Member Biography

Bert Baston was the receiver on a heralded Gopher passing partnership, hauling down the throws of Arnold "Pudge" Wyman. The two paced Minnesota through the air, while Bernie Bierman carried the ground attack as Minnesota compiled a record of 12 victories, a loss and a tie through the 1915 and 1916 campaigns. The Gophers were 6-0-1 in 1915 when Bierman suffered a sprained ankle in the game against Illinois. Both teams were unbeaten entering the battle and the best the Wyman-Baston duo could produce was a 6-6 tie. The next year was an offensive explosion for the Gophers. With their great passing game leading the way, they averaged over 49 points a game in logging a 6-1-0 record. A 14-9 defeat at the hands of Illinois was the lone blemish that year. Not even the loss to Illinois could spoil Baston's accomplishments. He repeated as an All-America selection, the first in Gopher history to do so. Bert later returned to Minnesota to assist head coach Bernie Bierman for 18 years.