University of South Dakota Athletics

Jerry Groves, originally of Vermillion, SD, was one of the great early football players for South Dakota. Groves who earned all-North Central Conference honors in 1933, played in every Coyote game during the 1931, 1932, and 1933 season. In fact, Groves missed just 25 minutes of playing time - all in the Michigan State game in 1931 when he was kicked in the shins. Groves' picture appeared in the 1932 Illustrated Football Annual, a national publication. In the caption, it read, "Jerry Groves, South Dakota end, brilliant under a speeding forward pass." He retired in 1976 after working for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad for 37 years and moved back to Vermillion.