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 Memorial
Stadium
For nearly 60 years, some of the richest chapters in Golden Gopher football
history played out in Memorial Stadium. By 1921, Minnesota was the only Big Ten
school that lacked a proper football stadium. Up until the 1920s, football was
played on Northrop Field, south of the Armory and a group of alumni decided to
rectify that.
The alumni, with help from students and faculty, led a drive to build the
stadium as well as a much-needed center for the arts and student life, Northrop
Memorial Auditorium. More than 8,500 friends of the University from around the
country contributed over $1.5 million in the school's first public campaign to
raise money for building construction.
Memorial Stadium was built on an 11-acre site on the eastern edge of the
Minneapolis campus. The U-shaped brick stadium, which opened in 1924, featured a
dramatic central arch leading to the playing field and permanent seating for
nearly 53,000. A 7-foot high by 24-foot wide stone tablet placed above the grand
arch reinforced the stadium's purpose: to commemorate the 3,500 Minnesotans who
served in World War I. The tablet was inscribed with allegorical figures
illustrating patriotic service and the legend:
 This stadium was erected by members and friends of the University
to honor the men and women of Minnesota
who served their country in time of war.
By the 1970s, a deteriorating Memorial Stadium was desperately in need of
repair. In 1981, the Board of Regents decided the estimated $10 million
renovation cost was prohibitive and voted to move the football games to the
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, effective in 1982. Although the regents' 1988
decision to demolish the stadium stirred a flurry of protests, the structure
ultimately was torn down in 1992. Following demolition, some of the bricks were
sold as mementos to raise money for student scholarships and the great arch was
disassembled and stored until it was rebuilt within the structure of the
McNamera Alumni Center, U of M Gateway building. |
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Who can ever forget Jules Perlt, the "Voice of Memorial
Stadium"? For more than half a century, he was the public address
announcer for Gopher games. Remember
"KAMZELSKI IN ON THE TACKLE"?
Lettered in Gymnastics 1923. He coached the U of M gymnastics team in
1940 and they were first in Big-Ten and third in NCAA. Also, he was the
public address announcer for Golden Gophers' basketball, football, hockey
and track. He announced his first football game in the fall of 1928. He was
known for his clever announcement of scores and players' names. He was the
P.A. announcer until 1987, announcing more than 400 football and 1,000
basketball games during his time. |
Julius Perlt
PA Announcer |
'96 U of M Distinguished Service
Hall of Fame Inductee. |
| The radio voice of Golden Gopher football and basketball for
over 40 years. He attended school at the U of M, majoring in radio speech
and began his radio broadcast career in 1946 for the University radio
station. In 1951, he began broadcasting Gopher football games, followed by
Gopher basketball games in 1956. During his illustrious career, he has also
broadcast games for the Minneapolis Lakers, St. Paul Saints (1950s),
Minneapolis Millers, Minnesota Twins, and Minnesota Vikings. Christensen
worked the majority of his broadcasting career with WCCO Radio and is noted
for his devout talent of helping Gopher fans "see" and "feel" the action
since 1963. |
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| '95 U of M Distinguished Service
Hall of Fame Inductee. |
Ray Christensen
Radio Voice of Gopher Sports |
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Frank Bencriscutto
Legendary director of bands at the University of Minnesota for 32 years,
1960-1992, as well as an award-winning composer, arranger and
saxophone/clarinet soloist. His contagious enthusiasm and innovative
treatment of University of Minnesota school songs boosted school spirit and
gave both students and alumni powerful musical links to their alma mater.
The two greatly-praised half-time and post-game performances at the Rose
Bowl of his first two years brought national fame to the Golden Gopher
Marching Band. Bencriscutto led the country in the change from traditional
half-time picture formations accompanied by simple musical phrases to
elaborate, sophisticated arrangements of entire compositions in "big band"
style, incorporating advanced harmonies and jazz rhythms. This repertoire of
special arrangements, deserving of performances beyond the stadium, became
the impetus for the establishment of the very first marching band indoor
concerts anywhere. |
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'97 U of M Distinguished Service
Hall of Fame Inductee. |
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