Curly Lambeau of Notre Dame Football

Pillars of the NFL, Sporting Chance  Press Publisher

Chicago Bears Senior Director Patrick McCaskey's Pillars of the NFL, examines the football lives of the 10 greatest coaches in NFL history--those who won three or more championships.  One of the most interesting "Pillar" is Curly Lambeau.  Many football fans do not realize that Lambeau had interesting connections to some of the Notre Dame legends although he only attended the school for one year. 

In 1918, Lambeau shared the backfield with George “Gipper” Gipp, the storied back who would lead the team in both rushing and passing from 1918-1920.  Lambeau played under new head coach, Knute Rockne.  During Lambeau’s stay in South Bend, World War I was raging, but it was a flu epidemic that shortened the football season.  Notre Dame posted a 3–1–2 record.  In one tough game against the Great Lakes Naval Station, Lambeau faced future rival and Chicago Bears founder, George Halas, who played end.  The teams tied.  

As a freshman, Lambeau had a supporting role in the Notre Dame backfield.  He was no threat to superstar Gipp who among other astonishing feats, held the ND rushing career mark of 2,341 yards for more than 50 years. 

The Fighting Irish player roster described Lambeau as flamboyant, an excellent blocker, and a good short-yardage runner. After the football season, Lambeau had a bout of tonsillitis.  Recuperating at home, he decided not to return to South Bend, and subsequently quit school for good.  Although Lambeau had a brief career at Notre Dame, he would be called an “ex Notre Dame Football star.”  He was proud of the connection.  Lambeau did not forget Rockne.  

Lambeau’s practice of recommending Green Bay players to his old coach created yet another Notre Dame legend.  One player who would go to Notre Dame on Lambeau’s recommendations was Jim Crowley.  Crowley would become one of the fabled Four Horsemen of Notre Dame—christened and made famous by Grantland Rice, a poetic sportswriter for the New York Herald-Tribune in an era when such craft was appreciated.   

Crowley “recovered” from the notoriety and later coached at Fordham University.  At Fordham, Lambeau’s work would come full circle.  One of Crowley’s players by the name of Vince Lombardi would go on to coach the Packers in one remarkable decade.  

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