[b] After graduating from East High School in his hometown, Eichenlaub received collegiate offers from Notre Dame and Michigan.

With the 1913 Fighting Irish, which featured Gus Dorais and Knute Rockne and finished with a 7–0 record, Eichenlaub scored 12 touchdowns.

[1] In the spring of 1914, various newspapers reported that Eichenlaub was in danger of losing his eyesight due to conjunctivitis,[8] but this was refuted by Notre Dame head coach Jesse Harper.

[10] Initially elected as captain of the 1915 track and field team,[11] Eichenlaub quit athletics early in 1915 and was succeeded by Dutch Bergman.

[12] Eichenlaub served in the United States Army in the 12th Field Artillery Regiment from September 1917 to December 1918, and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant.