Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510565
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 4, 2023 53 blocked into the Irish end zone for a safety, the day belonged to Rockne's men. Don Miller and Jim Crowley, in particular, ran wild, as Notre Dame set off on one long drive after another. The Irish rolled up an astounding 455 yards from scrimmage to Princeton's 95. They piled up 28 first downs to the Tigers' 4. The Irish did most of their damage on the ground. The Notre Dame Alumnus noted that, "Roper sent man after man into the line hoping to solve the mystery attack that marched down the field with all the majesty of an Atlantic liner and speed of the Century … Notre Dame rolled on with her straight football tac- tics, distaining to take the aerial route for two or three other touchdowns that might have been had for the asking." One writer described the Notre Dame attack this way: "Its backfield shift was the true poetry of motion. There was no lost energy, no halting, nor stumbling. Every man was assigned to a particular task and every man took care of his job. Its attack was a knifing attack. Its inter- ference formed in a flash and the runner never came out from behind it." Notre Dame's defense was just as stout, and finished the afternoon when Elmer Layden intercepted a pass at midfield and "breezed the distance through the entire Tiger team to score standing up." Final score: Notre Dame 25, Princeton 2. "One of the worst trouncings in the history of Nassau," one report noted. The major Eastern press was unani- mous in their praise for the Irish: "Six touchdowns and 38 points against the Army and Princeton on successive Saturdays has been one of the leading football triumphs of many seasons." "Rockne's wizards attack relentlessly … they were thorough, superb." "The brainiest, fastest, fightingest football outfit throughout the length and breadth of these United States." "We want to pay tribute to the clean playing of the Notre Dame eleven, no member of which forgot the code of the game in the heat of the conflict. The glory of the victory is fleeting, but good sportsmanship leaves an indelible mark on the pages of time." The Irish had gained the attention of the football world. ✦ Rockne started preparing his team to face Princeton during spring practice with a class- room lecture that guided his players through a mythical game with the Tigers. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS For more informa on, please visit: www.RockneSociety.org The Knute Rockne Memorial Society is dedicated to preserving and promo ng the life story of Coach Knute Rockne and all he stood for. Through its annual Rockne Awards, the Rockne Society recognizes and inspires great achievement in athle cs…and in life. Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jim@ndfootballhistory.com