The essence of football was blocking, tackling, and execution based on timing, rhythm and deception.

His players included George 'Gipper' Gipp the "Four Horsemen" (Harry Stuhldreher Don Miller Jim Crowley and Elmer Layden) Frank Thomas Frank Leahy and Curly Lambeau. On November 10 1928 when the "Fighting Irish" team was losing to Army 6-0 at the end of the half Rockne entered the locker room and told the team the words he heard on Gipp's deathbed in 1920: "I've got to go Rock. " This inspired the team who then outscored Army in the second half and won the game 12-6.

Knute Kenneth Rockne (pron. : /kəˈnuːt/ kə-NOOT; March 4 1888 – March 31 1931) was an American football player and coach both at the University of Notre Dame.