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The 'Minnesota Golden 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 teams compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In all other sports, the Gophers compete in 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). A notable exception is the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, a mile from the East Bank across Interstate 35W, where the Gophers will play their home football games until 2009, when TCF Bank Stadium opens.
Cheerleaders, the Dance Team the University of Minnesota Marching Band and the university's pep band 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
★ Football (6): :1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960 ★ Men's Basketball (2): :1902, 1919 ★ Men's Ice Hockey (5): :1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003 ★ Women's Ice Hockey (3): :2000, 2004, 2005 | ★ Baseball (3): :1956, 1960, 1964 ★ Men's Golf (1): :2002 ★ Men's Outdoor Track and Field (1): :1948 ★ Wrestling (3): :2001, 2002, 2007 |
''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 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.
Goldy Gopher, team mascot.
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-AM 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.
Football
★ National Championships (6):
:1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
★ Big Ten Conference Championships (18):
:1900, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1927, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1960, 1967
★ Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the Northwest championships (2):
:1892, 1893
★ Bowl Games (11):
:Rose – 1961, 1962
:Hall of Fame – 1977
:Independence – 1985
:Liberty – 1986
:Sun – 1999, 2003
:MicronPC.com – 2000
:Music City – 2002, 2004, 2005
:Insight – 2006
★ Bowl game victories: 1962 Rose, 1985 Independence, 2002 Music City, 2003 Sun, 2004 Music City
Traveling trophies
★ The Little Brown Jug – Accidentally left in Minnesota back in 1903 by Michigan coach Fielding Yost, it is painted with the victories of the two teams.
★ Floyd of Rosedale – Since 1935 the Gophers and the Iowa Hawkeyes have fought to win this bronze pig.
★ Paul Bunyan's Axe – Minnesota and the Wisconsin Badgers have passed this trophy back and forth since 1948, although it records the two teams' encounters since 1890.
★ Governor's Victory Bell – The newest of the four trophies, the bell was created to commemorate the 1993 entrance of Penn State's Nittany Lions into the Big Ten.
Men's basketball
★ Big Ten Regular Season Championships (8):
:1906, 1907, 1911, 1917, 1919, 1937, 1972, 1982, 1997
★ NCAA Tournament Appearances (6):
:1972, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2005
★ Sweet 16 Appearances (3):
:1982, 1989, 1990
★ NIT Appearances (9):
:1973, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003
★ NIT Championships (1):
:1993
''Note: A 1997 Big Ten regular season championship, NCAA Tournament appearances in 1994, 1995, and 1997 (Final Four), and NIT appearances in 1996 and 1998 (Championship) were vacated due to NCAA sanctions.''[2][3]
Women's basketball
★ NCAA Tournament Appearances (6):
:1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
★ Sweet 16 Appearances (3):
:2003, 2004, 2005
★ Final Four Appearances (1):
:2004
Men's ice hockey
Main articles: Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey
★ National Championships (5):
:1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
★ WCHA Regular Season Championships (12):
:1953, 1954, 1970, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2006, 2007
★ WCHA Tournament Championships (14):
: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
★ National Championships (3):
:2000 (AWCHA), 2004, 2005
★ WCHA Regular Season Championships (4):
:2001, 2002, 2004, 2005
★ WCHA Tournament Championships (3):
:2002, 2004, 2005
★ NCAA Frozen Four Appearances (5):
:2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Baseball
★ National Championships (3):
:1956, 1960, 1964
★ Big Ten Regular Season Championships (21):
:1933, 1935, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
★ Big Ten Tournament Championships (7):
:1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2004
Men's cross country
★ Big Ten Team Championships (4):
:1909, 1914, 1964, 1969
Golf
'Men's golf' ★ National Championships (1): :2002 ★ Big Ten Team Championships (7): :1929, 1938, 1963, 1972, 2002, 2003, 2007 | 'Women's golf' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (1): :1989 |
Gymnastics
'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 | 'Women's gymnastics' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (5): :1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2006 |
Women's rowing
★ Big Ten Championships (1):
:2007
Women's soccer
★ Big Ten Championships (2):
:1995, 1997
Softball
★ Big Ten Regular Season Championships (3):
:1986, 1988, 1991
★ Big Ten Tournament Championships (1):
:1999
Spirit Squads
'Dance Team'
★ National Championships (4):
:2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Swimming
'Men's swimming' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (9): :1922, 1926, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 | 'Women's swimming' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (2): :1999, 2000 |
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
'Outdoor track and field' ★ National Championships (1): :1948 ★ Big Ten Team Championships (5): :1949, 1968, 1998, 1999, 2003 | 'Indoor track and field' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (1): :1998 |
Women's track
'Outdoor track and field' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (1): :2006 | 'Indoor track and field' ★ Big Ten Team Championships (1): :2007 |
Volleyball
★ Big Ten Championships (1):
:2002
★ NCAA Tournament Appearances (12):
:1989, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
★ Sweet 16 Appearances (9):
:1989, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
★ Final Four Appearances (2):
:2003, 2004
Wrestling
★ National Championships (3):
: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
★ Brent Gates
★ Jack Hannahan
★ Paul Molitor
★ Denny Neagle
★ Greg Olson
★ Glen Perkins
★ Robb Quinlan
★ Dick Siebert - coach
★ Terry Steinbach
★ Dave Winfield (also played basketball at Minnesota)
★ Dan Wilson
Basketball
Men's
★ Walter Bond - Former NBA player, and motivational speaker
★ Willie Burton - Former NBA player
★ Louis 'Doc' Cooke, coach (1897-1924)
★ Clem Haskins - coach
★ Kris Humphries - NBA player
★ Bobby Jackson - NBA player
★ Voshon Lenard - Former NBA player
★ Kevin McHale - Basketball Hall of Famer and current vice president of operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves
★ Joel Przybilla - Center, Portland Trail Blazers
★ Flip Saunders - Head coach, Detroit Pistons
★ Tubby Smith
★ Mychal Thompson - Former NBA player
Women's
★ Janel McCarville - Center, New York Liberty
★ Linda Roberts
★ Carol Ann Shudlick
★ Lindsay Whalen - Point guard, Connecticut Sun
★ Emily Fox
★ Linda Hill-MacDonald - Former head coach
Football
Golf
★ Tom Lehman
★ James McLean
Gymnastics
★ Marie Roethlisberger
★ John Roethlisberger
Hockey
Men's
★ Keith Ballard
★ Herb Brooks
★ Neal Broten
★ Kris Chucko
★ Ben Clymer
★ Bob Johnson
★ Trent Klatt
★ Jordan Leopold
★ John Mariucci
★ John Mayasich
★ Ryan Potulny
★ Thomas Vanek
★ Phil Kessel
Women's
★ Natalie Darwitz
★ Krissy Wendell
Track and Field
Men's
★ Roy Griak
★ Phil Lundin
NCAA Champions Indoor
★ Ron Backes 1986 (Shot Put, 68-11 1/4)
★ Martin Eriksson 1993 (Pole Vault, 18-0 1/2)
★ Vesa Rantanen 1998 (Pole Vault, 18-2 1/2)
NCAA Champions Outdoor
★ Jack DeField 1942 (Pole Vault, 14-1)
★ Bob Fitch 1942 (Discus, 164-8 1/2)
★ Jack DeField 1943 (Pole Vault, 14-1)
★ Fortune Gordien 1946 (Discus, 153-10 3/4)
★ Fortune Gordien 1947 (Discus, 173-3)
★ Fortune Gordien 1948 (Discus, 164-0 1/4)
★ Lloyd LaMois 1948 (Triple Jump, 45-10)
★ Garry Bjorklund 1971 (Six Mile, 27:43.1)
★ Adam Steele 2003 (400m, 44.57)
Wrestling
★ Shelton Benjamin - Current World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar
★ Ric Flair - Current World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar, former WCW and NWA star. 16 time former world champion.
★ Verne Gagne - Owner of the defunct American Wrestling Association and its former Champion
★ Cole Konrad - 2 time undefeated, NCAA individual champion at 285 lbs
★ Brock Lesnar - Former World Wrestling Entertainment and New Japan Pro Wrestling World Champion.
★ Dustin Schlatter - 79-2 record in two seasons with the Gophers
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★ Baseline Tennis Center — tennis ★ Bierman Track and Field Stadium — track ★ Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium — women's soccer ★ Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex ★ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome — baseball, football ★ Jane Sage Cowles Stadium — softball ★ Les Bolstad Golf Course — golf ★ Mariucci Arena — men's hockey ★ Ridder Arena — women's hockey ★ Siebert Field — baseball ★ Sports Pavilion — gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling ★ Williams Arena — basketball, wrestling ★ U of M Boathouse — rowing ★ University Aquatic Center — swimming and diving ★ University Fieldhouse | Former facilities★ Northrop Field (1899-1923) ★ Memorial Stadium (1924-1981) Future facilities★ TCF Bank Stadium — football (scheduled to open 2009) |
References
1. Minnesota State Symbols
2. 2006-07 Big Ten Conference Records Book
3. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Public Infractions Report
External link
★ Gophersports.com Official Website of University of Minnesota Athletics
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