Weigh In: How do You Feel about George Gipp’s Exhumation?
As I’m sure you know by now, the biggest college football story on the ‘net (other than the stupid speculation that JoePa acted out of line during a confrontation with another driver) is the exhumation of Notre Dame legend George Gipp. Gipp was reportedly exhumed so scientists could take a DNA sample in order to prove (or disprove) the relationship of would-be relatives to “the Gipp”. Gipp’s family, specifically Rick Frueh (Gipp’s great-grandson) authorized the exhumation. Some relative and Irish fans are pissed.
Gipp died in 1920 during his senior year at Notre Dame. While on his deathbed, the Irish’s then-coach inspired players to “Win one for the Gipper!”, a battle cry that has made this player famous (although his record alone could have done that - he held the school’s rushing records for over 50 years after his death).
Personally…who cares? No, I don’t mean who cares about Gipp. This player really illustrates the best of college football, and reviewing his games can still teach players a lot. We should definitely care about Gipp. But who cares if we dig up his dead body? It’s just a body, isn’t it? Why did the media have to get involved? Why did anyone want to get a DNA sample in the first place? Does it matter if you are or are not related to this person?
To me, this was a personal, family matter. It got out of hand the moment ESPN got involved to film the event. We can memorialize Gipp, but shouldn’t we focus on the players that have games coming up this weekend instead? (And on that cue, I’ll end this post - go check out some other stories on this site to read about alive-and-well players!)
1 opinion for Weigh In: How do You Feel about George Gipp’s Exhumation?
John Doe
May 5, 2008 at 6:11 am
This is very odd… Why someone makes so many efforts just to find out that is someone’s relative or not? I don’t understand iven if we talk about George Gipp, that was a famous college football payer. It is nice to belive and to say that you are his relative, but to exhumate him to be sure…
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