Harper, Jesse C.
Football
b. Dec. 10, 1883, Pawpaw, IL
d. July 31, 1961
After graduating from the University of Chicago, where he played halfback and quarterback for Amos Alonzo Stagg, Harper became head coach at Alma College in Michigan and had a 10-4-4 record from 1906 through 1908. At Wabash College in Indiana from 1909 through 1912, Harper used the forward pass more than most coaches of his time and compiled a 14-8-1 record.
He went to Notre Dame in 1913. The school first became known for football that year because Harper lined up a game against powerful Army and Notre Dame pulled a 35-13 upset by featuring the forward pass, often out of a short punt or spread formation.
Harper's greatest coaching contribution, though, was the development of the Notre Dame shift in 1914, with the help of his assistant and former player, Knute Rockne. The offense lined up in a T formation and the backs then shifted into one of three different formations, with the ball being snapped immediately to keep the defense from adjusting. Harper also had his ends shift at times, usually moving farther away from the offensive tackle in order to get good blocking angles.
In five seasons at Notre Dame, Harper won 33 games, lost only 5, and tied 1. He resigned after the 1917 season to go into ranching and was succeeded by Rockne. Harper returned for two years as athletic director in 1931 after Rockne's death in a plane crash.