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The Minnesota Golden Gophers were coached by Wes Fesler for three seasons from 1951 to 1953.[1] In those three seasons, the Gophers won 10 games, lost 13 and tied four.[1] In the Big Ten, they won seven games, lost eight and tied four.[2] Paul Giel was named an All-American twice, the only player award All-American under Fesler.[3] Two of Minnesota's five Chicago Tribune Silver Football awards were given under Fesler (both to Giel).[4] Four players were named All-Big Ten first team.[4]

1951[]

1951 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1951 record2-6-1 (1-4-1 Big Ten)
Head coachWes Fesler
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1950
1952 →
1951 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#4/3 Illinois 5 0 1     9 0 1
#NR/14 Purdue 4 1 0     5 4 0
#8/8 Wisconsin 5 1 1     7 1 1
Michigan 4 2 0     4 5 0
Ohio State 2 2 2     4 3 2
Northwestern 2 4 0     5 4 0
Minnesota 1 4 1     2 6 1
Indiana 1 5 0     2 7 0
Iowa 0 5 1     2 5 2
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


The 1951 season was the Golden Gophers' first under head coach Wes Fesler.[2] The Golden Gophers won two games, lost six and tied one.[2] Total attendance for the season was 255,851, which averaged to 51,170.[5] The season high for attendance was against Nebraska.[2]

No Golden Gophers players were named any major awards, All-American, Academic All-American, All-Big Ten or Academic All-Big Ten.[3][4][6] It was the last season that no Golden Gopher players achieved any of the awards.[3][4][6]

Halfback Ron Engel was awarded the Team MVP Award.[7]

Schedule[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Attendance
09/29/1951* #8 Washington Memorial StadiumMinneapolis, MN L 20-25   51,148
10/06/1951* at California California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA L 14-55   69,000
10/13/1951 Northwestern Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN L 7-21   51,915
10/20/1951* Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 39-20   54,625
10/27/1951 at Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI L 27-54   83,060
11/03/1951 at Iowa Iowa StadiumIowa City, IA T 20-20   40,000
10/10/1951 Indiana Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 16-14   45,986
11/17/1951 at Purdue Ross-Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN L 13-19   29,000
11/24/1951 #8 Wisconsin Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN L 6-30   52,177
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.


1952[]

1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1952 record4-3-2 (3-1-2 Big Ten)
Head coachWes Fesler
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1951
1953 →
1952 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#11/10 Wisconsin § 4 1 1     6 3 1
#18/12 Purdue § 4 1 1     4 3 2
#17/15 Ohio State 5 2 0     6 3 0
Michigan 4 2 0     5 4 0
Minnesota 3 1 2     4 3 2
Illinois 2 5 0     4 5 0
Northwestern 2 5 0     2 6 1
Iowa 2 5 0     2 7 0
Indiana 1 5 0     2 7 0
§ – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


The 1952 season was the Golden Gophers' second under head coach Wes Fesler.[2] The Golden Gophers won four games, lost three and tied two.[2] Total attendance for the season was 270,292, which averaged to 54,058.[5] The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa.[2]

Halfback Paul Giel was named an All-American by the Associated Press, FWAA and Look Magazine.[3] Giel received Chicago Tribune Silver Football, awarded to the most valuable player of the Big Ten.[4] Giel, running back Bob MacNamara and guard Percy Zachary were named All-Big Ten first team.[4] Giel finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.[6]

Paul Giel was awarded the Team MVP Award.[7]

Schedule[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Attendance
09/27/1952* at Washington Husky StadiumSeattle, WA L 13-19   49,000
10/04/1952* California Memorial StadiumMinneapolis, MN L 13-49   55,204
10/11/1952 Northwestern Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 27-26   46,732
10/18/1952 Illinois Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 13-7   54,787
10/25/1952 at #19 Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI L 0-21   70,858
11/01/1952 Iowa Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 17-7   60,376
10/08/1952 Purdue Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN T 14-14   53,193
11/15/1952* at Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE W 13-7   40,000
11/22/1952 at #13 Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI T 21-21   52,131
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.


1953[]

1953 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1953 record4-4-1 (3-3-1 Big Ten)
Head coachWes Fesler
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1952
1954 →
1953 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#3/3 Michigan State § 5 1 0     9 1 0
#7/7 Illinois § 5 1 0     7 1 1
#15/14 Wisconsin 4 1 1     6 2 1
#NR/20 Ohio State 4 3 0     6 3 0
Minnesota 3 3 1     4 4 1
#20/19 Michigan 3 3 0     6 3 0
#9/10 Iowa 3 3 0     5 3 1
Purdue 2 4 0     2 7 0
Indiana 1 5 0     2 7 0
Northwestern 0 6 0     3 6 0
§ – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


The 1953 season was the Golden Gophers' third and final under head coach Wes Fesler.[2] The Golden Gophers won four games, lost four and tied one.[2] Total attendance for the season was 293,313, which averaged to 58,662.[5] The season high for attendance was against Michigan.[2]

Halfback Paul Giel was named an All-American by the Associated Press, FWAA, Look Magazine, Walter Camp Football Foundation and American Football Coaches Association.[3] Giel received Chicago Tribune Silver Football, awarded to the most valuable player of the Big Ten.[4] Giel was named All-Big Ten first team.[4] Giel finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy,[6] receiving the most points for a player not to win the award.[8]

Paul Giel was awarded the Team MVP Award.[7]

Schedule[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Attendance
09/26/1953* at #8 Southern Cal Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA L 7-17   66,698
10/03/1953 Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI L 0-21   60,995
10/10/1953 at Northwestern Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL W 30-13   40,000
10/17/1953 at Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL L 7-27   55,641
10/24/1953 #5 Michigan Memorial StadiumMinneapolis, MN W 22-0   62,795
10/31/1953* Pittsburgh #14 Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 35-14   49,092
10/07/1953 Indiana #13 Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 28-20   58,527
11/14/1953 at Iowa #15 Iowa StadiumIowa City, IA L 0-27   55,355
11/21/1953 #8 Wisconsin Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN T 21-21   61,904
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.


References[]

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