State marks 81st anniversary of Knute Rockne’s death this weekend

? Kansas has been gearing up for the 81st anniversary of the central Kansas plane crash that killed Notre Dame football legend Knute Rockne and seven other people.

The Wichita Eagle reports that events this weekend will include the unveiling of the 1932 Rockne Family Studebaker at the Chase County Historical Museum. They also will include live music and tours of the Chase County Courthouse and Rockne crash site.

Rockne’s death at age 43 at the height of his career — having led the Fighting Irish to consecutive undefeated seasons his final two seasons — made front-page news across the country.

The crash site is located near the small town of Bazaar and is marked with a marble-and-limestone monument.