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From the Gridiron to the Battlefield: Minnesota's March to a College Football Title and Into World War II
The remarkable story of a championship college football team and the sacrifices the young athletes made when Pearl Harbor forced their country into war.
As the United States veered towards war during the fall of 1941, the University of Minnesota football team completed an undefeated national championship season—just fifteen days before the strike on Pearl Harbor. After the attack, players left behind college football stardom to command PT boats in the South Pacific, sweep mines on the beaches of Normandy, and join the invasion of Iwo Jima along with so many others from the Greatest Generation.
In From the Gridiron to the Battlefield, Danny Spewak shares the struggles and triumphs of the Golden Gophers’ 1941 season, recalling how players battled on the field even with the threat of war hanging over their heads. When the United States finally entered the war, every member of the team participated in the war effort in one way or another. As Spewak recounts, some players remained stateside in the U.S. Navy, others sailed to the Pacific Theater and faced direct combat at Iwo Jima, while another earned a Purple Heart for his heroism at Normandy.
Now more than 80 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, From the Gridiron to the Battlefield reveals the sacrifices and courage of the Greatest Generation through the eyes of the 1941 Golden Gophers.
As the United States veered towards war during the fall of 1941, the University of Minnesota football team completed an undefeated national championship season—just fifteen days before the strike on Pearl Harbor. After the attack, players left behind college football stardom to command PT boats in the South Pacific, sweep mines on the beaches of Normandy, and join the invasion of Iwo Jima along with so many others from the Greatest Generation.
In From the Gridiron to the Battlefield, Danny Spewak shares the struggles and triumphs of the Golden Gophers’ 1941 season, recalling how players battled on the field even with the threat of war hanging over their heads. When the United States finally entered the war, every member of the team participated in the war effort in one way or another. As Spewak recounts, some players remained stateside in the U.S. Navy, others sailed to the Pacific Theater and faced direct combat at Iwo Jima, while another earned a Purple Heart for his heroism at Normandy.
Now more than 80 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, From the Gridiron to the Battlefield reveals the sacrifices and courage of the Greatest Generation through the eyes of the 1941 Golden Gophers.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 18, 2022
I am a college football fan, especially Big 10--although I'm a Michigan State guy. But imagine, in this day and age being plunged into a big war overseas. Now imagine how it would cripple football programs like the Alabama Crimson Tide. Imagine Nick Saban losing his rich depth of players to the war. That is what happened here...the mid 1930s and early 1940's were ruled by Bernie Bierman's Minnesota Golden Gophers. In this book we are taken through the 1941 National Championship season, game by game, player by player.
As we read about this season, we also read about the uncertainty of the looming war happening overseas. By the time Minnesota's Bruce Smith is on his way to claim the coveted Heisman Trophy, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor entering America into WW2.
The book is heavy and more in-depth on the season more so than the players' fate once the season is over. But it was eye opening to read about the game in this phase. Afterall, it was when they still wore leather helmets. But as a football fan, it is crazy to me these players played both sides of the ball (offense AND defense), as well as took on versatile roles. Example: Bruce Smith played the position of Halfback, and would pass the ball like you'd expect a QB to do--while the QBs were more game managers than passers.
The book also touches upon the history of rivalry trophies that are used to this day in Big 10 football (like the Little Brown Jug with Michigan as well as Floyd of Rosedale with Iowa).
While what happens after the season is not as much in depth, it was interesting to see how the war effected the world of college football. Many of these players continue to play for military units who competed at the college level as part of their training. For instance Bernie Bierman was forced to coach the 1942 season for the Seahawks of Iowa Pre-Flight. Bruce Smith and some of his Golden Gopher teammates would play the 1942 season for the Bluejackets of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Interestingly, some NFL players who joined the military would play for these college squads--so they are being forced back to college ball, can any football fan imagine that?
But we do read about some of the players on the 1941 Golden Gopher squad who would serve in Normandy and Iwo Jima.
As we read about this season, we also read about the uncertainty of the looming war happening overseas. By the time Minnesota's Bruce Smith is on his way to claim the coveted Heisman Trophy, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor entering America into WW2.
The book is heavy and more in-depth on the season more so than the players' fate once the season is over. But it was eye opening to read about the game in this phase. Afterall, it was when they still wore leather helmets. But as a football fan, it is crazy to me these players played both sides of the ball (offense AND defense), as well as took on versatile roles. Example: Bruce Smith played the position of Halfback, and would pass the ball like you'd expect a QB to do--while the QBs were more game managers than passers.
The book also touches upon the history of rivalry trophies that are used to this day in Big 10 football (like the Little Brown Jug with Michigan as well as Floyd of Rosedale with Iowa).
While what happens after the season is not as much in depth, it was interesting to see how the war effected the world of college football. Many of these players continue to play for military units who competed at the college level as part of their training. For instance Bernie Bierman was forced to coach the 1942 season for the Seahawks of Iowa Pre-Flight. Bruce Smith and some of his Golden Gopher teammates would play the 1942 season for the Bluejackets of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Interestingly, some NFL players who joined the military would play for these college squads--so they are being forced back to college ball, can any football fan imagine that?
But we do read about some of the players on the 1941 Golden Gopher squad who would serve in Normandy and Iwo Jima.
September 18, 2023
Excellent read for fans of the University of Minnesota, college football, and military history. Just the right amount of detail to keep a strong pace to the book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews