This Day In History: Gipp's Best Game (1920 vs. Army)
On Oct. 30, 1920, Notre Dame traveled to West Point, N.Y. for a matchup with Army. It was an important meeting of west meets east, as Knute Rockne’s team surprised many with a 27-17 win over the Cadets. The Irish were led by the “superman act” of George Gipp, who seemed to do it all – punting, passing, and running the Irish to a victory that opened the eyes of sportswriters across the East Coast. The following excerpt was first published in the Nov. 6, 1920 issue of Scholastic, while the accompanying images are courtesy of the University of Notre Dame Archives.
A great chapter in Notre Dame’s unparalleled football history has been completed; another greater and more glorious, is about to be written. Seven continuous and successful years of eastern invasions have brought the reward of honest recognition to Notre Dame and the West.
Notre Dame’s third consecutive victory over the Army at West Point Saturday has conclusively proved the contention that western football is the equal, if not the superior, of the eastern game. A score of coldly judging, later admiring and finally enthusiastic sport writers, gridiron experts and critics from the metropolitan press viewed the battle. They saw the Army team, admittedly the strongest, best coached and brilliant West Point machine in recent years, meet its defeat at the hands of the greatest combination of “football brains, speed and courage” seen in the east in a decade. A dozen of the great eastern papers carried the play-by-play story of the game, its wonders, revelations and lessons. Flaring headlines proclaimed All-American candidates, and long columns recorded and resounded with “Mr. George Gipp,” “sons of old Notre Dame,” “dazzling aerial attack,” “keen generalship.” “invincible lin” and a hundred other phrases; all in just tribute to Coach Rockne’s men, who have wrestled the title of gridiron leadership from the east for the west.
Many newspaper clips were featured alongside Scholastic’s account of the Irish victory, including this excerpt originally published by The Buffalo Post-Standard.
Notre Dame overwhelmed the Army on the plains here today, rushing through for two touchdowns in the fourth period which started with the Army leading 17 to 14. The final score was Notre Dame 27, Army 17, and that does not indicate to any degree the superiority of the team from the Hoosier state. The Notre Dame team is composed principally of a left half-back, George Gipp by name, who is to Notre Dame what Elmer Oliphant was to the Army some years ago. He plows through lines, runs ends and hurls forward passes with startling accuracy. It seemed that his average gain was 10 yards. When Notre Dame was in a quandary for a first down, they seemed to pass the ball to Gipp and let him use his own judgment. The Cadets were by no means depressed by the result of the game. They made a good stiff fight against a team that was obviously superior. That was apparent even when the Army was leading.
George Gipp runs the ball around right end against Army in West Point, N.Y.
A collage featuring headlines and images of George Gipp from the 1921 Dome Yearbook.
Game action from the 1920 contest between Notre Dame and Army.
Postcard featuring captain Frank Coughlin and scores from Notre Dame’s 1920 games against Army and Purdue.
Clipping from Collier’s Magazine announcing the Walter Camp All-America Team, which featured Notre Dame’s George Gipp.
George Gipp poses in street clothes at a Notre Dame practice.
- 001First game in Notre Dame Football history
- 002Hesburgh: From Trains to Planes
- 003Notre Dame's First “Game of the Century,” 1935
- 004Pinkett Helps the Irish Shock #1 Pitt
- 005Notre Dame Victory March debut
- 006Irv Smith vs. Indiana (1991)
- 007Strong and True: Pat Terrell
- 008First game in series with Navy
- 009Holtz Relaxation Sessions
- 0101981 LSU/Faust Debut
- 011Strong and True: Ara Comes To Notre Dame
- 012Ray Zellars vs. Purdue (1994)
- 013“The Genuflect Play” (1971)
- 0141901 State Title
- 015Ara Takes The Team To Moreau Seminary, 1964
- 016Montana Leads The Irish Back (1977 vs. Purdue)
- 017The Intensity of Frank Leahy
- 018This Day in History: Reggie Ho's Heroics (1988 vs. Michigan)
- 019Lou Holtz Debut (1986 vs. Michigan)
- 020Notre Dame's Third Game of the Century (1966 vs. Michigan St.)
- 021Lambert Caps Comeback (2006 vs. MSU)
- 022Tim Brown Goes Back-to-Back (1987 vs. Michigan State)
- 023Dillingham to Battle (2002 vs. Michigan State)
- 024The Rocket Launches...Twice (1989 vs. Michigan)
- 025Brian Smith Seals It (2008 vs. Michigan)
- 026This Day in History: ND Turns on the Lights
- 027The Unconscious Touchdown (1992 vs. Michigan)
- 028This Day in History: Harry Oliver's Heroics
- 029This Day in History: Irish Hook the Horns
- 030Irish Top Wolverines Under The Lights (1990 vs. Michigan)
- 031Irish Upset National Champs (1998 vs. Michigan)
- 032125 Year Celebration Interactive Photo
- 033Rocky Bleier Returns From Vietnam
- 034This Day in History: The Era of Ara Begins
- 035Strong and True: Tom Thayer
- 036This Day In History: Rockne Takes The Reins
- 037Strong and True: Gerome Sapp
- 038Notre Dame Goes International: The Mirage Bowl
- 039Frank Leahy Joins The Navy
- 040The Build Up (1988 vs. Miami)
- 041The Locker Room Speech (1988 vs. Miami)
- 042The Blocked Punt (1988 vs. Miami)
- 043The Play (1988 vs. Miami)
- 044Irish Upset Hurricanes in Series Finale
- 045Strong and True: Steve Beuerlein
- 046The Block
- 047This Day in History: Game of the Decade
- 048Quinn to Samardzija
- 049College GameDay
- 050The Touchdown That Should Have Been
- 051Play Like a Champion Today
- 052This Day In History: Covington's Goal Line Stop (1995 vs. Army)
- 053Strong and True: Tim Brown
- 054Strong and True: Justin Tuck
- 055The House That Rockne Built (1930 vs. Navy)
- 056Tiger Bait? Not. (1984 vs. LSU)
- 057October 18, 1924: The Four Horsemen Arrive
- 058Strong and True: Marc Edwards
- 059Strong and True: Shawn Wooden
- 060Pass Right (2005 vs. Washington)
- 061Strong and True: Luther Bradley
- 062The Genius of Ara
- 063Staying on Top (1943 vs. Iowa Pre-Flight)
- 064Ending The Streak (1957 vs. Oklahoma)
- 065Small Screen Debut (1952 vs. Oklahoma)
- 066This Day In History: Most Points Ever (1905 vs. American Medical)
- 067Strong and True: Bob Crable
- 068This Day In History: Gipp's Best Game (1920 vs. Army)
- 069Jones Runs Past Panthers (2003 vs. Pittsburgh)
- 070This Day In History: The Forward Pass (1913 vs. Army)
- 071The Hiring of Lou Holtz
- 072Rockne Joins The Team
- 073Dave Casper: Hall of Famer
- 074Lou's Last Home Game
- 075Goal Line Stand (1998 vs. Boston College)
- 076This Day In History: Filming Rudy (1992 vs. Boston College)
- 077Strong and True: Jonas Gray
- 078This Day In History: Notre Dame's Second Game of the Century (1946 vs. Army)
- 079This Day In History: Win One For The Gipper
- 080The Shutout Season
- 081Strong and True: Autry Denson
- 082This Day In History: The Snow Bowl
- 083This Day In History: Irish Topple a Nemesis
- 084The Real Rudy Moment (1975 vs. Georgia Tech)
- 085Notre Dame Stadium Rededication
- 08651-0. (1966 vs. USC)
- 087Lou Holtz's USC Test
- 088A Battle of Unbeatens (1988 vs. USC)
- 089Respect: Lou's First Locker Room Speech
- 090The Green Jersey Game (1977 vs. USC)
- 091The Alma Mater Debut
- 092Trampling the Trojans (1995 vs. USC)
- 093This Day In History: Beuerlein's Second Chance (1986 vs. USC)
- 094Defeating The Defending Champs (1973 vs. USC)
- 095Theismann, As in Heisman
- 096Notre Dame's First Heisman Trophy Winner: Angelo Bertelli (1943)
- 097Notre Dame's Second Heisman Trophy: Johnny Lujack (1947)
- 098Notre Dame's Third Heisman Trophy: Leon Hart (1949)
- 099Notre Dame's Fourth Heisman Trophy: Johnny Lattner (1953)
- 100Notre Dame's Fifth Heisman Trophy: Paul Hornung (1956)
- 101Notre Dame's Sixth Heisman Trophy: John Huarte (1964)
- 102Notre Dame's Seventh Heisman Trophy: Tim Brown (1987)
- 103Notre Dame's First Win
- 104The First Bowl Trip: One For The Ages (The Journey)
- 105The First Bowl Trip: One For The Ages (The Game)
- 106The Japan Bowl
- 107The First Perfect Season
- 108This Day In History: Notre Dame All-Stars vs. New York Giants (Rockne's Final Game)
- 1091929 National Championship Season
- 110Beating the Buffaloes (1990 Orange Bowl)
- 111The Last Flight of Knute Rockne
- 112Rocket's Return That Wasn't (1991 Orange Bowl)
- 113Strong and True: Vagas Ferguson
- 114The Chicken Soup Game (1979 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 115Thunder and Lightning (1993 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 116Irish Outrun Aggies Again (1994 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 117"We're #1" (1978 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 1181930 National Championship Season
- 1191949 National Championship Season
- 120Notre Dame's Fourth Game of The Century (1993 vs. Florida State)
- 121Strong and True: Rocket Ismail
- 122The Cheerios Bowl (1992 Sugar Bowl)
- 123Ara's Final Game (1975 Orange Bowl)
- 124Irish Top The Tide (1973 Sugar Bowl)
- 125The 11th National Championship (1989 Fiesta Bowl)