Sandy Stephens

Bio

Sandy Stephens was college football’s first African-American quarterback to earn first-team All-America honors. “I was going to be more than a Big Ten quarterback who was black. I was going to be a Big Ten quarterback who took his team to the Rose Bowl,” stated Stephens. Sandy also played defensive back, returned kicks and punted in the one-platoon system. After suffering a 2-7 season his first year, Stephens helped the Golden Gophers to one of college football’s greatest turn-around seasons leading Minnesota to a Big Ten title, a trip to the Rose Bowl and the National Championship. They returned the following year to the Rose Bowl to beat UCLA 21-3. The 18th Minnesota player to be inducted in the College Hall of Fame was a consensus All-America in 1961, finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and set a Minnesota record for single-season quarterback rushing yards. Stephens is a member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and his number was retired by the university. Stephens continued his football career in the Canadian Football League, where he played for the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts.

Career Highlights

• 1961 All-Conference
• 1961 Conference MVP
• 1961 Consensus All-America
• 1961 Heisman - Fourth