Precipitation per storm. There's a certain amount of fame that comes with being a Rockne, so Nils does get recognized. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Oops, something didn't work. Whisler has been a reporter and copy editor at the Express-News since 1995. During 13 years as head coach, Rockne led Notre Dame to 105 victories, 12 losses, five ties and three consensus national championships, which included five undefeated and untied seasons. The great majority of passing attacks, however, consisted solely of short pitches and shovel passes to stationary receivers. He attended North West Division High School in Chicago playing football and also running track. Voss, Voss kommune, Hordaland fylke, Norway. I didn't get into coaching to be my grandfather. His faith was reflected in his last act as he reached for a rosary and sought comfort in prayer. The previous owners gave Easter Heathman the combination to the locks on the cattle gates leading to the site. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Knute Rockne (887)? ''To hear these old-timers tell it,'' says Knute, ''my grandfather wasn't human. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Nils gleaned the rest from years of studying the remarkable life of his grandfather, who was much more than a football coach. ''I guess I'm still afraid of rejection,'' he says. His son, Knute, saves up his money and enrolls in college at the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana, where he plays football. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Interest In the proposed, South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN, United States, Matfield Green, Chase County, Kansas, United States, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. In 2050, 16 storms are projected to occur with about 2.45 " of precipitation per storm. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. He is credited with popularizing the use of the forward pass. He was delegated to a backseat role, making an appearance, he says, only when the team was up by 40 points or down by 40. On November 1, 1913, the Notre Dame squad stunned the highly regarded Army team 3513 in a game played at West Point. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. Husband of Margaret A. Rockne. Brown's husband would like to get up there earlier to trim weeds beforehand. The national outcry over the disaster triggered sweeping changes to aircraft design, manufacturing, operation, inspection, maintenance, regulation and crash investigation, igniting a safety revolution that ultimately transformed airline travel worldwide from one of the most dangerous forms of travel to one of the safest.[41]. Maybe that's the way this story sort of winds down in rural Kansas with a sort of anonymity. Son of Knute Rockne and Bonnie Gwendolyn Skiles She is the daughter of a beloved small-town Kansas farmer who is largely responsible for keeping alive the memory of the man who might have laid in that casket. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. On the spot where the plane crashed, a memorial dedicated to the victims stands surrounded by a wire fence with wooden posts; it was maintained for many years by James Heathman, who, at age thirteen in 1931, was one of the first people to arrive at the site of the tragedy. A system error has occurred. So, how much is Knute Rockne worth at the age of 43 years old? TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. McKenna's son is named Michael Rockne. While growing up on the northwest side of the city, Rockne learned to play football in his neighborhood and later played end in a local group called the Logan Square Tigers. Search above to list available cemeteries. not to be able to walk on water.'' cemeteries found in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). [24], Gipp died on December 14, 1920, just two weeks after being elected Notre Dame's first All-American by Walter Camp. Brown has some decisions to make this week. I got into it because I wanted to get into it. "[29] Rockne wrote of an attack on his coaching in the Atlanta Journal, "I am surprised that a paper of such fine, high standing [as yours] would allow a zipper to write in his particular vein the article by Fuzzy Woodruff was not called for."[30]. Vincent Mooney, C.S.C., baptized Rockne in the Log Chapel on Notre Dame's campus. The exhibit here -- a block from the Chase County Courthouse -- has done its best to preserve this particular slice of American life. Phillipine Rockne. Later in life, he became an unpaid tour guide who led folks up to the crash site, a mile and a half up into the Flint Hills from his Bazaar, Kansas, home. He was the Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of his time.. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. His record and legacy have never been duplicated. He sensed his teammates' resentment. Joins Notre Dame As Deputy Athletics Director. Rockne was born April 14, 1926, in South Bend, as the youngest son of Knute and Bonnie Rockne. I was the first guy on the field, I was the last guy off. Notre Dame memorializes him in the Knute Rockne Memorial Building, an athletics facility built in 1937, as well as the main football stadium. Knute passed away on month day 1988, at age 69 at death place, Michigan. Leading Notre Dame for 13 seasons, Rockne would accumulate over 100 wins and three national championships. Browse 113 coach knute rockne stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. He was very successful as an advertising pitchman, for South Bend-based Studebaker and other products. '', John agrees. Three months ago, his wife gave birth to their fifth child, a girl - giving them two sons and three daughters. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. View Site Knute Rockne, Jr. (1918 - 1988) - Genealogy The name doesn't always ring a bell anymore, let alone the face. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Someone made a pillow out of the material used in one the plane's seat cushions. But he was easily the most interested.. This browser does not support getting your location. People from the big city just can't believe we'd take our time to drive somebody out in a pasture.". It doesn't make you any stronger. Consider the similarities between two coaches now considered the greatest of all time. His father, a carriage maker, brought the family to the United States when Knute was five. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Jack Rockne, Irish head football coach Charlie Weis said. If Kelly makes it his 14th season in 2023, he would become the longest-tenured coach in program history. That rosary was found by first responders in the wreckage and returned to Knutes widow, Bonnie, along with Knutes other personal effects. Brown basically inherited the job of keeping the Rockne flame alive in these parts, an effort started by her father. While John and Knute wait, another generation is being touched by the Rockne tradition. Still, it's a bit of a surprise when the man wearing a Hawaiian-style Notre Dame shirt strolls into the crowded sports bar at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, and no one seems to notice. ''I grew up reading all the Horatio Alger stories. Thanks for your help! He wanted to go to a town with a population of 2,000, to a school with 125 students. The Rev. Try again later. Rockne's box included a shift. On March 30, 1931, he took the sleeper train from Chicago to Kansas City and, on the morning of March 31, boarded a TWA flight . As a result, he became an object of scorn for the other Utah State players, who resented the publicity he received while sitting on the bench. John Vincent Jack Rockne, the last remaining child of legendary University of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, died Sunday afternoon, at Sanctuary at Holy Cross in South Bend, Ind., due to complications from cancer. ''I thought about my grandfather and said, 'If he could do it, why can't I?' Using bottle caps, they would illustrate some of his innovations, including putting the backfield in motion before the snap of the ball. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Knute's salary is $19,700. Knute Rockne was one of the most prolific coaches in college football history. They've been doing it regularly since 1996, the 65th anniversary of his death. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. He eventually received an annual income of $75,000 from Notre Dame. ''One time I talked to the coach at a major school in the East. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He was in demand as a motivational speaker. Still, they share the same dream: to be a coach at Notre Dame some day. How much? Years ago, McKenna was a young Air Force officer driving a general's primo Mustang through Kansas back to the base in San Antonio, Texas. Ninety years later, he remains the winningest major-college football coach with victories in 88.1% of his games over 13 seasons (105-12-5). Rockne helped to popularize the forward pass and made the Notre Dame Fighting Irish a major factor in college football. He emigrated to Chicago with his parents when he was five years old. What to display? Then he went to Murray State in Kentucky, where he coached the receivers and attained his master's degree. The native prairie grass was excellent for feeding cows. What Jack Rockne knew, he passed on to Nils and his seven siblings. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Knute Rockne Man builder 1931 at the best online prices at eBay! John's second son, Gary, was named Knute Rockne 4th when he was born, but Knute Rockne 3d's wife, Patsy, insisted that the name be changed. [22] The team went undefeated and was a national champion,[23] though the championship is not recognized by Notre Dame. [11][12] These teams represented residence halls on the university grounds that competed against one other in various sports, the most popular of which was football. After graduating he was the laboratory assistant to noted polymer chemist Julius Arthur Nieuwland at Notre Dame and helped out with the football team, but rejected further work in chemistry after receiving an offer to coach football. In part, because of the pervasive influence of the Rockne legacy, the two brothers have not seen each other in more than five years and they rarely speak with each other. So Jack's knowledge of the famous coach wasn't much greater than that of Nils'. Brown and her family will extricate themselves to a back room where they will watch the ceremony streaming on their phones. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. President Herbert Hoover called Rockne's death "a national loss.". Knute didn't want to give his son the same name he had been burdened with, but I convinced him that the baby would be named for him, not his grandfather.'' "It is getting much more difficult for people [to recognize] when I say my name," Knute III said. This has always been the problem of Knute Rockne 3d. Now he can watch the games with Knute.. He was born into the legend of Notre Dame football, and on Saturday afternoons the stories are revisited and cherished as a family heirloom. '', Still, John plans, drawing his strategy largely from war books and war experience. When he was 22, he had saved enough money to continue his education, and headed to South Bend, Indiana, to finish his schooling. There Parratt had Rockne playing both end and halfback and teamed with him on several successful forward pass plays during their title drive. Upon his initial meeting with former Notre Dame president Fr. It took a while for me to get to that point where I could be me and not have to look over my shoulder.". ''I know it may sound corny,'' says Knute, ''but I really dream of the day I can walk out on the field at Notre Dame and the stands would be filled, and I would look down at my shirt and see 'Notre Dame' written across the front. [28] Carnegie Tech used the coach's absence as motivation for a 190 win; the upset likely cost the Irish a chance for a national title. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The memorial is surrounded by a wire fence with wooden posts and was maintained for many years by James Heathman, who, at the age of 13 in 1931, was one of the first people to arrive at the site of the crash. Mooney baptized Rockne privately on November 20, 1925, the day before a tough contest against Northwestern. It looked dreary, morbid and hardly used. "I sat at Grant Field and saw a magnificent Notre Dame team suddenly recoil before the furious pounding of one manPeter Pund", said Rockne. Bob Diaco reunites with Brian Kelly at LSU, Former Pac-12 coaches concerned about league's future, Four ex-Tennessee staffers get show-cause penalties, UCLA hires NFL assistant Lynn as defensive coordinator, Florida poaches Bama's Armstrong for DC opening, FSU, Clemson express displeasure with ACC, 90 years after his death, Rockne's legacy reverberates, Former coaches concerned about future of Pac-12, Diaco reunites with Kelly, joins LSU staff as analyst, Ex-Tennessee staffers penalized for NCAA violations, FSU, Clemson express displeasure with conference, Mike Norvell talks recruiting vs. Deion Sanders in Florida. Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, seen here in 1925, coached 13 seasons at Notre Dame, winning six national championships. Knute's 8-year-old son, Jonathon, maps strategy for his father between the halves of games. After graduating, he was the laboratory assistant to noted polymer chemist Julius Arthur Nieuwland at Notre Dame and helped out with the football team, but rejected further work in chemistry after receiving an offer to coach football. [27] Mohardt had both Eddie Anderson and Roger Kiley at end to receive his passes. [16] The backfield lined up in a T-formation, then quickly shifted into a box to the left or right just as the ball was snapped. I think people just respect his privacy.. "Nobody could stop him. If he's not attending games in South Bend, Ind., home of the Fighting Irish, he's watching them on television. Nils enjoys the anonymity in San Antonio, even at the High Velocity sports bar at the JW Marriott, where the local Notre Dame alumni club gathers each week to watch the Irish in action. I had to be an All-American. There's no way to tell for sure if it's the one, says Brown, who oversees the exhibit on a day-to-day basis. Most football historians agree that a few schools, notably St. Louis University (under coach Eddie Cochems), Michigan, Carlisle and Minnesota, had passing attacks in place before Rockne arrived at Notre Dame. Knute is 32. He just finished reading ''Campaigns of Napoleon,'' which, he says, advocates ''striking the enemy in total.''. In 1931, Rockne died at age 43 in a plane crash in a Kansas wheat field, and since then, his name has been elevated to mythical proportions, popularized by newsreels, books and, of course, Hollywood. Saturday's celebration will not include much of the Peterson family. Apparently, however, there are, because John and Knute have been to many of them. Things such as the proper Norwegian pronunciation of Knute it's Kuh-newt, not Newt (Knute Rockne was 5 when his family emigrated from Norway). Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Knute Rockne All American (1940) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. You mean my grandfather? Nils Rockne said he has seen the movie, Knute Rockne: All-American, about 15 times. He probably made less than $10,000 a year as a coach but $100,000 in endorsements, Nils said. I didn't know where the hell I was going.". [31] Rockne entered the locker room and told the team the words he heard on Gipp's deathbed in 1920: "I've got to go, Rock. It always seemed like everybody was a little more willing to bring up my grandfather when comparing me.". Rockne and teammate Gus Dorais star in Notre Dame's historic 35-13 upset over Army at West Point in 1913. In America, we love football, and we love celebrity. He's special to us, former club president Tom Sessi said. "It became. Memorial contributions can be made in Rocknes name to the Rockne Heritage Fund at the University of Notre Dame. [43][44] King Haakon VII of Norway posthumously knighted Rockne and sent a personal envoy, Olaf Bernts, Norwegian consul in Chicago, to Rockne's funeral. Through football, Rockne was responsible for putting a small, northern Indiana Catholic university on the map. Sarah Lopez opted not to wait in handing down the rosary but gave it as a 23rd birthday present to her son, Michael, in August of 1988. the topics that will be the talk of the N.F.L. Failed to report flower. (Ph.D. candidate, Ohio Univ., Athens, OH; certified airline transport pilot & flight instructor), "The 'Rock': The Role of the Press in Bringing About Change in Aircraft Accident Policy.". I said, 'Give me a job.' '', See the article in its original context from. For now, the plan on Saturday is for Nils and Knute III to ride up to the site in an ATV with a Peterson family representative. I've been able to appreciate it more the older I get.. What else is there? Brother of William D Rockne; Mary Jean Rockne and John Vincent Rockne. There will be the Happer family, whose number reaches double digits. His football team won six and lost three last season after going 4-5 the previous year. . Might as well call it the waiting room to one of the most significant pieces of college football antiquity. Knute Rockne was born Knut Larsen Rokne in Voss, Norway to the smith and wagonmaker Lars Knutson Rokne (18581912) and his wife Martha Pedersdatter Gjermo (18591944). President Herbert Hoover called Rockne's death "a national loss". The story of legendary Notre Dame football player and coach Knute Rockne. Thus he worked hard promoting Notre Dame football to make it financially successful.
Death in Florida Winter Home. It was amazing, he said of the ceremony. [14] Rockne posted the highest all-time winning percentage (.881) for a major college football coach. Led by quarterback Charlie "Gus" Dorais and Rockne, the Notre Dame team attacked the Cadets with an offense that featured both the expected powerful running game but also long and accurate downfield forward passes from Dorais to Rockne. That's the famous "win one for the Gipper" film that enhanced, if not established, the Notre Dame mystique. We have set your language to Knute Kenneth Rockne was born in Norway in 1888, immigrating to America with his parents as a young boy. He graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wis. After serving with the Marine Corps from 1944 to 1946, He attended Notre Dame from 1947-1949, transferred to Utah State University and graduated in 1951. Rockne attended St. Joseph Grade School in South Bend. "This," Brown says, leaning down to remove a blanket covering the modest receptacle, "was possibly used to transport Rockne's body. SeCOND fi of- Wc- UP Ju XK W Drath of. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Father Mooney, himself a baseball player at Notre Dame before taking the cloth, served as his coach. Years later, now grown to manhood, Knute finally saves enough money to enroll in Notre Dame, where he excels in chemistry and football. Knute Rockne (center) with Lou Gehrig (left) and George Herman "Babe" Ruth (right). [35][36] They had four children: Knute Lars Jr., William Dorias, Mary Jeane and John Vincent. Knute had 3 siblings: William D Rockne and 2 other siblings. I have a list a mile long of people I would have to consider before them.'' We grew up in South Bend. Like many diehard Irish fans, Lopez can rattle off such trivia on command. Both coaches are considered innovators, bigger-than-life characters. Knute Rockne gave his "Win One for the Gipper" speech to the Notre Dame players at halftime of the 1928 Army game. At Fordham, he coached the "Seven Blocks of Granite" which included one Vincent T. Lombardi. '', His three-year record in Plain City, Ohio, is 14-16. They had two positions open. All these years later, Rockne's mantle is still multiple seasons away from being toppled. His funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Church located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. During 13 years as head coach, his teams collected 105 victories, 12 losses, 5 ties, and 6 national championships with five undefeated seasons. ''To make sure I hit every base,'' he says. In 1931, Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne died at age 43 in a plane crash in a Kansas wheat field, and since then, his name has been elevated to mythical proportions, popularized by newsreels, books and, of course, Hollywood. About 300 people came from all over the country, just to be a part of it.. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Rockne is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history. He grew up in South Bend, where the Rockne name is still larger than life, particularly on the Notre Dame campus. He hasnt been studying the history quite like hes supposed to, Lopez says. Before coming to Plain City, he was the offensive coordinator at a high school in Kentucky. As a child, he remembers that his father, Jack, the youngest of the four Rockne children, would invite some of the old-timers back to the house after the games on Saturdays, just the way his grandfather had 30 years before. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. As for that waiting room, there will be 50 or so folks on Saturday who will gather at the exhibit at 303 Broadway like they do every five years to remember Rockne. That's all anyone ever talks about there. "Some of them will get out of the car, kneel down and say a prayer, first thing," Brown said. Rockne, raised as a Lutheran, came to Notre Dames campus in 1910, earned a degree in 1914 and developed a voracious interest in Catholicism. Knute Rockne Family Tree With Complete Detail, David Livingstone Family Tree With Complete Detail, Emilio Estevez Family Tree View Complete Tree. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. He coached the "South Bend Jolly Fellows Club" when they lost 400 to the Toledo Maroons.[10]. His height was 5 feet 8 inches and his weight was 145 pounds. He endorsed sporting-goods products, a popular shaving cream and clothing lines. I thought that was so cool that so many young people knew Easter. At Notre Dame, Rockne was educated as a chemist and he graduated in 1914 with a degree in pharmacy. [34], Rockne met Bonnie Gwendoline Skiles (18911956) of Kenton, Ohio, an avid gardener, while the two were employed at Cedar Point. The American work ethic. The game is dramatized in the movies Knute Rockne, All American and The Long Gray Line. Rockne had left his family vacationing in Florida to return to work. Afterward, Mooney gave Rockne a prayer book with the inscription, "Notre Dame 11/20/1925 To Knute Rockne - a loyal friend - May the blessing of God descend upon you and yours and remain forever. Rockne helped to transform the college game in a single contest. I did everything I could, but at some point in time, that doesn't make you any faster at the 40. The term for these competitions is colloquially known as interhall sports. "When [the funeral director] passed away and the items were sold, somebody bought this and donated it to us.". In the summer of 1913, while he was a lifeguard on the beach at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, Rockne and his college teammate and roommate Gus Dorais worked on passing techniques. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? [38], Rockne died in the crash of a Transcontinental & Western Air airliner in Kansas on March 31, 1931, while en route to participate in the production of the film The Spirit of Notre Dame (released October 13, 1931). Knute Rockne was born Knut Larsen Rokne,[4] in Voss, Norway, to smith and wagonmaker Lars Knutson Rokne (18581912) and his wife, Martha Pedersdatter Gjermo (18591944). Geni requires JavaScript! ndmag@nd.edu. He was an admirable man who showed great respect for his father and his legacy. Shortly after takeoff, the plane encountered a storm and all eight on board were killed as the plane crashed in a rural area near Bazaar, Kansas. 2023 The University of Notre Dame. ''Sometimes, I feel trapped,'' says John, who earns $17,500 a year. To them, it is more than a somber observance. His .881 winning percentage (105-12-5) is still the gold standard for college football coaches. In Rockne's . Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. [28], The 1928 team lost to national champion Georgia Tech. His funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Church located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. They bought the land that holds that marble and limestone Rockne memorial in 2018. During his 13-year career as Notre Dames football coach, his teams totaled 105 victories, 12 losses and five ties, making him the winningest coach in the history of college football. But it didn't work.'' He is survived by four children Knute Kenneth, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Jeanne Anne, of Columbus, Ohio; Nils Lars, of Dallas, Texas; and Erik Joseph, of South Bend, along with 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. To inspire the players he told them the story of the tragic death of the greatest player ever at ND, George Gipp. In 1892, Lars Knutson Rockne leaves Norway for America, in search of a better life for his family. Shortly after his birth, the Rockne family sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a new. [9] Pro Football in the Days of Rockne by Emil Klosinski maintains the worst loss ever suffered by Rockne was in 1917. [37] Rockne converted from the Lutheran to the Roman Catholic faith on November 20, 1925. There was an error deleting this problem. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. ''I thought it would be a neat trick to have a Rockne on the team,'' says Chuck Bowman, who was his coach, ''but the talent really wasn't there. Nobody has ever seen one like this.". . Son of Lars Knutson Rockne and Martha Persdatter Gjerme [33] Rockne's all-time All-America backfield was Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, George Gipp, and George Pfann. ''Then I wondered, with his name, why couldn't he get a better job.''. At the moment, he is not sending any applications to any schools. Unlike other rabid fans, Lopez holds a physical connection to Rockne. The coach said, 'With a name like you've got, you should have no problem finding a job.' Verify and try again. That was a lot of money in those days. During his 13-year career as Notre Dame's football coach, his teams totaled 105 victories, 12 losses and five ties, making him the winningest coach in the history of college football. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Brown's family settled here in the 1860s when there were still Native Americans in the area. I had to tell a beloved general I had wrecked his Mustang. This is a carousel with slides. Notre Dame's retired athletic director, Ed (Moose) Krause, who was one of Rockne's players, is more optimistic. At Chicago's North West Division High School,. about knute rockne family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. But Nils Rockne, now a San Antonio resident, doesn't mind in the least. He was very successful as an advertising pitchman for South Bend-based Studebaker and other products. His occupation was occupation. ''Being successful is the most important thing in my life,'' says John. Knute III is the son of Jack Rockne, the last remaining child of Knute Rockne, Jack died in 2008. ''I decided then'' he says, ''that if I couldn't play, I would try for the next best thing, even if it meant competing against the legend. It marks the exact spot where Rockne and seven other souls perished in a plane crash 90 years ago this week -- March 31, 1931. His players included George 'The Gipper' Gipp, the Four Horsemen, Frank Thomas, Frank Leahy and Curly Lambeau. In 1914, he was recruited by Peggy Parratt to play for the Akron Indians. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. ROCKNE GRANDSONS FEEL HELD BACK BY THEIR NAME, https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/18/sports/rockne-grandsons-feel-held-back-by-their-name.html, The answer depends largely on what colors you wear. Nils recalls years ago when someone asked for his son's autograph. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. They needed a win one for the Gipper speech. [20][21], Rockne handled the line and Gus Dorais handled the backfield of the 1919 team. Not when you're the grandson of the greatest college football coach of all time. Lopez describes himself as paranoid about the rosary and prayer book he moved the memorabilia to a safety deposit box after worrying that the safe hed installed in his house in Valparaiso, Indiana, didnt offer enough protection.