Been waiting to hear when this was gonna happen.
Sept. 28, 2017
Minnesota-Maryland Tickets on Sale Now
This Saturday the University of Minnesota will recognize the 1967 football team in honor of their Big Ten championship 50-year anniversary.
The Gophers went 8-2 on their way to a Big Ten championship along with a 6-1 conference record in the 1967 season. The Gophers were undefeated at home, and undefeated in rivalry trophy games as they claimed the Little Brown Jug against Michigan, Floyd of Rosedale against Iowa and Paul Bunyan's Axe against Wisconsin.
"We talked to (the 2017 team) today about embracing your past to create your future," head coach P.J. Flecksaid. "We want to bring the championships back to Minnesota. That doesn't happen overnight, and I said that from day one in my press conference and every time I've talked, doesn't happen overnight. When it happens, we'll find out, right? Because the timeframe's not guaranteed, either, but the one thing I'll say is, we want to make sure, when the 1967 team watches our game, they're inspired. It brings them back to their day."
The Maroon and Gold prided themselves on strong defense that season. They had the best scoring defense in the Big Ten holding opponents to 12.0 points per game in conference play. The Maroon and Gold allowed just 10.6 per game overall while averaging 16.3.
"We are incredibly grateful to have that come here. We want to be able to show them everything we have done the past eight months," starting quarterback Conor Rhoda said. "Hopefully we are able to do that and show them that this program is taking the steps to get back to where it was in the sixties when they were winning championships."
Defensive end Bob Stein earned All-America First Team recognition from four organizations. He was on the All-Big Ten First Team along with tackle John Williams, tackle McKinley Boston and back Tom Sakal, who was named team MVP. Future Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders and guard Ed Duren made the all-conference second team.
Sakal was the team captain and is just as proud of what his teammates went on to do after football as he is about their championship season.
"We have guys from that team who became doctors, dentists, attorneys, educators, school administrators, coaches on all levels - high school, collegiate, as well as professional," he said. "We've had people who have gone into professional sports as executives, guys who have become presidents or chief executive officers of companies, not only in the United States, but around the world, and some who have become very, very successful as independent entrepreneurs. This not only was a very talented group of athletes, but their lives after sports have proven them to be very successful individuals as well."
Members of the 1967 team will be signing autographs at Gopher Garden starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday and will be recognized on the field during Saturday's first quarter break.
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092817aaa.html
Sept. 28, 2017
Minnesota-Maryland Tickets on Sale Now
This Saturday the University of Minnesota will recognize the 1967 football team in honor of their Big Ten championship 50-year anniversary.
The Gophers went 8-2 on their way to a Big Ten championship along with a 6-1 conference record in the 1967 season. The Gophers were undefeated at home, and undefeated in rivalry trophy games as they claimed the Little Brown Jug against Michigan, Floyd of Rosedale against Iowa and Paul Bunyan's Axe against Wisconsin.
"We talked to (the 2017 team) today about embracing your past to create your future," head coach P.J. Flecksaid. "We want to bring the championships back to Minnesota. That doesn't happen overnight, and I said that from day one in my press conference and every time I've talked, doesn't happen overnight. When it happens, we'll find out, right? Because the timeframe's not guaranteed, either, but the one thing I'll say is, we want to make sure, when the 1967 team watches our game, they're inspired. It brings them back to their day."
The Maroon and Gold prided themselves on strong defense that season. They had the best scoring defense in the Big Ten holding opponents to 12.0 points per game in conference play. The Maroon and Gold allowed just 10.6 per game overall while averaging 16.3.
"We are incredibly grateful to have that come here. We want to be able to show them everything we have done the past eight months," starting quarterback Conor Rhoda said. "Hopefully we are able to do that and show them that this program is taking the steps to get back to where it was in the sixties when they were winning championships."
Defensive end Bob Stein earned All-America First Team recognition from four organizations. He was on the All-Big Ten First Team along with tackle John Williams, tackle McKinley Boston and back Tom Sakal, who was named team MVP. Future Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders and guard Ed Duren made the all-conference second team.
Sakal was the team captain and is just as proud of what his teammates went on to do after football as he is about their championship season.
"We have guys from that team who became doctors, dentists, attorneys, educators, school administrators, coaches on all levels - high school, collegiate, as well as professional," he said. "We've had people who have gone into professional sports as executives, guys who have become presidents or chief executive officers of companies, not only in the United States, but around the world, and some who have become very, very successful as independent entrepreneurs. This not only was a very talented group of athletes, but their lives after sports have proven them to be very successful individuals as well."
Members of the 1967 team will be signing autographs at Gopher Garden starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday and will be recognized on the field during Saturday's first quarter break.
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092817aaa.html
