Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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50 AUGUST 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED IRISH ECHOES JIM LEFEBVRE K nute Rockne built his dynasty of champions at Notre Dame with- out the benefit of anything resem- bling the player scouting and recruiting that would ensue in future decades. Especially in his first several years of coaching the Irish, Rockne simply relied on the school's budding athletic tradi- tion and network of former student- athletes, who kept the flow of talented young men headed to South Bend. On countless occasions, a high school teacher, coach or priest from across the Midwest, sometimes further, would write Rockne extolling the attributes of a high school standout, pointing out the many fine points of the youngster as an athlete, scholar and upstanding citizen. More often than not, Coach Rockne's reply was simply, "Send the boy on." In other words, get him to campus and let him compete with the couple of hundred others in his class who have dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. Let him work his way onto the freshman team, then compete for play- ing time and, as a sophomore, we'll see where he sits among the many candi- dates for the Irish varsity. It's hard to imagine, but in a handful of cases, regulars who played on some of Rockne's strongest teams did so without the benefit of having played high school football. One of these was a member of the "Seven Mules" on the 1924 national champions, right end Edward "Bugs" Hunsinger of Chillicothe, Ohio. In Chillicothe, Ed Hunsinger attended his parish high school, St. Mary's, which did not have a football team at the time. In fact, young Edward was one of just six graduates of the high school in 1920. No athletic honors were awarded, but he did receive the school's Medal of Chris- tian Doctrine. Hunsinger played some football for a team sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus. He also was a regular on the K of C's baseball team. On the hardwood, Hunsinger helped organize a St. Mary's basketball team and was its center. "Bugs" was also a standout performer in many dramatic acts at St. Mary's. At Notre Dame, Hunsinger gained more football experience playing on the freshman team in 1921 and in the Inter- hall league. He then earned a spot on the 1922 varsity as a reserve end, and spent the next two seasons as a backup to Glen Carberry, George Vergara and Gene Mayl. In the Oct. 13, 1923, game versus Army at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, Mayl went down with an injury and Hun- singer took his place. With Notre Dame clinging to a late lead, a long sweeping run around Hunsinger's end made by Jim Crowley set up the last touchdown in the 13-0 win. With Carberry, Vergara and Mayl gone in 1924, Hunsinger completed his rise up the depth chart and snared the spot as regular right end. At 5-foot-11, 172 pounds, he brought good size and great energy to the position, which fo- cused on blocking and tackling much more than receiving passes. The "Four Horsemen" in the backfield did most of the pass catching in those years. Time and again during the unbeaten 1924 season, Hunsinger came up with a steady play that helped the Irish roll to a 10-0 record and consensus national championship. Typical was a timely stop when the game at Wisconsin, a 38-3 romp, was still in doubt. Harry McAndrews, Wisconsin's track star, tried to circle the end, but was hauled down for a 7-yard loss by Hunsinger. In the pivotal Nebraska game, a 34-6 win, Chuck Collins and Hunsinger hemmed in the Huskers' efforts to run wide. The Scholastic's 1924 Football Review commented on his play this way: "'All things come to him who waits,' and the season of 1924 was the reward for Ed Hunsinger of Chillicothe, Ohio. Ever since his freshman year in 1921, Hunsinger has had to contend with more experienced competition, but after graduation had taken Carberry and Mayl from the ranks, Rockne had a faithful and dependable end to call in, who displayed an inimitable fighting spirit in every game. "As zealously as did [Chuck] Col- lins guard the left flank, so Hunsinger stood watch over the right. Rockne did not drill his ends to turn the play in and smash interference all year merely for exercise. Experience had revealed to him that his team was complete with Collins and Hunsinger, and neither wingman failed to produce during the long hard season of 1924." Hunsinger's crowning glory came in the decisive 27-10 victory over Stanford on Jan. 1, 1925, in the Rose Bowl. In the third quarter, with Notre Dame protect- ing a 13-3 lead, Elmer Layden launched a 50-yard punt into the waiting arms of Stanford's Fred Solomon. But the Cardinal quarterback bobbled the ball and it bounded away from him. Solomon dove for the ball but Collins Edward 'Bugs' Hunsinger Rose From Quiet Background To A 'Seven Mule' Standout CELEBRATING THE 1924 CHAMPIONS Hunsinger spent two years as a reserve end before becoming a starter for the Irish in 1924. Known for his blocking and tackling as a player, he would go on to coach a young Vince Lombardi on the offensive line at Fordham University. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS