Rockne´s way of motivating and inspire his teams | |
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Rockne motivated his teams with a combination of awe-inspiring enthusiasm, a keen sense of purpose, and with total respect for the opponents. The sound of his voice crystallized something in your mind. You knew from the fysical quality of that voice, but even more from the quality of the spirit that somehow got in to his voice and lent it overtones of force, of power, of magnetism, that you had brushed against something great. Other related topics: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The entire pre-game pep-talk before the 1928 Army game.
"All Right, Collins: you and Kolrick will play the ends. And the same backfield, Jimmy, Collins, Chevigny and Niemic. Now it´s the test of any team, men. Based on team play - the same as you´ve shown all year: Sacrifice; unselfish sacrifice! These are the fellow they say are pretty good; but I think we´re better! And I think if we get ourselves keyed up to a point, and when we´re confident of thats why-y-y the results will take care of themselves. All right, now. On the kickoff - if we receive, the zone men will drop back to the receiver and block long-that old Notre Dame style. If we kickoff-which the rest of the teams want let´s run down fast-just as fast as you can run. And then we go on defense. And on defense - I want the center in and out of that line - according to the situation. Use your old head! And I want you guards charging through as far as you can go - on every play. Expect the play right over you every time. And the tackles - I want you to go in a yard and a half - and then check yourselves. Spread your feet-squat down low --- and be ready with your hands and elbows, so you won´t be sideswiped. But I want the ends in there fast every play. Every play, but under control. And you men in the backfield - I want you to analyze it before you move. If you go for a forward pass, a zone pass, wait until you see the ball in the air - and then go get it! And when we get it, boys, that´s when we go on offense. And that´s when we go to ´em - and, don´t forget, we pick on that tackle that is weak. We´re going inside of ´em, we´re going outside of ´em-inside of ´em! Outside of ´em! - and when we get them on the run once, we´re going to keep ´em on the run. And we´re not going to pass unless their secondary comes up too close. But don´t forget, men - when we get ´em on the run, we´re going to go, go, go! - and we aren´t going to stop until we go over that goal line! And don´t forget, men - today is the day we´re going to win. They can´t lick us - and that´s how it goes. The first platoon men - go in there and fight, fight, fight, fight, fight! What do you say, men!" Back to other related topics.
A Knute Rockne pep-talk: In a movie called "Rudy" there is a youngster that´s memorising a famous ND coach talking to his team. I haven´t heard or seen this movie but I´m pretty sure it´s Knute Rockne that referred to! Another pep-talk (told by one of the Four Horsemen) in the lockerroom could be like this: "Do you want to bring shame on Notre Dame! Are you afraid to get sweat? You are gonna sweat all the way out to your fingernails! Jimmy, you´re moving out! Elmer, you cover and takes his place as fullback! Yes, I now that you feel you are not strong enough. That´s what the enemy thinks too. But we´re gonna fool them. You´ll get strong enough. Tom, on the field you look like you were at the Sunday school. Put on a "mask" like you were pissed off! Like that! Keep it through the game! Fred can do it. But Fred, remember that you drop it after the game. Guys, you´re gonna annoy the enemy, tease them, the more the better. Play like you´re positive on the victory, even though they´re leading big now. Find out where their weak side is, but pretend as nothing - before the safe chance is there, and then: Go for it! O´Neill, you look like a bull, but did you guys see how he used his head and not his powers? Do like he, use your heads! Now you´re not only gonna win, but deserve the win too. And if we´re losing, we´re gonna deserve losing. But I´m warning you if you´re loosing. Walsh, move that bandage over on the other hand. Yes, I know that´s healty. But the enemy will try and hit the one with the bandage. If anybody´s trying to make oneself conspicuous, I will kick him from the team. No shining! No jealousy! Joe, I´m warning you! You think you´re the star baceuse you´re scoring. You wouldn´t make a goal if the rest of the team wasn´t blocking for you. You have played so much together that you know eachother´s quality. Use it! You are not 11 men anymore, but an organism! An animal! Get out and mow them down! Put them to the grown! It´s an order!"
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The Notre Dame Victory Song Rally sons of Notre Dame: Sing her glory and sound her fame, Raise her Gold and Blue And cheer with voices true: Rah, rah, for Notre Dame We will fight in ev-ry game, Strong of heart and true to her name We will ne´er forget her And will cheer her ever Loyal to Notre Dame Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame, Wake up the echoes cheering her name, Send a volley cheer on high, Shake down the thunder from the sky. What though the odds be great or small Old Notre Dame will win over all, While her loyal sons are marching Onward to victory. This fight song was written by Notre Dame graduates -- and brothers -- Michael and John Shea in 1908. It reflects courage, loyalty, tradition.
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The story behind the Notre Dame Victory March.
The Victory March - Without a doubt the most recognizable collegiate fight song in the nation. The "Notre Dame Victory March" was written just past the turn of the century by two brothers who were University of Notre Dame graduates. Michael J. Shea, a 1905 graduate, wrote the music - and his brother, John F. Shea, who earned degrees in 1906 and 1908, wrote the words. The song was copyrighted in 1908 and a piano version, complete with lyrics, was published that year. Michael, who became a priest in Ossining, N.Y., collaborated on the project with John, who lived in Holyoke, Mass. The song´s public debut came in the winter of 1908 when Michael played it on the organ of the Second Congregational Church in Holyoke. The "Notre Dame Victory March" was later presented by the Shea brothers to the University and it first appeared under the copyright of the University of Notre Dame in 1928. The copyright was assigned to the publishing company of Edwin H. Morris. The worlds and music which begin with the words "Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame" are in the public domain in the United States, but is protected in all territories outside of the country. Notre Dame´s fight song was first performed at Notre Dame on Easter Sunday, 1909 in the rotunda of the Administration Building. The University of Notre Dame band, under the direction of Prof. Clarence Peterson, played it as part of its traditional Easter morning concert. It was first heard at a Notre Dame athletic event 10 years later. This march has been played everywhere from flea circuses on 42nd Street in New York to White House parties in Washington. There are stories of it being heard as a demonstration tune on Chinese violins in Tientsin during World War II and of it being used to sustain morale in an English POW camp in the same war. This famous melody has become one of the most copied and paraphrased school songs of all time. A former Notre Dame bandsman and band director, the late Joseph Casasanta, composed "Notre Dame, Our Mother" (the Alma Mater), "When Irish Backs Go Marching By´, "Hike, Notre Dame" and "Down the Line". Mr. Casasanta was director from 1919 until 1942 when he was followed by H. Lee Hope. Director Emeritus Robert F. O´Brien (from 1952 to 1986) wrote "Damsha Bun" (The Victory Clog). In 1969, as college football celebrated its centennial, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was honored as the "greatest of all fight songs". Michael Shea was pastor of St. Augustine´s Church in Ossining until his death in 1938. John Shea, a baseball monogram winner at Notre Dame, became a Massachusetts state senator and lived in Holyoke until his death in 1965. The "Victory March" earned a number - one ranking in ratings compiled in 1990 by Bill Studwell, a librarian at Northern Illinois University and a self-styled fight song expert. He compiled a list of the 13 most inspiring fight songs in the country, grading the pieces on music quality, lyrics and overall tone. After Notre Dame came the fight songs of Michigan, Wisconsin, Yale, Maine,Navy, USC, Georgia Tech, Texas, Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana and Oklahoma. Back to other related topics.
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