By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – On this Super Bowl Sunday as viewers all over the MiBash area watch Cam Newton and Peyton Manning leading their respective teams, keep in mind that Wabash has a major connection to football, most notably in the form of the forward pass.
Legend has it that Gus Dorais, the namesake of Dorais Chevrolet, “invented” the forward pass with Notre Dame’s fabled coach and then receiver Knute Rockney. To confirm the story, who better to talk to that Gus Doaris’ grandson Dave Dorais, who is the President of Dorais Chevrolet.
Over one hundred years ago, Dorais was the quarterback for the Fighting Irish from 1910-1913, becoming an All-America in his final year for the team. Dave Dorais said that his grandfather went to Cedar Point the summer of 1913 in order to work as a lifeguard there. He added that his grandfather convinced Rockney to come along for the summer and on the beaches of Lake Erie the duo started messing around with the football, putting a looser grip on the pigskin, figuring out how to throw it in a spiral and how to hit a receiver in stride. Dave Dorais told MiBash News at that time, the running backs were the starts and most “throws” were of the lateral kind.
But Dave Dorais made one thing clear: Gus Dorais did not “invent” the forward pass that summer, but he and Rockney did perfect the technique. Indeed, research shows that the forward pass had been occasionally used previously – almost like a trick play – but never on a regular basis in a game.
Dave Dorais recounted the story of the game that changed football forever played on November 1,1913. Notre Dame was playing Army at West Point when the forward pass was used against the highly-favored Cadets, which caused Army’s defense to practically collapse in the second half. That day, Gus Dorais completed 14 of 17 passes, for a total of 243 yards. Dave Dorais on why the forward pass took Army so much by surprise.
Thankfully for the Fighting Irish, Dave Dorais said, the rules of the game changed by 1913 to even allow a forward pass. After college, Gus Dorais coached for several college and pro teams including the Detroit Lions. When executives at General Motors suggested that Dorais take over a dealership, the family moved to Wabash in 1949 and began selling cars across the street to where Dorais Chevrolet is now.
I bought my first car at the age of 21 from Bill Dorais, (Dave’s dad) who told me I could not afford the newly designed 1963 Split Window Corvette Coupe, that I ordered. Sept 1962 When it arrived on 1/31/1963 I paid cash for the Vette $4,400.00 all in $100 dollar bills. I was a newspaper boy for John D Weesner for 11 years and saved all my earnings and tip money. Colin J Weesner
Great article Tim. Good work.
great story, so interesting!