BleedGopher
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per Sid:
There has been a lot of talk about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his connection to Minnesota with his grandparents living in Browerville. But there’s another great connection to Minnesota and the Patriots with “Mr. Patriot” himself, Gino Cappelletti.
Cappelletti, the Keewatin, Minn., native who played in college for the Gophers, was on the first Boston Patriots team in the American Football League back in 1960 and played there for 11 seasons before retiring after the 1970 season.
His career in New England was one of the greatest in team history.
With the Gophers, Cappelletti kicked extra points for coach Wes Fesler, but back then the team didn’t attempt field goals. From 1953 to ’54, Cappelletti connected on 31 consecutive extra points. He was also a punter as a senior in 1954. He scored three touchdowns as a receiver in 1952, while still attempting PATs.
During his senior season, Cappelletti became the starting quarterback and helped the Gophers go 7-2.
It was that kind of multipurpose production that made Cappelletti appealing to the Patriots, even if he was never drafted, playing in the CFL for a few years after leaving Minnesota.
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-gino-cappelletti-became-mr-patriot/472026233/
Go Gophers!!
There has been a lot of talk about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his connection to Minnesota with his grandparents living in Browerville. But there’s another great connection to Minnesota and the Patriots with “Mr. Patriot” himself, Gino Cappelletti.
Cappelletti, the Keewatin, Minn., native who played in college for the Gophers, was on the first Boston Patriots team in the American Football League back in 1960 and played there for 11 seasons before retiring after the 1970 season.
His career in New England was one of the greatest in team history.
With the Gophers, Cappelletti kicked extra points for coach Wes Fesler, but back then the team didn’t attempt field goals. From 1953 to ’54, Cappelletti connected on 31 consecutive extra points. He was also a punter as a senior in 1954. He scored three touchdowns as a receiver in 1952, while still attempting PATs.
During his senior season, Cappelletti became the starting quarterback and helped the Gophers go 7-2.
It was that kind of multipurpose production that made Cappelletti appealing to the Patriots, even if he was never drafted, playing in the CFL for a few years after leaving Minnesota.
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-gino-cappelletti-became-mr-patriot/472026233/
Go Gophers!!