University of Minnesota Athletics
Ed Widseth
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Ed Widseth |
Ed Widseth grew up on a dairy farm in the sleepy northwestern Minnesota town of Crookston. Despite having very little prep football experience, he came to the University of Minnesota and quickly emerged as a star tackle. He became the anchor of an amazing defensive line that led the Gophers to three national championships from 1934 through 1936, of which he was twice named as an All-American. The captain and MVP of the 1936 team, Widseth took great pride in the fact that his teams went an amazing 24-1 during his tenure in Gold Country. In addition, Widseth also won two baseball letters as a first baseman and pitcher for the Gophers. After playing in the 1937 College All-Star game, the fearsome tackler went on to play five seasons with the NFL's New York Giants, winning All-Pro honors three of those years.
In 1953, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and was the only Minnesota player named to the National Football Foundation's 11-man All-America squad for the 25 seasons from 1924 through 1948. After his gridiron career ended in 1941, Widseth spent some time as a recreational specialist in the military. Upon returning home, he became head football coach at St. Thomas University, where he coached the Tommies to a pair of MIAC titles before entering the wholesale food business in Minneapolis.
M Club Hall of Fame
