by Phil Sicuso
According to William Leahy, a Notre Dame professor of economics well versed in ND sports history, before he come to Notre Dame as a student, Knute Rockne traveled with a Chicago-based carnival to make money for college. He worked as a fighter who took on local challengers.
Rockne was good with his fists and disposed of all comers until one day in Abilene, Kansas, he met a particularly formidable challenger. The two battled to a draw. Afterward they sat down to talk.
"How long you gonna keep this up?" the challenger is said to have asked Rockne. "Seems like a pretty tough way to make a living."
"I’m just doing this to make money for college," young Knute replied. "I’m planning on going to Notre Dame. My name’s Knute Rockne."
"Oh yeah?" said the stranger. "I’m heading to college too. I’m going to West Point. My name’s Dwight Eisenhower."