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University of Minnesota Athletics
ALL-AMERICAN SANDY STEPHENS DIES AT AGE 59
6/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
A four-sport athlete from Uniontown, Pa., Stephens turned down professional baseball to play football at Minnesota, and become the first African-American quarterback for the Golden Gophers. He was the driving force behind their national title in 1960, leading the Maroon and Gold to an 8-2 record. Stephens is also responsible for Minnesota's only Rose Bowl victory, which came in 1962. In that game, he scored two touchdowns, completed 7 of 11 passes for 75 yards, and rushed for 46 more. He was voted player of the game for his performance and on May 22, 1997, earned a place in the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
Stephens garnered numerous awards for his efforts during the 1961 season, including the Big Ten MVP award and College Back of the Year Award. He finished fourth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy.
