Murray Sperber’s “Shake Down the Thunder” is a groundbreaking and controversial work of historical investigation that peels back the mythology surrounding Knute Rockne’s legendary Notre Dame football program. Published in 1993, this deeply researched book challenges the romanticized image of the Fighting Irish as humble student-athletes playing for the glory of their school. Instead, Sperber, a respected academic, argues that Rockne was not just a coaching genius but a brilliant and relentless promoter who built the nation’s first true football factory.
The book meticulously documents how Rockne ran his program like a professional business, a stark contrast to the amateur ideal he publicly championed. Sperber provides a compelling case that Notre Dame’s success was built as much on commercial savvy as it was on sideline strategy. The book delves into the specific methods Rockne used to build and maintain his dynasty, uncovering evidence of secret slush funds to make under-the-table payments to players and academic compromises that kept stars like George Gipp eligible to play.
Sperber also details Rockne’s masterful manipulation of the media, including his famous relationship with sportswriter Grantland Rice, who helped immortalize legends like the “Four Horsemen.” The book shows how the Notre Dame brand was a carefully constructed commercial enterprise from its very beginning. “Shake Down the Thunder” is far more than a simple team history; it is a critical examination of the origins of big-time college sports. It reveals the complex forces of amateurism and commercialism that have defined the sport for over a century, making it an essential, eye-opening read in college football history. 🏈
This is THE book about Notre Dame Football!
This book can also be found at the Internet Archive
