By the time Knute Rockne graduated from Notre Dame in the spring of 1914, he was already a national hero. In the preceding football season, Rockne had completely transformed the way the game was played when he and quarterback Gus Dorais utilized the forward pass for the first time on a big stage, beating a much-favored Army team. The forward pass instantly became an integral part of the sport, and Rockne’s fame and contributions would only grow from there.

This collection brings together two pieces from the special moment in time when Knute Rockne invented modern football and became a household name. The first piece is an original photograph of Knute, dating from that revolutionary 1913 season. The 6-by-9 inch wire photo has been modified by newspaper artists to accentuate parts of the photo to aid in its reproduction. In addition to the period paint, the photo shows overall toning with edge wear and handwritten notations. The reverse has handwritten notes and a Libra Graphics file card.

The companion piece is a 1914 edition of “The Dome,” Notre Dame’s undergraduate yearbook. Rockne appears on page 53 in his cap and gown, the caption noting his B.S. in Chemistry. Since there was no real pro football leagues in 1914, Rockne did indeed work as a chemist for a period before he landed his dream job as head coach of the Fighting Irish. Two outstanding pieces representing the very beginning of Knute Rockne’s role inventing the modern game of football. The 315-page book remains in outstanding condition, its gold "The DOME 1914 NOTRE DAME" emblem on the cover still glistening after 100+ years. The binding between the original front and back covers appears to have been restored at some point.