win one for the Gipper

English

President Reagan holding "The Gipper" jersey at 1984 campaign rally in New York

Etymology

Attributed to Knute Rockne, coach of the Notre Dame football team, during a 1928 American football game between Notre Dame and the Army. During a half-time talk to his team, who were losing the game, he encouraged the team with the death-bed speech of former player George "The Gipper" Gipp:

"I've got to go, Rock. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy."

Popularized by the 1940 film Knute Rockne, All American, which starred future President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, as George Gipp.

Verb

win one for the Gipper (third-person singular simple present wins one for the Gipper, present participle winning one for the Gipper, simple past and past participle won one for the Gipper)

1. (idiomatic, American football) To do something in memory of another person.

Related terms

• for the Gipper