Former Gopher Ross Ukkelberg: "A lot of my life wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for Tony Thiel"

BleedGopher

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per WCCO:

He’s remembered as a high school football legend for leading his small Minnesota city to two state titles in the 70’s. Tony Thiel died last month at the age of 88.

In our Faces of COVID series, the story of a Hall of Fame coach who changed lives on and off the football field.

Once a lineman for the Gophers, Ross Ukkelberg played for Lou Holtz at the University of Minnesota.

“A lot of my life wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for Tony Thiel,” Ukkelberg said.

But, it’s his high school coach back home in Battle Lake that tops even his D-1 days.

“I don’t know anyone who played for him that wouldn’t run through a brick wall for him,” he said.


Go Gophers!!
 




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