“Untold Stories” are the Roo Tales yet to be written for a second book after the first book is finished and published. Hope you enjoy these untold story previews.
Here’s one:
I’ve shared a photo of House Park stadium in Austin, TX. It’s the home of the Austin High School (AHS) Maroons. It’s where former Roo QB Travis Stein lit it up. It’s where the cheerleader daughter of Roo Brian Land backs her fightin’ Maroons. It’s also the site of a great Notre Dame Roo Tale.
Wait, what? Notre Dame? Yes. Notre Dame.
Knute Rockne motivated his Irish to win won for the Gipper in 1928. Two Rockne proteges on the field that later day went into coaching. By 1935, those two Rockne men were coaching at:
(1) Austin College
(2) St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s & Notre Dame share a special relationship. They are the only two Catholic universities founded by Father Edward Sorin. When Rockne’s players were looking for a place to coach in the 1920s, many headed to St Edward’s in Austin, TX.
It was in Austin, on the campus of St. Edward’s university, where Rockne held his famous Texas football camp in 1925. There, AC Coach Pete Cawthon had his picture taken with the iconic coach from South Bend. Many of the athletic traditions of St. Edward’s come directly from the golden era of athletics in South Bend.
While St. Ed’s had great coaches and players, they lacked an athletic field for practice and games. Austin High, the oldest public high school west of the Mississippi River, loaned the use of House Park to their neighbor. For years, the Saints (later Hilltoppers) used House Park as their own. They often scrimmaged against the Austin High football team. Over time, the traditions of the AHS and St. Edward’s began to merge.
In 1935, Austin College met St. Edward’s at House Park with a Texas conference football title on the line. On the Saints side was a St. Ed’s head coach who was also a former Notre Dame player for Rockne. On the Kangaroo side was an AC head coach who was also a former Notre Dame player for Rockne.
Both had been urged by Rockne to win won for the Gipper against Army, and now both would motivate their own schools to win a conference title. The victor that day at House Park was Austin College; the Kangaroos would capture the 1935 Texas Conference title one week later.
Y’all come on down to House Park next fall for an Austin Maroons home game. When you do, pay careful attention to the AHS band when they strike up the fight song. You’ll notice that it sounds familiar. It’s the Notre Dame fight song.
