Knipe was considered one of the greatest players of the nineteenth century. Playing for the Pennsylvania Quakers, he was known for having scored a touchdown against the Walter Camp coached Yale team in 1893. It was the first points allowed by Yale since 1890 including a span of 35 consecutive games. However, many sources actually attribute the touchdown to fellow Penn Halfback, Winchester Osgood.
Knipe was the first Iowa head coach to coach not just a full season, but multiple seasons. He was known as a disciplinarian which didn’t sit well with older players on the team who wanted more control over the positions they played. Iowa started the 1898 season 1-4-1. After losing to Northern Iowa, Hawkeye player Ralph Blackmore led the “Blackmore Revolt” where five players quit the team. In response, Knipe started his younger players instead and ended the season 2-0-1 including a win over rival and heavy favorite Nebraska who was being coached by Fielding H. Yost.