During halftime of the 1928 Notre Dame-Army game Irish head coach Knute Rockne inspired his team to "win one for the Gipper." George Gipp had died eight years previous due to complications from strep throat. Back in 1919 when Notre Dame faced Nebraska George Gipp was in the pink of health and lead his own boys to a 14-9 victory.

The Nebraska team was well aware of Gipp and his talents. The previous year the dashing 180 pound halfback had dazzled the spectators in Lincoln by single-handedly guiding the Catholics. So Nebraska coach Henry Schulte made sure it wouldn't happen again when the teams faced off in 1919.

Nebraska outweighed Notre Dame by at least eight pounds per man. Schulte planned to use that weight to their advantage by throwing it in every direction they could. Those plans quickly turned to heartbreak for the Cornhuskers.

After the opening kickoff Gipp feigned his way around the right side. The Nebraska rush was ready and sent everything they had straight at him. Gipp then deftly tossed the ball across the field to Arthur Bergman at the 10 yard line. Nebraska never saw what happened as Bergman dashed all the way for a touchdown and a quick Notre Dame lead.

Nebraska was able to fight back in the second period. A long, pounding Cornhusker drive was capped when halfback Floyd Wright plunged in for the score.

Gipp took control of the action in the third quarter. A 33-yard pass to Bergman was soon followed by a 20-yarder to Kirk down to the 16-yard line. Gipp rushed for 5 more and tossed a 10 yard pass to Bernie Kirk to move within the Cornhusker goal's shadow. Nebraska's defense buckled down and stopped Notre Dame from scoring. The Cornhuskers quickly punted out of trouble, but the reprieve didn't last long.

A 45-yard pass to Bergman moved Notre Dame back into scoring position. Walter Miller's 4 yard run and Gipp's 5 yard pass to Bergman put Notre Dame back on the Nebraska one yard line. The Catholics wouldn't be denied this time as Leonard Bahan dove in for the score.

Nebraska tried to fight back. Late in the game Paul Dobson kicked a beauty of a 40-yard drop kick to bring the score to 14-9, but that was as close as the Cornhuskers would come.

George Gipp was clearly the star of the game. He completed five of eight passes for 124 yards and served as the inspiration for the team.