ttfrnniMiniM continued from page 41 No doubt. But the nation's sports fans never accepted them as middle-aged or elderly men. To the fans, the Horsemen remained the speedsters who went un beaten their senior (1924) season and lost only two games, both to Nebraska, in three years. It was an era when people thirsted 1 -ill; for sports heroes. Ruth ... Dempsey ... I f Tilden ... and then stars to represent college football and its No. 1 coach, Rockne. Certainly, there were bigger back- fields and probably better. But, as Rockne explained years later in a letter to New York columnist Joe Williams, the Horsemen remained something special. "Somehow," Rock wrote, "they seemed to go to town whenever the oc casion demanded. I've never seen a team with more poise, emotionally or physically. In their senior year, they had Ten years later, the Horsemen gathered for a class reunion: (L-R) Jim Crowley, Elmer every game won before they played it. I Layden, Don Miller, and Harry Stuhldreher. can still hear Stuhldreher saying at the start of a game, 'Come on! Let's get sons in catching passes. His 60 points Rock switched Layden to fullback, unit some points quick before these guys made him 1923 scoring co-leader. He ing the Horsemen as a unit late in the wake up and get the idea they can beat was Irish rushing leader with 698 and '22 season. "Layden's terrific speed," Rockne us'." 763 yards in '23 and '24. This was quite a change from Rock's Judge MUler, the only Horseman who said, "made him one of the most un first impression of the Horsemen. He did not go into coaching, has been usual fullbacks in football. He pierced through the line on sheer speed, cut described it in a 1930 Collier's maga named along with George Gipp as ting it like a knife." zine article. halfback on more than one all-time "Not so hot," was Rock's appraisal of Irish team. In case you think OJ. Simpson and Anthony Davis ran out of a "new" for his 1921 Ireshman backs. Rockne was a little more satisfied "A sleepy-eyed lad, " Rockne wrote, with his first glimpse at quarterback mation in Southern Cal's "Deep-I", Rockne played the Horsemen deeper so "looked dull ... like a lad about to get Stuhldreher. Hardly ecstatic though. they wouldn't run up the backs of their into or out of bed. He loafed around in "A small, wiry boy with a sharp linemen, dubbed the "Seven Mules" by practice." handsome face and a commanding That was "Sleepy" Jim Crowley, the voice," Rock wrote. These assets center-captain Adam Walsh. quipster who had been directed to seemed to be the best he had." Layden's speed helped him return in Notre Dame from Green Bay, Wis., by Stuhldreher became the team's 152- terceptions 70 and 80 yards for TDs in Irish alum and Packers Coach Curly pound leader and devastating blocker. the 27-10 Irish Rose Bowl victoiy over Lambeau. Crowley broke into the regu He was team passing leader in 1924. In Stanford and Ernie Nevers in 1925. lar lineup after the Purdue game his an age before press box scouts with West Coast fans, after the Horsemen's sophomore year. phones to the sidelines, the Massillon, final game, stressed how Stanford had a "The sleepy one astonished Purdue a Ohio, native found and exploited oppo 17-7 edge over the Irish in first downs, great deal and me a great deal more," nents' weaknesses. 164-134 in rushing yards, and 146-48 in Rockne said, "with the liveliest exhibi "He could read through another passing. tion of cutting, jumping, side-stepping, team's strategy," Rockne said. "Against "Yeah," cracked Crowley, "and next and change of pace that I have seen in Army in 1924, Stuhldreher saw their year, will they give the National League many a day." ends were smashing in close. So he sent pennant to the team that gets the most Left halfback Crowley played at about Miller and Crowley circling wide." bases on balls?" 158 pounds. He led Irish rushers with How smart was Stuhldreher? The Crowley was the quipmaster, but the 566 yards as a soph and 71 points Irish supposedly had a play calling for Seven Mules kept all four in line by de scored as a senior. He was the team's the center and both guards to pull, leav flating egos, when necessary. top passer in 1922 and 1923. ing Hariy holding the ball. How did it On the trip to Pasadena, Walsh orga Rockne was no more impressed with work? "I never called it," Harry said. nized his fellow linemen; ends Ed his first glimpse at 160-pound halfback Rockne couldn't deny, even at first Huntsinger and Chuck Collins, tackles Miller, who was following three older glance, that 162-pound Layden had the Joe Bach and Rip Miller, and guards brothers to Notre Dame. sprinter's speed no person can coach Noble Kizer and John Weibel. At each "The sleepy one's companion half into a back. stop, the Mules greeted reporters and back," Rockne observed, "was a young Layden "could run like a streak," photographers who sought the Horse- ster who appeared to be puzzled by ev Rockne said, yet, he ran quite as often ,men. erything going on." into tacklers' hands as through slits in "You're looking at the best part of the Miller quickly solved puzzles about the line." team right here—the Seven Mules." running or receiving. He broke a 94-yard George Halas' older brother, Walter, Walsh told the newsmen. kickoff return. He became the first had directed Layden from Davenport, Perhaps. But nobody had the sophomore Horseman to crack the reg Iowa, to Notre Dame where he started foresight to shoot a photo of them atop ular lineup. He led the Irish three sea- out sharing left half with Crowley. Then seven mules. 13t.