Does Leo Nomellini belong on the TCF Bank Stadium ring of fame?

Does Leo Nomellini belong on the ring of fame?

  • Yes! Get the Lion up there.

    Votes: 34 91.9%

  • No. I think there are more deserving players

    Votes: 3 8.1%
  • Total voters
    37
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2 time All-American

#11 overall pick in the draft

10 time Pro-Bowler

9 Time All Pro team.

Can't argue with those stats. I cant think of anyone else not honored that had that kind of success.
 

Hell yeah! Great idea.

During World War II he saw active duty with the marines in the invasion of Saipan and Okinawa. Nomellini enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a 22-year old freshman in 1946. He was 6 foot 2 in height, weighed 245, and was a 4-year starter on the football team. He played both offense and defense at tackle and was consensus All-American in 1948 and 1949. He also wrestled at Minnesota and won the Big 10 heavyweight championship. He was on the Minnesota track team as a shot putter and anchor man on the 440-yard relay team. He was big, quick, fast, aggressive, and was given a nickname; "the Lion". Nomellini played tackle for the San Francisco 49ers 1950-63. He set a record by playing in 174 consecutive regular season games. He was never injured. He made All-Pro seven times and in 1970, was named to the National Football League's all-time team. In the off season, he starred as a pro-wrestler. Nomellini joined the Northwestern Title Company in Oakland, CA and was vice president.
 

A former player who is in both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame should automatically be included.

Plus he was AWA and NWA tag team champions a few times (twice with Verne Gagne).
 

He has his jersey retired by the 49ers. Last I checked they'd won more Superbowls post 1960 than the Gophers post 1960 championships. Even the U can't screw that up...can they?
 


GophersInIowa said:
A former player who is in both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame should automatically be included.

Plus he was AWA and NWA tag team champions a few times (twice with Verne Gagne).
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Clincher! Plus it would add about $0.03 in value to my 1963 Topps Football card of Nomellini.

Seriously, a strong case can be made for Nomellini. Like Gino Cappelletti (whose college stats weren't as impressive), there are a lot of notable football players who passed through the University of Minnesota that are seemingly ignored. I can't find a list of who is in the Ring of Fame, but I would hope that Tom Brown, Outland Trophy winner from our 1960 National Championship team is in it.
 


Absolutely 100% yes Leo Nomellini should have his number retired and be on the # list

I would say yes. I was not old enough to see him play but found out about him from an Ohio State Buckeye fan in October of 2000
I think it was 10/14. Sadly I had to admit I barely knew of him as an AWA wrestler as a kid and that he was supposed to be one of the bad guys.
We our group stayed in Dayton Ohio that weekend and then traveled to the game in Columbus.
It was the last time the Gophers beat Ohio state in the Horse shoe 29-17 and I belive the last time it had occured was 1949.
Nomellini was a two time All American and three time all Big10 at defensive and offensive tackle. It is ironic that Leo Nomellini passed away 3 days after the Gophers last beat Ohio State in the horse shoe, since it had been since the last time, that Nomellini played for the Gophers, that they had beat the Buckeyes in Columbus Ohio. It is one of those rare historical moments where you have to say yes, I was glad I was there, can we get a few more games like that.
He was a guy ahead of his time as far as football players go, a tackle that could rush the passer and be unblockable. He was the John Randle of his day, except he had exceptional size and strength for a football player back then. I bet if Verne Gagne were still of sound mind he would tell you how absolutely great a football player Nomellini truly was.
From what this elderly 81 year old Ohio State Fan told me at the game that day, he said I was at that game in 1949 and that is the only time I can remember the Gophers whipping the Buckeyes.
Nomellini was unblockable that day,according to this fellow and absolutley kicked the Buckeyes tail all ove the football field constantly harrasing there quarterback.
Sadly I think because he was an AWA professional wrestler that he does not get the credit he deserves for the football accomplishments he had in the Pros and in college. He has been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1969. You would think we would see the Gophers have the sense enough to retire his playing number and put him up on that ring of numbers in TCF stadium.
Maybe it is a money thing, if you are not connected or donating money to the U they don't think about your legacy the same way, maybe that is not true either though.
I would have to think that playing on the West coast for the 49er's that Gopher fans just do not rememeber how good of a player he was here, at least not anyone under the age of 70 or 80 years old. If not the number retired he should have his name and likeness appear somewhere in the stadium.
 

I was referring to the names that appear between decks on the NW side of the stadium. Technically not a "ring of fame" or "ring of honor" - I just didn't know what else to call it. Quite frankly, I am not a fan of retiring numbers forever. I do like it when all time greats have their name in the stadium though. Although I would like to see Nomellini's name appear in the stadium up there with Bell, Giel, Nagurski, Smith, and Stephens; I honestly don't know if he is worthy, or if there are other Gopher greats with similar lists of accomplishments. That is why I posted this thread. I'm curious to hear what others think.
 



Holers -

First time poster, long time lurker...here we go:

I have often told my more passionate Gopher freinds that, in my opinion, no team in the B1G - or any other team in the country for that matter - can top the Gophers in putting together and All-Time Front Four. My picks and their credentials:

Leo Nomellini - Credentials above courtesy of DLGuy

Carl Eller - 2-time All-American; Runner-up Outland Trophy; College Football HOF

Bobby Bell - 2-time All-American; Outland Trophy Winner; 3rd in Heisman voting; College Football HOF

Bronko Nagurski - All-American at two postions (Fullback, D Tackle); Sports Illustrated All Century Team - Defensive Tackle; Namesake of the Nagurski Award....National Defensive Player of the Year; College Football HOF. The great sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote this of Bronko:

"Who would you pick to win a football game - eleven Jim Thorpes - eleven Glen Davises - eleven Red Granges - or eleven Bronko Nagurskis? The eleven Nagurskis would be a mop-up. It would be something close to murder and massacre. For the Bronk could star at any position on the field, with 216 pounds of authority to back him up."Looking forward to sharing more of the passion with all of you in the future. For now, BEAT MICHIGAN!

*My screen name - Pug Lund - is in honor of my Dad's all-time favorite Gopher...Francis "Pug" Lund.....the first true Triple Threat! May God bless both their souls.
 

Great first post Pug Lund! Fun stuff.

Leo the Lion should be in the ring at the Stadium.
 

Why isn't he already in?

Seems pretty much like a no-brainer. How can Leo not be honored? Somebody pick up the ball and lobby this issue.

Carl Eller is just as obvious a choice. Let the glass house people chime in on him.
 




On the light side, Leo played in several varsity-alumni games that Murray Warmath arranged as spring games. In the 1960 game, he missed a flight or something and didn't arrive 'til half-time. The varsity was winning and down close they gave the ball to the big guy so he could score - and he did. This upset Warmath so much he ended the series, as he thought his team was being mocked. But it probably helped that the 1960 team went on to go 8-1 regular season and win the national and B10 championships.
 

Pug Lund said:
Holers -

First time poster, long time lurker...here we go:

I have often told my more passionate Gopher freinds that, in my opinion, no team in the B1G - or any other team in the country for that matter - can top the Gophers in putting together and All-Time Front Four. My picks and their credentials:

Leo Nomellini - Credentials above courtesy of DLGuy

Carl Eller - 2-time All-American; Runner-up Outland Trophy; College Football HOF

Bobby Bell - 2-time All-American; Outland Trophy Winner; 3rd in Heisman voting; College Football HOF

Bronko Nagurski - All-American at two postions (Fullback, D Tackle); Sports Illustrated All Century Team - Defensive Tackle; Namesake of the Nagurski Award....National Defensive Player of the Year; College Football HOF. The great sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote this of Bronko:

"Who would you pick to win a football game - eleven Jim Thorpes - eleven Glen Davises - eleven Red Granges - or eleven Bronko Nagurskis? The eleven Nagurskis would be a mop-up. It would be something close to murder and massacre. For the Bronk could star at any position on the field, with 216 pounds of authority to back him up."Looking forward to sharing more of the passion with all of you in the future. For now, BEAT MICHIGAN!

*My screen name - Pug Lund - is in honor of my Dad's all-time favorite Gopher...Francis "Pug" Lund.....the first true Triple Threat! May God bless both their souls.
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also hard to not include tom brown on a list of all-time gopher great front-four defensive players. he and bobby bell were ruthless together. absolute destroyers on defense.
 

Agree - he should be honored at TCF. My mom told me that when she and my dad went to Gopher games after WWII some of the fans would shout the following encouragement - "keel 'em Leo!!".
 

Great Plains Gopher said:
On the light side, Leo played in several varsity-alumni games that Murray Warmath arranged as spring games. In the 1960 game, he missed a flight or something and didn't arrive 'til half-time. The varsity was winning and down close they gave the ball to the big guy so he could score - and he did. This upset Warmath so much he ended the series, as he thought his team was being mocked. But it probably helped that the 1960 team went on to go 8-1 regular season and win the national and B10 championships.
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Correction: the ALUMNI were winning, as they tended to with guys like Soltau, Nomellini, Tonnemaker...
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
I would say yes. I was not old enough to see him play but found out about him from an Ohio State Buckeye fan in October of 2000
I think it was 10/14. Sadly I had to admit I barely knew of him as an AWA wrestler as a kid and that he was supposed to be one of the bad guys.
We our group stayed in Dayton Ohio that weekend and then traveled to the game in Columbus.
It was the last time the Gophers beat Ohio state in the Horse shoe 29-17 and I belive the last time it had occured was 1949.
Nomellini was a two time All American and three time all Big10 at defensive and offensive tackle. It is ironic that Leo Nomellini passed away 3 days after the Gophers last beat Ohio State in the horse shoe, since it had been since the last time, that Nomellini played for the Gophers, that they had beat the Buckeyes in Columbus Ohio. It is one of those rare historical moments where you have to say yes, I was glad I was there, can we get a few more games like that.
He was a guy ahead of his time as far as football players go, a tackle that could rush the passer and be unblockable. He was the John Randle of his day, except he had exceptional size and strength for a football player back then. I bet if Verne Gagne were still of sound mind he would tell you how absolutely great a football player Nomellini truly was.
From what this elderly 81 year old Ohio State Fan told me at the game that day, he said I was at that game in 1949 and that is the only time I can remember the Gophers whipping the Buckeyes.
Nomellini was unblockable that day,according to this fellow and absolutley kicked the Buckeyes tail all ove the football field constantly harrasing there quarterback.
Sadly I think because he was an AWA professional wrestler that he does not get the credit he deserves for the football accomplishments he had in the Pros and in college. He has been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1969. You would think we would see the Gophers have the sense enough to retire his playing number and put him up on that ring of numbers in TCF stadium.
Maybe it is a money thing, if you are not connected or donating money to the U they don't think about your legacy the same way, maybe that is not true either though.
I would have to think that playing on the West coast for the 49er's that Gopher fans just do not rememeber how good of a player he was here, at least not anyone under the age of 70 or 80 years old. If not the number retired he should have his name and likeness appear somewhere in the stadium.
Click to expand...

I alluded to this in my earlier post, but you said it better than I did. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the line, the U program totally lost touch with its history and it's been really sad at a level. Our program has a great history that should have been more aggressively preserved. It would be easy to just blame it on moving off campus to the Metrodome, but I think it's more complicated than that. At least Brewster started to bring some of the greats back on campus for games and it's great to see Kill continuing that.
 

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