Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH ECHOES JIM LEFEBVRE 50 SEPT. 27, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED A crowd of nearly 200 gathered at The History Museum of South Bend Sept. 19, the day before Notre Dame hosted Purdue, for the ninth an- nual Knute Rockne Spirit of Sports Awards Celebration. The theme was the broad reach of Notre Dame athletics, as honorees in- cluded those who excelled and led in football, basketball, hockey and track and field, for their accomplishments at Notre Dame and beyond. Also honored were two broadcasters for their excel- lent careers. Several past Rockne Award honor- ees were in attendance, and the event was hosted by Allison Hayes, who leads ABC57's Kickoff Show on Notre Dame football game days. The Awards Celebration location was special, as The History Museum recently opened its special exhibit "Rockne: Life and Legacy." The exhibit is the most extensive ever assembled that examines the life and broad im- pact of Knute Rockne. Numerous arti- facts, photos and stories help illustrate his impact on how football was played, coached, viewed and promoted. Rockne put Notre Dame football on the map and helped cement athletics within the edu- cational system of the nation. The exhibit is open to the public Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. EST. Admis- sion is $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors, $7 for youth (6-17) and free to Museum members. The Museum is located at 897 Thomas St., South Bend. Here are the 2025 Rockne Award winners: DR. BILL HURD '69 INSPIRATION AWARD Dr. Bill Hurd '69, All-American track star in his days as a Notre Dame student-athlete, was hon- ored for his career in medicine, philanthropy and music, breaking barriers and serving the needs of others in an inspiring way. Hurd set track and field records that lasted for decades. But his real sprint — the fight for equality, education and service — was just beginning. He went on to a career as a renowned ophthalmolo- gist and philanthropist, restoring sight to thou- sands through global cataract surgery missions in underserved regions of the world. COACH JEFF JACKSON LEADERSHIP AWARD When he was named Notre Dame ice hockey head coach in 2005, Jackson was already a two- time NCAA champion, having led Lake Superior State to national titles in both 1992 and '94. He also played a key role in building the U.S. Na- tional Team Development Program, an initiative that has launched the careers of countless U.S. hockey stars. At Notre Dame, Jackson made the Irish a major player on the national stage. He led the Irish to 12 of their 13 all-time NCAA Tournament appear- ances, including four trips to the Frozen Four, and national championship game appearances in 2008 and 2018. He twice received the Spencer Penrose Trophy as national coach of the year. He leaves behind the centerpiece of Notre Dame hockey, the Compton Family Ice Arena, built under his watch, and the deep respect of his players, coaches and opponents. THE FAMILY OF NOBLE KIZER LEGACY AWARD Noble Kizer, a key member of Notre Dame's 1924 national champions, went on to a highly successful run as head football coach and athletics director at Purdue. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the height of World War I, Kizer began working at the South Bend YMCA to earn money for col- lege. There, Rockne saw him working out and was impressed enough to ask Kizer to enroll at Notre Dame and come out for football. He worked his way up to starting right guard in 1924. Following graduation in 1925, Kizer became line coach at Purdue, and in 1930 became head coach. Kizer guided the Boilermakers to Big Ten championships in 1931 and '32. His .750 winning percentage (42-13-3) remains the highest for any Purdue coach who led the team for more than two seasons. His victory total is third all time. COACH DIGGER PHELPS LIVING LEGEND AWARD Coach Digger Phelps guided Notre Dame men's basketball to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1978 Final Four. On Jan. 19, 1974, he led the Irish to its greatest basketball victory ever, ending UCLA's record 88-game win streak. Six more times in his career, Notre Dame upset the No. 1 team in the country. In 20 seasons under Phelps, the Irish won two- thirds of their games, for a record of 393-197. He coached several All-Americans and future NBA players and ignited the Notre Dame basketball fan base as a colorful and quotable leader. That led to a successful career in broadcasting, with a 20-year run as an analyst on ESPN. Since his retirement, Phelps has remained an ambassador for basketball, Notre Dame and the human spirit, with countless acts of kindness for friends and acquaintances. TRICIA SLOMA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Award-winning journalist Tricia Sloma, an anchor and reporter at WNDU television in South Bend, has earned numerous state and national honors in her more than 30-year broadcasting career. Most recently, Sloma served as the executive producer and host of "Knute Rockne and a Century of Champions." In this one-hour documentary, Sloma and her team detail the events of the 1920s that put Notre Dame football on a path to national Rockne Awards Honor Significant Achievements, In And Out Of Sports Noble Kizer was a key member of Notre Dame's 1924 national champions, and he went on to a highly successful run as head football coach and athletics director at Purdue. PHOTO COURTESY JANET EULER BRADY