| Founded in 1887 the Notre Dame Football team is | | | | most notable sporting personalities of all time. |
| one of the most popular and well respected | | | | Even a stamp commemorating the life of Knute |
| teams in the NCAA today. Notre Dame is the | | | | Rockne was issued some years back. Knute was |
| only team in US history to have won 8 wire (AP | | | | coach of the Fighting Irish from 1918-1930. |
| or Coaches) national championships, and is the | | | | After Knute, the next praise worthy coach is |
| leading Division I-A team in terms of | | | | Frank Leahy, Frank is one of the most successful |
| championships won. No one could have imagined | | | | college coaches in US football history, with a win |
| that after facing an 8-0 defeat in their first ever | | | | percentage of .864 Leahy has the second highest |
| game in 1887 the team would rise to such great | | | | win percentage for any college football coach till |
| heights. Notre Dame has produced players like | | | | date. Under Leahy the team had a win record of |
| Bryant Young and Lance Legree of the San | | | | 87 wins to 11 loses, and Leahy was coach of the |
| Francisco 49ers. | | | | Fighting Irish for 11 seasons. Leahy's record would |
| Popularly known as the Fighting Irish, the mascot | | | | have been even more impressive had it not been |
| of the Notre Dame Football team is a Leprechaun. | | | | for his absence from 1944 to 1945 when he was |
| Over a period of time the Fighting Irish have | | | | serving in the US Navy. Leahy was coach of the |
| made a name for themselves, and are one of the | | | | Fighting Irish for 11 years from 1941 to 1953. |
| most popular college football teams in the US. | | | | Ara Parseghian has made a place for himself in |
| Second only to Michigan in terms of overall | | | | the history of Notre Dame Football for lifting the |
| winning percentage (the Michigan Wolverines have | | | | "no bowl games" policy that the Fighting Irish |
| a .745 compared to Notre Dame's .744) the | | | | followed, it was under Parseghian that the Fighting |
| Fighting Irish are one of the most successful | | | | Irish won the McArthur bowl in 1964 and won |
| college football teams in US history. The history | | | | two uncontested world championships. Many |
| of college football is usually traced back by the | | | | believe that Parseghian would have gone on to |
| coaches that have run the teams and the first | | | | become the greatest college football coach ever |
| notable coach of the Notre Dame Football team | | | | had it not been for his untimely retirement in |
| was Knute Rockne. | | | | 1974 due to health reasons. Parseghian was coach |
| The influence of Knute Rockne on American | | | | for 7 years between 1966 and 1973. His record |
| Football as a whole is undeniable, not only is he | | | | stands at an impressive 95-17-4 with a win |
| one of the most successful coaches that the | | | | percentage of .836, second only to Leahy. |
| Fighting Irish have ever had, he is also one of the | | | | |