1961

1961 saw the Bay of Pigs invasion and a U.S. military buildup in Vietnam, both of them representing policies of the the new administration of John F. Kennedy. What could possibly go wrong?

The Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings brought major league sports back to Minnesota. Both won their very first games—the Vikings versus the Chicago Bears 37-13, the Twins and pitcher Pedro Ramos against the defending AL champion Yankees 6-0. Both went on to struggle in their inaugural seasons but fans seemed happy enough with their efforts. Twins owner Calvin Griffith and slugger Harmon Killebrew (46-122-.288) and Vikings coach Norm Van Brocklin were the early faces of their organizations. 

• But, the best team in town was still the Minnesota Gopher football team. They lost only to Wisconsin in the Big 10, finished second, but got the Rose Bowl bid anyway. They won their first and only Rose Bowl victory, dominating UCLA, 21-3.

#8 (tie) Event

#23 Athletes

Bobby Bell and Sandy Stephens Carry the Gophers to Their One and Only Rose Bowl Victory

For the first time in years, the Minnesota Gopher football season opened to high expectations. The Gophers lost their opener to Missouri, 6-0, however. But, they beat Oregon 14-7, and then six straight Big 10 opponents, including #1-ranked Michigan State 13-0 and #7 Purdue 10-7. Suddenly, the Gophers were ranked #3 at 7-1 with only a home date against 5-3 Wisconsin standing between them and a second straight Big 10 title at 7-0, while the best Ohio State could do was 6-0. Well, the Gophers could not stop the combination of QB Ron Miller to end Pat Richter. Miller completed 19-of-37 passes for 297 yards and two TDs, while Richter caught six of those passes for 142 yards. The Gophers were relegated to second place in the Big 10, but a few days later, the Ohio State faculty inexplicably turned down an invitation for the Buckeyes to play in the Rose Bowl. As a result, the Gophers got the invitation, which they cheerfully accepted. 

UCLA took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Bruins were only able to gain 108 yards in total offense while the Gophers ran up 297. Minnesota also had a 21-8 advantage in first downs. Sandy Stephens ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns, while completing seven of eleven passes for 75 yards. He was named the game’s MVP. This remains the Gophers only Rose Bowl win ever, and they have in fact now gone longer than any other traditional Big 10 team since this, their last Rose Bowl appearance.

Stephens was also a first team all-American, the Big 10 MVP, and fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. Tackle Bobby Bell was also a consensus first team all-American.  

• Duluth Central and Roseau won the state basketball and hockey titles, Roseau for the third time in four years, while Austin was named the mythical football champion for the fourth time.

Year	Athlete of the Year	Team of the Year	Coach of the Year	Event of the Year
1961	1. Sandy Stephens, Minnesota Gopher football 2. Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins  3. Bobby Bell, Minnesota Gopher football	1. Minnesota Gopher football (8-2, Rose Bowl champion) 2 (tie). Minnesota Twins baseball        (70-90) Minnesota Vikings football (3-11) 3 (tie). Austin football  Duluth Central basketball (27-0) Roseau hockey          (21-3-2)  (all state champions)	1. Calvin Griffith, Minnesota Twins baseball 2. Warmath 3. Norm Van Brocklin, Minnesota Vikings	1. The Minnesota Gophers beat UCLA 21-3 for their only Rose Bowl victory ever. 2. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears 37-13 in their first game ever. 3. The Minnesota Twins shut out the world champion New York Yankees 6-0 in their first game ever.