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
ConferenceBig Nine Conference
Ranking
APNo. 8
Record7–2 (4–2 Big Nine)
Head coach
MVPBud Grant, John Lundin
CaptainHoward Brennan, Clayton Tonnemaker
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1948
1950 →
1949 Big Nine Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 24Washington*W 48–2055,256
October 1at Nebraska*W 28–634,000
October 8No. 20 NorthwesternNo. 5
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 21–763,063
October 15at No. 11 Ohio StateNo. 5W 27–082,111
October 22at No. 12 MichiganNo. 3L 7–1497,239
October 29Purdue No. 7
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
L 7–1361,154
November 5No. 15 Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 55–762,089
November 12at PittsburghNo. 9W 24–742,515
November 19WisconsinNo. 8
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 14–663,139
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes
Week
Poll12345678Final
AP5 (2)5 (6)3 (8)79888

Roster

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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

Clayton Tonnemaker, C

Jerry Ekberg, T

Leo Nomellini, T/G

Gene Fritz, G

Johnny Lundin, G[9]

Cal Stoll, E

Russell James Reed, G

After the season

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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

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  1. ^ "1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 179[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ The Coshocton, Ohio Tribune, Wednesday Evening, November 30, 1949, page 19.
  4. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 180[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ The Sheboygan (Wis.) Press, Monday, December 12, 1949, page 18.
  6. ^ Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, December 12, 1949, page 6.
  7. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Bob Hefty, United Press, Logansport Pharos Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) September 15, 1949, page 16.
  10. ^ "1950 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved February 24, 2024.