GaryOsberg.com

Good morning from Collegeville,

“Welcome Class of 2019” This was the sign yesterday at the entrance to the St. John’s University campus. The Sexton Commons fountain area had tables set out with coffee, juice and plates of cookies fresh from the bakery. For many this was a family affair. Most young men and women were accompanied by one or both of their parents. In the fall of 1961 I arrived on campus of the University of Minnesota, Main Campus. Coming from a class of 33 in Upsala and going to a class of thousands was overwhelming. Ma had moved the family from Upsala to south Minneapolis, in part, to make it easier for me to attend college.

My two quarters at the “U” were a disaster. The Institute of Technology was certainly a bad choice. My worst performance was in English 101. Every week I would turn in the blue composition book and every week I would get a “D” or a “F”. Not paying any attention to Miss Krier in 11th and 12th grade English class had caught up with me.

The highlight of the fall of 1961 was the Gopher football team. They were coached by Murray Warmath and lead by quarterback Sandy Stephens. They compiled a record of 8 wins and 2 losses. On New Year’s day 1962, they beat the UCLA Bruins by a score of 21 to 3 in the Rose Bowl. When I came home to Upsala, defeated and broke, Bob Soltis nicknamed me “Murray” and he has called me “Murray” ever since.

The APHC show this week is a re-broadcast of a really old show which aired in June of 1994 from the grand re-opening of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Special guests include The Everly Brothers singing “Blues Stay Away From Me”, Chet Atkins playing “Mystery Train” and music from Vince Gill, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Mark O’Connor. In the News From Lake Wobegon, the Whippets open their season and Garrison shares a few memories from the Grand Ole’ Opry’s last night at the Ryman. Enjoy the show.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”. John Wooden