When I was growing up, the movie Knute Rockne All American was one of my absolute favorites. I still get a bit weepy eyed every time I hear Pat O’Brien tell the team to “win one for the Gipper.” Of course, if you haven’t seen the movie, you still probably know the famous Gipper line.
George “The Gipper” Gipp played football for the University of Notre Dame while Coach Knute Rockne was there. He started out playing baseball for Notre Dame, but Rockne saw him and recruited him for the football team, even though he had never played organized football. He rushed for over 2,300 yards and threw for almost 1,800 yards. He scored touchdowns, kicked punts, and intercepted the ball. The Gipper was a true phenom on the playing field.
However, George died in 1920 at the young age of 25, just two weeks after being named the first All-American in Notre Dame history. Legend has it that the Gipper returned to campus after curfew and unable to enter his dorm, was forced to sleep outside in the cold. He caught pneumonia and died from a related strep infection, but sources think it is more likely he caught pneumonia while giving punting lessons.
Legend also has it that he talked to Knute right before he died, telling him “Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper.” Rockne gave this line to the team during half time of a game in 1928, in which they rallied to beat the undefeated Army team.
Now you may be thinking “This is a nice story, but what’s up with the title of the blog?” Well, 57 years after his death, a family member of George Gipp has had his body exhumed for DNA testing. Medical examiner Dr. Dawn Nulf hasn’t identified the relative who asked for the DNA testing, but sports author Mike Bynum has said it was Rick Freuh, whose grandmother was a sister of Gipp. Byrum refused to say why the DNA testing was desired; only saying it was a sensitive family matter. All the required paperwork to perform an exhumation was filled out and approved.
Not all the Gipper’s relatives are happy about the exhumation. Distant cousin Ron Gipp said that the exhumation was a “desecration” and distant cousin Karl Gipp said he thought it was “ridiculous and uncalled for.”
ESPN is working on a story about the Gipper, which is slated to air October 16th on their news program “E:60.”
Related blogs:
The Big Bopper – What Really Killed Him?
The Incredible Story of Jason McElwain