I love how they say that at least three times in the movie. But really, was the forward pass not used very often prior to Rockne's use of it? It seems so obvious to pass the ball instead of run it all the time. It's sort of ironic that now ND passes it way more than they run it.
Any help would be great though, I'm just sort of curious about that.
The deepest shade of mushroom blue...
.The forward pass was in the rules but not considered a viable form of successful offensive football, much like the home run wasn’t utilized all too much in baseball prior to Babe Ruth's revolutionizing that game ( legally too).
The pass was used ny Notre Dame here to a great success but not that often. In the pro game it was utilized to a more consistent affect with the advent of the shotgun formation invented by a gentlemen who just passed away ( Shanussey) and with Sammy Baugh using it on the field. Later on men like Otto Graham, under Paul Brown, and QB's like Van Brocklin and Waterfield for the Rams and Bobby Layne for the Lions helped usher in the modern passing game, and it took a giant leap under the development of the passing offense great guru Sid Gillam in the early 60's. His development was the forerunner to what is now known as the West Coast Offense.
But yes, this movie shows fairly effectively the first true utilization of the forward pass in any organized football
One of the most effective weapons in Rockne's era was the punt. Offensive football strategies of the early 1900s had teams punting on first down or second down depending how deep they were in their own territory. Teams often set up in a short punt formation rather than taking the ball directly on the center snap from the center to the quarterback.
Remember also that the ball was much rounder in the early 1900s and thus harder to throw. Once the ball became more slender, the forward pass became a much more viable option. The game is also an offshoot of rugby, which does not allow a forward pass, so that might also be the reason that the evolution of the pass as a weapon took so long to develop.
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^^^Because he was an actor. What a shocker!
My My My, How the time does fly when you know you're gonna die by the end of the night.
<Why was Ronald reagan cast in this film?>
Why not? If not him, they would get another WB actor. I think Reagan wanted to be in it. It turned out to be his favorite among his films, I believe.
The movie was wrong on many accounts,
1st. Throwing was allowed starting in 1906, 7 years before the Army -Notre Dame game of 1913.
2nd. Carlisle Indians used the pass to great effect starting in 1906, it is Carlisle in the North and LSU in the South that put the passing game on the map.
3rd Army was not surpised at all by Notre Dame's game, as the year before Carlisle and Jim Thorpe destoryed Army 27-6 in 1912. The Indians had used the pass to great effect, along with Jim's running and punting to beat a heavier Army team with Ike.
Carlisle proved a smaller team using the pass could beat the heavier eastern teams like, Harvard, Yale, Navy, Army etc....
Notre Dame knew this as well as everyone who followed sports and used the Indians game model to beat Army in 1913.
There is a play by play of the Army - Carlisle game of 1912 out there if you want to see what ND learned.
The Northestern teams, believed in heavy linemen and fast backs with 2 good blocking backs to lead end runs of the early 1910's.
Football of the early twentieth century was a very different game. It was, quite literally built on the "3 yards and a cloud of dust" mentality. Rules allowed certain types of blocks that have since been outlawed. Formations hadn't evolved as yet to easily lend themselves to the passing game. Also, as today, ball control and defense were considered primary elements of winning.
Also, as has been stated, the ball was rounded and didn't lend itself to passing as readily as the ball used today. It has been attributed to many coaches since Rockne, but "Three things can happen when you throw the ball and two of them are bad." was said by Darrel Royal in the 1960's.
Rockne and Notre Dame were not the first to pass the ball, and they weren't even the first ones to win big throwing the ball. They did build one of the most successful programs in the country using the weapon very effectively.
One of the things I find so charming about this movie is that it has a very warm feel to it. It is certainly an idealized portrayal of Rockne, but that is okay by me; not everything has to be an "E true hollywood" expose. I think the movie's feel is a function of the time the it was made; we were on the verge of our entry into WWII, and Rockne was a beloved figure who had been lost unexpectedly.
We love our heroes, and "Knute Rockne All-American" is a dated, but enjoyable tribute to Rock. I personally think he is perhaps the second or third greatest college coach of all time. Bear Bryant was, IMHO, by far the greatest. An argument can be made for Rockne, Bud Wilkenson, Eddie Robinson, Darrel Royal, Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowden for the next couple of spots. Although, regarding Paterno and Bowden; both are great coaches, but I'm not sure their longevity puts them ahead of the accomplishments of others who did not coach as long.
I love college football, and I encourage any intelligent discussion.
Best Wishes,
Fitz