Student tribute to Gipp from the yearbook, the Dome.

Nobody would question the fact the George Gipp's career at Notre Dame was the stuff of legends.  The reality behind that legend, however, is that Gipp started slowly and encountered some  early obstacles - many of which threatened to permanently derail his career. For example, just as he was starting to show glimpses of the greatness that was to come (particularly against Army), he suffered a broken leg that ended his season.  The December 1, 1917 Scholastic Football Review  tried to put a positive spin on Gipp's less than spectacular varsity debut:

 

"After having reported for the team late in September and being out of the first two games, big George Gipp was just getting back to his 1916 freshman form when he met with the regrettable accident which broke his leg in the Morningside game in Sioux City.  Gipp was not at his best in the Nebraska game following his first week of training, but against South Dakota, he played brilliantly.  Then at West Point he distinguished himself by long end runs, forward passes, and vicious tackles.  He was the man, more than any other, accountable for the ball's being placed at that vantage point seven yards from the Army goal, from where Brandy ploughed through the soldiers for a touchdown at the opening of the fourth quarter.  All wish George a speedy and complete recovery from his serious injury".   

 

Earlier in the season, the November 17, 1917 issue of the Scholastic had provided more details on the injury: "Costly victory over Morningside. There was no flavor in the Notre Dame victory at Sioux City, Iowa, last Saturday, when Morningside was humbled 13 to 0.  The regrettable injury which incapacitated George Gipp for the remainder of the season marred the afternoon.  When the big halfback from Calumet broke his leg early in the first quarter the players lost interest in the game.  Not until the second quarter did they score...The loss of Gipp will, of course, seriously waken the varsity scoring machine in the two remaining games of the season, but the ole fight will be there when the pinch comes - we are sure of that.  And that will go a long way towards overcoming the handicap under which the team now labors."