Joe Harden said after scoring a game-high 21 points and Mark Payne scored 13 points for St. Mary's.

Men's Basketball Wins In First Playoff Round

Joe Harden had 26 points as the Rams beat Vanden 70-42 to start the playoff season. St. Mary's is 25-3, 10-2 T-CAL.

St. Mary's Out Performs West in League Contest

Behind Joe Harden's and Anthony Simi had 16 points each as the Rams, after a sluggish first half, came out roaring to beat league rival, West, 72-41. SM is 20-2 and 6-1 TCAL

St. Mary's Basketball Stars Named Athletes of the Week

St. Mary's standout players Joe Harden and Jackie Gemelos were named The Records Athletes of the Week. Joe scored 36 points and had 18 rebounds against Edison while Jackie Scored 52 points over Edison, a career high.

St. Mary's Beats Edison in League Contest

Behind Joe Harden's 36 points, the Rams beat their cross-town rivals, Edison, 64-59 in a hotly contested game. After Edison scored the first bucket, SM to the lead and never lost it. SM is 19-2 and 6-1 TCAL

Rams Men's Basketball Avenge Earlier Loss, Beat Tokay to Take First Place Again

A night of basketball to remember occurred when the St. Mary's Rams sought to avenge an earlier loss to the Tokay Tigers and succeeded 67-62 in overcoming their league rivals. Joe Harden scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half and In the fourth quarter, the team shot 8 of 12 from the field and 8 of 11 from the free-throw line, outscoring the Tigers 25-13 to seal the victory. St. Mary's is 18-2 and 4-1 TCAL. The next match between the leading league rivals will be February 11 at San Joaquin Delta College to accommodate the large crowd expected to what could be the deciding game for the inaugural TCAL championship.

SM Men's Basketball Downs Stagg In League Action

Joe Harden scored 18 points for the Rams as St. Mary's beat Stagg 60-48 to improve to 16-2 and 3-1 in the Tri-City Athletic League. Anthony Simi had 13 points for the Rams.

Rams Men's Team In Comeback Win Over Sheldon

Joe Harden scored a game-high 21 points, and Anthony Simi had 11 to help the Rams rally from a 3-point halftime deficit and beat the Huskies 58-52 in the Hoops for the Hungry benefit event at Valley High in Elk Grove. St. Mary's is 16-2 2-1 TCAL.

Rams Beat Edison in League Contest

Anthony Simi scored a game-high 21 points, Joe Harden had 16, Patrick Jemerigbe scored 14 points, Joe Brum had 10 as the Rams defeated the Vickings 72-56 Friday night at Edison. St. Mary's is 15-2 overall and 2-1 in Tri-City play.

Rams Men's Basketball Adds Another Win
Boys Basketball St. Mary's 72, Kaiser 30

At Honolulu, the Rams finished up the Walter Wong Prep Classic with a lopsided win. Joe Harden led St. Mary's with 18 points and Anthony Simi had 11. Joe Harden and Anthony Simi were both named to the all-tournament team. St. Mary's is now13-1.

Men's Basketball Winning Streak Continues in Hawaii

The Rams (12-0) led by Joe Harden with 20 points beat Kimuki High in the Hawaiian Walter Wong Classic. Anthony Simi had 18 points in the winning effort.

Men's Basketball Winning Streak Continues

The Rams (11-0) led by as many as 22 points in the game and remained undefeated as they beat Franklin of Elk Grove 71-46. Joe Harden scored 22 points and Anthony Simi had 15 for St. Mary's.

Mens Baketball Wins Fr. Barry Tournament with Win

St. Mary's Mens Basketball, continued their unbeaten season with a 64-60 win over Jesuit to win the Father Barry Tournament. Joe Harden, who was named tournament MVP, scored 18 points for St. Mary's. Mark Payne and Anthony Simi scored 21 points in the win against Jesuit to lead the Rams, were named to the All-Tournament team.

Mens Baketball Wins South Lake Tahoe Tournament

At Lake Tahoe, the Rams 5-0 kept every Nevade Union Miner 2-1 under double digits, outscoring them by 30 to take first in the South Lake Tahoe Huskie Classic.

Joe Harden, who scored 19 points for St. Mary's, was named tournament MVP, while Mark Payne and Anthony Simi took home all-tournament honors.

No End in Sight

There's no end in sight
St. Mary's finds energy to roll into NorCal final

STOCKTON - Teams that reach the semifinals of the CIF Northern California Regional are supposed to engage in classic, hard-fought battles.

The St. Mary's boys basketball team made it look easy Thursday.

Joe Harden scored a game-high 31 points and the Rams continued their impressive postseason run with a 64-49 rout of De Anza at Delta College's Joe Blanchard Gymnasium.

The Dons, who made a two-hour trip from Richmond for the game, were lethargic in the first half, trailing 30-12 at halftime. Harden matched De Anza's production with a dozen points.

"I don't think they want the season to end," St. Mary's coach Ken Green said of his top-seeded team. "It's a reflection of the way they treat themselves on the court, and how they handle themselves in practice. They just don't want it to end."

Led by Harden, the Rams continued their efficient ways against De Anza. Harden scored 19 of his points in the second half, including a dunk following an alley-oop pass.

Harden's basket made it 42-18 midway through the third quarter, as the fifth-seeded Dons (20-7) were continually fouling the Rams.

"We just look to bring some energy early and not get too high or too low," Green said. "We know it's a 32-minute game. We're playing pretty good as a team now."

If you're passionate about ND Basketball, Mike Coffeys Echoes on the Hardwood is an absolute must read. It's the one book that lets you experience the history of Notre Dame hoops through the players and coaches who wrote it. Echoes on the Hardwood by Mike Coffey

3.30 Rockne Coaching Tree (Updated)

(taken from a composite of internet resources)

Great coaches, of course, seem to move in packs. Bill Walsh’s coaching family tree is well documented. But Walsh's legacy is trivial compared to the royal and surprisingly short coaching lineage that connects the greatest coaches in football history to Knute Rockne.

Knute Rockne is the greatest coach in the 136-year history of college football. He coached 13 years, posted a 105-12-5 record and his .881 winning percentage remains unmatched at the pro or Division 1 college levels. He led the Four Horseman and the Gipper and is the spiritual father of the most successful "franchise" in North American sports, Notre Dame football. Rockne was widely considered the most innovative coach of his day. He invented the Notre Dame “shift,” foresaw the advantages of the two-platoon system long before it became popular and, as a player, is credited with popularizing the forward pass. As a coach, Rockne “attempted to outsmart his coaching peers by downplaying his squads' talent.”

Rockne once had a player named Jim Crowley. In case you don't know, Crowley, a left halfback with the fighting Irish between 1922-'24, was one of the famed "Four Horsemen of Notre Dame."

Soon after his playing career ended, Crowley became the head football coach at Fordham in New York. Along the way, he coached a small, scrappy offensive lineman from Brooklyn named Vince Lombardi.

Lombardi's offensive line coach at Fordham was none other than Rockne protégé, Frank Leahy, a tackle on two of his national title teams in the 1920s who was in the locker room when Rockne delivered the most famous pep talk in sports history. Leahy then helped his team win one for the Gipper. Leahy learned about coaching from Rockne while both were bedridden for two weeks in the Mayo Clinic and shared the same room. Leahy coached an unmatched four Heisman Trophy winners and stands second only to Rockne as the most successful coach in major college or pro football history.

At Fordham, Leahy forged the most famous offensive line in football history, the "Seven Blocks of Granite," which included the small, bull-dog tough Lombardi. According to Jack Connor, who played for Leahy at Notre Dame and who wrote the book, “Leahy’s Lads,” Leahy had a profound impact on Lombardi’s football philosophy.

Lombardi was later hired by a guy named Earl Lambeau, who happened to play at the University of Notre Dame under the same Knute Rockne and went on to found the Green Bay Packers.

Lombardi’s record in the NFL is well-documented. Among coaches with 100 victories, his .740 winning percentage is the best in history and, suffice it to say, the championship trophy is named for him.

By the way, Lombardi suffered his first (and only) postseason loss to Buck Shaw, who also played for Rockne.

The second most famous coach in college football might be Paul "Bear" Bryant who learned the trade under a man named Frank Thomas. Thomas was Bryant's football coach and mentor who went 115-24-7 (.812) at 'bama.

There was also book written about him, "Coach Tommy and the Crimson Tide." Thomas is second only to Coach Bryant in Alabama wins and included consecutive wins at Orange,Cotton,Sugar and Rose as well as National Championships in 1930, 1934 and 1941. Coach Thomas is a member of the Football Hall of Fame and played quarterback for Rockne at Notre Dame. He was, according to Coach Rockne, the smartest player he ever coached. His roommate and best friend at Notre Dame was the famous George " The Gipper" Gip.

Back to Lombardi. Lombardi’s "pet" player at St. Cecilia’s (like Hornung was later at Green Bay) was a kid named Mickey Corcoran. The name Corcoran might not be well-known in coaching circles. But he became a New Jersey high school coach and, according to Lombardi biographer David Maraniss, passed Lombardi's lessons and coaching strategies on to his players and “to his own disciple ... a North Jersey boy named Bill Parcells."

Parcell's most famous protégé might now be more famous than he is, the Patriots' Bill Belichick. The two won a pair of Super Bowls with the N.Y. Giants. Belicick went on to guide the Patriots to three super bowl wins in four years.

Belichick's coaching tree begins with a man named Nick Saban who won a national championship at LSU. His tree continues with Cleveland Brown head football coach Romeo Crennel and current Irish head coach Charlie Weis, who brings the Rockne legacy back full circle to its birthplace.

3.28 - Rockne's Secrets of Success

The following articles are taken from the Honolulu Star Bulletin

Help your team do the best it can

First of a three-part series

COACH Knute Rockne (1888-1931) was a man who looked for inspiration in unlikely places. He studied, developed, and put into use many of the successful motivational principles we take for granted today.

For instance, his thinking was so outside the box that Rockne studied dance troupes so that he could integrate the tempo, precision, and gracefulness of these dancers into his teams' trainings at Notre Dame.

He produced 20 first-team All-Americans and many top pro players, coaches, and career professionals. Now you can use these same principles to accelerate your own success in business and life.

As you read on, think about what great things you can accomplish if you were to apply these same principles of success in your life. How can you help your team be the best they can be?

» Look for ways to do things better than anyone else.

At the age of 19, when Rockne was working as a postal dispatcher in Chicago, he memorized every delivery route on the map. This activated his brain and challenged his memory.
Coach's insight: Focus is what made the difference for Knute. He knew he was not going to be a postal worker forever. So he focused on the fact that he was saving for college. He saw an opportunity to actually prepare for college while he was working, and focused on his long-term goals rather than the current situation.

By doing this, he improved his memory skills and freed his mind to focus on his goals and not waste time on fruitless distractions.

» Think of new and unique ways to overcome challenges and solve problems.
At a time when studying tapes of opponents' previous games was just a dream, Rockne once again thought outside of the box. He developed a team structure that would yield the information he needed to win. Knute used a two-team system where he would start his second team with strong defensive skills and a good punter in the first quarter. Their job was to play the first quarter without giving up any points. Meanwhile, Knute would huddle with the lighter, faster first team to observe and analyze the second team in order to decide what approach to use. The first team's mission was to score points during the remaining periods.
Coach's insight: Sometimes, what may seem like a step back can be a way to create the energy needed to lunge forward with full power.

Stepping back to observe and analyze when we want to move forward can be very difficult. It does no good to run into a situation if you don't have all the information you need, no matter how motivated you are.

Model after the best and keep it going

Part Two

COACH Knute Rockne gives us a great model for success in business -- if we just look at the clues his strategies provide. Last week we covered two of his strategies. Here are strategies three and four:

» Keep an eye on the long-term goal, and plan according to that view.

Rockne knew this was a critical ingredient to the success of his team, and developed another exclusive practice that is now used by most schools.

By adding a new spring football practice, he was able to get a glimpse of the future. He wanted to see what his team would look like in the fall. So the spring practice gave him a chance to see what he had to work with. He could then plan and make adjustments far in advance of the regular season's play.

Coach's insight: It is helpful to see into the future as much as possible and develop a plan based on that vision.

Great leaders never plan based on what the current situation is. If they do, by the time the action is taken, it's too late.

When IBM was ready to release a new computer in the late '60s, it decided to scrap the entire model line, even though it was ready to roll. Why? Because the CEO at that time made a "you bet your company" decision, and it paid off, big time!

What was this decision based on? The current market? No. It was based on what the market and competition would look like in 2+ years. IBM jumped ahead of the curve by seeing into the future. They planned based on that vision.

» Do not let obstacles stand in your way. If an obstacle appears, find a way around, over, under, or through it.

Rockne would not let obstacles stand in his way. When he agreed to take his first coaching position he had no assistants to help him. He did it all -- coaching defense and offense-- and worked as the teams' trainer. On top of that, he taught chemistry and coached track at Notre Dame to support his growing family. (Sound familiar to you entrepreneurs/ business owners?)
Knute's reward? Under his coaching, Notre Dame won 105 games, lost only 12, and tied five. His teams went undefeated for five seasons! He was one of the first people to be inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

Coach's insight: Very often in life, it is the challenges or perceived obstacles that eventually yield the greatest growth for us. By focusing on the big picture and your long-term goals, you will more likely see the challenge set before you on a more accurate scale. Rather than a mountain, it can often take the shape of a mogul on a ski slope. Moguls can be fun and often are put there to make our trip down the slope easier.

March 31st will mark the 75th Anniversary of death of the greatest coach college football has ever known, Knute Rockne. Rockne coached football at Notre Dame from 1918 to 1930, losing just 12 games and winning three consensus national championships. He died when his plane went down in the Flint Hills of Kansas in 1931 and this month, on the 31st, NDNation members from around the country will pilgrimage to the site to pay their respects. From now until then we'll look back at the man that was known as Rock, the stories that made him famous and his legacy. Thank you for sending in articles like this one, if you have a Rock story email it to ops@ndnation.com.

Book note: If you're in downtown Philly, pick up a signed copy of The Ten Secrets on the third floor of the Barnes and Noble in Rittenhouse, there are TWO signed copies that I need to move to get a re-order. Give it to your wife or your girlfriend, they'll think you're sensitive. Ask anyone who's given one to a spouse... it's instant points.

Just passed sales of ONE THOUSAND copies of The Ten Secrets. THANKS!

3.25 - Rockne's Tragic Death Shocks Nation

Click Here For Full Article - Thanks to Dennis Nigro
March 31st will mark the 75th Anniversary of death of the greatest coach college football has ever known, Knute Rockne. Rockne coached football at Notre Dame from 1918 to 1930, losing just 12 games and winning three consensus national championships. He died when his plane went down in the Flint Hills of Kansas in 1931 and this month, on the 31st, NDNation members from around the country will pilgrimage to the site to pay their respects. From now until then we'll look back at the man that was known as Rock, the stories that made him famous and his legacy. Thank you for sending in articles like this one, if you have a Rock story email it to ops@ndnation.com.

Book note: If you're in downtown Philly, pick up a signed copy of The Ten Secrets on the third floor of the Barnes and Noble in Rittenhouse, there are TWO signed copies that I need to move to get a re-order. Give it to your wife or your girlfriend, they'll think you're sensitive. Ask anyone who's given one to a spouse... it's instant points.

Just passed sales of ONE THOUSAND copies of The Ten Secrets. THANKS!

3.24 - Old Vs. New

Rudy36 put together this comparison of Willingham's and Weis's press conferences and patched them together.

A quick look at Seal Team vs. Mall Cops:

Q. From a busy standpoint, how busy you are, a understand from the importance of the visits in the whole recruiting process standpoint.

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: Let me give you my perspective a little bit on that.

My getting out into the home is really determined about the needs of the young man. And that's where we have to do a great job of identifying of where he's at in the recruiting process, exactly where the head coach's visit fits in and the timing of that. Some will be early, some will hopefully come later in January, depending on that young man's timetable and how you place him within our Notre Dame structure.

You are extremely busy at that time because, one, you're hopefully wrapping up a season. Two, there is hopefully a Bowl game in line. Then, three, you're still trying to prepare and maintain continuity within your own team structure. So it does become a very busy period. Trying to get into all the homes takes a little organization.

COACH CHARLIE WEIS: We start practice tomorrow, the spring game is on April 22.

Just so you know, as far as recruiting goes, I am hitting the road on the 23rd (of April). What we did last year is we went on the road a week later. We're ready to go on the road the day after the spring game. So I know I am personally hitting the road the night after the spring game. You get four weeks to use and we're using from that Monday, the 24th of April, through Saturday, the 20th of May, so if you are looking for me don't look real hard because you probably won't find me. If I am in town I will probably watch my kid play baseball or doing some honey do list for Maura (Weis) so if you want to know just go ask Maura, she will have a better idea of what I am doing.

The game has changed in recruiting, and it's a much earlier game. You better be on them early and make as few mistakes as you possibly can, because everyone will make them, but you better get on them early and you better get them on board.


Q. Why was he (Pete Carrol) able to build a national title in three years where you're at 6-4 right now?

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: I think Pete has done a great job of bringing a very talented group of athletes to being a team. I felt like when I was at other places, playing SC, the talent was there in abundance, but they weren't functioning as a team. I thought the strongest thing he's done is bring them together as team.

Now, to be able to parallel those our paths could be totally different. It could be that my path is the fourth year, could be the fifth. I don't know.

COACH CHARLIE WEIS:Can this guy help us win a National Championship. Not can this guy play at Notre Dame. Can this guy help us win a National Championship? Because, to me, that should be the goal. If you are the head coach at Notre Dame, that should ultimately be your goal.



Q. You used the word "inconsistent." We played at times, quite a few times throughout the season, very, very well, which means, as I see it, the talent is there. Why is the inconsistency, in your opinion? Is it a fair question?

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: No, every question I think is fair, okay? I don't think you hear me ever say, "That's not a fair question."

But I would imagine, and I hate to be so general to talk about human nature, but I also believe in it, but I also believe that most of us that have been parents, good parents, that we teach our kids certain things. But why do kids do something other than what we teach them? So we all pause for that answer, is that right?

Q. That's right.

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: It's the same thing. We hopefully instruct our guys well and try to bring them to do all the things you want to do. But things happen. They don't respond. I don't think, if I'm correct, even as we look at the No. 1 team in the country, that every play that they've run has been a great play for them. They've made some mistakes also. So it happens.

But the better teams are more consistent than other teams, and that's why they win, and that's why they're successful.

COACH CHARLIE WEIS:See, last year I really felt it took me half the spring just to get them to turn my way of thinking. That doesn't mean anyone else's way of thinking was wrong. It's just that I am the head coach so it's going to be my way of thinking. Well this year, that's not I mean, there's like last year, we had a whole mass exodus of players, and didn't faze me in the least. It wasn't like I was worrying about it at all. I think now most people understand me. I understand them, and we can just move forward. And hopefully we're well past those stages.

Q. How much further into the play book are you compared to last year?.

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: The whole key is how you execute each individual play. To be very honest with you, I would love it if we only had one play in our system. That sounds strange, that you only want one play in your system. But if we had perfect execution of that play and our opponent could not stop it, I'd be very happy with that.

COACH CHARLIE WEIS: Well, we always start from scratch when we're putting in the system. You never assume that everyone has retention of everything you are doing. It's just the speed of which you put things in picks up because it's the second time around so I think we will be playing a little catch-up but what we have done, we have really narrowed a lot of the stuff down that we weren't very good at last year, so at least now with what they're being coached at, are the things that we know we're going to end up doing.

The stuff that didn't stick got thrown out.

There's a number of things you can do mentally in football that makes the game a lot easier. For the coach it makes it easier because I can stand on the sideline and tell you what is going to happen before the ball is snapped but it doesn't do any good because if I am the one that knows and the quarterback doesn't know.....

Q. Some of the players suggested you really don't want them to talk about last season...?

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: I don't think there's any problem about talking about last year. I think last year speaks for itself. It was a good year.

COACH CHARLIE WEIS: I think out of all of the objectives that we have for the spring, the number one objective of this football team is to raise their own expectations. I know a lot has been said; some of you have popped in the weight room and seen my subliminal message that isn't so hidden when you walk through there, but I think that last year the football team just didn't know at this point whether they were going to be any good or not, and I am hoping that they are not satisfied with the season they had last year. I know that I am not satisfied with the season that we had last year. And I am hoping this time around that raising the expectations should be a rather simple task.

Q. There's been a lot of discussion about the schedule maybe being too tough and academics maybe being too tough here for Notre Dame to be an elite program. I wonder what your feelings are?

COACH TYRONE WILLINGHAM: COACH WILLINGHAM: Is September is traditionally better than October, yes, it is. Any time you have a chance to play at home most coaches will tell you that you have to play extremely well. You have an advantage when you're at home because there are so many disadvantages when you hit the road. You've got to travel, you've got different hotels, you've got different food preparation. There are a lot of things you encounter on the road that shouldn't be distractions at home. Hopefully being at home, having that kind of success, catapults you to a very good position as you get into the November part of the season

COACH CHARLIE WEIS: Well, let's start with the schedule issue first of all. They schedule them and we play them. That's the way it is. If they are on road, you have to go win on the road. If they are at home, you have to win at home. And I think that the people complain about those things are looking for excuses. The schedule is what it is. I don't make the schedule. I just play it. That's what I do. If I answered that any other way, what I would be doing is letting the players have a reason for or have an excuse for failure.

So I can't complain about the schedule. I don't make the schedule. All I do is play the game. That's what we do. Doesn't make any difference, whatever night or day they schedule them, we play them and that includes being able to win on the road and it goes back to having that toughness and playing smart and playing disciplined and being nasty and going in there with an arrogant attitude. Doesn't make any difference where you go, you intend on beating them.

3.23 - Rockne in... Popular Mechanics?

Popular Mechanics; 11/1/2003; Seelhorst, Mary

What does it take to be a football star? The most important requirements are "brains, courage, self-restraint, co-ordination, fire of nervous energy and an unselfish point of view." Says who? None other than the legendary football coach Knute Rockne in his October 1926 POPULAR MECHANICS article, "How To Be A Football Star."

"Of course, he must have a bit of speed and a bit of physique," the legendary Notre Dame coach added, "but then these things are taken for granted."

And by 1926, Rockne's reputation as one of the best college football coaches in the country attracted players with these attributes. His colorful coaching style made him a favorite of journalists, and his success drew fans not just from the ranks of Notre Dame alumni, but from the rank and file--Catholics, laborers and other self-perceived underdogs across the land.

When the editors of POPULAR MECHANICS asked Rockne to write a piece on the wildly popular sport of football, Rockne's innovations on the field and in the business office had already built Notre Dame football from its marginal, war-depleted position in 1918 to a national championship winner in 1924. Rockne was known for his motivational skills as well as for his ability to strategize. And he was a perfectionist who would have his team drill for hours until they could precisely execute his plays.

He was also a great mentor who produced knowledgeable players who were sought after as coaches. By 1931, 90 of his former players had become college coaches, and, eventually, 50 of his proteges became head coaches.

Prior to coaching, Rockne was a Notre Dame player. Under the direction of Coach Jesse Harper, Rockne and quarterback Gus Dorais practiced and used the forward pass to great effect.

In his coaching, Rockne emphasized hard work, speed and agility, and wits. And, as it turns out, much of the advice Rockne gave to PM readers in 1926--which covered everything from treating injuries, to diet, to strategy--remains sound.

But the key was hard work. "It is so much pleasanter to go out and play a game than to spend hours working over tackling, running, signals and other drill points," the coach wrote. "Without the training, however, there can't be much success in the playing."

Rockne, who is perhaps best known for his ability to motivate his players, delivered his most famous team talk before the 1928 game against Army. Folklore has it that eight years earlier, when Notre Dame's star football player George Gipp was on his deathbed, he asked Rockne to "win just one for the Gipper." And Rockne asked his team to do just that. Notre Dame went on to win the game 12-6.

That moment, and Rockne's life story, were later immortalized in the 1940 film "Knute Rockne--All-American" starring Pat O'Brien as Rockne and Ronald Reagan as his protege George Gipp. The film enjoyed a revival when later, in his political career, Reagan exhorted voters to "win one for the Gipper."

Rockne is also remembered for making the forward pass a regular and effective part of offensive strategy, first as a player for Notre Dame, then as a coach. But he didn't use it all that often. Instead, as he cautioned PM's readers: "The good quarter back ... needs to know when to try a forward pass, but more important still, he must know when not to try it." He suggested saving the best forward-pass plays for the second half.

Another famous Rockne innovation was his improvement on Harper's backfield shift, in which the backfield was in motion before the snap (so effective it was later outlawed). Rockne's expertise even extended to uniforms and equipment, which he redesigned to be lighter, more wind-resistant and less bulky.

Rockne, a Norwegian immigrant, was raised in Chicago, studied chemistry at Notre Dame and graduated magna cum laude in 1914. Upon graduation, he took a job at his alma mater as a graduate assistant in chemistry, while also serving as an assistant coach to Jesse Harper. When Harper retired, Rockne became head coach and proceeded to rack up an impressive list of statistics. During 13 seasons as head coach--1918 through 1930--Rockne compiled a winning percentage of 0.881, which was the all-time record for both college and professional football for well over six decades. Nearly as impressive are Rockne's other gridiron statistics. In 13 years, he had five unbeaten and untied seasons. His teams won three national titles and lost only 12 games.

Although Rockne was building a big football program, Notre Dame was a small school--just over 1200 students in 1920. Despite the school being rejected for inclusion in the Western Conference (later known as the Big Ten), Rockne scrambled for games against bigger schools like Nebraska, Purdue and Michigan State. In the process, he built Notre Dame into the national football powerhouse that it still is today. He filled the holes in his schedule with contests--some would say cakewalks--against smaller Midwestern schools. And, of course, those wins counted toward his overall record.

Rockne believed that size didn't matter, whether it was the size of the school or the size of the player. When Notre Dame won its first national championship in 1924, none of Rockne's backfield--the fabled "Four Horsemen"--was over 6 ft. tall or 162 pounds. Instead, Rockne believed that "the good team is the one that is able to study the other fellow and beat him by quicker wits."

March 31st will mark the 75th Anniversary of death of the greatest coach college football has ever known, Knute Rockne. Rockne coached football at Notre Dame from 1918 to 1930, losing just 12 games and winning three consensus national championships. He died when his plane went down in the Flint Hills of Kansas in 1931 and this month, on the 31st, NDNation members from around the country will pilgrimage to the site to pay their respects. From now until then we'll look back at the man that was known as Rock, the stories that made him famous and his legacy. Thank you for sending in articles like this one, if you have a Rock story email it to ops@ndnation.com.

Book note: If you're in downtown Philly, pick up a signed copy of The Ten Secrets on the third floor of the Barnes and Noble in Rittenhouse, there are three signed copies that I need to move to get a re-order. Give it to your wife or your girlfriend, they'll think you're sensitive. Ask anyone who's given one to a spouse... it's instant points. I'm now just seven books away from selling a thousand copies... thanks!

3.22 - Rockne crash-site tribute keeps memory alive

Rockne crash-site tribute keeps memory alive

BAZAAR, Kan. -- Oh, the money that could have been made. Easter Heathman knows it. It wouldn't have been the first time a tragedy would have been converted into a comfortable living for some indecent huckster.

What Elvis is to the kitsch souvenir industry, Knute Rockne could have been to Heathman and his lonely seven-acre plot in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Squint your eyes and the scene looks like the Depression-era day of March 31, 1931, when a 13-year-old Heathman heard what sounded like two cars racing down the road.

A 10-foot tall memorial marks the site of the plane crash that killed Knute Rockne.(Provided to SportsLine)

"Then I came out and it was all quiet," said Heathman, looking back over seven decades to one of the turning points of the 20th century. "Not a sound. About that time, the phone rang."

It was at a spot not far from Heathman's home near Bazaar that the legendary Notre Dame football coach died in a plane crash along with seven others. The news of the end of Rockne's life changed Heathman's.

Saturday will mark 70 years since the teen-aged Easter came upon the mangled wreckage of the Fokker F-10. He is believed to be one of only three men still alive who were there that day to view the lifeless bodies of five passengers scattered alongside the wreckage. Three other bodies were still strapped in the fuselage.

He is the only one of the three to devote his life to the caretaking of the Rockne legend. It has become his destiny. On the day the winningest major-college coach in history died, Rockne's mythos also began to live. All because of a man whose first name means "resurrection," has the Rockne memory been preserved this vividly.

"It's a lot bigger attraction now than it was 60 years ago or 50 years ago," Heathman said of the 10-foot tall obelisk that marks the crash site. "I went to Notre Dame last year and arranged a meeting with (Notre Dame president emeritus) Father Theodore Hesburgh. In our conversation I said, 'Father, it's amazing how this has enriched my life.' 'Of course it has,' he said."

Heathman's life has converged at the intersection of the two most influential figures in Notre Dame history -- Hesburgh the academic leader and Rockne the football leader.

The crossroads have become part of Notre Dame lore. Out Route 1 in Kansas, just past the Bazaar Cemetery, sits Heathman's modest home. He moves a little slower now and his spirits are down. Heathman's wife, Betty, died just two weeks ago. But come unannounced or make an appointment, and Heathman will take you the mile or so through two cattle gates, a babbling creek and up, over and around the treeless Flint Hills to see the Rockne Memorial.

The middle-of-nowhere stone monument is surrounded by a stone fence and barbed wire. Not that anything or anyone would desecrate the site. Heathman's only company on a recent visit was a reporter and six wild horses which ran over the horizon to see what was happening, almost confused by the presence of humans.

"It's given him a reason to be," said friend David Kil, Notre Dame's assistant registrar. "People start stopping by and he takes them up there. If they offer him money, he won't take it. If they insist he'll use it to put a new wreath out. He is an ambassador who is an unsung hero."

Because of Heathman's treatment of Rockne -- the man and the legend --the story has not faded. In fact, Saturday will be a full day for Heathman, 83. He will be taking relatives, historians and strangers to see the memorial.

But he will take no money. Never has.

"Because I'm old-fashioned, I don't believe money ought to be made off of something as tragic as this one," Heathman said. "Both times I was at Notre Dame, they introduced me to the Quarterback Club. They wanted autographs. It made me feel not too good. You know what I mean?"

Few would in this age. If Rockne had died today, his likeness would be plastered all over souvenir T-shirts. The crash site would be made into a voyeuristic pay-per-view tourist attraction.

Because of Heathman, decency rules. He cares for the memorial like one would care for a grave plot. He personally made eight wooden crosses to commemorate the dead. He sees to it that a new wreath is placed at the memorial each year.

The remote location of the crash site probably has helped keep it mostly pristine. The land hasn't changed much since 1931 when it was a 3,000-acre ranch owned by Seward Baker. His son, Edward Baker, had to run two miles to a telephone to call for help.

Heathman was shelling corn with his brothers that day when he heard the roar. Then ...

"My Uncle Clarence seen it come out of the clouds," Heathman said. "He said the wing was broke off. The plane was turning end-over-end. You can picture in your own mind what that ride was like.

" ... There wasn't any fire. There was the smell of gasoline and hot oil. I can still smell that today."

Over the years, Heathman has become a minor celebrity in the Notre Dame community. Heathman pulled out a box and showed a visitor an autographed game ball from Lou Holtz. He owns what are believed to be the only existing photos of the intact plane before the crash. Heathman had business cards printed that bear his name, phone number, address and the moniker: "A witness of the Knute Rockne crash." He has stared into the eyes of relatives of the dead who have come from across the country to view the barren prairie where their loved ones died.

"I think God blessed you with this incredible memory," Heathman remembers the wife of one of Rockne's grandsons telling him once, "so you could tell this story."

Countless times he has climbed into his pickup, crossed the two-lane and taken some stranger up into the Flint Hills. It isn't the desolation that brings them to stare at the memorial on which eight names were chiseled seven decades ago. You've got to have a good map and a good car (preferably with four-wheel drive) to get there.

It's a fascination with living oral history that brings them, because Heathman is about all that's left to tell the story of a momentous point in history. Fans, vacationers, professors and historians have come for decades, pausing at Heathman's for an entrée into the past.

It will be history preserved in perpetuity. Five years ago, Heathman made a recording of his recollections and donated it to the National Air and Space Museum. No charge, of course.

The memories are as crisp as a Bazaar spring day. The sight of five lifeless bodies on an impressionable 13-year-old was imprinted forever. Young Easter didn't eat lunch or dinner that day.

"He remembered the face, he explained the face," Kil said. "It's rare that he would talk about what he saw. I don't tell anybody that for the benefit of the family, out of respect."

Despite stories to the contrary, the body of the great man was intact. Rockne wasn't found clutching a rosary, as some outlets reported, but he did have one in a pocket. As the bodies were loaded on stretchers, Heathman picked up a rubber wrap attached to the leg of one of the victims.

"On the 60th anniversary of the crash, Rockne's daughter was here," Heathman said. "I was telling her about this. She said, 'Yes, dad had phlebitis. He wore a wrap around that one leg. That was definitely him.'"

Over the years the curiosity seekers have made Route 1, Box 73 their launching point. Once, an elderly couple drove up from Florida in a Cadillac and got lost looking for the memorial. After hours of wandering around and near exhaustion from hiking, they found Heathman's house. He pumped fresh water from his well, refreshed the couple and took them to the site on his own.

"I got to thinking afterward that was a setup for a bad accident," Heathman said. "Two elderly people -- passing out, heat stroke, anything. Nobody would have known anything about it."

Twenty-eight years ago, a Notre Dame fan traveling back from vacation in Colorado was criss-crossing the Flint Hills trying to find the site. He stopped at the house of an elderly man and asked for directions.

Heathman was that man. From that point on, he and Kil became comrades. Kil has arranged for Heathman to visit campus twice. Heathman donated the plane's gas cap to Notre Dame. It now resides in a display at the Joyce Center.

Amazingly, Heathman can go out any day and still pick up remains of the crash 70 years later. On Friday, he picked up three pea-sized pieces of glass from the plane's windows and gave them to a visitor. He has had a ring made out of a portion of the green landing light on the right wing. Don't think it gruesome. Heathman plans to surprise a relative of the pilot with it as a gift this weekend.

Rockne was only 43 when he died, at the height of his powers. Notre Dame had just come off a national championship in 1930. The country was coming out of the golden age of sport in the 1920s, an age that Rockne helped define with Notre Dame and "The Four Horsemen." At the time of his death, he was flying to Hollywood to negotiate a deal about a film documentary.

Rockne reportedly was ready to give up coaching after 1931, having already signed a promotion deal with Studebaker. The car company was already manufacturing the Studebaker Rockne Sedan Six 65 in early 1931 when the tragedy hit.

"In my opinion he was what you would call a straight, honest man and he liked to win football games," Heathman said. "His record still stands today -- 105-12-5. He loved every one of those players. The Gipper was his favorite."

"Rock" had lived the American dream. Born in Norway in 1888, his family moved to Chicago in 1891. Young Knute knocked around at odd jobs until scraping together enough money to attend Notre Dame in 1910.

After playing three years at Notre Dame, Rockne eventually was hired by Irish football coach and athletic director Jesse Harper to be head track coach and football assistant. Harper left in 1918 to assist with his in-laws' 20,000-acre ranch in Kansas.

Rockne was handed the job at age 30 and won more than 88 percent of his games over the next 13 years. The rate of success hasn't been approached since.

"He wasn't a go-getter, he was a go-giver," Kil said. "He gave of himself entirely. He was an excellent mentor of youth. ... He could motivate some kid to believe he was one of the best running backs around or one of the best blockers around. He always did it with kindness and caring."

There is anguish in everything that happened that fateful day. Rockne missed seeing his sons, Knute Jr., 14, and Billy, 11, by 20 minutes. The boys were traveling back from vacation with their mother to school in Kansas City. Rockne had spent the night in Chicago and arrived in Kansas City at 7 a.m. His family's train from Miami was delayed. Finally, he had to leave for the airport.

The night before in Chicago, friend Al Fuller wished Rockne a happy landing.

"Thanks Al," Rockne reportedly said, "but I'd prefer just an ordinary soft landing."

About 90 minutes into the flight, the plane went down in fog and cold temperatures in the pasture 60 miles northeast of Wichita.

The switchboard at nearby Cottonwood Falls was jammed with calls from relatives and friends trying to find out the fate of their loved ones. Rockne's funeral was broadcast in Europe and Asia. He was knighted posthumously by Norwegian King Haakon V.

In Depression-era America, the news hit like another punch to the gut.

"It is not untrue to say that no death within the confines of the United States caused more grief and depression in those years," one historian wrote in 1943.

Heathman has led a long and healthy life but his efforts will not go on forever. His preservation of a legend without compensation should be one of the biggest stories of the 21st century when it is re-told.

"I talked to his daughter," Kil said. "What's going to happen when Easter goes? What's going to happen to the monument? I care about your dad a lot. We've become very, very close friends. We go way back. That engenders a bond that is almost inexplicable.

"She wrote me last week and said possibly her son will do the best he can. But I don't think there's going to be anybody like Easter because he was one of the ones at the crash site. He has first-hand knowledge."

Nothing can replace that.

The above article was written by Dennis Dodd in 2001

3.21 - Rockne Vs. The KKK

A reader asked about the KKK incident in 1924, so The Rock dug up a few articles and links on the conflict. Irish Legends has a full page on it below.

From Herb's Notre Dame Odyssey:

In Herb's Archive this month, an interesting analysis of the conflict from Herb's Notre Dame Odyssey.

Knute Rockne's most popular pep talk may be his "Win one for the Gipper" exhortation in 1928, but his most crucial pep talk was delivered four years earlier...and it was not to his football team. In fact, it was not even during the football season. But it had all the rudiments of a football rally.

It was a Tuesday morning in May. It was during a period when feelings ran high, even to fever pitch, between students of the University of Notre Dame and the Ku Klux Klan.

A headline in the Saint Paul, Minnesota, Daily News on May 17, 1924, read: "NOTRE DAME COLLEGIANS CLASH WITH KLUXERS."

The Ku Klux Klan had gathered in South Bend -approximately 4,000 of them from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio -- for a "May Festival" and parade. Although the parade had been postponed by a move on the part of city officials, it did little to cool anti-klan feelings. When masked men robed in white appeared on downtown street corners early Saturday morning to direct incoming Klan families to the festival at Island Park, angry Notre Dame students, reinforced with Catholic townspeople, tore at Klan regalia. Domers had baseball bats and boards swung at them. The students ran wild, overturning cars, smashing windshields, throwing vegetables and eggs, and attacking anyone holding an American flag. Not because the students were anti-American, but because that was the assigned badge of identity for arriving Klansmen.

Klan people arriving on South Shore trains from Michigan City and Gary were met by mobs and had their white robes torn to pieces. A crowd of five hundred protesters milled around Klan headquarters at the northeast corner of Michigan and Wayne streets, where an electric fiery cross hanging on the building added fuel to their rage. They shattered windows and were bent on storming the building, but then it happened.

In the early evening a torrential downpour of rain put the damper on both Klan and anti-Klan anger, avoiding more serious injuries and possibly even deaths, and resulting in this dramatic editorial in the following day's South Bend Tribune:

GOD RAINS

There is no sacrilege in this spelling.

It is the plain truth that last night this city was saved by a providential downpour from what seemed to offer all the possibilities of tragedy.

The responsible heads of government and of business were frightened by the appearance in this city of a delegation whose coming was heralded by robes and masks.

Rightly or wrongly, these visitors were advertised as fanatical opponents to certain races and creeds. They came with the reputation of being violently opposed to the religious theories of a large number of citizens, the color of others and the race of still more.

For weeks the responsible men of this community have conferred with the one man they could find who represented this organization and pointed to the fact that whatever following his order may have obtained elsewhere, an invasion of this city was fraught with dangerous possibilities.

The mysterious mask and gown which seems to have attracted the members of this organization has a different meaning to those who do not belong.

To them it means a menace and a threat. It means a challenge that some secret body intends to supplant the orderly processes of government and install in its stead the rule of an invisible empire.

Mobs are easily formed. They always spring from prejudice. It takes but a spark to light the flames of passion and once in motion, a mob is a terrible thing, hideous, hateful, devilish and without restraint.

Saturday morning opened with a balminess that breathed the atmosphere of friendship and good will. There was the scent of violets in the air. Men might easily have become poets. It was spring with all its promise of future harvest of friendships and affections. Passion and prejudice are always easily aroused. It takes but a slight thing, unimportant, to fire the torch of hate and to cause men to lose their reason.

That slight thing was the appearance of men who hid their faces behind masks standing upon street corners, supplanting the servants of the people in the peaceful occupation of directing traffic.

From then until the time that, that Providence which guards fools and children sent his clouds of rain to quiet the passions of men, there was never an hour when one untoward incident might not have precipitated bloody clash of force against force, passion against passion, prejudice against prejudice.

Thank God that it rained and that He reigns.

The respite was short-Iived. Anti-Kluxers, infuriated by a report of a local Klan meeting and the beating of a Notre Dame student, were back in force by the following Monday. Once again, they formed a mob, gathered before the electric cross and demanded its removal. South Bend and Mishawaka police took two hours to disperse the mob from in front of the Klan headquarters. This time, the day was saved by Father Matthew Walsh, University of Notre Dame president, through his hurried arrival and emotional speech from the steps of the courthouse

The next day, Father Walsh, again pleading for peaceful calm, was aided and abetted by head football coach Knute Rockne.

The Rock told the 2,000 students gathered, "You can not expect to win a game of football unless the players follow the signals of the quarterback." The crowd of students roared its approval.

"Father Walsh is your quarterback and you are the great Notre Dame team," continued Rockne. "It is your duty to follow the signals of Father Walsh, and when you do that you will be in the right, and will not be a party to any disorder."

The more Rockne talked, the more the students cheered. As one reporter put it: "The students pledged to play a winning game for law and order."

The story of Notre Dame students battling Klansmen in the streets of South Bend is part of the University's folklore. Many years later, alumni were still discussing their angry marches into town to fix those masked bigots.

At that time, there were a reported 4,000 Klansmen in St. Joseph County, 500,000 in Indiana, and somewhere between 2 and 6 million in the nation. The Klan was on the verge of electing assorted officials in St. Joseph County and a governor in the state. Grand Dragon David Stephenson boasted of being "the law" in Indiana. But Notre Dame students were not intimidated.

And this at a time when "audacious acts against the KKK were rare," according to Indiana historian Irving Leibowitz. The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920's was an organization too imposing for effective opposition.

Related Stories:

Campus Life Story - Irish Legends
Reflections From the Dome - Irish Legends
Observer - Irish Legends

3.20 - President Reagan Congratulating the Championship University of Notre Dame Football Team

January 18, 1989

The President. Well, I thank you, and thank you all very much. Vice President-elect Dan Quayle and Reverend Edward Malloy, Coach Lou Holtz, Members of the Congress that are here, and distinguished guests and players and coaches and the Irish at heart -- [laughter] -- welcome to the White House. My life has been full of rich and wonderful experiences. And standing near the top of the list is my long and honored association with the University of Notre Dame and its legendary hero Knute Rockne. So, I want you know the INF treaty and George Bush's election were important, but having the Fighting Irish win the national championship is in a class by itself. [Laughter] And Lou, what you've achieved in only 3 years is inspiring. Maybe you could coach Congress on the deficit. [Laughter] With Notre Dame going undefeated this season, they might listen to you.

You know, Coach Rockne believed there are no shortcuts to success. Practice and hard work combined with respect for your opponent is the path one must take to achieve the greatest glory. And as Rockne himself once wrote: ``Sportsmanship means fairplay. It means having a little respect for the other fellow's point of view. It means a real application of the golden rule.'' Well, you young fellows here today are living proof of the truth of Rockne's ideas. All of you, coaches and players, have made sacrifices and bore many a burden, and you did it all for one goal: to be the very best.

Well, as I mentioned when I was on your campus last year, Knute liked spirit in his ballplayers. Once when he was working with the four backfield stars who became known as the Four Horsemen, one of the them, a fellow named Jim Crowley, just couldn't get it right. Now, you know, I never tell ethnic jokes -- unless they're about the Irish. [Laughter] But maybe today I can be permitted some leeway. Rockne, who by the way was Norwegian, was commonly called the Swede. He finally got exasperated after Crowley muffed a play and hollered, ``What's dumber than a dumb Irishman?'' And without missing a beat, Crowley says, ``A smart Swede.'' [Laughter]

Well, at this year's Fiesta Bowl, you showed us what you're made of and reached the goal of being the very best. The West Virginia Mountaineers didn't luck into playing you for the national championship. No, just like you, they fought hard all season and earned the right to play for the title of being number one. And just like the Fighting Irish, they're a talented, well-coached team, and they deserve a salute. Their records should make them proud.

And speaking of pride, I noticed that Coach Holtz thought Rockne would be proud of this team. And I'm sure he would be. Right now, I can't help but think that somewhere, far away, there's a fellow with a big grin and a whole lot of pride in his school. And he might be thinking to himself that maybe you won another one for the Gipper. [Laughter]

Congratulations, and God bless you all.

Reverend Malloy. Mr. President, we are extremely proud of this team and of its fine coaching staff headed by Lou Holtz. You have honored our campus twice during the term of office as President, once as commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient, which obviously makes you a Notre Damer, and more recently for the Knute Rockne stamp commemoration. We thought it would be fitting, on this time in which you have honored the university and its winning football team, to make a small presentation to you. Since I'm a little puny, I've asked two of our seniors and leaders this year to bring over a particular plaque that I'd like to read the inscription for. This is Frank Stams and Wes Pritchett. It reads, ``Monogrammed sweater awarded to George Gipp, halfback of the Fighting Irish, 1917 - 1920, presented to Ronald Reagan by the University of Notre Dame.''

The President. I think that's a great sacrifice by the university. But believe me, no one could have it and treasure it more than I will. Oh, thank you very much.

Reverend Malloy. Thank you very much.

Mr. Holtz. Mr. President, it's indeed a thrill for us to be here. It's the number one football team in the country, and we're exceptionally proud of that. We're also exceptionally proud of the fact that we've won an award for graduating 100 percent of our football team of 5 years ago. We also realize that to reach a position such as this you have to be very lucky and very fortunate. We're also aware of the fact that many other teams could have been standing here rather than us had it not been for many good, fortunate things that happened to us.

It's a great thrill to be number one, but it's also a great thrill for any American -- it's a dream to be able to come to the White House to meet the President. I know I speak on behalf of our football team when we say we're deeply gratified and feel blessed to be here. It's been a great honor for us, but it's also a great honor to come here representing the University of Notre Dame family.

We have just a small gift, and we have three captains here, Mark Green, Andy Hech and Ned Bolcar. And we know that you're going to be packing up, Mr. President. [Laughter] We just brought you something that you can pack in. It says ``Notre Dame.'' It says ``Ronald Reagan.'' And it said ``The Gipper.'' We brought you a sweater that said ``The National Championship.'' But we brought you something that signifies a great accomplishment for us. But we consider the accomplishments that you've made since you've been in the Oval Office -- this may seem very small. But we wanted to share our greatest accomplishment with you, Mr. President. Thank you.

[At this point, the team gave the President a football.]

The President. Right guards stick together. [Laughter] This is a great day. Well, I won't find anyone else to throw it to. I'll just hang on to it. [Laughter] Well, I thank you all very much. Congratulations. Thank you.

The idea of guards in the line, instead of charging forward against the other linemen on many plays, backing out and coming out of the line and leading the interference -- and I don't know whether I could have had a football career if he hadn't done that, because our coach copied it. I weighed 175. And I remember one day when the player opposite me on the line would go on to play with the Chicago Bears and then later be 8 years all pro tackle, and he weighed 275 pounds to my 175. His name was George Musso. And I can't tell you how grateful I was to Rockne as I went back out of the line to run the interference -- [laughter] -- made the job possible.

March 31st will mark the 75th Anniversary of death of the greatest coach college football has ever known, Knute Rockne. Rockne coached football at Notre Dame from 1918 to 1930, losing just 12 games and winning three consensus national championships. He died when his plane went down in the Flint Hills of Kansas in 1931 and this month, on the 31st, NDNation members from around the country will pilgrimage to the site to pay their respects. From now until then we'll look back at the man that was known as Rock, the stories that made him famous and his legacy. Thank you for sending in articles like this one, if you have a Rock story email it to ops@ndnation.com.

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