Hall of Fame Inductee Search
Ray "Iron Eich" Eichenlaub
Position: Fullback
School: Notre Dame
High School: Columbus, OH (East HS)
Years: 1911-1914
Inducted: 1972
Place of Birth: Columbus, OH
Date of Birth: 7/15/1892
Place of Death: Columbus, OH
Date of Death: 11/9/1949
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210
Member Biography:
Notre Dame assistant football coach Knute Rockne was
strolling across the South Bend campus one fall afternoon in
1917 when he came upon a young freshman named George
Gipp. Rockne had been urging Gipp to come out for football.
"I've got just the pair of cleats for you," the Rock told Gipp.
"A special pair?" the young man wanted to know. "Yea," said
Rockne, "they belonged to Ray Eichenlaub." " Who is he?"
Gipp asked. "Around these parts he was known as a real
Notre Dame man," Rockne replied. Of course, "The Gipper"
went on to become a Notre Dame legend, something
Eichenlaub had already done. Rockne had played end on the
teams with "Iron Eich" and he knew the big fullback well. He
admired this 210-pound back who was the bulwark of the
Irish team - a big and strong runner blessed with a willingness
to accept hard work. Eichenlaub bowled through opponents,
scoring a career 176 points. During the 1913 season, alone,
Ray hammered out a dozen TDs in seven games.
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