Latest / Hangin' Out with Bob / A Golden Lookback at Gophers Coach Murray Warmath (Part Two)

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A Golden Lookback at Gophers Coach Murray Warmath (Part Two) · Hangin' Out with Bob

0:00
Okay, you know what what happened I didn't hit
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record I Hit the music but if I get the record,
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I'm sorry guys, I'm just start that intro again.
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Sorry my bad my bad Okay, hello and welcome to
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hanging out with Bob podcast hosted by me Bob
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at home Thanks for joining us and let's get started.
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Maybe what I should say is welcome back to Hanging
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Out with Bob because this episode is part two
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of our podcast on the Murray Wormath era, who
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was head football coach of the Gophers from 1954
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through 1971. In part one, we covered the 1954
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through 1962 seasons. And here in part two, we'll
0:57
be covering the 1963 through 1971 seasons. And
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by we, I'm joined once again by my brothers Dave
1:04
and Tom at home. They were guests on part one
1:06
as well. Welcome back to hanging out with Bob
1:09
guys. Thanks Bob. And now that we are back, let's
1:16
get back to part two of the Murray Wormath era
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at Minnesota. On to the 1963 season. the same
1:27
year during which the U .S. Postal Service introduced
1:30
its own improvement plan, otherwise known as
1:33
the zip code. Well, part one of this podcast
1:37
ended with our talk about the 1962 football season
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for the Gophers, the ninth season under Wormath.
1:44
The Gophers went 6 -2 -1 overall and 5 -2 in
1:47
the Big Ten, finishing second in the conference.
1:50
And had they been able to beat Wisconsin in that
1:52
final game of the season, the Gophers would have
1:54
won the Big Ten conference. woulda, coulda, shoulda.
1:58
But still a good year in 1962. Tom, how did the
2:02
Gophers do in 1963, their 10th season under Murray
2:05
Wormath? Well, not nearly as well as they did
2:08
in 62. They went 3 -6 overall, 2 -5 in the Big
2:12
Ten to finish in 9th place. They were 3 -2 at
2:15
home, 0 -4 on the road. But one of those home
2:18
victories included a 24 -8. That's the HVAC guy.
2:25
That's a standard ductwork size. One of them
2:30
included a 24 -8 win over Army, and that's the
2:33
first and only time those two teams have faced
2:36
each other. Tough season for the Gophers. Who
2:39
did win the Big Ten in 1963, Tom? Illinois won
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the Big Ten with a 5 -1 -1 record, and they finished
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8 -1 -1 overall. They finished the season ranked
2:48
either third or fourth in the nation depending
2:50
on the poll, and they beat Washington 17 -7 in
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the Rose Bowl. Texas won the national championship
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in 63. And Dave, how did the Gophers draw at
2:59
home in the 63 season? They didn't draw too badly.
3:04
Average attendance for five home games was 57
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,759. Season high for attendance was a game against
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Michigan, which I think in those days just carried
3:14
more weight than any of our rivalry games at
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the time, at least in my opinion. And the Gophers
3:21
won that six to nothing. Okay, and then how did
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they do in their other two trophy games then?
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They lost at Iowa 27 to 13 and they beat Wisconsin
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14 to nothing at home. Okay, thanks Dave. You
3:34
know the thing I remember most about the 1963
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season, unfortunately, was not so much the win
3:39
-loss record. It was the final game of the season
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against Wisconsin. The game was originally scheduled
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for Saturday, November 23rd, 1963. but it was
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postponed due to the assassination of President
3:52
John F. Kennedy the previous day on November
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22nd and was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day,
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November 28th. Like you just said, Dave, the
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Gophers beat the Badgers 14 to nothing. By the
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way, the announced Crowder Memorial Stadium on
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that Thanksgiving Day at 10 30 a .m., mind you,
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was 55 ,271. Not bad for a Thanksgiving crowd.
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You always think about people leaving, especially
4:15
students going home for that stuff. They still
4:17
got a good crowd. There were two unanimous All
4:21
-Americans that played against the Gophers in
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1963. The first was a guy named Bob Brown. He
4:26
was a senior guard from Nebraska, which beat
4:29
the Gophers 14 -7 that year. Brown went on to
4:32
play 10 seasons as an offensive tackle in the
4:34
NFL. He was inducted into both the College Hall
4:37
of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And
4:40
the second player was Dick Butkus, then a junior
4:44
center and linebacker from Illinois, a two -way
4:46
player. Still did that then. Well, they beat
4:49
the visiting Gophers, I should say, 16 to 6.
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Did you guys know that Butkus initially wanted
4:55
to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? Unfortunately
4:58
for him and for Notre Dame, as it turns out,
5:01
the team at the time frowned upon married players.
5:05
Butkus was contemplating marriage to his high
5:07
school sweetheart, but Notre Dame's policy ultimately
5:11
led him to select Illinois. Can you imagine if
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he had gone to Notre Dame's? Yeah. I thought
5:15
that was interesting. And a future Viking who
5:18
played against the Gophers in 1963, and that
5:20
was Paul Krause. He was a two -way starter as
5:24
a wide receiver, running back and defensive back
5:26
with Iowa. Krause was the second round pick by
5:29
Washington in the 1964 NFL draft. He was traded
5:33
to the Vikings in 1968 and played there for 12
5:36
seasons. He still holds the NFL record for interceptions
5:39
with 81. Kross is named to both the Iowa Sports
5:43
Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
5:46
But back to those 63 Gophers. Tackle Carl Eller,
5:49
now a senior during that 63 season, was a Consensus
5:53
All -American and also named to the All -Big
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-10 First Team. Eller was also awarded the Gophers
5:59
Team MVP Award. And, of course, he went on to
6:03
play for the Minnesota Vikings for 15 seasons.
6:06
He's a member of both the Pro Football Hall of
6:08
Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. On
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to the 1964 season, the same year in which the
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Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
6:23
Dave, after that tough season in 1963, how did
6:27
the Gophers do in their 11th season under Wormath
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in 64? They actually improved. It was a good
6:33
but not great year. They ended up going five
6:35
and four overall, four and three in the Big Ten,
6:38
tied with the Illini for fourth place. Three
6:41
and two record at home and a two and two record
6:44
on the road. So who did win the Big Ten in 64?
6:47
Michigan won the Big Ten with a six and one record
6:50
and they finished nine and one overall. They
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ended up finishing the season ranked number four
6:55
in the nation. They beat Oregon State 34 to seven
6:59
in the Rose Bowl. And three teams actually shared
7:02
the national title that year, Alabama, Arkansas,
7:07
and Notre Dame, depending on the poll. Okay.
7:10
Okay. And Tom, how did the Gophers draw at home
7:13
in 64? Well, average attendance actually was
7:16
down slightly for their five home games at 53
7:19
,782. Their season high for attendance was again
7:23
a game against Iowa. It was 62 ,514 and the Gophers
7:27
won that game 14 to 13. That still amazes me
7:31
about Iowa. How well their fans travel. They
7:33
always have too. Okay. And then how did the Gophers
7:36
do in their other two trophy games Tom? Well
7:39
sadly they lost them both. The Gophers lost at
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Michigan 19 to 12 and at Wisconsin 14 to 7. Okay
7:45
thanks. So the Gophers lost their battles for
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the little brown jug in Paul Bunyan's axe. They
7:50
also lost a Big Ten battle to get home against
7:52
Illinois, and they lost their season opener,
7:55
also at home, in a non -conference game against
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Nebraska. Here are the consensus All -Americans
8:00
that the Gophers faced in 1964. Larry Kramer,
8:04
senior tackle from Nebraska. Kramer actually
8:07
went to the Vikings training camp at 65, but
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he never played it down in the NFL. Instead,
8:12
he went on to coach at several schools over 33
8:14
seasons. And once again, the Gophers met Dick
8:17
Buckus. This time as a senior center and linebacker
8:20
from Illinois. Butkus was the first on draft
8:23
pick for the Bears and third overall selection
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in 65. Went on to play nine seasons in the NFL
8:29
with the Bears and was elected to the Pro Football
8:31
Hall of Fame. So he played his entire, well,
8:34
yeah, his entire football career in Chicago or
8:38
Illinois. High school, you know, Illinois for
8:41
college and then to the Bears. And even though
8:44
I had I obviously heard of Buckus when he was
8:46
in college. I don't think I ever saw him play.
8:49
Other than maybe the Rose Bowl. Yeah, the Rose
8:51
Bowl maybe. But I just remember what he was like
8:54
as a pro after he was injured. He was about as
8:56
hard -nosed and tough a guy as I, as ever played.
9:00
And he only got nine seasons because he played
9:02
so much and he got banged up pretty bad. Very
9:04
banged up. I'm sure the heels and knees of his
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must have been. Well remember, he was part of
9:08
the wallpaper collage dad put together. That's
9:10
right. Yes. Oh, that's right. Yep. Yes. Yep.
9:13
Yep. A couple of honors for Gopher players in
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that season. A back, a two -way back, named Craig
9:20
Loftquist. I've been looking him up and I cannot
9:23
find anything. I've not heard of him. With a
9:25
name like Loftquist, I gotta believe he's from
9:27
here, but that's not necessarily so. And then
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Aaron Brown. Yes. That year he was a junior.
9:34
He was named to the All Big Ten first team. And
9:37
then a center by the name of Joe Pung. B -U -N
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-G. from St. Martin, Minnesota, St. Martin, Minnesota,
9:45
which is near Paynesville. He was awarded the
9:48
Gophers Team MVP award. He was a center. But
9:51
that's the first time I found his name when I
9:53
was researching. On to the 65 season. It was
10:02
the same year in which the twins played the Dodgers
10:04
in the World Series and lost in seven games.
10:09
Tom, how did the Gophers do in their 12th season
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under Murray Wormath? Well, they finished above
10:14
500 for the second straight year. They were 5
10:17
-4 -1 overall, 5 -2 in the Big Ten. They tied
10:20
with Purdue for third place. They went 4 -2 at
10:23
home and won 2 -1 on the road. Okay, and then
10:26
who did win the Big Ten in 65? Michigan State
10:29
won. They were 7 -0, finished with a 10 -1 overall
10:33
record. Their only defeat that year was a 14
10:36
-10 loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The Spartans
10:40
shared the national championship with Alabama
10:42
in 65 depending on the poll and that 65 Michigan
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state team featured two all -american players
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who went on to star with the Vikings running
10:51
back Clint Jones and wide receiver Gene Washington
10:54
who was also part of the collage in the basement.
10:57
That's right. Well, Michigan State was loaded
11:00
that year, too. I mean, these were the two guys
11:02
that came to play for the Vikings, but was it
11:04
George Webster was one? George Webster and Bubba
11:06
Smith. Yeah, I mean, they were loaded. They were
11:08
loaded that year, so. Dave, how did the Gophers
11:10
draw at home in the 65 season? Well, attendance
11:13
wasn't bad, but as we can kind of tell, it's
11:18
steadily declining. They averaged for six home
11:21
games 50 ,458, which is certainly not bad by
11:26
today's standards. The season high for attendance
11:29
was a rivalry game against Michigan 58 ,519 and
11:33
the Gophers won that one 14 to 13. Okay. And
11:37
then how about their other two trophy games?
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They won them both. So they won it at Iowa 14
11:42
to three and they beat Wisconsin at home 42 to
11:44
seven. Okay. So the Gophers won all three of
11:47
their trophies, a little brown jug, Florida Rosedale
11:50
and Paul Bunyan's ax. Unfortunately, they lost
11:52
to Ohio State, which finished second in the Big
11:55
Ten at 6 -1, and Purdue, who tied for third with
11:58
the Gophers at 5 -2. Their other two losses,
12:01
both at home, were non -conference games against
12:03
Washington and Missouri. They tied Southern Cal
12:07
in their season opener at the Los Angeles Memorial
12:10
Coliseum. And here are the unanimous or consensus
12:13
All -Americans that the Gophers faced in 1965.
12:17
Mike Garrett, running back with Southern Cal,
12:19
who also won the Heisman Trophy that year. He
12:21
was a unanimous All -American. He went on to
12:24
play for eight seasons in the NFL, first with
12:26
the Chiefs and then later with the Chargers.
12:29
A guy named Johnny Roland, he was running back
12:32
with Missouri, which beat the gopher 17 -6 at
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Memorial Stadium. A consensus All -American,
12:38
he went on to play seven seasons with the St.
12:41
Louis Cardinals. He was NFL Rookie of the Year
12:44
in 1966, which I did not know, and one year with
12:47
the New York Giants. Then the guy by the name
12:50
of Bill Yerby, senior defensive tackle with Michigan
12:54
in consensus All -American. First round draft
12:56
pick in the AFL draft by the Jets, but he played
12:59
just one season and was plagued by an injured
13:01
knee. That's probably why we never heard of him.
13:04
And then a guy named Bob Greasy, junior quarterback
13:07
with Purdue, which beat the visiting Gophers
13:10
35 to nothing. He was also a consensus All -American
13:13
in 65. Greasy of course went on to play for the
13:16
Dolphins for 14 years. led them to two Superbowl
13:20
championships. The second one we'd rather not
13:23
talk about because that was one against the Vikings.
13:26
Obviously with that success, Greasy was elected
13:29
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well. Regarding
13:32
individual honors for the Gophers that year,
13:34
Aaron Brown was named a Consensus All -American,
13:37
was also named the All -Big Ten for his team,
13:40
and he went on to play in the NFL as well as
13:42
the Chief. Remember a quarterback named John
13:45
Hankinson? I do. He won the Gophers team MVP
13:49
that it was. Was he Edina? He was an Edina guy,
13:52
yeah. I still remember him playing in some kind
13:54
of all -star game on TV like a New Year's Day,
13:57
like a blue -gray or north -south or something.
14:00
And Chris Schenkel, the announcer for ABC, said
14:03
he was from Edina, Minnesota. I remember one
14:10
other thing about 65. If I'm not mistaken, at
14:13
Mike Garrett for USC, I remember actually listening
14:16
to that game on the radio with Dad and with you
14:21
guys. And he was one of the first running backs.
14:26
USC had this succession of incredible running
14:29
backs. He was one of the first ones, I think,
14:32
that kind of started that trend. Yeah, you know,
14:35
Simpson came along and they were always getting
14:37
somebody, Charles White. Yes, Marcus Allen. Yeah,
14:41
who was that? Ricky? Yeah, he played for Tampa.
14:44
Ricky Davis? No, Ricky. Yeah, but he'll come
14:48
to us. Can't remember his name, but Anthony Davis.
14:51
Yeah, right, right, another one. OK. All right,
14:59
so on to the 66 season. The year in which the
15:02
average cost of a new home was $23 ,300. The
15:09
Gophers had finished above $500 in the two previous
15:12
seasons. Dave, how did the Gophers do in 1966,
15:16
their 13th season under warm -up? They were kind
15:19
of right in the middle, not as well as they did
15:21
in 65. They went 4 -5 -1 overall, 3 -3 -1 in
15:25
the Big Ten for fifth place. They were 3 -2 at
15:28
home, 1 -3 -1 on the road. And who won the Big
15:32
Ten that year? I recall Michigan State ended
15:36
up repeating his Big Ten champs and I think that
15:39
they Yeah, they obviously had success nationally
15:43
as well. They went 7 -0, 9 -0, and won overall.
15:46
They shared the national title with Notre Dame.
15:49
It depended on the poll. Even when the two teams
15:52
met in regular season, the game ended in a 10
15:54
-10 tie. And at the time, Big Ten rules barred
15:58
the same team from representing the conference
16:00
in the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons. and
16:03
barred teams from appearing in any bowl game
16:05
other than the Rose Bowl. Like the Rose Bowl
16:07
or nothing, you can't go to the Rose Bowl. As
16:09
a result, Michigan State was ineligible to play
16:12
in the Rose Bowl or any other bowl game. Go 9
16:14
-0 -1 overall and you're done. Exactly. The former
16:18
rule, not playing in the Rose Bowl in consecutive
16:21
seasons, was finally rescinded in 1972. And the
16:25
latter, not playing in any other bowl game other
16:28
than the Rose Bowl, was rescinded in 1975. And
16:33
FYI, Purdue, which went to the Rose Bowl instead
16:36
of Michigan State, beat Southern Cal and Mike
16:40
Garrett 14 to 13. I remember that game. We went
16:44
to Grandma and Grandpa Ed Homes to watch that
16:46
game in their little apartment on University
16:48
Avenue. Tom was like... three years old or something.
16:52
But I remember watching that game on their little
16:54
black and white TV. But I remember, you know,
16:56
Purdue pulled that out. And Greasy was quarterback.
16:58
Yes. So, yeah. Cool. Tom, how did the Gophers
17:01
draw it home in the 66 season? Well, the downward
17:04
trend kind of continued, not by much, but a bit.
17:07
Their average attendance for the five home games
17:09
was 49 ,600. Season high for attendance was against
17:13
Iowa. Shocker there, right? But it was the Gophers
17:17
117 -0. I should just record your voice saying
17:20
Iowa and then just do the drop. The season high
17:24
was against Iowa. Okay, God bless the Iwegians.
17:29
I guess about the average and then how did the
17:31
Gophers doing their other two trophy games in
17:33
66? They were over and those again to go they
17:36
they got killed at Michigan 49 to nothing and
17:39
also lost at Wisconsin 7 to 6 I remember dad
17:42
having that game on the radio And I think that
17:45
was the first time. Was it Michigan? Yeah, against
17:47
Michigan, 49 to nothing. I remember thinking,
17:49
I've never heard of a gopher team getting beat
17:51
that bad. It seemed like that was starting to
17:54
change. That was when things really started to
17:57
turn where, you know. Yeah, Michigan and Ohio
17:59
State were so dominant. Right, right. Yep, yep.
18:04
So the Gophers were 1 -2 -1 and winless in the
18:06
Big Ten in 66 before they beat Iowa at home on
18:09
October 15th. They'd lost their season opener
18:12
at Missouri 24 -0. Missouri had some good football,
18:15
or at least against the Gophers. I don't remember
18:17
them ever beating Missouri. They beat Stanford
18:19
and lost to Kansas both at home and then tied
18:22
Indiana 7 -7 on the road. They were also shut
18:26
out 16 -0 at home to Purdue. before they lost
18:29
their final game on the road at Wisconsin. On
18:31
the other hand, they actually beat Ohio State
18:34
at home 17 -7, Ohio State. The Buckeyes that
18:37
year were 3 -4 in the Big Ten. and four and five
18:40
overall in 1966. But still, I went over Ohio
18:44
State in any year is a good thing, right? One
18:47
thing, I didn't have this in my notes, but I
18:49
think I remember reading somewhere, I think Royce
18:51
had written about it. For some reason, Wormath
18:53
and Woody Hayes had a certain amount of respect
18:56
for each other in that they never wanted to play
18:58
each other. Because all during the 60s, it's
19:01
like they never played. It wasn't an annual thing.
19:05
They'd schedule the other Big Ten teams, and
19:07
they'd always schedule good non -conference games.
19:09
They just hardly ever played, you know, in the
19:12
60s. It was weird. There was one consensus all
19:15
-American who the Gophers faced in 1966, and
19:17
his name was Jack Clancy. He was a senior receiver
19:21
with Michigan, went on to play four seasons of
19:24
pro football, three with the Dolphins and one
19:25
with the Packers. He had a great rookie season
19:28
at Miami. In fact, he and Bob Greasy were both
19:30
rookies there in 1967. But he had some knee problems
19:34
that plagued him during most of his time in the
19:35
pros. No Gophers were named to the All -American
19:39
or All Big Ten teams in 1966. A linebacker by
19:42
the name of Tim Wheeler from Richfield was awarded
19:45
the Gopher Teams MVP award. Okay, on to the 1967
19:55
season. Same year in which podcaster Joe Rogan,
19:59
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, and comic actor Will
20:02
Ferrell were born. So Tom, after their disappointing
20:10
season in 1966, how did the Gophers do in 1967,
20:14
their 14th season under Murray Wormath? Well,
20:17
they had a solid season in 67. They went eight
20:19
and two overall, six and one in the Big Ten,
20:22
tied for the conference championship with Indiana
20:24
and Purdue. They were six and oh at home, two
20:27
and two on the road. Those losses coming in a
20:31
close one at Nebraska 7 -0, but they got thumped
20:34
pretty good at Purdue 41 -12. Purdue would have
20:38
won the Big Ten championship outright with a
20:40
win over Indiana in the last game of the season,
20:43
but the Boilermakers lost to Indiana 19 -14.
20:46
Because the Hoosiers had never been to the Rose
20:48
Bowl, they got to go to Pasadena and not to Gophers.
20:51
The Gophers finished the season ranked number
20:53
18 in the country. Somewhat surprising, 18 since
20:57
Indiana finished fourth or sixth in the nation
21:00
depending on the poll and Purdue finished ninth.
21:03
Southern Cal which defeated Indiana 14 -3 in
21:06
the Rose Bowl won the national championship in
21:08
67. And Dave how did they go for draw at home
21:12
in the 67 season? Well for the first time the
21:15
drop -off in attendance was dramatic. It was
21:18
almost 10 ,000 fans less than the previous year.
21:21
They averaged 39 ,633. incredibly low considering
21:26
that the Gophers had won a share of the Big Ten
21:29
Championship. And that was the first year that
21:31
I ever attended a game in person. I saw them
21:34
actually beat Michigan in a very close game.
21:38
I caught an extra point when they were playing
21:42
against Indiana and you had to give the ball
21:45
back. They just, they throttled Indiana. They
21:49
beat them badly. I remember. And one of the most
21:54
surprising upsets that I can remember from that
21:57
era was when Purdue went to Indiana and ended
22:01
up losing. It was shocking because Purdue had
22:04
Leroy Keyes and just had a great team. And was
22:08
Greasy still quarterback? No, Greasy was in the
22:10
NFL. Okay, he was in the NFL. That was a real
22:14
shocker. It just goes to show that you can never,
22:16
especially in rivalry games, you never really
22:18
know what's gonna happen. Season -high attendance
22:22
was against Michigan State. They had 56 ,000,
22:25
and the Gophers won that game 21 to nothing.
22:28
And then how did they do in their other trophy
22:30
games? They ended up, they went 2 -0. They beat
22:33
Iowa 10 -zip on the road, and they won Floyd
22:36
or Rosedale for the fourth consecutive year,
22:38
and beat Wisconsin 21 to 14 at home. So the 1967
22:43
season for the Gophers was, for me, unforgettable.
22:47
I loved it. Dave, you and I, like I said, we
22:49
saw at least a couple of home games together
22:51
at Memorial Stadium. I went to the Michigan and
22:54
Indiana games, both games. Did you go to any
22:56
others? You know, I'm pretty sure that that was
23:00
the game in 67 where that guy actually injured
23:04
his knee. He was a Wisconsin D -back named Mel
23:09
Walker. And yeah, I did go to that game. I think
23:15
that that was also the game where I ran across
23:17
the field with Jim and John Rock right during
23:20
the middle of the game. Because there was a fight.
23:26
There was a fight that broke out between the
23:28
Gophers and Wisconsin and we just decided we
23:31
were gonna run right across the middle of the
23:33
field and we did. Dodging players. We didn't
23:36
even get kicked out. Because the Boy Scout leader
23:39
screamed at us but he was too busy watching the
23:42
fight chase us down. Oh, man. Yeah, the Gophers
23:49
played really well for most of that 67th season.
23:52
And while the AP had the Gophers ranked 18th
23:54
in the nation in their final poll, the coaches'
23:56
poll had them ranked 14th. I still thought they
23:59
should have been higher, but anyway. Anyway,
24:01
the Gophers narrow seven to nothing loss in Nebraska.
24:04
A then record crowd of 65 ,361 was in Lincoln
24:08
to watch it. I think now they can get almost
24:11
100 ,000. They've really expanded. Not over 90.
24:14
OK. The Gophers won all three of their trophy
24:17
games, which is great. Their only bad game was
24:19
that 41 -12 loss at Purdue. Oh, Big Ten passing
24:23
leader Mike Phipps, that was a quarterback. He
24:26
shredded the Gophers that day with 475 yards.
24:29
That's a lot for a college quarterback. Was Greasy
24:31
kind of the first guy that kind of started Purdue
24:33
being the quarterback? I think so. Yeah, good
24:35
point. That's a good point, yeah. But you also
24:37
can't forget, at least I'll never forget, that
24:40
Purdue, which had been favored to beat Indiana
24:42
in its final game, fumbled the ball away at the
24:45
Indiana four -yard line late in the game and
24:48
lost. Had no clue. Which meant that Indiana,
24:51
not the Gophers, would be going to the Rose Bowl.
24:53
And that would have meant Purdue would have won
24:56
the Big Ten, but we could have gone to the Rose
24:58
Bowl. Yes. But it didn't work out that way. There
25:01
was one unanimous All -American that the Gophers
25:04
faced in 1967. That was Leroy Keyes, then a junior
25:08
running back with Purdue. Lots of individual
25:11
honors for the Gophers during that 1967 season.
25:14
And Bob Stein from St. Louis Park was one of
25:17
seven defensive ends who were selected as All
25:19
-American. Along with Stein, tackle John Williams.
25:24
Remember that name? I do. From Jackson, Mississippi.
25:27
Another tackle, McKinley Boston, from Elizabeth
25:32
City, North Carolina, and a back name, Tom Sakel,
25:36
from Beaver County, Pennsylvania. were named
25:39
to the All Big Ten for his team. And Sakal was
25:41
also awarded the Gophers Team MVP award that
25:44
year. I don't remember that name. I don't remember
25:45
that name either. No, I don't. And we went to
25:48
those games, so I remember. Kurt Wilson was the
25:51
quarterback. Yep, and George Kemp was one of
25:53
the running backs. The kid that we. Jim Carter.
25:55
Yep. Was Carter on that team? Yeah, Carter was
25:57
still there. Yeah, yeah, so. On to the 1968 season.
26:06
The time when a gallon of regular leaded gasoline
26:09
was 34 cents. 34, which is exactly half of the
26:14
number 68, right? Okay, that's why I tied that
26:17
one in. Okay, Dave, how did the Goavers do in
26:20
1968, their 15th season under warm air? They
26:23
finished above 500 at least. They went six and
26:26
four overall, five and two in the Big Ten, tied
26:29
with Purdue for third place. They went three
26:32
and three at home and three and one on the road.
26:34
And then who won the Big Ten in 68? Ohio State
26:37
won the Big Ten, going 7 -0 and 10 -0 overall.
26:41
And they went on to beat Southern Cal 27 -16
26:44
in the Rose Bowl and they won the national title
26:46
in 1968. Wow, that's a perfect season. Wow, that's
26:49
pretty good. And then, Tom, how did the Gophers
26:51
do at home that year? Well, attendance actually
26:54
rebounded nicely for their six home games. They
26:57
averaged $52 ,134. That is a big jump from $39
27:01
plus to $52. Yeah. Season high for attendance
27:04
was a game against Southern Cal. They had over
27:06
$60 ,000 for that. But Gophers lost that game
27:09
29 to 20. In that game, USC had a running back
27:13
named OJ Simpson. And you were at that game,
27:17
right? I was at that game with Uncle Joe. OK,
27:19
I listened to him on the radio with Dad. And
27:21
they had that famous play with... Was it George
27:25
Kemp to John Winnermute? And they almost, they
27:27
lateraled it as a kickoff. They lateraled it
27:30
all the way across the field. It wasn't an underhand,
27:32
it was a pass. Oh yeah, a long pass. And then
27:37
Tom, how did the Gophers do in their three trophy
27:39
games in 68? Well, they were one for three. They
27:42
lost at Michigan 30. three to 20. They lost at
27:46
home to Iowa 35 -28 and one at Wisconsin 23 -15.
27:51
Okay, thanks. Yeah, the Gophers had an up and
27:53
down season in 68, or maybe I should say a down
27:55
and up season. They lost their first two games,
27:58
Southern Cal and Nebraska, both at home, won
28:00
their next three, Wake Forest and Illinois at
28:03
home, Michigan State on the road, lost their
28:06
next two, Michigan on the road and Iowa at home,
28:09
and then won their last three, Purdue at home
28:11
and Indiana and Wisconsin on the road. I remember
28:14
the win over Purdue. It was on TV, our black
28:17
and white TV, in that den in the house. And in
28:22
that game, I remember gopher running back, Jim
28:24
Carter, out of South St. Paul, Minnesota, took
28:27
a handoff at about the Purdue 49 yard line and
28:32
ran over, I'm not kidding you, literally ran
28:33
over like three would -be tacklers for a touchdown.
28:36
Wow. You know, and Leroy Keyes was playing in
28:39
that game, but Carter made that run. It was incredible.
28:41
Do you recall seeing him in high school? Yeah,
28:44
yeah, I'm just gonna bring up bring that up.
28:46
Were you at that game? I was I was at that grade
28:48
Tom you well you were obviously hadn't started
28:51
school yet The Heights was playing South St.
28:53
Paul and a Friday afternoon game They hadn't
28:55
put the lights up at the field yet, and I remember
28:58
Heights actually had a lead. They were up late.
29:00
God, I know 14 to nothing or something like that.
29:02
But all of a sudden, and South St. Paul had that
29:05
triple wing, some kind of offense where the quarterback
29:07
didn't take the snap under center. Single wing.
29:10
Single wing. Single wing. Thank you, thank you.
29:12
And Carter, they kept feeding the ball to Carter,
29:15
and he was so big. He was at least 6 '3", probably,
29:18
220. He would literally, you know, there were
29:22
heights guys that were on his back. And hanging
29:24
on his ankles. They couldn't bring him down.
29:28
He was playing against little kids. And Heights
29:31
had a good team. Larry Link was on the team and
29:33
Bruce Nelson. I mean they were a good team, but
29:35
South St. Paul with Carter, forget it. And I
29:40
knew he was going to be a good player someday.
29:43
Yes. And fortunately. Real good hockey player
29:46
too. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well here are the
29:49
consensus that are unanimous all Americans that
29:52
the Gophers faced in 68. Tom, you mentioned before,
29:54
OJ Simpson. Senior running back with Southern
29:57
Cal, won the Heisman that year, went on to have
30:00
an amazing career in the NFL. We're all but two,
30:04
and most of it, I should say, all but two of
30:07
his 13 years are with the Bills. I think he finished
30:09
up with the Niners or something toward the end.
30:11
His individual accomplishments are a mile long,
30:14
although he only played in one playoff game and
30:16
never got to the Super Bowl. Bills were terrible.
30:19
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of
30:21
Fame, but his fame as a football player and later
30:24
his commercials and acting were overshadowed
30:27
by the 1994 murder of two people, one of whom
30:29
was his ex -wife. I think I'll just leave it
30:32
at that. And again Leroy Keyes was a running
30:36
back with Purdue, a unanimous all -American pick
30:38
in 68. He went on to play five seasons in the
30:41
NFL. Four with the Eagles and one with the Chiefs.
30:44
But actually for being the third overall pick
30:47
in the 1969 AFL slash NFL draft, he was what
30:52
you might call a bust in the pros. I don't remember
30:55
him doing anything. Sometimes it just doesn't
30:58
work out. Then a guy named Chuck Kyle, he was
31:02
a senior middle guard also at Purdue, consensus
31:05
All -American, drafted by the Cowboys in 69,
31:08
but waived. went on to play three years in the
31:11
Canadian Football League, then signed as a free
31:14
agent with the Jets in 72, but got injured and
31:16
was waived again. So there's no guarantee. You
31:20
might be a great college player, not necessarily
31:22
in the pros. And the future Viking that the Gophers
31:25
faced in 1968, Dennis Green. Then a sophomore
31:30
starting halfback at Iowa. As any Vikings fan
31:33
knows, Dennis Green would someday be head coach
31:35
of the Vikings from 1992 to 2001. and an underrated
31:40
drummer. Yeah, any great drum solo he could match.
31:45
Drummin' Denny. Sticks. For a second straight
31:57
year, N. Bob Stein was named an All -American
32:00
and also All Big Ten First Team. Gopher's teammate
32:04
Dick Enderley a guard from Breckenridge, Minnesota,
32:07
and linebacker Noel Jenke from Owatonna, Minnesota,
32:11
were also named to the All Big Ten first team.
32:13
And then a linebacker named Wayne King, and I
32:17
cannot find anything on him, he was awarded the
32:20
Gophers Team MVP award. He was a linebacker,
32:22
Wayne King. I don't know if he's a Michigan guy,
32:25
I don't know, Wayne King. You can find out, tell
32:28
me. Okay, on to the 1969 season, the same year
32:38
that astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
32:41
walked on the moon. In 1969, the Gophers and
32:48
most other teams to commemorate the 100th anniversary
32:50
of college football wore a special decal on their
32:53
helmets, featuring the numerals 100 inside a
32:56
football -shaped thing on the helmet. I remember
32:59
that, yeah. And then Tom, how did the Gophers
33:02
do in 69, their 16th season under Murray Wormath?
33:05
Well, nothing to write home about. They ended
33:07
up finishing four, five and one over all four
33:09
and three in the Big Ten, which was good for
33:13
a fourth place finish. They went two, two and
33:14
one at home and two and three on the road. Okay.
33:17
And then who won the Big Ten that year? Ohio
33:19
State and Michigan tied for the conference championship.
33:22
Both had six and one records. The Buckeyes won
33:25
eight and one overall, finished the season ranked
33:27
fourth or fifth, depending on the poll. Wolverines
33:31
won eight and three overall and finished the
33:33
season ranked eighth or ninth, depending on the
33:35
poll. Michigan lost to Southern Cal and the Rose
33:38
Bowl 10 -3. Texas ended up winning the national
33:41
championship that year. Okay. And Dave, how did
33:44
the Gophers draw at home in 69? Well, they crept
33:48
back up a little bit with attendance. Average
33:51
for five home games was 45 ,417. Season high
33:56
for attendance was a game against Ohio State,
33:59
52 ,972. And they beat the Gophers pretty handily,
34:04
34 to seven. If I'm not mistaken, Dave, wasn't
34:06
that the first year you and I had season tickets
34:08
in the end zone? Yes. Okay, the bowl end, yeah.
34:10
Yes. Okay. I think I remember that Ohio State
34:12
game, in fact. Yep. And then how did the Gophers
34:14
do in their three trophy games? They won two
34:17
of three. They lost to Michigan at home 35 to
34:21
nine. They beat Iowa on the road 35 to eight
34:24
and they beat Wisconsin at home 35 to 10. Okay,
34:27
so 69 was another down and up season. They were
34:30
winless in their first six games. They lost a
34:33
season opener at Arizona State. I was probably
34:35
back when Frank Kush was coaching here, I would
34:37
imagine. I remember that game. They tied Ohio
34:40
University, not to be confused with the Ohio
34:43
State University, in their home opener. I remember
34:45
it was like 35 to 35 and they just traded touchdowns.
34:49
We were at that game. Yep, yep. Then they lost
34:51
road games at Nebraska and Indiana. The skid
34:54
continued with losses at home against Ohio State
34:56
and Michigan, so they were 0 -5 and 1. But fortunately,
35:00
the Gophers salvaged at least a part of their
35:02
69th season by winning their last four games
35:04
at Iowa, home against Northwestern, at Michigan
35:07
State, and home against Wisconsin. And for unanimous
35:11
or consensus All -Americans that year, a guy
35:14
named Jim Mandich, senior tight end with Michigan,
35:17
he was a unanimous All -American. Played nine
35:19
seasons in the NFL, eight with the Dolphins,
35:21
one with the Steelers, and won three Super Bowl
35:24
championship rings. Two with the Dolphins, one
35:26
with the Steelers. Right place, right time, man.
35:29
guy named Tom Curtis, senior defensive back,
35:31
also with Michigan. He was a consensus All -American.
35:35
Played a couple seasons in the NFL with the Colts
35:37
and received a Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl
35:39
V. Remember that one? They beat Dallas and Jim
35:43
O 'Brien, the straight -on kicker. We're Super
35:45
Bowl ever. Straight -on kicker winning field
35:48
goal ever. But he had knee problems, Tom Curtis,
35:51
and he didn't stay long in the NFL. And then
35:53
I want to bring up this guy because I don't remember
35:55
him at all. Jim Otis. He was a running back for
35:58
Ohio State, which beat the Gophers 34 -7. He
36:01
was a consensus All -American, went on to play
36:03
nine seasons in the NFL, last six with the Cardinals.
36:07
And the reason I'm bringing him up, guys, is
36:08
in 1975, okay, he rushed for an NFC -leading
36:13
1 ,076 yards. He beat the Vikings' Chuck Foreman
36:17
by six yards, which prevented Foreman, who led
36:21
the NFC in touchdowns and receptions that year,
36:25
from achieving a rare triple crown of sorts.
36:27
Wow. Jim Otis. Who did he play for in the NFL?
36:31
Cardinals. Cardinals, yeah. I do remember that
36:35
now. Yeah, yeah. Then the guy named Jim Stillwagon.
36:39
Then a junior middle guard. I remember also with
36:41
Ohio State. He was a consensus all -american
36:44
and then this Buckeye I know you've heard of
36:46
Jack Tatum Yes, junior defensive back who is
36:50
also used as a linebacker Unanimous all -american
36:54
and only a junior that year. So and then for
36:56
the second straight year future Vikings head
36:59
coach Dennis Green well back at Iowa and Then
37:03
for the Gophers a tight end by the name of Ray
37:05
Parson not Parsons, but just Parsons. I remember
37:08
him. From Uniontown, Pennsylvania was the second
37:10
team All -American and first team All -Big Ten.
37:13
in 1969. He was also awarded the Gophers team
37:16
MVP award drafted by the Lions in 1970 but he
37:20
played only two years in the NFL and one year
37:23
in the World Football League due to knee issues
37:25
that forced him to retire from the game. Did
37:26
he play hoops too? I think you and I talked about
37:29
this earlier he had a chance to play for Bill
37:31
Fitch with the Gophers but in the last game of
37:33
the season against Wisconsin he hurt his knee.
37:35
Oh. So he didn't play. Then and they the college
37:39
remember in the college all stars would play
37:41
the Super Bowl champs They played the Chiefs
37:44
and he hurt his knee in that game And so he was
37:47
always having knee issues and they said he only
37:49
played a couple years in the NFL and World Football
37:51
League So and they could told you an interesting
37:53
sidebar. He is married to Clyde Turner's sister
37:58
Well, I turned her play basketball for the Gophers
38:00
in the 70s. Yeah And here's a little sidebar
38:02
for you guys. The 1969 Gophers football squad
38:06
had an offensive lineman and defensive tackle
38:08
named Richard Fleer, last name spelled F -L -I
38:12
-E -H -R. He lived throughout his childhood in
38:15
Twin City suburbs, but after ninth grade he attended
38:18
Wayland Academy, a boarding school in Beaver
38:21
Dam, Wisconsin, about 50 miles northeast of Madison,
38:25
for four years where he participated in wrestling,
38:28
football, and track. He was heavily recruited
38:31
as a football player out of high school and earned
38:33
a scholarship to play for the Gophers. However,
38:36
he only played for a short time at the U. He
38:39
dropped out of school when his grades made him
38:41
academically ineligible for the team. So why
38:44
am I spending so much time talking about this
38:46
guy? Well, this guy eventually changed the spelling
38:49
of his last name and went on to become better
38:52
known as professional wrestler Rick Flair, the
38:55
Nature Boy. So he was basically, he did nothing
39:01
but the gophers, flunked out. And he went to
39:06
a boarding school and high school. Yeah, he probably
39:08
was a discipline problem. I would guess. So I
39:11
sent him to a military school. I've never seen
39:14
those. He looked nothing like he turned out to
39:16
be. He's so much slimmer when he wrestled. He
39:20
found his niche. The nature boy. He was a long
39:22
way from the nature boy. Oh yeah, the pictures
39:25
of him. He had dark hair too. Yeah, it was dark.
39:28
It wasn't bleached. That is funny. Richard Fleer.
39:35
Golden gopher. Yeah, one of our master recruits
39:39
though. Okay, on to the 1970 season. when the
39:49
annual tuition for an undergrad at the U was
39:51
just over $500. What? Anyway. That's a laugh.
39:58
A lot of Gophers were hoping those last four
40:00
wins of the 1969 season would give the team some
40:03
momentum going into the next season. But Dave,
40:06
what actually happened to the Gophers in the
40:08
1970 season? Their 17th under warm -up. It was
40:11
a step backward for the Gophers in warm math.
40:13
They ended up going 3 -6 -1 overall, 2 -4 -1
40:17
in the Big Ten for seventh place. They did go
40:20
3 -1 -1 at home, but 0 -5 on the road. And who
40:26
won the Big Ten that year? Ohio State won the
40:28
conference championship with a 7 -0 record. They
40:32
also went 9 -1 overall and finished the season
40:35
ranked either first, second, or fifth in the
40:37
nation depending on the poll. Ohio State went
40:40
on to lose to Stanford in the Rose Bowl, 27 to
40:44
17. And I seem to remember a guy named Plunkett
40:47
might have been playing. Jim Plunkett, yep, yep.
40:50
Nebraska, Texas, and Ohio State shared the national
40:53
championship in 1970, again, depending on the
40:56
poll. Okay, Tom, and how did the Gophers try
40:59
at home in 1970? Well, pretty similar to 69.
41:02
Their average attendance for the five home games
41:04
was 45 ,093. Their season high for attendance
41:08
was the game against Nebraska. They had 52 ,500
41:12
for that. Gophers got beat in that game 35 to
41:15
10. Okay. And then how did they do in their trophy
41:18
games in 1970? Well, not very well. They lost
41:21
at Michigan 39 to 13. They tied Iowa 14 to 14
41:25
at home and they lost at Wisconsin 39 to 14.
41:29
So another not so great season for the Gophers
41:32
in 1970. They managed to beat Ohio University
41:34
this time in their home opener 49 to 7, but they
41:38
lost their other two non -conference games at
41:40
Missouri and at home against Nebraska. Their
41:43
two Big Ten wins were at home against Indiana
41:45
and Michigan State. He said, Tom, they tied Iowa
41:47
at home, but the Gophers lost all four Big Ten
41:50
road games at Ohio State, Michigan, Northwestern,
41:52
and Wisconsin. Here are the unanimous consensus
41:55
all Americans, the Gophers faced in 1970. Once
41:58
again, Jack Tatum. as a senior defensive back
42:01
with Ohio State. He was unanimous that year again.
42:04
He was the first round pick with the Raiders
42:06
and went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL. He
42:09
has voted three consecutive Pro Bowls in the
42:11
70s and played in one Super Bowl winning team
42:13
in his ninth season with the Raiders. But let's
42:16
be honest, Jack Tatum is mostly known for that
42:19
hit he made against New England Patriots wide
42:21
receiver Daryl Stingley in the preseason game
42:24
that paralyzed Stingley from the neck down. And
42:27
in Super Bowl XI, of course, in 1977, Tatum knocked
42:31
the helmet off of wide receiver Sammy White of
42:34
the Vikings, and that's often regarded as one
42:36
of the biggest hits in Super Bowl history. Tatum,
42:39
though, after he got done with football, he suffered
42:42
from diabetes terribly. I think he had to have
42:44
his toes and feet amputated. He had kidney problems.
42:50
In fact, he was waiting for a kidney transplant
42:52
when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was
42:55
only 61. Didn't know that. Amazing the guy that
42:58
that's strong and seemingly healthy but those
43:02
kinds of health issues. I remember seeing him
43:04
warm up at one of the games at Memorial Stadium
43:07
and if there was ever a prototype for what a
43:10
football player should look like even the way
43:13
he filled out a uniform it was him. He was amazing.
43:16
Just an amazing athlete but No restrictions at
43:20
all, it seemed, on the hits back then. And I
43:24
think that what stopped me was he heard Stingley
43:27
in a preseason game. And all those guys, it's
43:30
like playing flag football now. They don't want
43:32
to get hurt. Totally different mindset. Totally
43:35
different. Another Unanimous All -American there
43:38
was Jim Stilwagon out of Ohio State. He made
43:41
it to senior middle guard. You know, it's funny,
43:43
he was only a fifth round pick by the Packers.
43:46
He was considered too small for the NFL. He was
43:48
six feet, 220. And he was playing like a linebacker
43:52
or middle guard. So he ended up going to Canada
43:54
and played for the Toronto Argonauts for five
43:57
years, but injuries cut his career short. Remember
44:00
Dan Dierdorf from Michigan? He was a Consensus
44:02
All -American, played 13 years with the Cardinals,
44:05
five times the first team all -pro, in the Hall
44:08
of Fame, obviously, held a variety of broadcasting
44:11
jobs from 1984 to 2021, including 12 seasons
44:15
on Monday Night Football. That's where I remember
44:18
him the most. And then finally, a Consensus All
44:20
-American named Bob Newton from Nebraska. He
44:23
played 11 years in the NFL, five with the Bears
44:25
and six with the Seahawks. And for the third
44:28
straight season, Dennis Green for Iowa. He was
44:31
their halfback. So, and then so it would be 21
44:35
years and two months later on January 10th, 1992,
44:39
Dennis Green would be named the new Vikings head
44:41
coach, the new sheriff in town. For individual
44:46
honors for the Gophers, linebacker Bill Light
44:48
from Hopkins and defensive back Jeff Wright.
44:52
From Edina, we're all Big Ten, first team. Wright
44:55
also was awarded the Gopher team's MVP in 70
44:57
and went on to play safety for the Vikings from
45:01
71 to 77 and appeared in three Super Bowls. Was
45:05
Jeff Wright on the Edina basketball team? Yep,
45:08
I was just going to say he's just a great athlete.
45:10
Great athlete. Okay, and now we come to the 1971
45:18
season. Let's mention something happy that happened
45:22
in 1971. Okay Disney World in Florida opened
45:25
Okay, Tom, how'd the Gophers do in 71 their 18th
45:34
and final season under Murray warm -up? Well,
45:37
unfortunately, not very good. They went four
45:39
and seven overall, three and five in the Big
45:41
Ten, tied for sixth place with Wisconsin and
45:45
Purdue. They went three and three at home and
45:48
one and four on the road. And who won the Big
45:51
Ten in 71? Michigan won that year with an 8 -0
45:54
record. They went 11 -1 overall, finished the
45:58
season either fourth or sixth in the nation depending
46:00
on the poll. Michigan went on to lose to Stanford
46:04
in the Rose Bowl 13 -12. Nebraska won the national
46:08
championship in 71. Dave, how was attendance
46:11
in 71? I'm almost afraid to ask. Yeah, it was
46:14
a big drop -off. Definitely the low water mark.
46:18
The average for six home games, only 34 ,610
46:22
fans. Lowest average attendance per home game
46:25
in War Mass, 18 seasons. Season high for attendance
46:30
was a game against Michigan in which they drew
46:33
44 ,412, but the Gophers lost 35 to seven. Okay.
46:38
And then how did they do in the other two trophy
46:40
games? Well, that was a bright spot. They ended
46:42
up winning them both. They beat Iowa on the road
46:44
and they defeated Wisconsin 23 to 21 at home.
46:49
So a tough season for the Gophers in 1971, as
46:51
it turned out, could be the final season for
46:54
Murray Wormuth as head coach. After winning their
46:57
season opener at home against Indiana, they lost
46:59
two non -conference games at Nebraska and at
47:01
home against Washington State, then won a non
47:04
-conference game at home against Kansas. But
47:07
except for their trophy wins against Iowa and
47:09
Wisconsin, the Gophers lost five of their last
47:11
seven games at Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan
47:14
State, and at home against Michigan and Ohio
47:17
State. Consensus are unanimous All -Americans
47:20
that year. Let's start with Johnny Rogers from
47:23
Nebraska. He was only a junior. consensus that
47:26
year, but he would go on to be unanimous in 72.
47:29
He also won the Heisman Trophy that year. You
47:32
know, even though he was a first -round draft
47:33
pick with the Chargers in 73, he went to Canada
47:37
and played four seasons with the Montreal Alouettes,
47:41
including a Grey Cup championship in 74. He finally
47:44
signed with the Chargers in 1977, but injuries
47:46
limited him to just 17 games over two seasons.
47:50
This is a good year for Nebraska, besides the
47:53
National Championship. A guy named Larry Jacobson,
47:56
a defensive tackle, was Consensus All -American.
47:58
Went on to play in the NFL. Willie Harper, a
48:02
junior defensive end from Nebraska, Consensus
48:04
All -American. Mike Taylor from Michigan, he's
48:07
a linebacker. He was unanimous that year. Played
48:10
with the Jets in the NFL and the World Football
48:13
League as well. And Reggie McKenzie. I know you've
48:16
heard of him. He was Consensus All -American.
48:19
He blacked for OJ. He was on that electric company
48:21
line, they called it. It helped him get his 2
48:24
,000 yards. Gophers tight end Doug Kingsrider
48:27
from Richfield was named the first team All -American
48:29
in 71. And in addition, he and linebacker Bill
48:33
Light, again from Hopkins, were named the All
48:35
-Big Ten for his team. And then a defensive end
48:38
named Tom Chandler from Pasadena, Texas was awarded
48:41
the Gopher Team's MVP award. Well guys, we've
48:50
made it through each of Murray Warmath's 18 seasons
48:52
in Minnesota. Warmath was one of the most successful
48:55
coaches in Gophers history. As we mentioned in
48:58
part one of this broadcast, he led the team to
49:00
two Big Ten titles and two Rose Bowls. He's the
49:03
last Gopher coach to win a national championship,
49:06
a Big Ten title or a Rose Bowl. War Math might
49:09
have served 18 years as head coach at Minnesota,
49:12
but would either of you guys happen to know which
49:14
golfer's head football coach was there the longest?
49:17
If you know this one, you guys are a genius level.
49:19
I had to look it up. I don't know how like Beerman
49:23
was there. That would have been my first choice,
49:26
but it wasn't, wasn't Wes Fessler. No, he stayed
49:30
for Paul Gill. I was thinking of guessing him.
49:34
Wes Fessler. Who was before Beerman? Well, there
49:38
are a few. I'll be shocked if you've even heard
49:41
of this guy. But it was Henry L. Williams, who
49:45
coached the Gopher football team from 1900 to
49:48
1921, way before our time, even before our dad's
49:51
time. And believe it or not, Henry L. Williams
49:54
is the man for whom Williams Arena is named after.
49:58
Not named after Ted Williams or Robin Williams
50:01
or even Andy Williams, but a football coach.
50:05
So I thought that was interesting. But back to
50:08
War Math, in his 18 seasons in Minnesota, his
50:10
teams amassed an 87, 78, and 7 record, which
50:13
is 526%. So it was a little above 500. But he
50:17
won 8 games in a season 3 different times. And
50:20
he compiled a career record of 97, 84, and 10.
50:23
That must be including Mississippi State. Following
50:31
the 1971 season, Cal Stahl was hired as coach
50:34
of the Gophers. Warmath was made an assistant
50:36
to the athletic director. He stayed in that role
50:39
until 1978. Do you guys know where Warmath went
50:42
after that in 1978? I don't know. Well, he stayed
50:46
in Minnesota. He took a job with the Vikings
50:49
as an assistant coach, the defensive line coach,
50:52
but Grant hired him. He replaced a guy named
50:55
Buddy Ryan. Well, Warmath held that job as defensive
50:59
line coach for two seasons before becoming a
51:02
regional scout for the team. So that means War
51:04
Math became an assistant coach with the Vikings
51:06
at the age of 65 or so. Good for him. Okay, do
51:11
either of you guys remember reading about War
51:12
Math, taking that job as an assistant coach?
51:15
I was living in Iowa at the time. I faintly do
51:18
remember he coached them. It wasn't for very
51:21
long, I don't think. Well, I remember reading
51:23
- Two years, I think. Yeah, a couple years. I
51:25
remember when it came back, it must have been
51:27
in the Tribune, but Carl Eller - They quoted
51:30
him. He loved the idea of getting back with Murray
51:32
because he was a college coach. After 15 years,
51:35
they get back together. In 1992, Warmath worked
51:39
with author Mike Wilkinson to publish a biography
51:41
entitled The Autumn Warrior, Murray Warmath's
51:44
65 years in American football. I ordered it online
51:48
through the Hennepin County Library system, and
51:50
it's really a fun book to read. I learned a lot
51:53
about war math and about those gopher football
51:55
squads. It helped me a lot in researching this.
51:58
I liked it so much that I ordered used copy on
52:00
Amazon. So I've got my own. I was highlighting
52:03
it cool stuff. So okay, summary war math, although
52:07
he was born and raised in Tennessee remained
52:08
in Minnesota after he retired from coaching.
52:11
He still made public appearances well into his
52:13
90s. And he gave an extended interview as recently
52:16
as 2007, and my research showed me that the Gophers
52:19
locker room at Minnesota's Huntington Bank Stadium,
52:22
which opened in 2009, is named after Wormat,
52:25
which is a nice tribute. Never do that. Wormat
52:27
died on March 16th, 2011, at a retirement community
52:31
in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he resided.
52:34
He was 98 years old. It was a good run, as Rick
52:37
Bettino would say. About those trophy games against
52:45
Michigan and Iowa and Wisconsin, I checked with
52:49
Gophersports .com, the website for the U, to
52:52
see how the Gophers have done against all three
52:54
of these teams before War Math, during, and after.
52:57
Let's start with Michigan first. Before War Math
52:59
became head coach in 1954, in their 43 meetings
53:03
against Michigan, Gophers had 14 wins, 27 losses,
53:08
and two ties. So even before 54, Michigan had
53:11
won twice as many games in head to head. 14,
53:14
27, and 2. We've mentioned the scores, but how
53:17
do you think the Gophers did against Michigan
53:19
during warm -ass 18 seasons at Minnesota? That's
53:22
very good. Well, based on what we just went through,
53:25
they had been under 500. They went 7 and 11 against
53:28
the Wolfrenes. Respectable, you know, competitive,
53:33
you know, considering how good Michigan has been.
53:35
Yes. So 7 and 11. But since then, from 1972 to
53:40
2024, can I even take a guess? Well, we only
53:44
won twice, I think. I think twice, yeah. The
53:47
Gophers have beaten Michigan four times since
53:49
1972, but lost to them since 72. 77 -87, they
53:56
won early in 2000. Yeah, Mason won once against
53:59
them, I know. And Churchill won once against
54:01
them. I think that's the four wins, but they
54:04
have lost to them since 1970. to 41 times. Four
54:08
and 41. Four, 41 and zero since warm -ass left.
54:11
Wow. And there's no ties anymore in football,
54:13
so you didn't get a benefit from that. So anyway,
54:16
in the 106 meetings against Michigan. The first
54:19
game was played in 1892, and they no longer play
54:21
Michigan every year, thank goodness. The Gophers
54:24
have 25 wins, 78 losses, and three ties. Wow.
54:29
25, 78, and three. Wow. Michigan has won over
54:33
three times more games. I didn't realize it was
54:36
that lopsided. Okay, now let's look at Iowa.
54:39
Gophers and Hawkeyes met for the first time in
54:41
1891. Overall, in their 118 games, Minnesota
54:45
holds a lead of 63 wins, 53 losses, and two ties.
54:49
So 63, 53, and two. Before Wormat became head
54:54
coach of Minnesota in 54, in 47 meetings against
54:57
Iowa, the Gophers had 33 wins, 13 losses, and
55:01
one tie. 33, 13, and one. Pretty dominant, right?
55:06
How do you think the Gophers did against Iowa
55:08
during Wormat's 18 seasons? I'd almost say 500.
55:12
Yeah, a little better. They went 10, 7, and 1,
55:15
and more math was there. But here's where it
55:18
changes. Since 1972, or from 72 to 74, the Gophers
55:23
have beaten Iowa 20 times, but lost to them 33
55:27
times. So 20, 33, since 1972, Iowa's definitely
55:32
had the advantage. And then finally, Wisconsin.
55:35
That's the longest continually played rivalry,
55:37
as you guys know. Overall, it's 63, 63, and eight.
55:43
Right, even. Before Wormath became head coach
55:46
in 54, in 64 meetings against Wisconsin, Gophers
55:49
had 37 wins, 19 losses, and eight ties. So big
55:53
advantage, right? How do you think the Gophers
55:55
did during Wormath's years against Wisconsin?
55:58
18 years. Slightly above 500. Actually, they
56:02
went eight, nine and one against the Badgers,
56:04
one below 500, but it was at least it was even.
56:07
But since then, from 72 to 2024, Gophers have
56:11
beaten Wisconsin 18 times, but lost to them 35
56:15
times. Well, 1835 since 1972, virtually twice
56:19
as many wins for Wisconsin. I'm surprised it's
56:22
that dominating. Well, we need to look at Iowa
56:26
has a built in advantage being a that's the only
56:29
game in town. And even though when you look at
56:35
Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State, even though
56:39
they're in states with professional teams, Ann
56:42
Arbor, Columbus, Madison, it's a big deal. I
56:48
think the Gophers have always been at a disadvantage
56:51
with the popularity of the NFL. you know, just
56:57
being a city with four major league teams, I
57:04
think has always been a detriment to them. I
57:06
did a podcast in Memorial Stadium and bought
57:08
attendance and one of the conclusion I came up
57:11
with, Vikings... popularity came at the Gophers'
57:15
expense. It's a Viking town. It's a Viking country.
57:20
And so they're competing against pro teams and
57:23
the Vikings. And with their lack of popularity,
57:26
I completely agree with you guys. With their
57:28
lack of popularity, their brand, the Gophers'
57:31
brand, is worth far less than the Badgers' brand,
57:35
the Hawkeyes' brand, and certainly the Wolverines'
57:38
brand. It's worth far less money. you know what
57:43
yeah we could talk all day about NIL and such
57:46
you know but I just thought it was really surprising
57:49
that it's been that lopsided since since more
57:51
math left yes I mean it just has definitely well
58:00
This has been fun, Dave and Tom. I had a blast
58:03
researching this podcast. Gophersports .com was
58:06
helpful. Gopherhole .com, that's the unofficial
58:09
home of the Gophers sports. American football
58:12
database .fandom .com and Wikipedia were big
58:17
helps. And so was that book by Mike Wilkins and
58:20
Audemar. Now that I have my own copy, if you
58:23
guys ever want to look through it, you're welcome
58:25
to have it. And of course, what really made all
58:28
this research worthwhile was a chance to get
58:29
together again with you guys to talk about Gopher
58:31
football. I agree. From 54 through 71, one of
58:36
the greatest eras in gold and Gopher football
58:38
history. And you know guys, the whole time that
58:40
we've been sitting here on this Saturday afternoon
58:42
talking about it, and as I was preparing for
58:44
it, thinking about all the players, the great
58:47
players that have worn the rune in gold, I've
58:50
tried to imagine our dad somehow just sitting
58:52
here with us and listening, because after all,
58:54
it was dad's love of Gopher football that got
58:56
us to love it too, right? For sure. In a way
58:58
I'm kind of... dedicating this podcast to his
59:01
memory. So thanks again, Dave and Tom for joining
59:03
me on this podcast. It's been a blast. Thank
59:05
you. It was fun, Bob. Thank you. And again, to
59:11
our listeners, thanks for hanging out with me,
59:13
Bob Edholm, and my brothers, Dave and Tom Edholm.
59:16
We hope you'll join us for the next episode of
59:18
Hanging Out with Bob, wherever you get your podcasts.
59:21
And until then, bye.