BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM AUGUST 2024 51
brushed him aside, and Hunsinger flew
past, picking up the ball and racing 20
yards into the Cardinal end zone amid
an escort of blue jerseys. The big play
gave the Irish a commanding 20-3 lead.
After graduating from Notre Dame
with a bachelor of law degree, Hunsinger
had a brief foray in the fledgling National
Football League, playing for the Hartford
Blues in 1925 and the Brooklyn Horse-
men in 1926. He then joined former Irish
teammates in the coaching ranks, serv-
ing as an assistant to Harry Stuhldreher,
head coach at Villanova, from 1926-32
before moving on to assist Crowley at
Fordham in 1933-34.
At Fordham, Hunsinger was on a
coaching staff of all former Notre Dame
standouts, including fellow assistants
Frank Leahy, Glen Carberry and Earl
Walsh. They led the '33 Rams to a 6-2
record which included a 2-0 victory
over Alabama before 60,000 at the Polo
Grounds — the Crimson Tide's only loss
of the season.
At Fordham, Hunsinger helped de-
velop a young Rams lineman named
Vince Lombardi, who became one of
the school's famous "Seven Blocks of
Granite," moving Lombardi from full-
back to guard.
Hunsinger had a stint as head coach of
Niagara University in 1935-36 before leav-
ing football. He served in the U.S. Navy
during World War II, then went to work as
a construction engineer in Philadelphia,
where he died in 1960 at age 59. ✦
For more informa on, please visit: www.RockneSociety.org
Throughout 2024, the Knute Rockne Memorial Society
will remember and celebrate the centennial of the
1924 Notre Dame na onal champions, featuring Coach Rockne,
The Four Horsemen and The Seven Mules. Watch for updates!
Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre
Dame author and leads the Knute
Rockne Memorial Society. He can be
reached at: jim@ndfootballhistory.com
The 1933 football coaching staff at Fordham University was made up entirely of former Notre Dame
standouts. From left, Earl Walsh, Frank Leahy, head coach Jim Crowley, Ed Hunsinger and Glen Carberry.
PHOTO COURTESY FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
