Notre Dame Football: How a Team Tackled Prejudice in 1924
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In 1924, amidst a resurgence of nativist politics and the Ku Klux Klan‘s rise, the University of Notre Dame recognized an chance. The institution strategically leveraged the unprecedented popularity of its football team to combat bigotry and promote a more inclusive vision for America. A new exhibit at the Hesburgh Libraries, titled “Notre Dame Football Kills Prejudice,” delves into this pivotal moment in the university’s history.
Gridiron Glory and a Stand Against Hate
The exhibit uses archival materials to illustrate how Notre Dame leaders harnessed the team’s fame,particularly the “Four Horsemen,” to challenge the Klan’s restrictive definition of “100% Americanism,” which excluded catholics,Jews,immigrants,and African Americans.
Sports as a Political Arena
“Sports is never just about sports; it has always been political,” said Greg Bond, sports archivist and curator of the Joyce Sports Research Collection.”In 1924, Notre Dame recognized that football was an avenue to address bigger issues.” The exhibit highlights how the university intentionally used its platform to counter the Klan’s hateful rhetoric.
Rising Nativism and the KKK
The 1920s saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, fueled by nativist sentiments. The Klan promoted a distorted version of American identity, targeting anyone who didn’t fit their narrow definition of white, male Protestants. Notre Dame, with a significant Catholic population, found itself a target of this prejudice.
Satire as a Weapon
The exhibit also showcases examples of how Notre Dame students actively challenged the Klan’s ideology.Cartoons published in student publications satirized the Klan’s historical revisionism and anti-intellectualism, demonstrating a commitment to fighting prejudice on multiple fronts.
Visit the Exhibit
The “Notre Dame Football Kills Prejudice” exhibit is currently on display at the Hesburgh Libraries. It offers a compelling look at how a university used its athletic success to promote tolerance and challenge hate during a turbulent period in American history.
Notre Dame’s “Fighting irish”: How Football Defied Prejudice in the 1920s
In the 1920s, Notre Dame’s football team became a symbol of defiance against widespread prejudice and discrimination targeting Catholics in the united states. The university strategically used the team’s success to challenge bigotry and assert its place in American society.
Anti-Catholic Sentiment Forces National Schedule
Notre Dame’s football program faced challenges rooted in anti-Catholic sentiment. Many schools, especially those in the Big Ten, refused to play the Catholic institution, forcing Notre Dame to develop a national schedule out of necessity. As Rev. John W. Cavanaugh,C.S.C.,a former university president,noted,the extensive travel was “a stern necessity rather than a preferred policy.”
Students Clash with the Klan
Tensions escalated in may 1924 when the Ku Klux Klan attempted to hold a rally in South Bend, Indiana, a heavily Catholic area. Approximately 500 notre Dame students disrupted the rally, confronting Klan members, confiscating their robes and hoods, and engaging in physical altercations. The riot ended when Rev. Matthew Walsh, C.S.C., than Notre Dame’s president, ordered the students to return to campus.
Embracing the “Fighting Irish” Nickname
in 1927, Father Walsh officially approved the “Fighting Irish” nickname for Notre Dame’s teams. This decision was partly motivated by a desire to replace more derogatory terms used at the time, such as “Papists” or “Dirty Irish.”
The “Four Horsemen” and National Recognition
Notre Dame capitalized on the fame of its “Four horsemen”—crowley, Layden, Stuhldreher, and Miller—by creating an iconic photo of them on horseback.The team’s success resonated with many recent immigrants facing discrimination, leading to the rise of “subway alumni” across the country. These alumni formed a crucial support network for the university and its ideals.
Football as a “New Crusade”
the university governance recognized the opportunity to advance its mission through football. In a 1924 campus *Religious Bulletin*, Rev. John F.O’Hara, C.S.C., described Notre Dame football as “a new crusade,” stating that “it kills prejudice and stimulates faith.” He emphasized that the team’s national recognition came “in the midst of a wave of bigotry,” highlighting the importance of their success in challenging societal prejudice.
Notre dame Exhibit Explores Football, Faith, and Prejudice in 1920s America
An exhibit recently displayed in the hesburgh Library and soon to be available online, delves into the intersection of football, religious identity, and prejudice in 1920s America, using Notre Dame’s football team as a focal point. The exhibit leverages primary source materials, including documents from legendary coach Knute rockne, to explore themes of immigration, belonging, and minority rights during a period of intense social and political division.
The 1924 Championship and a Nation Divided
The exhibit highlights the 1924 Notre dame football season, during which the team secured a national championship amidst a backdrop of rising nativism and anti-Catholic sentiment. A “Religious Bulletin” written in November 1924 by rev. John F. O’Hara, C.S.C., Prefect of Religion, connects the team’s success and sportsmanship with broader societal issues. O’Hara’s writing contrasts Notre Dame’s values with the “bitterness and fanaticism” prevalent in the wake of an election that threatened the constitutional rights of citizens.
this 1924 “Religious Bulletin” reflects on the power of football over prejudice.
Echoes of History: Immigration, Inclusion, and Identity
The exhibit underscores the enduring relevance of questions surrounding immigration, belonging, and minority rights in American society. By examining historical debates through the lens of sports and religious identity, exhibit organizers hope to foster a deeper understanding of these complex issues and their continued impact on contemporary society. The materials invite reflection on America’s past as a means of informing its future.
The exhibit features primary source publications from on and off campus,offering diverse perspectives on the era.
Notre Dame Football and the Fight Against Prejudice: A Q&A
This section explores the story of how Notre Dame Football tackled prejudice in the 1920s, as highlighted by the recent exhibits. let’s dive in!
Q&A:
What was the main goal of Notre Dame’s efforts against prejudice in the 1920s?
notre Dame leveraged its football team’s popularity to combat bigotry, particularly against Catholics, and promote a more inclusive vision of America against the rising tide of the ku klux Klan’s hate.
Why was the 1920s a particularly arduous time for Catholics and other minority groups in the US?
The 1920s saw a resurgence of the ku Klux Klan and rising nativism. the Klan promoted a narrow definition of “Americanism” that excluded Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and African Americans.
How did Notre Dame use its football team to fight prejudice?
The university used the team’s fame and success, including the “Four Horsemen,” to challenge the Klan’s hateful rhetoric and promote tolerance. Students created satirical cartoons to ridicule the Klan’s ideology.
What was the meaning of the “Fighting Irish” nickname?
Father Walsh officially approved the “Fighting Irish” nickname in 1927 to replace derogatory terms like “Papists” or “Dirty Irish,” reclaiming a sense of pride and defiance.
Who were the “Four Horsemen,” and why were they so vital?
The “Four Horsemen” were Crowley, Layden, Stuhldreher, and Miller. They were the stars of the team, and their success led to national recognition and the rise of “subway alumni” who supported the university and its ideals.
What was the “new crusade” mentioned in the Religious Bulletin?
Rev. John F. O’Hara described Notre Dame football as “a new crusade” that challenged prejudice and promoted faith. He saw the team’s success as a way to combat societal bigotry.
What happened when the KKK tried to hold a rally in South Bend?
In May 1924, approximately 500 Notre Dame students disrupted a KKK rally, confronting Klan members and confiscating their robes and hoods. Rev. Matthew Walsh, then Notre Dame’s president, had to order the students to return to campus.
What is the exhibit about, and where can it be found?
The exhibit, “Notre Dame Football Kills Prejudice,” (also available online) explores the intersection of football, religious identity, and prejudice in 1920s America. It is located at the Hesburgh Libraries and will be online soon.
This story reminds us that even in turbulent times, sports can be a powerful platform for social change. Explore the exhibits and learn more about this inspiring chapter in American history.
