Campus Life

Campus Life this month takes an interesting look at Johnny Lujack and his voluminous fan mail. It's from the December 1947 Scholastic.
 
Lujack Fans Give Sorin Mailman Round Shoulders Delivering 'Dear John' Letters.
 
By LOU ALMASI and TOM HIGGINS
Have you ever received a "Dear John" letter? Take it easy chum, remember your blood pressure and stop feeling sorry for yourself. There's a man right here in Sorin Hall who gets those missles at the rate of 50 a day and it doesn't faze him a bit.
 
Stagger along with us any bright sunshiny morning shortly before eight to 115 Sorin and await the arrival of the mailman with the morning round of letters. Here he comes. .."One for you ...two here, doc. ...nope, not today ...three sackfuls here. .." and down at the door he dumps them. The husky occupants of the room open the door and drag the letters inside, to be opened by the person to whom they are addressed, Mr. Johnny Lujack.
 
Some of this mail is addressed merely Johnny Lujack. Notre Dame. That's all. It's up to a kind-hearted postal employee to see that this mail reaches its final destination.
 
To the kids of America who write most of these letters, "The Luj" is the hottest thing since Superman, and they're not far from wrong. To the girls of America who write their share of this fan mail, he's the country's most eligible bachelor. ..next to Li'l Abner, of course.
 
Each of these letters is read by John and almost all of them are answered personally by him. Many of them come in the form of requests. ..autographed pictures, four tickets to the Army game (on the fifty-yard line, if possible), game jerseys, shoes, warm-up jackets. ..or some old letter sweater you don't want.
 
Insofar as is possible, these requests are fulfilled. That is, of course, provided that the post office, or the Railway Express, can handle a steady outgoing of old pads, shoes, helmets, and blankets. Sometimes these servants of the public rebel, however, and Irish fans must be content with mere autographed pictures of the Notre Dame passing wizard.
 
Many of the letter-writers are not satisfied with pictures or other personal items belonging to Lujack. Some of them want personal contact with their hero before they will be completely happy. Two girls from Dayton wrote inviting John and Irish Captain, George "Moose" Connor to a sorority dance, Nov. 21. The letter ends, "Here's hoping that you have no serious romantic entanglements. You both have kind faces and we know that you wouldn't refuse to help two poor girls in distress. So how about escorting these two lovely damsels to the dance? We'll root for you (at the football games, that is) forever, if you would. ...P.S.: If you can't make it substitutes would be appreciated." Since the date in question was the eve of the Tulane game, the lads invited were unable to attend, and as Clashmore Mike was indisposed, he declined to act as a substitute.
 
It won't be enough that gridiron fans the country over will be seeing Lujack cavort on the greensward for a few more years yet, but those of you who are followers of the bangtails may also have the opportunity to see Lujack come thundering down the home stretch. We don't mean to infer that Johnny is thinking seriously of making the ponies a profession, or of entering himself in the Kentucky Derby, but if some girl in Florida has her way, there will be a thoroughbred named after him.
 
And speaking of names, a man out Los Angeles way, a rabid Notre Dame fan, sent John a hundred-word wire. He had just named his second son "Lujack" in honor of our lad from Connellsville.
 
What does John think of all this fan mail? Naturally he likes it and appreciates the fact that so many people are interested in his welfare. But it isn't just a passive appreciation; he takes a pen in hand and spends an average of two hours a day answering these letters.
 
"Now, take this letter," said John,"from a girl out in San Francisco. She's had infantile paralysis since she was seven years old and has never seen a football game, but that doesn't stop her from rooting for Notre Dame. I'm writing to her now. Listen to what she says in her last paragraph.
 
..Johnny, I know I have been a pest to you but to me it was a pleasure writing this letter. I will pray to God to let you have a beautiful star to lead you to success in the future. Perhaps some day when I get well, I will really see you in action. ..or the wonderful Notre Dame team I read about. God bless you always.
 
It couldn't happen to a better guy.