Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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58 NOV. 9, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED IRISH ECHOES JIM LEFEBVRE BY JIM LEFEBVRE I n the early 20th century, the Miller family of Defiance, Ohio, earned the honor of being the "first family of Notre Dame football." For nearly two decades, at least one Miller boy had been attending Notre Dame and playing football. There were five in all — and they were scholars, gentlemen and excellent ambassadors for the uni- versity as they went out into the world. The oldest brother, Harry "Red" Miller, enrolled at Notre Dame in 1906. He had starred on several of the first football teams at Defiance High School, including the undefeated 1904 squad. At Notre Dame, he started at left half all four years and served as captain of the 1908 team. His teams produced an overall record of 27-2-2. Harry played a major role in the one of the most historic events in Notre Dame football history. On Nov. 6, 1909, at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Mich., Harry helped Notre Dame score its first victory over mighty Michigan, 11-3. In eight previous meetings dating back to Notre Dame's first game in 1887, Michigan had prevailed. On this day, Harry broke the hex. Such was his prominence that one Detroit pa- per simply declared "Miller Defeats Mich- igan." For his season-long exploits, Miller was named to Walter Camp's All-Amer- ica team, just the second Notre Dame gridder to be so honored, after another "Red," fullback Louis Salmon in 1903. Next in line was Ray, among the most accomplished students in the Miller clan. He was a champion orator at Defi- ance High School. Ray enrolled at Notre Dame in 1910 alongside a young Knute Rockne. Ray backed up Rockne at left end on the undefeated 1912 team. Ray earned his law degree, but he had little time to establish his career before an- other mission took precedence, as he served in France during the Great War. The unbroken string of years with a Miller brother at Notre Dame continued in 1914, when Walter enrolled shortly after Ray's graduation. Walter became a contemporary of the great George Gipp, starting at fullback in 1917 alongside the legendary star. He sat out the war-and- flu-shortened 1918 season and played more fullback in 1919, Gipp's next-to- last year. The Irish went 9-0-0 for the first unbeaten season under Rockne. In the fall of 1921, the fourth and fifth brothers — Gerry and Don — arrived on campus together. Gerry was older than Don, but he had missed some school due to illness. They carried the hopes of their family — and hometown of Defi- ance — to continue the Miller tradition of excellence at Notre Dame. (A sixth brother, Richard, had died in a fire in a woodshed on the family property when he was just shy of 6 years old.) Don and Gerry had starred together at Defiance High. One report said of Gerry, "When this clever half got away he wrig- gled through the broken field time and again, throwing off tacklers and dazzling the opposing defense." Such a descrip- tion of Gerry's running style helped brand him as the Miller most exciting to watch. Don's contributions were considerable and consistent, but it was Gerry who more often brought the crowd to its feet. As a freshman in September 1921, Don was disheartened when the Notre Dame football togs were distributed and he received mere scraps. Gerry, mean- while, became the star of the freshman team. He was set to take his place as the next great Miller when he opened the 1922 season as a varsity halfback. Don simply went to work to become the best football player he possibly could be. Gathering his resolve, he worked tirelessly, often alone. Even from the sidelines, he mimicked the moves made by those in the fray, tossing aside any self-consciousness to build his skills. In a few weeks' time, the brothers' football fortunes would undergo another stark reversal. In the second game of the season, a 26-0 win over St. Louis, Gerry suffered a season-ending leg injury. Don, meanwhile, got more playing time and became the first of the 1922 sophomores to start regularly, supplanting another speedster, Red Maher, at right half. Years of steady, constant effort had paid off. Don Miller, like Harry, Ray and Walter before him, was starting for the Irish. Don finished his sophomore year sec- ond on the team with 472 rushing yards. As a junior in 1923, he led the Irish in rush- ing (689 yards on 89 carries, with 9 touch- downs), receiving (9 catches for 149 yards and 1 touchdown) and scoring (60 points). Don had established himself as a leader on campus and was elected senior class president for the 1924-25 school year. His determination, rock-steady persona and conscientious nature made him a natural choice. On the football 'First Family Of Notre Dame Football' Produced A Horseman CELEBRATING THE 1924 CHAMPIONS Four Horseman Don Miller led the Fighting Irish in rushing and receiving in both 1923 and 1924. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS