Rockne

Ronald Reagan’s political slogan when he was running for president was “Win one for the Gipper,” a quote associated with his 1940 football film “Knute Rockne, All American.”

It was time for a Knute Rockne speech, except Taylor struck a more measured tone.

“It’s not like we’re all of a sudden going to give them a Knute Rockne speech, even though none of them know who Knute Rockne was. But that speech wouldn’t work anyway. Show them what we need to do, let them be themselves, that’s the plan.”

It was the Knute Rockne era, so heroes were easy to find, especially one named George Gipp.

Knute Rockne, Notre Dame’s fabled football coach, said, “I’ve found prayers work best when you have big players.”