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 | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
|---|---|
| 1951 record | 2-6-1 (1-4-1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach | Wes Fesler |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Seasons | |
| 1951 Big Ten football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 Stadium • Minneapolis, MN | L 20-25 | 51,148 | ||||
| 10/06/1951* | at California | California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, 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 Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | L 27-54 | 83,060 | ||||
| 11/03/1951 | at Iowa | Iowa Stadium • Iowa 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 Stadium • West 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 | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
|---|---|
| 1952 record | 4-3-2 (3-1-2 Big Ten) |
| Head coach | Wes Fesler |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Seasons | |
| 1952 Big Ten football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 Stadium • Seattle, WA | L 13-19 | 49,000 | ||||
| 10/04/1952* | California | Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, 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 Stadium • Ann 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 Stadium • Lincoln, NE | W 13-7 | 40,000 | ||||
| 11/22/1952 | at #13 Wisconsin | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | T 21-21 | 52,131 | ||||
| *Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. | ||||||||
1953[]
| 1953 Minnesota Golden Gophers football | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
|---|---|
| 1953 record | 4-4-1 (3-3-1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach | Wes Fesler |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Seasons | |
| 1953 Big Ten football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA | L 7-17 | 66,698 | ||||
| 10/03/1953 | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | L 0-21 | 60,995 | ||||
| 10/10/1953 | at Northwestern | Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL | W 30-13 | 40,000 | ||||
| 10/17/1953 | at Illinois | Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL | L 7-27 | 55,641 | ||||
| 10/24/1953 | #5 Michigan | Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, 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 Stadium • Iowa 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[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 195, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 199, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 179, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 180, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 160, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 182, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide, pp. 181, http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400
- ↑ "The Winning Margin: Year By Year". http://www.heisman.com/handbook/winning-margin.html. Retrieved 2007-11-04.[dead link]