By Darin 
The simple phrase “Win one for the Gipper” is arguably the most famous locker room speech in sports history, and it was born out of a desperate moment. On November 10, 1928, at Yankee Stadium, Knute Rockne’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish faced a highly favored, undefeated Army Black Knights team. The Irish were a rare underdog, having already lost twice—something Rockne’s teams had done only once in his previous decade as head coach. But Rockne knew how to unlock an extraordinary effort, and at halftime with the score tied (or perhaps 6-0 Army depending on the source), he invoked the ghost of his greatest player, George Gipp, transforming a struggling team into an inspired force.
Rockne gathered his team and recounted the poignant story of his first All-American, George Gipp, the legendary halfback who had died tragically of complications from a throat infection and pneumonia on December 14, 1920, at the age of 25. The coach shared what he claimed was Gipp’s deathbed request: that one day, when the team was struggling and “the breaks were beating the boys,” Rockne would ask them to “win just one for the Gipper.” Whether the conversation truly happened as Rockne described remains a subject of historical debate, but in that pivotal moment in the Yankee Stadium locker room, its emotional power was absolute.
The effect on the underdog Notre Dame team was immediate and profound. The inspired Fighting Irish rallied in the second half, stunning the 6-0 Army squad with a 12-6 victory. The winning score was punctuated by halfback Jack Chevigny, who scored a touchdown and declared, “That’s one for the Gipper!” The phrase was quickly immortalized by sportswriters and cemented George Gipp’s legacy as a tragic hero and eternal rallying cry. Gipp himself was a generational talent, so gifted that he never even played high school football, arriving at Notre Dame on a baseball scholarship.
Rockne gives instruction 11 Nov 1928, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Verified Football Accolades and Accomplishments of George Gipp:
- First Notre Dame All-American: Named a consensus All-American in 1920.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1951 (inaugural class).
- Notre Dame Rushing Record: His career total of 2,341 rushing yards stood as a school record for 58 years.
- Record for Average Yards Per Rush (Season): Still holds the Notre Dame record for 8.1 average yards per rush in a single season (1920).
- Record for Average Yards of Total Offense (Career): Still holds the Notre Dame career record of 9.4 yards of total offense per play and 128.4 total offense yards per game.
- Versatile Playmaker: Excelled as a rusher, passer (1,789 career passing yards), punter (38-yard average), and defensive back, showcasing rare two-way versatility.
The 1928 victory over Army, though simply one win on a 5-4 season (the worst of Rockne’s coaching tenure), ensured that Gipp’s name would be spoken by generations of future football fans. The story’s lasting impact was further amplified by the 1940 film, Knute Rockne—All-American, starring Ronald Reagan as Gipp, ensuring that the phrase transcended sports to become a part of American cultural and political rhetoric.