The most successful college football coach of all time was Knute Rockne of Notre Dame and he had tremendous seasons but one year in the late 20s he had an average team and they had a big game towards the end of the season against the undefeated cadets from West Point at Yankee Stadium. 

So Rockne got the team in the locker room before the game, he said “You all know who George Gipp was? 

George Gipp is the greatest player ever in the history of Notre Dame. 

You might have known the story that his senior year he died right on campus on our infirmary and I was with him the night he died tragically and I said “George is there anything I can do for you?” 

He said “This is it. 

There’s nothing you can do for me” He said “George, there must be something I can do for you” and he looked up at me and he was very short of breath and he said “Coach, there’s going to come a time when you’re going to want to win a game more than anything else in the world. 

When that times comes, tell the boys to win one for the Gipper.” Rockne told the story, he looked around the room, he said “Boys, this is that game.”

Final score Notre Dame 12 West Point 3.