Tag: Frank Herring

Notre Dame football photo from 1897 found

Nice look into the football program’s early history.

With many people back celebrating Christmas with their families this year, the possibilities to pass time were endless.

One common activity is to dig into family history and discover something you hadn’t seen or known before. Maybe you rediscover something you hadn’t seen in a long time or are reminded of something you had forgotten about. Check out what happened with Kevin Clark, a senior writer and podcaster for The Ringer:

1897 was the second of Frank Hering’s three years as Notre Dame coach and the first of three years in which Jack Mullen served as captain. Notre Dame went 4-1-1 that season, beginning with a scoreless tie against Rush Medical and a 4-0 win over DePauw. A 62-0 win over the Chicago Dental Infirmary was followed by a 34-5 road loss to Chicago. The season wrapped up with a 60-0 victory over the now-defunct St. Viator and a 34-6 win in the rain against the program now known as Michigan State.

Notre Dame head coaches who also played college football

What Notre Dame coaches have played at the collegiate level?

It’s amazing to think that for all of its rich history, Notre Dame has had only six former college football players as head coach. To make it even more amazing, you have to go all the way back to the beginning of the program’s history of coaches to find half of them. What’s more, it has been 36 years since the Irish had a former college player in their head coaching role. With Brian Kelly only four wins away from passing Knute Rockne on the program’s all-time list, it doesn’t appear the Irish will be adding to this short list anytime soon.

Whichever former college football player eventually ends up as Notre Dame head coach will be joining some rare company. We’re talking three apiece in the 19th and 20th centuries with none coming in the 21st yet. Until then, Irish fans will have to settle for these men holding what is a rare distinction in South Bend: