University of Minnesota Athletics
Larry Buhler
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Larry Buhler |
As a sophomore in 1936, Buhler cracked the starting lineup, joining an elite group as sophomores rarely started for Bierman. During that season, after a game against Texas in which he had a big game, Longhorn head coach Jack Chevigny stated that Buhler was every bit as good as Bronko Nagurski was as a sophomore. That year, Buhler led the team in rushing and average yards per carry (6.66).
In 1938, Buhler earned Honorable Mention All-America honors, was voted the Chicago Tribune Gopher Most Valuable Player and was named MVP by his teammates. He also placed third in voting for the Big Ten MVP and was selected to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine game. During each year of his Minnesota career, Buhler finished second in the All-Big Ten Team voting to Wisconsin’s Howard Weiss, a unanimous All-American.
During the “Golden Years” of 1932-41, Buhler was the fourth-leading career rusher at Minnesota, behind only Pug Lund, Bruce Smith and Harold Van Every. He was also in the top 10 in career total points and 100-yard rushing games during this era.
Buhler became Minnesota’s second first-round NFL Draft pick in 1939 when the Green Bay Packers selected him with the ninth overall pick. He played three years in the NFL before retiring to Windom as a local hero to the residents of his hometown Upon his death in 1990, some friends suggested that a statue be made of Buhler “because Windom would probably never have anyone more famous.” The eight-foot-tall sculpture is situated on the courthouse lawn with Buhler in his 1938 MVP uniform, his football in one hand and helmet in the other as a proud reminder of a local legend.
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