University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Remembers Gopher Great Noel Jenke
7/25/2020 1:05:00 PM | Baseball, Football, Athletics, Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics mourn the passing of 'M' Club Hall of Famer and former Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient Noel Jenke, who passed away on Thursday at age 73.
A native of Owatonna, Minn., Jenke was the first Big Ten athlete drafted in three professional sports: by baseball's Boston Red Sox, football's Minnesota Vikings and hockey's Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA.
One of the University of Minnesota's all-time great athletes, Jenke lettered seven times during his college career with three honors in both football and hockey and one in baseball. On the gridiron, he was a First Team All-Big Ten linebacker and team captain in 1968. On the ice, he was known as a tough two-way player with both speed and power. On the diamond, Jenke earned All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors in 1969 as an outfielder.
Jenke concluded his collegiate career by earning the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1969 -- awarded at the time to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each Big Ten university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work."
After graduation, Jenke played professional baseball for nearly three seasons followed by five seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers.
Jenke was inducted into the 'M' Club Hall of Fame in 1996.
A native of Owatonna, Minn., Jenke was the first Big Ten athlete drafted in three professional sports: by baseball's Boston Red Sox, football's Minnesota Vikings and hockey's Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA.
One of the University of Minnesota's all-time great athletes, Jenke lettered seven times during his college career with three honors in both football and hockey and one in baseball. On the gridiron, he was a First Team All-Big Ten linebacker and team captain in 1968. On the ice, he was known as a tough two-way player with both speed and power. On the diamond, Jenke earned All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors in 1969 as an outfielder.
Jenke concluded his collegiate career by earning the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1969 -- awarded at the time to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each Big Ten university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work."
After graduation, Jenke played professional baseball for nearly three seasons followed by five seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers.
Jenke was inducted into the 'M' Club Hall of Fame in 1996.
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