Nov. 29, 1969 The Johnnies are invited to play in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, where they defeat Iowa’s Simpson College 21-0.
70s
1970 John Gagliardi’s new decade begins and his 17th season ends with a 6-3, 5-2 MIAC record.
“ … we have so many premeds and prelaws around here we don’t think of them as anything special. … We ask the boys whether they want to go to college to learn to become a football coach or to get themselves a Ph.D. We tell them to have some integrity, not just to auction themselves off to the highest bidder.” The Salt Lake Tribune, Oct. 20, 1970
Bud Grant was anything but the ‘old stoneface’ Monday night. With the rest of the huge crowd, he was constantly broken up by comedian John Gagliardi, football coach at Saint John’s University. And especially witty when he took the floor. Asked about the rumors Saint John’s didn’t give any financial aid to its football players, Gagliardi stepped to the microphone, ‘Did you hear about the …’ He never did answer the question but the audience loved him. Sun Suburban Newspaper, Apr. 1, 1971
1971 The Johnnies improve to an 8-1, 6-1 MIAC record. John Gagliardi is perhaps one of the funniest fellows I have ever heard at the podium … or in a living room. He could steal an audience from Sammy Davis Jr. with his dialect jokes. Patrick Reusse, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Sept. 19, 1971
Sept. 22, 1973 After a 28-14 win over Concordia-Moorhead, John checks himself into the St. Cloud Hospital with an abdominal ailment.
“Dear Team: That was a great performance Saturday. Sorry I couldn’t be there to congratulate you when we viewed the films. Don’t
think I’ll be here much longer. I do know that NOTHING, absolutely nothing, can stop us.” From his hospital bed on hospital stationery
Sept. 24, 1973 A letter from University of Minnesota Athletic Director Paul Giel recognizing John’s accomplishments: “I, too, have been a great admirer of John Gagliardi. He is a man’s man in every respect and undoubtedly one of the finest coaches in the country.” Fall 1973 Warner Palaestra, primary headquarters for Johnnie athletics, opens its doors. Nov. 5, 1973 John receives a telegram that reads: “I have been instructed to inform you that you have been nominated and elected to the Carroll College Football Hall of Fame. Your induction will be on
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