Ray “Iron Ike” Eichenlaub crushes opposing defenses and firmly puts the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the national college football map with his bruising, unstoppable runs.
Football Bio
July 15, 1892 – Ray Eichenlaub, known as “Iron Ike,” was a powerhouse, unstoppable All-American fullback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
His bruising running style helped put the program on the national map.
A 1972 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, he is famously woven into Notre Dame lore as the player whose old cleats Knute Rockne used to recruit the legendary George Gipp.
Ray Eichenlaub cements his legacy not just as a dominant, point-scoring machine, but as an essential foundational pillar of Notre Dame football history.
Verified Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1972.
- All-American Recognition: Named a Second-Team All-America selection in 1913 and received various All-America honors from selectors of the era.
- All-Western Selection: Consistently named to All-Western college football teams for all but his freshman season.
- Career Scoring Mark: Amassed 176 total points over his collegiate career.
- 1913 Season Dominance: Hammered out an incredible 12 touchdowns in just seven games during the 1913 season.
- Winning Record: Helped lead the Fighting Irish to an outstanding 26-2-2 overall record during his four seasons (1911–1914).
- NFL Appearance: Played professionally in the National Football League for the Columbus Tigers in 1925.