Johnny 'One Play' O'Brien

The legend of 'One Play' O'Brien was that this little used substitute caught the winning td pass vs Army that day....thus earning his nickname 'One Play'.

The reality was something different. "One Play' had caught 2 consecutive crucial passes in the opener vs Loyola-getting ND to the Loyola(NO) 2. ND scored the winning td on the next play (12-6 victory).

O'Brien played enough to letter as a soph in 1928 & lettered again on both the 1929 & 1930 National Champs.

3 time letter winner Johnny O'Brien (Los Angeles Cal LA High) later became an assistant coach for Elmer Layden. He was killed in a car accident in the spring of 1937. The ND spring 'Old Timers' game was held in O'Brien's honor-with the proceeds going to his widow.

Although Rockne had called the annual spring game 'The Old Timers' game, until that '37 game, the 'Old Timers' team was mostly made up of graduating seniors.

In 1937, many "Old Timers' returned for this spring game- and a tradition was born that lasted until 1967). All of the 4 Horsemen were there that day(of course one of them, Elmer Layden was the HC). Moose Krause and Frank Leahy were also there. It was said that this game was the only time that Leahy & Krause ever suited up together for an ND game...Moose was only a Frosh in 1930 (Frosh were not eligible for the varsity) when Leahy was a senior.

If the 'One Play' legend isn't exactly true, who knows, maybe Garth Brooks wasn't mistaken about the 'Win One for the Gipper' speech. Rumor was Rock used that line more than once.......