Ray Eichenlaub Fighting Irish Legend

July 15, 1892 - Ray Eichenlaub, an All-American Fullback for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame University, was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.

The National Football Foundation celebrates this great player, recounting a fascinating story that is connected with him. It all started when Notre Dame assistant football coach Knute Rockne was walking across the South Bend campus one fall afternoon in 1917 and came upon a young freshman named George Gipp.

Rockne had been urging Gipp to come out for football. "I've got just the pair of cleats for you," the Rock told Gipp. "A special pair?" the young man wanted to know. "Yea," said Rockne, "they belonged to Ray Eichenlaub." " Who is he?" Gipp asked. "Around these parts he was known as a real Notre Dame man," Rockne replied. Of course, "The Gipper" went on to become a Notre Dame legend, something Eichenlaub had already done. Rockne had played end on the teams with "Iron Eich" and he knew the big fullback well. He went on to play in the NFL in the 1925 season with the Columbus Tigers.