1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1952 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Wes Fesler, the Golden Gophers compiled a 4–3–2 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 171 to 131.[1]

1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record4–3–2 (3–1–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPPaul Giel
CaptainRichard Anderson
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1951
1953 →
1952 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 11 Wisconsin 4 1 1 6 3 1
No. 18 Purdue 4 1 1 4 3 2
No. 17 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

Halfback Paul Giel was named an All-American by the Associated Press, FWAA and Look Magazine. Giel received Chicago Tribune Silver Football, awarded to the most valuable player of the Big Ten. Giel, running back Bob MacNamara and guard Percy Zachary were named All-Big Ten first team. Giel finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.[2]

Paul Giel was awarded the Team MVP Award.[3]

Total attendance for the season was 270,292, which averaged to 54,058. The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa.[4]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 27at Washington*L 13–1949,000
October 4No. 4 California*L 13–4955,204
October 11Northwestern
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 27–2646,732
October 18No. 17 Illinois
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 13–754,787
October 25at No. 19 MichiganL 0–2170,858
November 1Iowa 
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 17–760,376
November 8No. 9 Purdue
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
T 14–1453,193
November 15at Nebraska*W 13–740,000
November 22at No. 13 WisconsinT 21–2152,131
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

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  1. ^ "1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]