As Frank Leahy was looking to replenish the glistening treasure of the ’46 recruiting class that was finally depleting in 1949, he looked to the wealth in the Chicago Catholic League.
Leahy ventured to Oak Park, a near west suburb of Chicago to Fenwick High and John Lattner. Fenwick was run by the Dominicans and was named after a Bishop Fenwick from Cincinnati. Fenwick became one of the lead tributaries of the Chicago Catholic League feeder system for Notre Dame along with Gordon, Brother Rice, St. Rita’s, DeLaSalle and Mt. Carmel.
While Leahy was running and prospering with the T-formation at Notre Dame, Lattner was running the single wing at Fenwick and was intrigued about playing for the Maize and Blue.