Saint Mary's College
After graduating from high school, Wilson enrolled at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. From 1931–1934, he starred in both football and baseball for the "Galloping Gaels." During the 1930s, St. Mary's football coach, Slip Madigan (later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame), was an active and colorful promoter of the exploits his players. One of the tactics Madigan used to promote his players was by "bolstering their reputations with nicknames that promised to titillate the fans and writers in distant cities." John Podesto became "Presto Podesto from Modesto," and it was Madigan who reportedly bestowed the nickname "Icehouse" on his star halfback. The nickname was reportedly given to Wilson because of "his coolness under competitive fire."
The most important game of the year for St. Mary's "Galloping Gaels" football team was an annual rivalry game against Fordham, played each year at the Polo Grounds in New York. In 1933, Wilson was "heralded" by some as "the best ball-lugger on the west coast." When Wilson led St. Mary's to a win over Fordham in 1933, he was described by reporters as "the best halfback ever to play at the Polo Grounds." A photograph of Wilson appeared in newspapers in November 1933 with the following caption:
"THIS 'ICEHOUSE' COOLS 'EM OFF: Here's St. Mary's new backfield sensation - a lad who has the football followers of the Pacific coast calling him an All-American — George (Icehouse) Wilson, star Gael back who has an extremely 'educated' toe as well as the ability to splinter lines for great gains and do very well the other chores of a ball carrier."
Though he became famous as a football player, Wilson was also a star outfielder for the St. Mary's baseball team. As a sophomore, he compiled a batting average of .411. However, a shoulder injury handicapped him in batting as a junior.
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