John Papendick: Aberdeen's George Amundson made college football history 50 years ago

Fifty years ago, Iowa State football was experiencing its greatest season ever, thanks to an Aberdeen man and a college football legend.

Aberdeen native George Amundson and College Football Hall of Fame player and coach Johnny Majors turned around the fortunes of Cyclone football. Majors was coaching the team and Amundson was its star player.

When they arrived on the Iowa State campus in the late 1960s, Cyclone fans had little to cheer about when it came to their football team. But in 1971, Amundson and Majors directed Iowa State to its first-ever bowl game and its first eight-win season since 1906.

In 1972, Amundson would switch from running back to quarterback, register a school and Big Eight Conference record 2,770 yards of total offense (fourth in the nation) and lead Iowa State to its first national ranking (as high as 12th) since 1938. Amundson earned the Big Eight player of the year award, beating out Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rogers of Nebraska.

Also that season, Amundson quarterbacked Iowa State to a 23-23 tie with third-ranked Nebraska. He had a hand in 24 Iowa State TDs (15 passing, nine rushing) in 1972.

Amundson, a team captain, would lead the Cyclones to another bowl game in 1972. He then became the first (and still only) player in Iowa State history to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.

Houston used the 14th pick of the 1973 draft to select the All-American Amundson. After three seasons in the NFL, injuries eventually would end his football career.

Majors left Iowa State after the 1972 season for Pittsburgh. In 1976, Majors coached Pittsburgh to the college national championship.

However, that 1971 season was a special one for Amundson, Majors and Iowa State, especially those last four games of Amundson’s junior year.

In early November 1971, Amundson and his Iowa State team were at a turning point. Two weeks earlier, they were 5-1. However, conference losses to national powerhouses Oklahoma (ranked second) and top-ranked Nebraska left the Cyclones 5-3. Many fans across the nation expected the Cyclones to fold as normal.

However, they rebounded. On Nov. 13, Missouri visited Ames, and Iowa State ripped the Tigers 45-17. Amundson rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown for the Cyclones.

On Nov. 20, Amundson had one of the greatest performances in college football history. He not only rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw two passes for 65 yards and a touchdown as Iowa State routed Oklahoma State 54-0. Amundson and his teammates carried Coach Majors off the Iowa State field on their shoulders.

On Nov. 27, Iowa State moved to 8-3 by defeating host San Diego State 48-31. Amundson rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown, plus he threw for a 47-yard touchdown.

That led the Cyclones to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, against Louisiana State. However, LSU — a team led by four NFL draft picks — was too much for Iowa State, winning 33-15. Amundson ended the season with a school record of 1,316 yards rushing along with 15 touchdowns.

He also was a four-year track star at Iowa State, setting the Iowa State school record in the discus.

At Aberdeen Central, Amundson threw the discus 211 feet, 4 inches, farther than any high schooler in history.

Long-time South Dakota journalist John Papendick is a freelance writer, public speaker and seeker of new life experiences. Email: papendickjohn@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: George Amundson made football history 50 years ago at Iowa State