Star Tribune Obituary: John Billman was one of Bernie Bierman's boys

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John Billman, a proud World War II veteran, also liked being known as one of "Bernie's boys," a player from the golden era of Minnesota Gophers football when legendary coach Bernie Bierman was winning national championships. Billman, a lineman on two of those undefeated championship teams, died on March 16. He was 92.

"We had a lot of respect for Bernie, although we didn't like him at the time," Billman told the Star Tribune in a 1999 article.

"Oh yeah," chuckled daughter Jennifer Redmond on Thursday. "Dad said Bernie was a tough coach, but the Gophers became a tight, strong team because of Bernie."

http://www.startribune.com/local/143907536.html

Go Gophers!!
 




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