OCR Text |
Show NIEMIEC SERVING AS PINCH HITTEP! Coach Rockne Keeping Hit Triple Threat on Bftnch. One of Notre Dame's all American prospects has been gracing the greater great-er part of the present season as a result re-sult of Coach Knute K. Rockne's decision de-cision to keep Johnny Nieiniec, triple threat left half back, out of all games in which the Irish are not pressed to the limit to win. Nieiniec was injured during the latter lat-ter part of the 1!)27 season at a time when he was dividing honors In the back field with Christy Flanagan. Flanagan held down the regular left half berth, but Niemic was in action about as often as Christy, and where Christy could only run, Nieniiec could run, kick and pass. He looked like one of the greatest prospects in years at Notre Dame, and Rockne was counting count-ing on him to take Flanagan's place when the latter was graduated. Then, just when he appeared to be at his peak, Nieiniec was injured. During the winter ' and spring, Dr. Leslie Clough. Notre Dame trainer, kept Nieniiec under his care. When baseball season came around Nieniiec was able to hold down his position at third base and gave no sign of being troubled by the old injury. It appeared ap-peared he would be ready for a big football season this fall. But wher scrimmage started, the Injured In-jured member was weakened by bumps it received. Fearing he might lose his star permanently, Rockne decided to keep him out of the rough work as much as possible and use him only n S - I " t? -4 f ' K -1 V t Jorinny Niemlec. critical moments, when good kicking and passing might give the Irish a victory. The incident recalls the manner in which Rockne employed little Art Parlsien during the 192G season. Pari-sien Pari-sien was one of Rockne's best quarter backs that year, and saw plenty of service until he was badly injured in the game wilb Indiana. It appeared his football career was over, for he was out ol the game entirely for some time, and w hen he did get back in uniform uni-form lie was kept out of action. Parisien's value lay In his ability to toss passes accurately with his left band. F.arly in the season two passes from him to Nieniiec had given the Irish a C to 0 win over Northwestern. And so, when Rockne and Ins men left to play Southern California at Los Angeles the first week in December, Rockne decided at the last minute to take Parlsien along. How Parisien begged to get into the game late in the last quarter with Notre Dame trailing the Trojans, and how he tossed the passes that gave Notre Dame the victory, is football history. This year Nieiniec will be in much the same position, except that be undoubtedly un-doubtedly will see more service than did Parisien. He is a line kicker and an accurate passer. And while he also is a great runner, he will be used almost entirely as a kicker and passer In emergencies. |