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The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The Gophers compete in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's and women's ice hockey where the teams compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The common sports between men and women include 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. Cheerleaders and a marching band or pep band are present at events for basketball, hockey, football, and volleyball. The cheerleaders and bands are also overseen by the university's athletic department. Joel Maturi has been the Athletic Director since 2002. The Minnesota Rouser is played at U of M sporting events.

Pageantry history

In 1880, the University of Minnesota was preparing for spring graduation. For the previous 29 years, different graduation colors were used every ceremony. In the spring of 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.

Gopher nickname

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. The story was over legislative action for a $5 million railroad proposal in western Minnesota. Later, the University picked up the nickname.

"Golden" Gophers

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.

National titles

  • Football:
  • Baseball (NCAA): 1956, 1960, 1964
  • Men's ice hockey (NCAA): 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
  • Men's golf: 2002
  • Wrestling: 2001, 2002
  • Men's outdoor track and field: 1948
  • Women's ice hockey: (American Women's College Hockey Alliance) 2000; (NCAA): 2004, 2005
  • Men's basketball (National Invitation Tournaments): 1993, 1998

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, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1960, 1967
  • Bowl Games (11):
Rose – 1961, 1962
Hall of Fame – 1977
Independence – 1985
Liberty – 1986
Sun Bowl – 1999, 2003
MicronPC.com – 2000
Music City – 2002, 2004, 2005

Traveling trophies

Men's Basketball

  • National Championships (0)

  • Big Ten Regular Season Championships (9):
1906, 1907, 1911, 1917, 1919, 1937, 1972, 1982, 1997
  • Big Ten Tournament Championships (0):

  • NCAA Tournament Appearances (7):
1972, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2005

  • Sweet 16 Appearances (4):
1982, 1989, 1990, 1997

  • Final Four Appearances (1):
1997

Men's Ice Hockey

  • National Championships (5):
1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
  • WCHA Regular Season Championships (11):
1953, 1954, 1970, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1982, 1997, 2006
  • WCHA Tournament Championships (13):
1961, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2004
  • 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

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 Swimming

  • Big Ten conference titles:
2001, 2002, 2004, 2005

Women's Swimming

  • Big Ten conference titles:
1999, 2000

Famous Gopher athletes

Baseball

Basketball

Men's

Women's

Football

Golf

Gymnastics

Hockey

Swimming

Men's
  • Dennis Dale (head coach)
  • Bill Tramel (assistant coach)

Women's

  • Jean Freeman (former coach)
  • Terry Nieszner and Kelly Kremer co-head coaches

Wrestling

  • Shelton Benjamin (better known as a professional wrestler)
  • Verne Gagne (later famous as a performer and promoter in professional wrestling)
  • Brock Lesnar (better known as a professional wrestler)

Facilities

Sporting facilities include:
  • Baseline Tennis Center — tennis
  • Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium — women's soccer
  • Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex
  • Bierman Track and Field Stadium — track
  • University Fieldhouse
  • 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
  • University Aquatic Center — swimming and diving

Former facilities

Future facilities

External links

University of Minnesota | Sports in Minneapolis-St. Paul | College athletic programs | Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball | Minnesota Golden Gophers football | University and college sports clubs

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Minnesota Golden Gophers".

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