Official 2021 Gophers Football Recruiting Updates Thread: Links, Tweets, Videos etc

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50PoundHead said:
Winfield didn't play college football.

Sandy Stephens' younger brother, Ray, played both football and basketball. Didn't play a lot in either sport, but man, did that guy have some hops on the basketball court.

Going way back, there were a lot of football/baseball guys. Paul Giel comes to mind as one of the best. But that was before spring practice became a staple in football.
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Ray Stevens was never a star and more of a career backup. However, in 1968, he stepped out of a career back-up role to QB the Gophers well in a 6-4 season that began with losses to top-ranked USC and Nebraska. I know I'm revealing my advanced age, but I remember being at that Nebraska game.
 


BBJones said:
While Winfield was drafted by the Vikings, I don't believe he ever played football for the Gophers.
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Winfield was drafted by 4 professional leagues! MLB, NFL, NBA and ABA. First athlete to ever be drafted by four leagues.
 

PhiloVance said:
Going even further back Bud Grant was a three-sport, nine-letterman athlete in football, basketball, and baseball an All-Big Ten honors in football twice while a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
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Funny thing about Bud is I don't think he ever got a degree (or so I've been told--can't verify).

I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s for the most part and I would hear tales of Bud's exploits in amateur baseball. He was truly a gifted athlete. He played in both the NBA and the NFL.
 

50PoundHead said:
Funny thing about Bud is I don't think he ever got a degree (or so I've been told--can't verify).

I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s for the most part and I would hear tales of Bud's exploits in amateur baseball. He was truly a gifted athlete. He played in both the NBA and the NFL.
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Bud left school early to join the Minneapolis Lakers. Would be surprised if he finished his degree at that time. Not sure on later.
 



MNVCGUY said:
Saw a note in the District 196 Spotlight magazine that gets sent to families in the district that Ratzlaff will be playing both football and hockey for Wisconsin. I wonder if he would have been allowed to do that here and if that played a role in why he ended up at Wisconsin. Might be old news but don't remember seeing it posted that he was going to be playing both sports there.

Seems like it would be really tough to come off a big ten football season and transition immediately into hockey. Plus it would also seem like he would need to miss a big chunk of the hockey season as they get started while football is still going on.

Any of you historians know if we had someone pull off a football/hockey combo here? I know Decker played Football and Baseball and we have had some do Football and Track over the years. But can't think of any playing both football and hockey off the top of my head.
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Stumbled across this—Ratzlaff has quit the badger football team and is trying to get back into hockey. But not with the badgers, he’s playing for the Madison USHL team.

www.flohockey.tv

Former Football Standout Jake Ratzlaff Is Making Hockey Comeback In USHL - FloHockey

A former highly-recruited linebacker at the University of Wisconsin, Jake Ratzlaff has turned in his cleats for skates as he attempts a hockey comeback.
www.flohockey.tv www.flohockey.tv
 





Fan of Ray Christensen said:
Stumbled across this—Ratzlaff has quit the badger football team and is trying to get back into hockey. But not with the badgers, he’s playing for the Madison USHL team.

www.flohockey.tv

Former Football Standout Jake Ratzlaff Is Making Hockey Comeback In USHL - FloHockey

A former highly-recruited linebacker at the University of Wisconsin, Jake Ratzlaff has turned in his cleats for skates as he attempts a hockey comeback.
www.flohockey.tv www.flohockey.tv
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Thanks for sharing this. Not surprised it didn't work out to play college football and college hockey. Seasons overlap too much for that to work.

He followed his heart which led him to football but playing Hockey at the U right from the beginning would have been the smarter choice out of high school.

Kid is an amazing athlete so guessing he will figure out a way to succeed somewhere.
 


MNVCGUY said:
...Any of you historians know if we had someone pull off a football/hockey combo here? I know Decker played Football and Baseball and we have had some do Football and Track over the years. But can't think of any playing both football and hockey off the top of my head.
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Like others, I came across this question when the thread was bumped. I'm not a big hockey fan but here are some football/hockey Gophers I recall from long ago.

Noel Jenke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_Jenke

Jim Carter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Carter_(American_football)

Buetow Brothers (twins Bart & Brad): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Carter_(American_football)

It's a long answer to your question but I'm an old duffer now so I have to take advantage of that part of my memory that still works. :)
 

Fan of Ray Christensen said:
Stumbled across this—Ratzlaff has quit the badger football team and is trying to get back into hockey. But not with the badgers, he’s playing for the Madison USHL team.

www.flohockey.tv

Former Football Standout Jake Ratzlaff Is Making Hockey Comeback In USHL - FloHockey

A former highly-recruited linebacker at the University of Wisconsin, Jake Ratzlaff has turned in his cleats for skates as he attempts a hockey comeback.
www.flohockey.tv www.flohockey.tv
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Sounds like a nice fit for Motzko's squad next season...
 



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