This was the headline --
90 years ago -- when the University of Notre Dame and Western Michigan University last played each other in football. Notre Dame was led that day by a senior halfback named George Gipp, who had 14 carries for 123 yards -- scoring 2 TD's. Gipp also completed a pass for 10 yards in the game.
"The Gipper" -- Notre Dame's first ever All-American football player, died two months later from pneumonia -- his illness led to missing the last game of the 1920 season against Michigan State. Notre Dame's victory over Western Michigan was one of their nine victories that year -- and their second straight undefeated season and National Championship under third-year Head Coach, Knute Rockne. Notre Dame played Western Michigan the year before (1919) as well -- beating them 53-0. Will Western Michigan score their first points ever in football against Notre Dame this Saturday?
And a question for the RESEARCH FREAKS out there -- is this the longest gap of time (90 years) between two opponents playing in college football history? Here's a link to George Gipp's per game statistics during his football career at Notre Dame:
LINK:
THE GIPP YEARS AT ND
