The Gophers need to get into the statue-erecting business too outside of Huntington Bank Stadium.

[BleedGopher]

Per Shama:

The Gophers need to get into the statue-erecting business too outside of Huntington Bank Stadium. There are a lot of ultra worthy names to choose from starting with Bobby Bell, Bernie Bierman, Greg Eslinger, Paul Giel, Bronko Nagurski and Bruce Smith.

David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Go Gophers!!

 

[Some guy]

12 people that deserve a statue

1) bronko Nagurski


Who for two?

 

[Slim Tubby]

12 people that deserve a statue

1) bronko Nagurski


Who for two?

2) Bruce Smith

 

[WAGopher]

3) Bernie Bierman

 

[howeda7]

2) Bruce Smith

3) Bierman (perhaps he should get the first one).

 

[studentgopher94]

Certainly feels like an obvious top 3 of Nagurski, Smith and Bierman, a bit closer after that.

 

[Some guy]

Who is 4

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

When does this guy get his statue?

(Not Fleck, the guy in the the background)

 

[MonikerSchmoniker45]

Who is 4

It'll be Koi.

 

[coolhandgopher]

12 people that deserve a statue

1) bronko Nagurski


Who for two?

I just finished reading Monster of the Midway by Jim Dent, a biography on Nagurski and the man was beyond larger than life—just incredible tales from a kid in International Falls through his days as a Gopher onward to the Bears (if you ask me about this book in 20 years, the snippet I will recall is Nagurski and some of his teammates playing in socks against the Giants because they couldn’t get a good grip on the icy field). Really entertaining read and my vote for first statue.

And while Bruce Smith, Birman, and Paul Giel are right there too, let me submit the name of Sandy Stephens for his accolades, the national championship, and his historic impact.

 

[RememberMurray]

Wow. Thank you for this thread. This is long, long overdue.

Minnesota has won seven national titles in football. Iowa and Wisconsin can eat their hearts out. Yet Gopher football is really far behind in the statue competition. Is it because we Minnesotans are... so damned Minnesotan?
Because we're so... "Could be worse, not too bad, whatever"?

There are many greats — and I mean truly greats — from Gopher football history who are deserving.

Beyond the Very Obvious Three ( Bierman, Nagurski, Smith)...

Leo Nomellini, Carl Eller and Bobby Bell are all members of both Halls of Fame (CFB and Pro Football versions). That must be a pretty rare accomplishment!

Murray Warmath (see my avatar) is a member of the CFB Hall of Fame and he won a National Championship right here at Minnesota. A NATIONAL Championship! Neither Barry Alvarez nor Hayden Fry ever won a National Championship and yet there is a bronze statue of Alvarez outside Gate 1 in Kellner Plaza at Camp Randall and a bronze, life-sized tribute to Fry near First Avenue/Hayden Fry Way in Corralville, IA.

Come on, Minnesota. Quit wallowing in ridiculous Minnesotan self-pity ("Oh, we never win championships, poor us!) and celebrate our accomplishments... which are substantial.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

I think the easiest choice is Bierman. Other coaches with that many titles or more, such as Woody Hayes, Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, have statues, as do Bud Wilkinson, John McKay and Tom Osborne.

 

[NextYear_76]

Bob and Richard McNamara should both be honored both for on field play but also off-field work on behalf of the University.

Bobby Marshall was the first African-American to play in the Western Conference (which is Big Ten before it was renamed). Member for College Football Hall of Fame.

Bud Wilkinson and Ed Widseth were part of three national titles.