Bernard Kirk

Bernard C. Kirk (May 8, 1900 – December 23, 1922) was an American football player who played for Notre Dame in 1919 and for Michigan from 1921 to 1922.

As a sophomore in 1919, he was a starter for the Notre Dame football team coached by the legendary Knute Rockne.

He played end for the undefeated 1919 Fighting Irish team that also featured another Michiganian, George Gipp.

The passing combination of Gipp at left halfback to Kirk at left end became one of Notre Dame's greatest offensive weapons in 1919.

In October 1919, The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel praised "the ability of Kirk in receiving passes and breaking away for long runs."

In early November 1919, Kirk drew attention for his work in Notre Dame's win over Indiana.

The Indianapolis Star praised the team's end play

"The Irish wing men are wonderful performers. Either Kirk or Anderson can snag the ball out of the air on forward passes with great skill. Both are fast and wonderful defensive men. It was seldom in Saturday's game that either was boxed. They broke up what little interference Indiana displayed and got through to their man time after time."

In late November, Notre Dame defeated Purdue 33-13, and the Indiana Star reported that the Boilermakers would have finished on top had it not been for the passing attack of Gipp and Kirk.

Kirk scored two touchdowns against Purdue, and the Star noted: "Some of the passes completed by Gipp and Kirk were of the sensational order. Two touchdowns resulted from passes, Gipp to Kirk ..."

At the end of the 1919 season, the Indianapolis Sunday Star named Gipp and Kirk to its All-Indiana team, two of the four Notre Dame players to be so honored in 1919.

The Star wrote of Kirk

"In every game the Irish have competed in this season, Kirk has been a star. His uncanny ability to camp under forward passes gives him a call on the eleven. Not only that, but he was down the field fast under punts and played a great defensive game."

Kirk was also selected by critics for the All-Western team in 1919.

In September 1920, Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne expressed concern when his two Michiganian stars, Gipp and Kirk, who failed to report to the team's fall practice.

While Gipp returned to South Bend, Kirk transferred to the University of Michigan.

Rockne later recalled that Kirk and Gipp had been "practically inseparable" and reflected on his disappointment in losing the talented Kirk.

Rockne said of Kirk:

"He was the apple of my eye. Kirk played with Notre Dame a couple of seasons before he entered Michigan and not one was more sorry to see him go to the Wolverines than I was. He played with Notre Dame when Gipp was at his best and the forward pass combination from Gipp to Kirk could not be beaten on any team."

Kirk starred on Michigan's freshman team in 1920, but was ineligible to play on Michigan's varsity team in his first year after transferring.

He was selected as an All-American at the end position in both 1921 and 1922.

In 1921, Kirk was a starter at the end position in six of Michigan's seven games.

However, he was unable to play in the season's final game against Minnesota due to an ankle injury sustained in the game against Wisconsin.

At the end of the 1921 season, Kirk was selected as a first-team end on the All Western football team.

He was also the only Michigan player selected as a first-team player on the Harp's All-American Team.

Walter Camp picked Kirk for "Honorable Mention" honors on his 1921 All-American team.

Shortly after being named an All-American, in December 1922, at the height of his popularity, Kirk suffered a fractured skull in an automobile accident, and died several days later at a hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

His funeral was attended by the Governor of Michigan and many other dignitaries, and was reported by newspapers across the United States.

Kirk was raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan and played football for three years for Ypsilanti High School.

He was the only son of Gen. John P. Kirk, a prominent Ypsilanti attorney and former general in the Michigan National Guard.

After graduating from high school, Kirk enrolled at the University of Notre Dame.

Kirk's greatest success came in the 1922 football season, and his biggest play came in a 24-0 win over Illinois.

At the start of the third quarter, Kirk ran a kickoff back 80 yards for a touchdown.

Syndicated columnist Billy Evans wrote that Kirk's 80-yard run "through the entire Illinois team" was "the most spectacular play performed by a Michigan player this year," and "one of the most brilliant feats of the year."

Kirk also recovered a fumbled punt in the second quarter at the Illinois 18-yard-line that led to another Michigan touchdown.

Columnist Evans wrote that Kirk was "directly and indirectly responsible" for all 24 points scored by Michigan against Illinois.

After the Illinois game, Kirk reportedly left the stadium before the crowd and spent several hours hunting in the woods outside of Ann Arbor.

Another columnist, writing under the name "Roundy," wrote that Kirk gave him "an eye full," turning plays "so fast that the thing is looked up in the stands as a joke."

Roundy continued in his praise of Kirk as follows

"As soon as Kirk grabs a pass he becomes a halfback with his speed and trick running. His run on the kickoff through the whole Illinois team proved that, for an end, he is all over the field and has a nose for fumbles, is strong and tricky. There is no such thing as boxing this bird. Kirk, and his tackling of receivers of punts is a beautiful thing to see. So the ends are the strongest spot on the team. These two birds can play on my team any time, any place, anywhere, and at any price."