1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1949
| team = Minnesota Golden Gophers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Nine Conference
| short_conf = Big Nine
| APRank = 8
| record = 7–2
| conf_record = 4–2
| head_coach = Bernie Bierman
| hc_year = 15th
| mvp = Bud Grant
| mvp2 = John Lundin
| captain = Howard Brennan
| captain2 = Clayton Tonnemaker
| stadium = Memorial Stadium
}}
{{1949 Big Nine Conference football standings}}
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.{{cite web|title=1949 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=November 1, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1949-schedule.html}}
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.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 179 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Nomellini, Tonnemaker and end Bud Grant were named All-Big Ten first team. Guard John Lundin was named All-Big Ten second team.The Coshocton, Ohio Tribune, Wednesday Evening, November 30, 1949, page 19.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 180 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Bud Grant, end, and John Lundin, guard, were awarded the Team MVP Awards.The Sheboygan (Wis.) Press, Monday, December 12, 1949, page 18.Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, December 12, 1949, page 6.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 181 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Total attendance for the season was 305,200, which averaged to 61,040. The season high for attendance was against Wisconsin.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 160 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1949
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Washington
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| score = 48–20
| attend = 55,256
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Nebraska
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 28–6
| attend = 34,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = Northwestern
| opprank = 20
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| score = 21–7
| attend = 63,063
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 11
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 27–0
| attend = 82,111
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
| gamename = Little Brown Jug
| score = 7–14
| attend = 97,239
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| w/l = l
| homecoming = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| score = 7–13
| attend = 61,154
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| w/l = w
| rank =
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 55–7
| attend = 62,089
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = Pittsburgh
| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium
| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA
| score = 24–7
| attend = 42,515
| source = {{cite news|author=Charles Johnson|title=Minnesota Beats Scrappy Pitt 24–7|newspaper=Minneapolis Sunday Tribune|date=November 13, 1949|page=Sports-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-minnesota-beats-scrappy-pit/147325664/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| w/l = w
| rank = 8
| opponent = Wisconsin
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 14–6
| attend = 63,139
}}
}}
Rankings
{{see also|1949 college football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 1
| poll1lastweek = 9
| poll1_1=5 {{small|(2)}}
| poll1_2=5 {{small|(6)}}
| poll1_3=3 {{small|(8)}}
| poll1_4=7
| poll1_5=NR
| poll1_6=9
| poll1_7=8
| poll1_8=8
| poll1_9=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, GBob Hefty, United Press, Logansport Pharos Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) September 15, 1949, page 16.
Cal Stoll, E
Russell James Reed, G
After the season
The following Golden Gophers were selected in the 1950 NFL draft after the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1950/draft.htm|title=1950 NFL Draft Listing|publisher=Pro-Football Reference|access-date=February 24, 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|border=2|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
{{Reflist}}
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers football navbox}}