On October 18, 1924 the four horsemen from Notre Dame rode again. It was a “blue, gray October sky.”-1 A perfect day for college football.
“In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden. ”
Army and Notre Dame were ready to do battle. Over 55, 000 fans were ready to see this college game. The first period of the football game was anything but exciting, as both teams were unable to score. The second period changed all that. The big thrill moved the crowd and caused a “wild flutter of flags that are thrown to the wind in exciting moments.” -2
The crowd let out a roar with a sudden cheer, out on field, Suhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden appeared for the first time together in this game. The four star backs were together on the field. There was a short flurry in the second period. Army’s Wood kicked out of bounds on Notre Dame’s 20 yard line.
Suddenly the crowd could feel the change, as they knew something great was about to happen. The storm was starting to gain streng
On the first series, Crowley was able to run for 15 yards and the storm continued to gain strength. Layden had another 6 yards to help the offensive continue to move the ball. Then Don Miller ran 10 more yards. The crowd could feel the storm getting stronger. A pass from Stuhldreher to Crowley had 12 more yards, Don Miller hit his stride and ran for 20 yards. Much of the crowd was thinking the same thing, Army can not stop these three guys. The Army defense wasn’t able to stop them. Layden and Crowley continued to pound the ball, then Layden ran for 10 yards and crossed the goal line “as if he had just been fired from the black mouth of a howitzer.”
During the second period, Army wasn’t able to get any first downs while Notre Dame was able to get 8. Notre Dame was getting stronger during the game while Army was getting weaker, shuddering in the power of Notre Dame.
The second period ended with Army’s Defense reeling. The third period was much of the same thing for Notre Dame, as they were able to move the ball. Crowley was able to run for 15 yards. Miller’s number was called next and he added 7 yards, then Layden continued to run the ball for 8 yards to bring the ball to Army’s 20 yards line. At this point, Army was thinking, who’s number will be called now? It was Cowley’s. He swung around then ran around the Army’s left wing and then cut in for a nice 20 yard run. Two TD’s in two periods for Notre Dame.
After this play, Army started to come alive and make a comeback late in the third period. They offense was finally alive after Army’s defense was getting destroyed like a heat seeking missile, by Notre Dame’s offense. The ball bounced right for Army with a punt by Notre Dame’s Layden. Army’s Yeomans called for a fair catch, but was drilled by a Notre Dame player. Notre Dame received a 15-yard penalty on this play, with the ball now on Notre Dame’s 20-yard line. Opportunity was knocking on the door for Army. They needed to score here to get back in the game. You could smell it in the air. Army gave the ball to Yeomans three times in a row.
He was only able to move the ball to the 12-yard line. Facing 4th down, it was all or nothing for Army. Army’s Harding next play was the “feature of the game. As the ball was passed, he faked a play to Wood, diving through the line, held the oval for just a half breath, then, tucking the same under his arm, swung out around Notre Dame’s right end. The brilliant fake worked to perfection. The entire Notre Dame defense had charged forward in a surging mass to check the line attack and Harding, with open territory, sailed on for a touchdown.” What a display, was Army’s offense finally alive? The cadets were going crazy.
Notre Dame prevailed today, beating Army 13 to 7. The stars of Notre Dame “ripped and crashed” through Army strong defense. As many witnessed Army was not ready for the four horsemen’s speed and power.
After the game, Notre Dame’s George Stickler, Head Coach Rockne’s publicity student was a big key in coming up with the Four Horsemen name. After the team came back from the Army game, he posed and dressed the four players in the football uniforms and had them on the backs of four horses. Many wire services picked up on the photo and “legendary status of the Four Horsemen was insured.”
My podcast file:
Two great sources that helped me with the coverage of the Four Horsemen:
[1] – Source from: UND, ‘The Four Horsemen’
http://www.und.com/trads/horse.html
2 – Source from: Rice, Grantland Rice, “The Four Horsemen” http://archives.nd.edu/research/texts/rice.htm
