Fighting Irish Football

Founded in 1887 the Notre Dame Football team isAfter Knute, the next praise worthy coach is Frank
one of the most popular and well respected teams inLeahy, Frank is one of the most successful college
the NCAA today. Notre Dame is the only team in UScoaches in US football history, with a win percentage
history to have won 8 wire (AP or Coaches) nationalof .864 Leahy has the second highest win
championships, and is the leading Division I-A team inpercentage for any college football coach till date.
terms of championships won. No one could haveUnder Leahy the team had a win record of 87 wins
imagined that after facing an 8-0 defeat in their firstto 11 loses, and Leahy was coach of the Fighting Irish
ever game in 1887 the team would rise to such greatfor 11 seasons. Leahy's record would have been even
heights. Notre Dame has produced players like Bryantmore impressive had it not been for his absence
Young and Lance Legree of the San Francisco 49ers.from 1944 to 1945 when he was serving in the US
Popularly known as the Fighting Irish, the mascot ofNavy. Leahy was coach of the Fighting Irish for 11
the Notre Dame Football team is a Leprechaun. Overyears from 1941 to 1953.
a period of time the Fighting Irish have made a nameAra Parseghian has made a place for himself in the
for themselves, and are one of the most popularhistory of Notre Dame Football for lifting the "no
college football teams in the US. Second only tobowl games" policy that the Fighting Irish followed, it
Michigan in terms of overall winning percentage (thewas under Parseghian that the Fighting Irish won the
Michigan Wolverines have a .745 compared to NotreMcArthur bowl in 1964 and won two uncontested
Dame's .744) the Fighting Irish are one of the mostworld championships. Many believe that Parseghian
successful college football teams in US history. Thewould have gone on to become the greatest college
history of college football is usually traced back byfootball coach ever had it not been for his untimely
the coaches that have run the teams and the firstretirement in 1974 due to health reasons. Parseghian
notable coach of the Notre Dame Football team waswas coach for 7 years between 1966 and 1973. His
Knute Rockne.record stands at an impressive 95-17-4 with a win
The influence of Knute Rockne on American Footballpercentage of .836, second only to Leahy.
as a whole is undeniable, not only is he one of theThe future of the Notre Dame Football team is bright
most successful coaches that the Fighting Irish haveand every year the team is producing quality athletes
ever had, he is also one of the most notable sportingthat are becoming part of leading Football teams all
personalities of all time. Even a stampover America. If you are interested in joining a forum
commemorating the life of Knute Rockne was issuedor discussion group then you should visit Irishenvy a
some years back. Knute was coach of the Fightingsite dedicated to people who love the Fighting Irish.
Irish from 1918-1930.