Gophers football historians have been pondering the Big Ten Network’s omission of Paul Giel from the list of the top 50 icons in conference history. This is an amazing error considering Giel’s credentials.
Giel was a two-time All-American running back for the Gophers in 1952 and 1953. He was also the first ever two-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player. In 1953 he was UPI’s College Player of the Year and AP’s back of the year. He was also runner-up to Johnny Lattner of Notre Dame in the 1953 Heisman Trophy balloting. Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice named Giel to his first team all-time college team, according to Gophers sports authority Dave Mona.
But the Giel legend doesn’t stop there. He was an All-American pitcher for the Gophers and signed a large bonus contract with baseball’s New York Giants after leaving Minnesota. In 1971 he returned to his alma mater as athletic director.
Do those 50 Big Ten icons that the Big Ten Network has been devoting 30 minute specials to all have better resumes than Giel? Are you serious?
And here’s one more item about the Big Ten: the Gophers annual conference basketball schedule. Every season starting with 2007-08 the Gophers have played Michigan State, the league’s premier program, during the first five games. Twice the Gophers have opened the conference schedule against the Spartans and this season played Michigan State in the second game. Three of the last four years the first game between the two programs was in East Lansing.
This season the Gophers are playing arguably the Big Ten’s most difficult early season schedule. In the first five games Minnesota plays four nationally ranked teams, travelling to Wisconsin, Michigan State and Ohio State, with a home game against Purdue.
Last year the Gophers were scheduled against Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State in their first five games, the three best teams in the league. Of course, two of the three were on the road.