1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1949 Big Nine Conference football season. In their 15th year under head coach Bernie Bierman, the Golden Gophers compiled a 7–2 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 231 to 80.[1]
| 1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Nine Conference |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 8 |
| Record | 7–2 (4–2 Big Nine) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | Bud Grant, John Lundin |
| Captain | Howard Brennan, Clayton Tonnemaker |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Ohio State + | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Michigan + | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Minnesota | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tackle Leo Nomellini was named an All-American by Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press (AP), Look Magazine, and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Center Clayton Tonnemaker was named an All-American by Walter Camp Football Foundation, AP, Collier's/Grantland Rice, Look Magazine, Football Writers Association of America and the AFCA.[2] Nomellini, Tonnemaker and end Bud Grant were named All-Big Ten first team. Guard John Lundin was named All-Big Ten second team.[3][4]
Bud Grant, end, and John Lundin, guard, were awarded the Team MVP Awards.[5][6][7]
Total attendance for the season was 305,200, which averaged to 61,040. The season high for attendance was against Wisconsin.[8]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Washington* | W 48–20 | 55,256 | ||
| October 1 | at Nebraska* | W 28–6 | 34,000 | ||
| October 8 | No. 20 Northwestern | No. 5 |
| W 21–7 | 63,063 |
| October 15 | at No. 11 Ohio State | No. 5 | W 27–0 | 82,111 | |
| October 22 | at No. 12 Michigan | No. 3 | L 7–14 | 97,239 | |
| October 29 | Purdue | No. 7 |
| L 7–13 | 61,154 |
| November 5 | No. 15 Iowa |
| W 55–7 | 62,089 | |
| November 12 | at Pittsburgh | No. 9 | W 24–7 | 42,515 | |
| November 19 | Wisconsin | No. 8 |
| W 14–6 | 63,139 |
| |||||
Rankings
| Week | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | 5 (2) | 5 (6) | 3 (8) | 7 | — | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Roster
Dick Anonsen, QB
Jim Malosky, QB
Billy Bye, LHB
Dick Gregory, LHB
George Hudak, LHB
Ralph McAlister, RHB
Dale Warner, RHB
Dick Moy, RHB
Frank Kuzma, FB
Ken Beiersdorf, FB
Bud Grant, E
Gordy Soltau, E
Jerry Ekberg, T
Leo Nomellini, T/G
Gene Fritz, G
Johnny Lundin, G[9]
Cal Stoll, E
Russell James Reed, G
After the season
The following Golden Gophers were selected in the 1950 NFL draft after the season.[10]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Clayton Tonnemaker | Center | Green Bay Packers |
| 1 | 11 | Leo Nomellini | Defensive tackle | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1 | 14 | Bud Grant | End | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 3 | 30 | Gordy Soltau | End | Green Bay Packers |
| 6 | 70 | Floyd Jaszewski | Tackle | Detroit Lions |
| 8 | 96 | Ralph McAlister | Back | Detroit Lions |
| 10 | 121 | Bob Mealey | Tackle | Green Bay Packers |
| 14 | 176 | Gene Fritz | Tackle | New York Giants |
| 16 | 199 | Frank Kuzma | Back | Green Bay Packers |
| 19 | 244 | Billy Bye | Back | Chicago Bears |
| 25 | 319 | Ken Beiersdorf | Back | New York Giants |
| 29 | 370 | Johnny Lundin | Guard | Washington Redskins |
| 30 | 388 | Allen Markert | Tackle | Chicago Bears |
References
- "1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 179
- The Coshocton, Ohio Tribune, Wednesday Evening, November 30, 1949, page 19.
- Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 180
- The Sheboygan (Wis.) Press, Monday, December 12, 1949, page 18.
- Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, December 12, 1949, page 6.
- Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181
- Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
- Bob Hefty, United Press, Logansport Pharos Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) September 15, 1949, page 16.
- "1950 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved February 24, 2024.