Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers (commonly shortened to Gophers) are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and wrestling. Women's-specific sports include rowing, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Joel Maturi has been the Athletic Director since 2002.
In men's and women's ice hockey, the Gophers belong to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In all other sports, they belong to the Big Ten Conference. Most of the facilities that the teams use for training and competitive play are located on the East Bank of the Minneapolis campus. There are arenas for men and women basketball (Williams Arena) as well as hockey (Mariucci Arena and Ridder Arena). The Gopher football team began playing at TCF Bank Stadium in September 2009. The women's soccer team plays on the St. Paul campus in Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
Cheerleaders and the Dance Team are also part of the university's athletic department; they are present at events for basketball, hockey, football, and volleyball.
During the 2006–2007 academic year, the Golden Gophers wrestling team won the NCAA national championship and the Big Ten team title. The Golden Gophers also won conference championships in men's hockey, men's golf, women's rowing, men's swimming and diving, and women's indoor track and field.
National championships
- 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
- 1902, 1903, 1919
- 1929, 1940, 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
- 2000, 2004, 2005
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- 1956, 1960, 1964
- 2002
- Men's Outdoor Track and Field (1):
- 1948
- 2001, 2002, 2007
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Notes: With the exception of football, national championships are awarded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The NCAA itself does not award a championship for Division I-A football. The NCAA began awarding national championships for men's basketball in 1939; previous championships were retroactively awarded by the Helms Athletic Foundation. The NCAA began awarding national championships for men's ice hockey in 1948; previous championships were awarded by the Amateur Athletic Union and by the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The NCAA began awarding national championships for women's ice hockey in 2001; previous championships were awarded by the American Women's College Hockey Alliance.
Traditions
Maroon and Gold
In 1880, the University of Minnesota was preparing for spring graduation. For the previous 29 years, different graduation colors were used every ceremony. In spring 1880, President Folwell began a tradition of common school colors at the University. He asked an English instructor, Mrs. Augusta Smith, to select proper colors to use for graduation ribbons and other occasions. She chose maroon and gold, which made a favorable impression on the students and faculty in 1880. As the years passed and without any kind of formal action, maroon and gold became the official school colors.
The "Golden" Gophers
The Gopher mascot is a tradition as old as the state. Minnesota was tabbed the “Gopher State” in 1857 after a satirizing cartoon, depicting nine Gophers with the heads of local politicians pulling a locomotive, was published.[1] The story was over legislative action for a $5 million railroad proposal in western Minnesota. Later, the University picked up the nickname.
The “Golden” adjective has not always been a part of the Gopher nickname. During the 1930s, the Gophers wore gold jerseys and pants. Legendary KSTP radio announcer Halsey Hall coined the term “Golden Gophers” in reference to the team’s all-gold attire on the field. From 1932 through 1941, Minnesota compiled an impressive record, losing only 12 games and winning seven Big Ten titles and five national championships—a true “golden” decade of Gopher football.
School songs
School songs for the university include Minnesota Rouser, Minnesota March, Go Gopher Victory, Our Minnesota, Minnesota Fight, Hail! Minnesota, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
- 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
- 1900, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1927, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1960, 1967
- 1892, 1893
- Rose – 1961, 1962
- Hall of Fame – 1977
- Independence – 1985
- Liberty – 1986
- Sun – 1999, 2003
- MicronPC.com – 2000
- Music City – 2002, 2004, 2005
- Insight – 2006, 2008, 2009
Traveling trophies
Men's basketball
- 1906, 1907, 1911, 1917, 1919, 1937, 1972, 1982
- NCAA Tournament appearances (7):
- 1972, 1982, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2009, 2010
- Sweet 16 appearances (3):
- 1982, 1989, 1990
- 1990
- 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008
- 1993
Note: A 1997 Big Ten regular season championship, NCAA Tournament appearances in 1994, 1995, 1997 (Final Four), and 1999, as well as NIT appearances in 1996 and 1998 (Championship) were vacated due to NCAA sanctions.[2][3]
Women's basketball
- NCAA Tournament Appearances (8):
- 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
- Sweet 16 Appearances (3):
- 2003, 2004, 2005
- 2004
- Final Four Appearances (1):
- 2004
Men's ice hockey
- 1929,[4] 1940,[5] 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
- 1953, 1954, 1970, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2006, 2007
- 1961, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007
- NCAA Frozen Four Appearances (19):
- 1953, 1954, 1961, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005
Women's ice hockey
- 2000 (AWCHA), 2004, 2005
- WCHA Regular Season Championships (6):
- 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010
- WCHA Tournament Championships (3):
- 2002, 2004, 2005
- NCAA Frozen Four Appearances (8):
- 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
Baseball
- 1956, 1960, 1964
- Big Ten Regular Season Championships (22):
- 1933, 1935, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010
- Big Ten Tournament Championships (8):
- 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2010
Men's cross country
- Big Ten Team Championships (4):
- 1909, 1914, 1964, 1969
Women's cross country
- Big Ten Team Championships (2):
- 2007, 2008
Golf
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Men's golf
- 2002
- Big Ten Team Championships (7):
- 1929, 1938, 1963, 1972, 2002, 2003, 2007
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Women's golf
- Big Ten Team Championships (1):
- 1989
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Gymnastics
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Men's gymnastics
- Big Ten Team Championships (21):
- 1903, 1907, 1910, 1925, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995
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Women's gymnastics
- Big Ten Team Championships (5):
- 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2006
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Women's rowing
- Big Ten Championships (1):
- 2007
Women's soccer
- Big Ten Championships (3):
- 1995, 1997, 2008
Softball
- Big Ten Regular Season Championships (3):
- 1986, 1988, 1991
- Big Ten Tournament Championships (1):
- 1999
Spirit Squads
Dance Team
- National Championships (6):
- 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011
Swimming
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Men's swimming
- Big Ten Team Championships (9):
- 1922, 1926, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
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Women's swimming
- Big Ten Team Championships (3):
- 1999, 2000, 2008
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Men's tennis
- Big Ten Team Championships (14):
- 1910, 1911, 1912, 1918, 1932, 1933, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
Men's track
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Outdoor track and field
- 1948
- Big Ten Team Championships (7):
- 1949, 1968, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011
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Indoor track and field
- Big Ten Team Championships (3):
- 1998, 2009, 2010
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Women's track
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Outdoor track and field
- Big Ten Team Championships (1):
- 2006
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Indoor track and field
- Big Ten Team Championships (2):
- 2007, 2008, 2009
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Volleyball
- 2002
- NCAA Tournament Appearances (15):
- 1989, 1993, 1996-97, 1999, 2000-09
- Sweet 16 Appearances (10):
- 1989, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009
- Final Four Appearances (3):
- 2003, 2004, 2009
Wrestling
- 2001, 2002, 2007
- Big Ten Team Championships (12):
- 1910, 1912, 1913, 1941, 1957, 1959, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
Notable athletes and coaches
Baseball
Softball
Basketball
Men's
Women's
Players
- Asad Abdul-Khaliq - Quarterback, Chicago Rush
- Dominique Barber - Safety, Houston Texans
- Marion Barber Jr. - Former NFL running back
- Marion Barber III - Running back, Chicago Bears
- Bobby Bell - Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Phil Bengtson - Former NFL head coach
- Bernie Bierman - Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- McKinley Boston - Former NFL Defensive end/Linebacker
- Jack Brewer - Safety, Arizona Cardinals
- Win Brockmeyer - Former high school football head coach
- Tom Brown- 1960 Outland Trophy winner, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Gino Cappelletti - Former AFL Wide Receiver/Placekicker, AFL all-time leading scorer
- Tyrone Carter - Defensive back, San Diego Chargers, 1999 Jim Thorpe Award winner
- Tony Dungy - Quarterback for U in the mid 1970s; Former NFL safety for Pittsburgh Steelers, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts & 1st African-American coach to win a Super Bowl
- Mark Dusbabek - Former NFL Linebacker
- Carl Eller - Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Greg Eslinger - Center, Denver Broncos, 2005 Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy winner
- George Gibson - Former NFL offensive guard and head coach
- Paul Giel - Member of the College Football Hall of Fame also was U's AD from 1972 to 1988 and played Major League Baseball
- Bud Grant - Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Ben Hamilton - Offensive guard, Denver Broncos
- Mike Hohensee - Head coach, Chicago Rush
- Herb Joesting - Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Rhys Lloyd - Kicker, Carolina Panthers
- Laurence Maroney - Running back, Denver Broncos
- Bobby Marshall - One of the first two African-American to play in the NFL, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Karl Mecklenburg - Former NFL linebacker
- Willie Middlebrooks - Defensive back, Toronto Argonauts
- Bronko Nagurski - Pro Football Hall of Famer (charter member), member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Leo Nomellini - Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Derek Rackley - Tight end, Atlanta Falcons
- Darrell Reid - Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis Colts
- Karon Riley - Defensive end, Washington Redskins
- Cory Sauter - Former NFL quarterback
- Jeff Schuh - Retired Linebacker
- Mark Setterstrom - Offensive guard, St. Louis Rams
- Bruce Smith - 1941 Heisman Trophy winner, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Sandy Stephens - First African-American major-college All-American quarterback
- Thomas Tapeh - Former NFL Fullback
- Ryan Thelwell - Wide Receiver, BC Lions
- Darrell Thompson - Former NFL Running back
- Rick Upchurch - Former NFL wide receiver
- Ben Utecht - Tight end, Tennessee Titans
- Bud Wilkinson - Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Jeff Wright - Former Minnesota Viking Defensive back
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Coaches
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Golf
Soccer
- Mikki Denney Wright - Coach
- Jennifer McElmury
- Samuel Winter
Gymnastics
Hockey
Men's
Women's
Track and Field
Women's
- Heather Dorniden
- Alicia Rue
Men's
NCAA Champions Indoor
NCAA Champions Outdoor
- Jack DeField 1942 (Pole Vault, 14-1)
- Bob Fitch 1942 (Discus, 164-8½)
- Jack DeField 1943 (Pole Vault, 14-1)
- Fortune Gordien 1946 (Discus, 153-10¾)
- Fortune Gordien 1947 (Discus, 173-3)
- Fortune Gordien 1948 (Discus, 164-0¼)
- Lloyd LaMois 1948 (Triple Jump, 45-10)
- Garry Bjorklund 1971 (Six Mile, 27:43.1)
- Adam Steele 2003 (400m, 44.57)
Current Roster of the Minnesota Gophers Track & Field team 2009–2010
Wrestling
Athletic directors
- 1922-30 Fred Leuhring
- 1930-32 Herbert O. (Fritz) Crisler
- 1932-41 Frank G. McCormick
- 1941-45 Lou Keller (acting)
- 1945-50 Frank G. McCormick
- 1950-63 Ike J. Armstrong
- 1963-71 Marshall J. Ryman
- 1971-88 Paul Giel (men's)
- 1974-76 Belmar Gunderson (women's)
- 1976-81 Vivian M. Barfield (women's)
- 1981-82 M. Catherine Mathison (women's interim)
- 1982-88 Merrily Dean Baker (women's)
- 1988-89 Holger Christiansen (men's interim)
- 1988–2002 Chris Voelz (women's)
- 1989-91 Rick Bay (men's)
- 1991-92 Dan Meinert (men's interim)
- 1992-95 McKinley Boston (men's)
- 1995-99 Mark Dienhart (men's)
- 1999–2002 Tom Moe (men's)
- 2002–present Joel Maturi
From 1974 to 2002, there were separate athletic departments for men and women's sports.
Facilities
Current facilities
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Former facilities
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References
External links
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| Legends Division |
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| Leaders Division |
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| Former team |
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| Championships & awards |
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