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Alumni Association Home > Bookmarks   Print View Johnny McGovern: The "Little Giant" of Minnesota Johnny McGovern: The "Little Giant" of Minnesota By Don Osell SugarBrooke Creative Services, 2008 This short story revisits the life of John McGovern, the first All-American Football Player at the University of Minnesota. At 5’5” and 150-pounds, this “Little Giant” gained the rare distinction of being named to Walter Camp’s All-American Team in 1909. Among his many honors McGovern served as president of the National Canner’s Association, was the first recipient of the Minnesota “M” Club Gold Ring Award, and is one of only 16 Gopher football players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1953, the University of Minnesota Alumni Association recognized him with its Outstanding Achievement Award. According to Joel Maturi, University of Minnesota Gopher Athletic Director, “Johnny McGovern was everything we want a Gopher to be: A success in the classroom, field of play and the game of life. This book is a great history tour about an amazing individual who achieved greatness and was the first of many Gopher All-Americans.”

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