Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530074
14 DECEMBER 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY JACK SOBLE A nthonie Knapp has never been a very spiritual person. But some- time in 2022, he had a dream that changed his life. Knapp, then a junior at Roswell (Ga.) High, was sitting next to someone on a bus. That someone kept telling him, "Hey. I'm fine." By the end of the dream, he could see his face. It was Robbie Roper, Roswell's quarterback who had suddenly and tragically passed away in December 2021. Knapp woke up in tears. He was Rop- er's blindside protector throughout his sophomore season, his first as a varsity starter. Roper, a senior, was like an older brother to him. But as Knapp collected himself, that's when it hit him. That's when he knew he could move on. "It's this weird feeling of peace," Knapp told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "That's him, physically, telling me he's fine. It's not something I should grieve anymore." Two years later, Knapp met with re- porters after starting his first college game — a 23-13 win over Texas A&M in College Station, Texas — at left tackle for Notre Dame. The freshman was asked about one of his tattoos, a Dutch slogan honoring his maternal great- grandfather that translates to "Remain optimistic until you die." Before answering the question, Knapp pointed to another tattoo, half-hidden by the tape on his left wrist. It's his first tattoo. It reads, "Long Live 5." Five was Roper's number. Knapp felt it's important for people to know his name. "Robbie was one of those guys who really helped me gain that confidence, regardless of who I'm going up against," Knapp said. "It's a lot of things that people can take away from. That's why I wanted to share his story." A QUARTERBACK AND HIS LEFT TACKLE On the night of Dec. 21, 2022, Knapp and his teammates went to mass to pray for Roper. They knew he was sick, but it still didn't feel real. They thought he was going to be OK. The next morning, he got the call. "It's just the whole flood of emotions," LONG LIVE 5 How a beloved teammate's tragic passing drives freshman left tackle Anthonie Knapp Elevated to the Irish starting lineup at left tackle before the season opener with Texas A&M, Knapp immediately used his platform to share the memory of his late high school teammate Robbie Roper. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER