win one for the gipper
It’s a connection that’s used and tailored by the minders now, even more than when Robert Menzies made his regular pilgrimage to Lord’s for the cricket; or when Ronald Reagan used his famous ‘Win One For The Gipper’ line to open the Los Angeles Olympics. [1]
In the 1940’s film, Knute Rockne: All American, Ronald Reagan gave a breakout performance in the role of George Gipp. He was always associated with the phrase, “Win one for the Gipper,” and used it as a catch-phrase when he was seeking election to President of the United States. [2]
He is still considered today to be one of the most versatile athletes to play the game of football and is the subject of Knute Rockne ’s famous “Win one for the Gipper” speech. [3]
Seventy-five years ago this week, legend has it, Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne delivered the most famous pep talk in sports history when he told his team to go out and win one for the Gipper. [4]
George Gipp is considered one of the greatest all-round college football players in the history of the game. [2]
George “The Gipper” Gipp (February 18, 1895 ‘ December 14, 1920) was a famous college football player who played for the University of Notre Dame. [3]
None of you knew George Gipp. He’s just some kid I recruited back at my previous school. [4]
We learned most of this at The Official Web Site of George “the Gipper” Gipp. [...] While planning to pursue a career in baseball, he was convinced by legendary college coach Knute Rockne to play football as well. [5]
The story goes that Gipp fell ill and when dying he asked Rockne to promise that, when things were going badly for the team, he should inspire them by asking them to ‘win one for The Gipper’. [6]
He went to the University of Notre Dame, where he hoped to play baseball, but was spotted drop-kicking a football one afternoon by coach Knute Rockne. [2]
… like most politicians and their association with sport, it never hurts to be associated with sport. [1]
Knute Rockne was the coach of the US Notre Dame team in the 1920s and George Gipp was his star player. [6]
This deathbed request and the legendary pep talk it provided eight years later is chronicled in the motion picture, Knute Rockne: All American. [5]
… in 2004, it wasn’t a public holiday being proposed after a sporting triumph. [1]
Sources:
[1] Sports Factor - 17 September 2004 - Win one for the Gipper! (www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/
[2] George Gipp: Biography from Answers.com (www.answers.com/topic/george-gipp)
[3] George Gipp - Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gipp)
[4] ESPN.com - Page2 - Win one for the boosters, Nike & BCS (espn.go.com/page2/s/caple/
[5] Who is the Gipper from the saying, “one for the Gipper?” (ask.yahoo.com/19981103.html)
[6] Win one for the Gipper (www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/