43: Gus Dorais-CFB

Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Gus Dorais is one of college football’s all-time greatest players and coaches. He was the first player in the history of Notre Dame to be named an All-American and was actually given the opportunity to coach the Fighting Irish. However, his best friend and college roommate needed the job and Dorais had another offer. So, Dorais took the other job – head coach at Dubuque – and his best friend, Knute Rockne, took the job at Notre Dame and the rest, as they say, is history. Rockne went on to become one of the game’s greatest coaches having built Notre Dame into one of the game’s most legendary programs. Meanwhile, Dorais, working at schools of less notoriety worked a lot of magic as well. However, Dubuque, Gonzaga, and the University of Detroit were just not on the same level as Notre Dame. One can only wonder what would have happened had Dorais decided to stay in South Bend. What would have happened to Rockne? Would Notre Dame have become the power it did? One thing’s for sure, Dorais was a terrific quarterback, kicker, runner and played a stellar defense. Dorais also played professionally in the Ohio League for the Massillon Tigers. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes author Joe Niese and Gus’s grandson, Bob Dorais, who worked together to write the book, “Gus Dorais, Grid Iron Innovator, All-American and Hall of Fame Coach,” are here to talk about Gus, his friendship with Rockne, and his career on the field and on the sidelines.

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