Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Football HOF Profiles - Harry Gonso
6/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 18, 2007
With the induction of six former Hoosiers into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame on June 23, IUHOOSIERS.com will profile the inductees over the next two weeks. The profile for Monday, June 18, is of two-time Hoosier MVP Harry Gonso.
One of the finest quarterbacks in the history of Indiana University, Harry Gonso was twice selected as team MVP for his performance and his leadership. Gonso started under center for a trio of John Pont's squads, and was the school's all-time leader in both passing yardage and passing touchdowns until 1980. He still stands eighth on the all-time yardage list and third in passing scores.
A product of Findlay, Ohio, Gonso was the Most Valuable Player on the IU squad that played Southern California in the Rose Bowl following the 1967 season. That year, he completed 67-of-143 passes for 931 yards and nine touchdowns and was an All-Big Ten selection.
Despite missing the better portion of two games as a junior, he still finished the year with 1,109 passing yards and 12 touchdowns and won team MVP honors for the second consecutive season. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound Gonso finished his career by throwing for 1,336 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.
Gonso also was impressive off the field, as he was Indiana's second Academic All-America selection in team history as a sophomore in 1967. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors following his junior and senior campaigns, when he was the recipient of the prestigious Hoosier Award.
An all-around athlete, he was one of the nation's top high school swimmers and clocked a time of 22.5 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle as a prep. He also won the Ohio diving title for 15 and 16-year-olds and competed in track. Gonso was a pre-law major at Indiana.
