Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528160
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 26, 2024 51 Miller returned to his role as line coach from 1934-47, then moved into athletic administration, where he served until his retirement in 1974. An athletic field at the academy was named to honor his long, distinguished career representing Navy athletics. In 1966, his many contributions to the game were recognized with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Over the years, most fans of the two prestigious institutions have learned about the role the Navy played in keep- ing Notre Dame afloat, so to speak, dur- ing World War II. Notre Dame was down to fewer than 1,000 students when the Navy accepted an invitation to use the campus for an officer training base. Notre Dame became a buzzing center of activity for the duration of the war, and never looked back. As a result, Notre Dame made a pledge that, as long as it wanted, Navy would have a place on the Irish football schedule. Today, the long tradition of mutual re- spect and honor between Notre Dame and Navy is represented by the Rip Miller Trophy. It is unlike any other trophy in college football. Rather than the winner taking possession for the next year, the Rip Miller Trophy consists of two parts, each of which is returned to its home campus until the next game is played. Then the two are brought together to honor the two schools when they play. Rather than game results, the Rip Miller Trophy lists each team's captains down through the years, as it honors leader- ship, sportsmanship and respect. We were honored to make a presen- tation on the life of Rip Miller when the trophy was unveiled in a banquet in Balti- more in 2011. Mrs. Esther Miller, that shy high school girl Rip met on a double date so many years earlier, did the unveiling. She lived until age 109, forever proud of her husband's associations with college football and some of its best traditions. ✦ Congratula ons JOE THEISMANN Recipient of the 2024 Knute Rockne Spirit of Sports LIVING LEGEND Award To see a recap of the Award event, please visit www.RockneSociety.org Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jim@ndfootballhistory.com Mrs. Es Miller unveiled the Rip Miller Trophy, which honors both Notre Dame and Navy, at a banquet in Baltimore in 2011. PHOTO COURTESY KNUTE ROCKNE MEMORIAL SOCIETY