Ed Widseth
Encyclopedia
Edwin Clarence Widseth (January 5, 1910 – December 3, 1998) was an American football
tackle. He was an All-American at the University of Minnesota
in 1935 and an All-Pro in the National Football League
for the New York Giants
. He has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
in 1910. He played high school football in McIntosh, Minnesota
and began his college football career at the Northwest School of Agriculture (later renamed University of Minnesota, Crookston) where he graduated in 1932. Widseth next enrolled at the University of Minnesota
where he played football for Bernie Bierman
's great Golden Gophers
teams of the mid-1930s. The Golden Gophers compiled a record of 23-1 during Widseth's three seasons on the team from 1934-1936. Widseth reportedly "'lived' in enemy backfields and was unquestionably the pillar of strength in the Gopher line" during a period in which they claimed three consecutive national championships. The only game the Golden Gophers lost during Widseth's three years as a starter was a 6-0 loss to Northwestern in 1936. Minnesota had a 28-game winning streak when they went to Evanston for a Halloween Day game against Northwestern. The game was scoreless when Widseth tackled a Northwestern player, and the referee accused Widseth of "slugging" the Northwestern player. After a 15-yard penalty was assessed, the ball was placed at Minnesota's one-yard line, and Northwestern scored a touchdown for the only points of the game.
Widseth also won two varsity letters as a pitcher and first baseman for the Minnesota baseball team.
Widseth was selected as a first-team All-American in all three seasons he played for the Golden Gophers. As a sophomore in 1934, he was selected as a first-team All-American by the International News Service
("INS") -- the Hearst newspaper syndicate. In 1935, he received first-team All-American honors from the United Press ("UP"), the All-America Board, Liberty Magazine
, the INS, the North American Newspaper Alliance, the Central Press Association
, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation ("WCFF"). In 1936, he was a consensus All-American receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, the UP, Collier's Weekly, the INS, the Newspaper Editors Association, Liberty Magazine
, the Central Press, and WCFF.
in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1937 NFL Draft
. He played for the New York Giants from 1937-1940. Widseth was recognized as an all-NFL player three consecutive years. As a rookie in 1937, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by Collyers Eye Magazine, the INS, the NFL, the New York Daily News and the United Press. In 1938, he was rated a first-team All-NFL player by Collyer's Eye, the Pro Football Writers, the INS, the NFL, the New York Daily News, and the United Press. In 1939, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by the NFL and New York Daily News.
Widseth was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1954. His official biography at the Hall of Fame describes him as follows: "A slashing, driving invader, Widseth used his 6-2 220-pound body to pummel opposing players, relentlessly advancing until the ball-carrier was within his grasp and quickly felled."
The football field at the University of Minnesota Crookston
is named Ed Widseth Field in honor of Widseth.
Widseth died in 1998 at St. Paul, Minnesota. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tackle. He was an All-American at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1935 and an All-Pro in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
University of Minnesota
Widseth was born in Gonvick, MinnesotaGonvick, Minnesota
Gonvick is a city in Clearwater County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 282 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
in 1910. He played high school football in McIntosh, Minnesota
McIntosh, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 638 people, 262 households, and 160 families residing in the city. The population density was 642.0 people per square mile . There were 285 housing units at an average density of 286.8 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% White, 0.78%...
and began his college football career at the Northwest School of Agriculture (later renamed University of Minnesota, Crookston) where he graduated in 1932. Widseth next enrolled at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
where he played football for Bernie Bierman
Bernie Bierman
Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces...
's great Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
teams of the mid-1930s. The Golden Gophers compiled a record of 23-1 during Widseth's three seasons on the team from 1934-1936. Widseth reportedly "'lived' in enemy backfields and was unquestionably the pillar of strength in the Gopher line" during a period in which they claimed three consecutive national championships. The only game the Golden Gophers lost during Widseth's three years as a starter was a 6-0 loss to Northwestern in 1936. Minnesota had a 28-game winning streak when they went to Evanston for a Halloween Day game against Northwestern. The game was scoreless when Widseth tackled a Northwestern player, and the referee accused Widseth of "slugging" the Northwestern player. After a 15-yard penalty was assessed, the ball was placed at Minnesota's one-yard line, and Northwestern scored a touchdown for the only points of the game.
Widseth also won two varsity letters as a pitcher and first baseman for the Minnesota baseball team.
Widseth was selected as a first-team All-American in all three seasons he played for the Golden Gophers. As a sophomore in 1934, he was selected as a first-team All-American by the International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
("INS") -- the Hearst newspaper syndicate. In 1935, he received first-team All-American honors from the United Press ("UP"), the All-America Board, Liberty Magazine
Liberty Magazine
Liberty is a magazine published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church that covers issues involving separation of church and state, and current events in politics...
, the INS, the North American Newspaper Alliance, the Central Press Association
Central Press Association
The Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation ("WCFF"). In 1936, he was a consensus All-American receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, the UP, Collier's Weekly, the INS, the Newspaper Editors Association, Liberty Magazine
Liberty Magazine
Liberty is a magazine published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church that covers issues involving separation of church and state, and current events in politics...
, the Central Press, and WCFF.
Professional football
Widseth was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1937 NFL Draft
1937 NFL Draft
The 1937 National Football League Draft was the second draft held by the NFL. The draft took place December 12, 1936, consisting of 10 rounds, with 100 player selections two of which would later become members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame...
. He played for the New York Giants from 1937-1940. Widseth was recognized as an all-NFL player three consecutive years. As a rookie in 1937, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by Collyers Eye Magazine, the INS, the NFL, the New York Daily News and the United Press. In 1938, he was rated a first-team All-NFL player by Collyer's Eye, the Pro Football Writers, the INS, the NFL, the New York Daily News, and the United Press. In 1939, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by the NFL and New York Daily News.
Later years and honors
Widseth coached St. Thomas College from 1945 to 1946 and his team won the Minnesota College Conference title both years.Widseth was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1954. His official biography at the Hall of Fame describes him as follows: "A slashing, driving invader, Widseth used his 6-2 220-pound body to pummel opposing players, relentlessly advancing until the ball-carrier was within his grasp and quickly felled."
The football field at the University of Minnesota Crookston
University of Minnesota Crookston
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a four-year university located in Crookston, Minnesota. With 1,600 undergraduate students , it is one of five campuses in the University of Minnesota system. Currently, students from 29 countries and 40 states are enrolled .Located on the northern edge of...
is named Ed Widseth Field in honor of Widseth.
Widseth died in 1998 at St. Paul, Minnesota. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
See also
- 1934 College Football All-America Team1934 College Football All-America TeamThe 1934 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1934 college football season...
- 1935 College Football All-America Team1935 College Football All-America TeamThe 1935 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1935 college football season...
- 1936 College Football All-America Team1936 College Football All-America TeamThe 1936 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1936 college football season...