Irvin “Tiny” Knee began his illustrious career in athletics at Ripley High School, where he was involved in football, basketball, and track. He then enrolled at Wabash College, where he was a star halfback on the football team. In his senior year, he was named to the Indiana all-state college football team along with “Sleepy” Jim Crowley, one of the famous Notre Dame “Four Horsemen,” while the other three “Horsemen” – Stuhldreher, Miller, and Layden – were on the second team! After a stellar career as an athlete, Knee went on to earn his law degree at Cumberland before returning to his high school alma mater, where he coached all sports for many glorious years. In 1985 the Ripley High School Booster Club honored him, unveiling a monument at Irvin Knee Field with the inscription, “Irvin Knee, called, ‘Tiny,’ but great in his vision and in his labor in the building of this field, and in the building of men.” A fitting description of the great athlete, coach, and lifelong Ripley devotee.
