Frank Hering

was a ND football player and Head Coach...

He has been called the “Founder of Notre Dame Football”.  He was one of the people given credit for the creation of Mother’s Day.  He was a leader in the South Bend community.  He created the Hering House, to help members of the African American community. He was also a fine poet.  Here’s an example of his writing:

NOTRE DAME, INDIANA, MARCH 13, 1897. SCHOLASTIC, No. 23.

The Lakes at Notre Dame

FRANK EARLE HERING {Belles Lettres).

When the sun shines in the morning on the lakes at Notre Dame,

And the meadow-land is ringing

With the lark's ecstatic singing

And the elves leave off from dancing and the lake nymphs disappear;

When the pink light tints the water

Tints the deep green of the water,

And the dew-drop on the daffodil is gleaming like a tear;

Then I wander by the lake-side.

In the glory of the sun-tide

When the sun shines in the morning on the lakes at Notre Dame,

When the moon drifts in the evening on the lakes at Notre Dame,

And the chime-peals rush forth streaming

Over waters that are gleaming

With the bands of swift light 'darting from the vestal oriflamme;

When the wavelets rock the marsh-grass

Rock to sleep the spiny marsh-grass

And a halo girds the Virgin watching over Notre Dame,

Then I wander by the lake-side,

Bathing in the mellow moon-tide

When the moon shines in the evening on the lakes at Notre Dame

When the stars blink in the night-time in the lakes at Notre Dame,

Every spar of star-light showing

In the clear deep, glinting, glowing,

As if many a gem were blazing in the bosom of the lake;

When faint music sways the grass-blades

Sways the slender, dew-gemmed grass-blades

With the melodies undreamed of that the elves and fairies make,

Then I wander by the lake-side;

At the coming of the star-tide,

When the stars shine in the night-time on the lakes at Notre Dame.