COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - What Vernon McGree accomplished on Oct. 5, 1935 would be the centerpiece of many athletes' college stories.

But for the Hastings High School graduate, it was just the opening chapter of his career at Saint John's.

The sophomore halfback served notice that day he was a player to watch when the Johnnies opened conference play against Hamline. All told, he scored five touchdowns and accounted for 307 of his team's 518 yards of total offense as SJU rolled past the Pipers 45-0 before a crowd of over 1,500 in Collegeville.

His offensive yardage is still the second-highest single-game total in school history, trailing only the 375 racked up by Rick Bell in a win over St. Cloud State on Sept. 11, 1982.

"Twisting, turning, driving, McGree gained ground consistently all afternoon and gave definite promise of becoming one of the brightest stars in the Minnesota conference," reported the St. Cloud Times in its account of the game.

SJU improved to 3-0 overall and finished the season 5-0-1, earning just the program's second MIAC title. McGree, in his first season as a starter, did not earn a spot on that fall's All-MIAC team. But he was one of 14 Johnnie players and coaches to receive a gold star for their work at the team's year-end banquet.

"Vernon McGree, Hastings, also finished his first year on state gridirons with a reputation as a man to be watched," reported The Record in its season wrap-up story. "He was a brilliantly elusive open-field runner and a sturdy defensive man behind the line."

And he was just getting started. McGree went on to star at SJU the next two seasons, including as a senior in 1937 when he served as team captain and did earn all-conference accolades. That was despite missing a game because of injuries suffered in what was one of the more tragic days in program history.

McGree was one of six current and former Johnnies riding in a vehicle struck by a freight train near St. Peter after the Johnnies dropped a tough 13-12 Friday night matchup to Gustavus Adolphus on the road on Sept. 24.

Three people in the car were killed instantly - former SJU students Frank Holland (the driver) and Jerome Krause, as well as backup center Charles Carlin.

McGree, teammate Vedie Himsl (who went on to play professional baseball and later briefly managed the Chicago Cubs) and former SJU student John Marrinan were all injured. 

Most of the team was traveling back to Collegeville on the bus. But the six men were en route to Lakeville where they planned to stay overnight in advance of attending the University of Minnesota vs. North Dakota State football game at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis the next day.

McGree and Himsl suffered what newspaper reports termed severe head injuries and body bruises.

"At the hospital, McGree said he was riding in the back seat between Krause and Himsl," read an account of the accident in the next day's St. Cloud Times. "He said his first idea of impending disaster was when someone shouted, 'There's a train!' His next recollections, McGree said, were when he found Himsl shaking him some 50 feet from the grade crossing."

McGree was released from the hospital a few days later, but sat out the following game against Wisconsin-River Falls on Oct. 2. He returned to the lineup in a 19-6 win at Moorhead State Teachers College (now MSU-Moorhead) on Oct. 8, then rushed for a touchdown and returned a fumble 90 yards for another in a 19-0 road shutout of Macalester played in the driving rain the following week and added a 62-yard touchdown run in a loss to St. Thomas before a crowd of over 3,500 in St. Paul on Oct. 29.

He finished the conference season with a total of 18 points and drew 36 out of a possible 40 votes when it came to choosing the All-MIAC team.

McGree stuck around SJU after the close of his college career, serving as an assistant coach in football and track and field before taking over as head track coach in 1940 and '41. McGree then went on to serve in the aviation division of the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

He passed away at age 88 in November 2004.

30 years ago (1995)
Chris Palmer caught three touchdown passes as the SJU football team rolled past St. Thomas 49-19 before a crowd of 9,132 in Collegeville.
D.J. Kor had 18 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown, while Matt Emmerich returned an interception 80 yards for a score in the second quarter.

40 years ago (1985)
Dan Torborg scored his team's final goal on a diving header as the SJU soccer team beat Carleton 5-1 at home on Oct. 9. It was the Johnnies' fourth win in a row.

60 years ago (1965)
SJU head football coach John Gagliardi picked up his 100th career victory as the Johnnies rolled past Hamline 34-6 on Homecoming Saturday in Collegeville. Dave Griffen had three touchdown catches.