The Gophers lost a legendary former player and extraordinary benefactor when Bob McNamara passed away on Sunday at age 82.
McNamara grew up in a poor family with a difficult father in Hastings, Minnesota. By the time McNamara started playing football for the Gophers in the early 1950s he was a tough guy. Never were his toughness, determination and love for the Gophers more on display than on November 13, 1954 against hated rival Iowa.
With more than 65,464 fans packed into Minnesota’s Memorial Stadium, McNamara led the Gophers to a 22-20 win and a 7-1 record in coach Murray Warmath’s first season in Minneapolis. The game’s highlight came in the first half with the score tied at 7-7. McNamara received an Iowa kickoff at Minnesota’s 11-yard line and made an 89-yard touchdown run that deserves a place among the most determined efforts in program history.
McNamara shook off Iowa tacklers, refusing to go down to the ground. Warmath said in his biography, The Autumn Warrior, that McNamara’s run was indeed the stuff of legends. “It was the finest example of brilliance and desire I have ever seen,” the coach praised.
Years later McNamara was in the bar business and patrons could watch film of the classic run at his Minneapolis establishment located near campus. McNamara was proud of that day and his All-American senior season in 1954 but his efforts for the Gophers hardly ended there.
His fundraising and promotion helped the Gophers with various facilities projects and he was a leader in the Save Gophers Sports drive that helped keep men’s and women’s golf, and men’s gymnastics as varsity sports at Minnesota. He was recognized for his efforts in helping to make TCF Bank Stadium a reality and was an Honorary Captain for the facility’s opening game in 2009 against Air Force.
Richard “Pinky” McNamara, Bob’s younger brother, threw a key block on that legendary touchdown run that happened 60 years ago this fall. “Pinky,” who passed away in 2011, was even more successful in business than Bob and the McNamara Alumni Center is named after him.
The McNamara Academic Center in the Bierman Building is used daily by more than 750 student-athletes. It is named after both brothers who spent their lives living in the Minneapolis area and devoted themselves to helping their alma mater.
Worth Noting
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King likes to write about “Things I Think I Think.” If it’s good enough for Peter, it works for me. Here we go…
Two major storylines are already written in any word document about the Gophers’ football season outlook. Coach Jerry Kill will give himself and the program’s image a “facelift” by staying healthy all season. With a difficult schedule and unproven quarterback, if the Gophers win eight games again this season then be prepared to start dancing down University Avenue in 2015.
Richard Pitino keeps the lowest public profile of any Gophers basketball coach I remember.
At 29 and with a history of injuries, this will be a telling year for running back Adrian Peterson who looks like the focal point of the new offense under first-year coordinator Norv Turner. If Peterson is healthy, expect him to have one of his best years as a pro. If he isn’t, the Vikings may want to make other offensive plans for 2015 and beyond.
Anyone else surprised the Vikings still have season tickets for sale despite moving this season into TCF Bank Stadium with over 10,000 fewer seats than the Metrodome?
Hate to tell you, but you’re goofy if you think the Twins can catch the Tigers and win the AL Central.
If the Twins head into September on pace for another 90-plus loss season, speculation will begin about manager Ron Gardenhire’s job security. In his favor is the admiration of general manager Terry Ryan but how many managers have ever lost 90-plus games over four seasons and kept their jobs?
Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki has a one year contract with the club but don’t expect Joe Mauer to catch again after his concussion experience last season and the 2014 move to first base. It won’t be a surprise if Suzuki is traded before month’s end.
Local Josh Willingham fans should enjoy this summer because with an expiring $7 million contract and dismal offensive production the 35-year-old Twins left fielder looks like a goner after this season—perhaps sooner.
Hope Flip Saunders is thinking about making Gorgui Dieng the starting center because of his defense and rebounding while using Nikola Pekovic in an instant offense role off the bench.
Fans might think Saunders’ selection of assistant coaches looks like a collection of “Yes, boss” types. But this could be a good staff that helps the Wolves overachieve, something they didn’t do last season under coach Rick Adelman.