Knute Rockne built Notre Dame into arguably the most successful college football program in history. Yet few people realize that Rockne accepted a job at Notre Dame only after Indiana turned him down over his controversial “methods.” Here’s the Knute Rockne story Indiana football fans would like to forget.
The Curse of Knute Rockne
It’s no secret the Indiana Hoosiers football team has been a perennial loser on the Big Ten’s gridiron since the conference’s beginnings in the 1800s. The IU football team last won the Big Ten title in 1967 – nearly 60 years ago! Their only other title was in 1945. That’s two titles in over 100 years. Hoosier fans have to wonder what could have been if IU had only been smart enough to hire Knute Rockne – the legendary coach who led Notre Dame to the football glory it still enjoys today nearly 100 years later.
Perhaps Indiana would be the Big Ten’s dominant team. A football powerhouse like Michigan and Ohio State have been for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, Indiana passed on Knute Rockne. As a result, Hoosier fans have suffered through more than 100 years of mediocre (at best) football.
After the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth – perhaps the greatest baseball player ever – to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox failed to win the World Series for more than 100 years. It was dubbed the “Curse of the Bambino” – Ruth’s nickname. Indiana fans could consider the last 100 years of bad Indiana football as the “Curse of Knute Rockne.”
Indiana’s “Winningest” Coach Had a Losing Record
More on the Knute Rockne story in a moment. Back to the painful reality of Indiana football. Bill Mallory’s teams enjoyed some success during his tenure from 1984 to 1996. Several IU alums played in the NFL – including Anthony Thompson who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1989. Mallory won more games (66) than any coach in IU football history. Yet at 66-79-3 overall, Indiana’s “winningest” football coach had a losing record.
As a student during that era, I recall the team having a winning record and going to a mediocre bowl game every year. Does anyone remember the Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl? Virginia Tech blew out the Hoosiers in the 1993 edition. While it’s too early to say for sure, Indiana’s football fortunes may be changing thanks to the Hoosiers’ new head football coach.
Curt “I Win” Cignetti May Help Indiana Football Fans Forget Knute Rockne
Curt Cignetti brought a new attitude of winning to Bloomington. At his opening press conference, he said: “I win. Google me.” That’s why I’m calling him Curt “I Win” Cignetti. You have to love his confidence. So far, so good. At 5-0, he’s off to the best start ever for an Indiana Hoosier football coach. That includes a 42-13 demolition of UCLA at the Rose Bowl. And a 42-28 victory over Maryland last Saturday. With the Big Ten season getting into full swing, winning will become more challenging in the coming weeks. While the jury is still out on Coach Cignetti, Knute Rockne is college football royalty. He built Notre Dame into one of the most storied college football programs of all time. But only after Indiana passed on him did he accept a job at Notre Dame.
How Indiana Fumbled on Hiring the Legendary Knute Rockne
Here’s the story as told by a letter found in the IU archives: On June 28, 1914, newly hired IU football coach Clarence Childs penned a letter to then IU president William Lowe Bryan. In the letter, Coach Childs expressed concern over Rockne’s “methods.” While the letter failed to expand, Knute Rockne revolutionized football with the forward pass as a primary offensive weapon. Obviously, Coach Childs was not a fan of Rockne’s innovative “methods.”
Coach Childs lasted two seasons in Bloomington. Finishing with a losing record (6-7-1) before disappearing into obscurity. Meanwhile, Knute Rockne led Notre Dame to three national championships, five undefeated seasons, and finished with an incredible record of 105-12-5. Chances are Rockne would have compiled a similar record at Indiana University. And perhaps IU would have enjoyed 100+ years as a football powerhouse. Unfortunately, Hoosier fans will never know.
On the bright side, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future of Hoosier football under the leadership of Curt “I Win” Cignetti. Can Coach Cignetti make Indiana football fans forget how IU fumbled on hiring arguably the greatest college football coach ever? Only time will tell. Indiana fans hope Coach Cignetti keeps winning.
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