All things Gil Fash

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highwayman

highwayman

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This next November will be the 50th anniversary of quarterback Gil Fash’s greatest day. The 4th string Minnesota QB returned to his home Illinois and led the Gophers to a 19-16 victory over the Illini.

Fash was 2 of 10 for 50 yards and three interceptions, but his second completion was a game winning pass to Dale Hendrickson.

It was my dad’s favorite game for many years after. Now nearly 50 years on, Gil Fash is still a legend to our family. In fact, many times when we are watching a sporting event, whether on TV or in person, his name will come up. If an unheralded player makes a great play, we give him the "Gil Fash Award".
 

IIRC that game was on TV which was a rare event back then. I think that the Hendrickson TD play had a little counter action in the backfield and Fash hit him was he was backing into the end zone. Again, correct me if I am wrong, but I think that Fash was recruited by Warmath as a drop back passer. Then Stoll came in with the Houston veer and Fash was not a fit at all. But he hung in there and helped lead the Gophers to a great victory in Champaign. Wonderful memory.
 


Can't recall a game the Gophers managed to win with more woeful statistics. They were outgained by 440 yards to 83. They scored their first touchdown on a return of a blocked punt and their second when they were gifted with the 5th Ilinois lost fumble, this one at the Illini 4-yard line. It was scored by Larry Powell, a back with great promise who was struck down with some kind of autoimmune disease, I believe. Trailing 16-12, the Gophers promptly recovered their 6th Illinois fumble and Fash hit that big pass with 3:24 left. Amazing.
 

Great memory from what was a pretty fun season, 6-2 Big Ten record. Fash was strictly a Sunday-to-Friday QB up to that point. Like denguegopher said, the game was a rarity in those days as it was actually televised. Now every game across the country is televised on one of a multitude of networks.
 



Nomellini said:
Can't recall a game the Gophers managed to win with more woeful statistics. They were outgained by 440 yards to 83. They scored their first touchdown on a return of a blocked punt and their second when they were gifted with the 5th Ilinois lost fumble, this one at the Illini 4-yard line. It was scored by Larry Powell, a back with great promise who was struck down with some kind of autoimmune disease, I believe. Trailing 16-12, the Gophers promptly recovered their 6th Illinois fumble and Fash hit that big pass with 3:24 left. Amazing.
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It was still a great Gopher victory! During the Wacker years it seemed that we would frequently outgain opponents by 250 yards and lose. I think that Paul Glanton blocked and returned the kick for a TD. Nomellini your summary brings back great memories, but for some reason I'm thinking that it was a blocked field goal rather than a punt, but I could easily be wrong. Yes, Powell had French Polio which I think they now call Guillone-Barre(sp) Syndrome. Also not sure, but I think that recovery is possible from that condition. Gil Fash earned his scholarship with his performance in that one game!
 







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