2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers Additional Information

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2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers Additional Information ​

Coaching Staff

Head Coach:
Official School Bio - Tim Brewster

Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Tim Cross - Associate Head Coach - Defensive Line
Mike Dunbar - Assistant Head Coach-Offensive Coordinator
Ted Roof - Defensive Coordinator
John Butler - Assistant Coach - Linebackers/Special Teams
Thomas Hammock - Assistant Coach-Running Backs
Ronnie Lee - Assistant Coach - Defensive Backs
Derek Lewis - Assistant Coach-Tight Ends
George McDonald - Assistant Coach-Wide Receivers
Phil Meyer - Assistant Coach - Offensive Live
Clint Cosgrove - Defensive Graduate Assistant
Jim Jackson - Offensive Graduate Assistant
Jordan Gigli - Defensive Quality Control
Greg Roskos - Offensive Quality Control Assistant
Dan O'Brien - Director of Football Operations
Daniel Berezowitz - Recruiting Coordinator
Josh Sternquist - Assistant Recruiting Coordinator
Mark Hill - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Will Peoples - Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Ed Lochrie - Head Football Trainer
Chris Ashton - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Andy Mutnan - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Ryan Grooms - Director of Equipment Operations​

Recruiting

Starters Returning: 17 (Offense 7, Defense 7, Special Teams 2)
Letterman Returning: 43 (Offense 20, Defense 19, Special Teams 4)
Notable Returners:
Duane Bennett RB, D.J. Burris RG, Eric Decker WR, Tray Herndon WR, Jack Simmons TE, Ralph Spry WR, Ned Tavale LG, Adam Weber QB, Lee Campbell DE, Ryan Collado CB, Steve Davis LB, Deon Hightower LB, Eric Small DT, Kyle Theret SS, Willie VanDeSteeg DE, Justin Kucek P, Joel Monroe PK

Starters Lost: 10 (Offense 4, Defense 5, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Lost: 18 (Offense 6, Defense 11, Special Teams 1)
Notable Losses:
Steve Shidell LT, Tony Brinkhaus C, Matt DeGeest RT, Ernie Wheelwright WR, Dom Barber DB, Jamal Harris CB, Todd Meisel DT, Mike Sherels LB, John Shevlin LB, Robert McGarry LS​

Incoming Recruits:

2008 Recruiting Class
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Xzavian Brandon WR 6-2 170 Atlanta, GA
Terrell Combs ATH 6-2 252 Lexington, KY
Keanon Cooper DB 6-0 190 Dallas, TX
Tim Dandridge DB 6-1 175 Detroit, MI
Jewhan Edwards DT 6-1 338 Philadelphia , PA
Deleon Eskridge RB 5-11 181 San Mateo, CA
Ryan Grant LB 6-1 215 Eden Prairie, MN
MarQueis Gray QB 6-4 220 Indianapolis, IN
Brandon Green WR 6-0 167 Chicago, IL
Vincent Hill WR 6-0 190 New Berlin, NY
Johnny Johnson DB 5-9 Chicago, IL
Brandon Kirksey DE 6-3 250 St. Louis, MO
Eric Lair TE 6-3 210 Houston, TX
Sam Maresh LB 6-2 240 Champlin, MN
Da'Jon McKnight DB 6-3 190 Dallas, TX
John Nance ATH 6-4 185 St. Paul, MN
Spencer Reeves LB 6-1 193 Dallas, TX
Shady Salamon RB 5-10 175 5 St. Paul, MN
Brodrick Smith WR 6-3 200 Garden City, KS
Troy Stoudermire ATH 5-10 163 Dallas, TX
Gary Tinsley LB 6-1 220 Jacksonville, FL
Kevin Whaley RB 5-9 166 Virginia Beach, VA
D.L. Wilhite ATH 6-4 235 Lexington, KY

2008 JUCO Transfers
Tramaine Brock DB 6-0 180 Perkinston, MS
Cedric McKinley DE 6-5 245 Perkinston, MS
Simoni Lawrence DB 6-1 207 Upper Darby, PA
David Pittman ATH 5-11 195 Pasadena, CA
Rex Sharpe LB 6-3 245 Yuma, AZ
Traye Simmons DB 5-11 175 Visalia, CA

2007 Recruiting Class
Duane Bennett RB 5-9 191 Fairview Heights, IL
Clint Brewster QB 6-1 187 Denver, CO
Chris Bunders OL 6-3 306 Maple Grove, MN
Justin Chatman ATH 5-9 162 Mesquite, TX
Ryan Collado DB 5-9 164 Cincinnati, OH
Trey Davis OL 6-2 275 Farmington, MN
Tray Herndon WR 5-10 166 Jacksonville, FL
Harold Howell ATH 5-8 160 Jacksonville, FL
Anthony Jacobs DE 6-2 265 Northfield, MN
Collin McGarry TE 6-4 230 Stillwater, MN
Ryan Orton OL 6-4 265 Eden Prairie, MN
Shane Potter DB 6-1 195 Clearwater, MN
Ralph Spry WR 5-11 171 Auburn, AL
Andre Tate' RB 6-2 215 Mendota Heights, MN
Kyle Theret DB 5-11 185 Denver, CO
Curtis Thomas DB 6-1 190 Aldine, TX
Jimmy Thompson WR 6-1 180 Hayward, WI
Damien White WR 6-0 170 Culver City, CA
Ryan Wynn OL 6-5 240 Plymouth, MN

2007 JUCO Transfers
Marc Cheatham WR 6-2 210 Oakland, CA
Durrell Clark- James DB 6-0 195 San Francisco, CA Serge Elizee DT 6-1 310 Visalia, CA
Eric Small DE 6-2 275 Joliet, IL
Logan Uu LB 5-11 230 Oakland, CA

2006 Recruiting Class
Dominic Alford OL 6-2 308 Skaker Heights, OH
Tommy Becker LB 6-2 230 Plymouth, MN
Andy Brinkhaus OL 6-4 270 Bloomington, MN
Garrett Brown DT 6-2 286 Fairfield, CT
R.J. Buckner DB 5-11 190 Keller, TX
D.J. Burris OL 6-2 273 Kenton, OH
Lee Campbell LB 6-3 220 Naples, FL
Willie Dyson DE 6-3 220 Kirkwood, MO
Eric Ellestad K 6-3 180 Brooklyn Park, MN
Ben Fischer WR 6-2 180 Wausau, WI
Jamar Howard WR 6-5 200 Cincinnati, OH
E.J. Jones ATH 5-11 185 Edwardsville, IL
Daron Love DB 6-1 185 Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Robert McField DE 6-6 225 St. Louis, MO
Sean McWhirter DE 6-4 245 Maple Plain, MN
Rudy Robinson LB 6-1 220 Pahokee, FL
Terrence Sherrer RB 5-11 197 Cincinnati, OH
Adam Weber QB 6-2 200 Shoreview, MN
Mike Wey LB 6-3 230 Oak Creek, WI

2006 JUCO Transfers
Brylee Callender RB 6-0 195 Quincy, CA
Duran Cooley DB 6-2 205 Los Angeles, CA
Josh Robertson DB 5-11 175 Scranton, PA
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Behind the Numbers

News Flash #1: Ohio State plays Minnesota this week.
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News Flash #2: The Buckeyes are not a statistical monster this year.

Or perhaps you had heard. These facts taken together mean that historical numbers will be much more fun than numbers that analyze the match-up. Most people prefer history to math anyway, so let's take a trip in the way-back machine first.

History

Ohio State's defense has had great success against the Gophers over the past couple of decades.

The Buckeyes have held Minnesota to their season-low scoring output in:

• 9 of the last 18 seasons in which they've played
• 5 of the last 10 seasons in which they've played
• 4 of the last 7 seasons in which they've played
• 3 of the last 4 seasons in which they've played

Conversely, the Buckeyes have scored the most points of any Gopher opponent only 6 times, ever.
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Shut-Outs


The Buckeye defense is responsible for:

• 3 of the last 4 shut-outs of the Gophers
• 5 of the last 10 shut-outs of the Gophers
  • No other team has more than one during that time. In other words...
  • 5 other teams have one shut-out each over the Gophers during that time
    • 2 of those teams were from the Big Ten (Iowa, Wisconsin)
    • 3 of those teams were from the Big Twelve (Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado)

Ohio State's run of providing half of the last 10 shut-outs of the Gophers began with a 47-0 victory in 1980. It was the Buckeyes' first shutout of the Gophers since a 48-0 whitewashing in 1950, 30 years earlier. The significance of that span: NO WOODY HAYES COACHED TEAM EVER SHUT-OUT MINNESOTA.

Minnesota has beaten Ohio State 7 times.
Minnesota has been shut-out by the Buckeyes 7 times.

Coaching Dominance

Those 7 Gopher victories are spread out over 6 Gopher coaches. The great Bernie Bierman, who led Minnesota to several national championships during his tenure (1932-1941, 1945-1950), managed 2 victories over the Buckeyes. Six other Minnesota coaches each managed one victory, including Fritz Crisler and Glenn Mason.

No Ohio State coach has ever lost more than one game against Minnesota.

When Undefeated

Minnesota is 4-0 for the first time since 2005 (they started at least 4-0 from 2002-2005). It is the most victories that an undefeated Minnesota team has ever had heading into a show-down with the Buckeyes.

In fact, there have been only six Minnesota teams since 1949 that were undefeated when they faced Ohio State. Those 6 Gopher teams combined for a total of 4 victories before losing to the Buckeyes (first game losses in '73 and '74 and second game losses in '77 - '80).

The only undefeated Minnesota teams to ever beat the Buckeyes were the 3-0 Gophers of 1949, who finished that season with a 7-2 record; and the 2-0 Gophers of 1940, who finished the season with an 8-0 record and a National Championship.

Rose Bowl Drought

Minnesota has gone longer without a trip to the Rose Bowl than any other Big Ten team. The Gophers haven't seen Pasadena since a 17-7 loss to the Washington Huskies on January 2nd, 1961.

The Match-Up

That was then, this is now. While these Gophers won't end the Rose Bowl Drought; this is not last year's 1-11 Gopher squad. While Ohio State will be the best opponent that Minnesota has faced thus far; the Gophers appear to be better than any team that the Buckeyes have beaten.

These Buckeyes are not the Buckeyes anyone expected this year. They are far less than dominant on defense, and even the running game is struggling. Ohio State has just gone 2 straight games without a rushing touchdown for the first time since the disastrous Wisconsin and Iowa games of 2004.

Thanks to Saturday's victory over Troy, all of the teams that the Buckeyes have beaten this year now enjoy a combined win total of ONE over FBS competition. And that ONE was Troy's victory over MTSU. hooray

Yards Per Play vs. FBS Teams

Rushing:

Minnesota: 4.28
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Ohio State: 3.47
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Passing:

Minnesota: 8.91
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Ohio State: 5.13
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Rushing Defense:

Minnesota: 3.67
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Ohio State: 4.72
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Passing Defense:

Minnesota: 6.68
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Ohio State: 4.78
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As you can see, Ohio State has a statistical advantage only when it comes to passing defense. And don't assume that the statistical advantage is all about the USC debacle: Minnesota's advantage remains even when you factor out the worst game for both teams, leaving one MAC opponent and one Sun Belt opponent for both.

The Good News

Yes, there is actually good news here. Now that Terrelle Pryor has a game under his belt, it is safe to say that Ohio State's offense is much more dangerous than it has been thus far, including last week. And the worst pass defense in the Big Ten is a good 2nd game for a freshman quarterback.

But just because Minnesota is especially weak against the pass, don't expect Terrelle to have a break-out aerial show on Saturday. Jim Tressell's tendency, when facing an opponent with a decided weakness, is to catch the opponent over-correcting for the weakness. A great example of this is last year's game against Minnesota, when the Gophers were also last in the conference against the pass. The Buckeyes ran the ball 47 times for 250 yards.

Look for more of the same on Saturday. Ohio State has a good chance to exceed last year's 250 yards rushing. And don't be surprised if Terrelle Pryor has half of those yards.

Number to Keep in Mind on Saturday

The longest ever run from scrimmage by an Ohio State Quarterback: 76, by Rex Kern, against (you guessed it) Minnesota.

The 2nd longest ever run by an OSU QB looked something like this:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LP7FSm0t4o"]YouTube - Kirk Herbstreit Ohio State[/ame]

Look for something similar on Saturday.

Oh, wait. Tim Brewster said that Terrelle Pryor doesn't scare him at all as a passer. I stand corrected. Instead of, or perhaps in addition to the above, look for something like this when the Golden Squirrels come to call.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaV-kNuWkfY"]YouTube - Terrelle Pryor 4 Touchdowns in first...[/ame]
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The Lighter Side

Internet Machismo. Some time ago, a man by the name of Al Gore sat alone in a dark basement. Sweating and red-eyed due to the countless sleepless hours, Gore lit cigarette after cigarette pounding out the binary code which sits beneath the cyber-infrastructure you've today come to take for granted. In his genius, Gore created not just another medium in which to engage in spirited debate on topics ranging from economic policy to scat porn, but also an environment which could remember your words forever. It is this last part, the unforgiving and eternal memory, which the man suffering from Internet Machismo seems to refuse to appreciate. Perhaps comfortable in his anonymity, and on the heels of another team called the Trojans beating the Buckeyes, "TrojanBrutha" from GoTroyTrojans.com could not contain himself in a thread which took umbrage to the preview team's assessment of Troy's defense.
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Witness, Attn. Killer B's: You Rated C-, wherein a Mr. Ho complained that a C- for Troy's LB corps, and a C+ for the overall Defense, was insulting before then suggesting that our little write-up here on Buckeye Planet.com should warranted the decapitation of Ohio State players on the field. Fueled, no doubt, by Mr. Ho's stunning visual, TrojanBrutha promises:
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Originally Posted by TrojanBrutha
I'll be goin' back over there to verbally torture them all after the game...but what can you expect from buckeye spin-doctors...

Well, Brutha... here we are. You ready to bring the verbal torture? Let's have it. Every "Spin doctor" is here and accounted for. I'll even promise you that you can remain anonymous behind the keyboard, unlike Mr. Trey McNeil, just so you can speak freely.

Here's the thing. It's true that the Buckeyes had their hats handed to them out in LA by a very talented team named the Trojans. But, your Trojans don't compare. You want to know why your LBs rated a C-? As was said in the text, because aside from Boris Lee, your team was pedestrian and has poor depth. You want to hear the "proof" which backs up the review? Here you go, a true Freshman QB making his first college start ran for 66 yards on 14 carries. A figure that includes a 16 yard loss on a sack. More proof? A redshirt Freshman tailback named Daniel Boom Herron ran for 94. Now, I'll give you that those numbers won't make you forget Javon Ringer's last two weeks, but consider that those rushing numbers came behind a true Freshman center on a day where everyone knew Ohio State would be run heavy. The lesson to be learned here, Troy fans? They are numbering two. First, don't believe everything you hear on ESPN. Ohio State lost to USC, and they looked bad, that much is true. But, suggestions of Ohio State's falling off the football map have been greatly exaggerated and your Trojans didn't really have that good of a chance. You need only look at Vegas lines to know that. ESPN makes their money by saying outrageous things. Vegas makes it's money by being right. Second, temper your promises about your upset wishes against the reality that it's not a done deal before the game is played. If Gore had been a smarter man, he would have made that Rule No. 1 of the internet for non-BCS conference fans. Live and learn.

Have you noticed your woodwork is crawling with a few less Notre Dame fans this week? I must confess that I never thought I'd be saying this about Michigan State, but it's nice to see Heavy C and the boys still look like a.... I'll be nice.. a "work in progress" when playing a team with a heartbeat. Sandy Ego State had you beaten before choking in the 4th. Michigan is awful, and it still took 186 turnovers and the no-brainer throwing at Morgan Trent to get the job done. You're not back.

Speaking of not back, how about Penn State? You tell me what you'd expect Ohio State's record to be with the following pre-conference schedule: Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse and Temple. Actually, never mind. Answer instead, what do you think the media would be saying about Ohio State outscoring that schedule 211 - 40? I'm not sure, but I am confident it would go something like this: This is the worst non-conference schedule I can dream of. You can't take anything from this other than the fact that they've given up 40 points to such weak also-rans shows the defense isn't as good as everyone thinks. But, does Penn State get that sort of "outrage?" Oh, no. Penn State gets a climb from pre-season #22 to week 4 #12, moving ahead of your Buckeyes this week... If only Penn State had some off the field problems for the media to focus on....

Ah, yes.. the rankings. Week 4 marks the first week that Ohio State has not fallen in the polls remaining at 14/13 in the AP and coaches, though that's a flip-flop from last week when the Buckeyes were 13/14. That's right, a team which is 3 and 1, losing to the number one team in the land - on the road - has failed to improve it's poll position even once this year. Penn State, Texas Tech, BYU.... they've been continually throttling teams who are vastly inferior (if you want a good laugh, look at TTU's schedule) and up and up they go. But, the Buckeyes? They throttle YSU and drop. BYU escapes 0-3 Washington, up they go. Ohio State escapes Ohio? Bad Buckeyes.. Bad... down you go. It's little solace that these polls are meaningless and that there is plenty of football yet to be played, the polls - when examined with even a blunt tool - are nothing short of a joke. Eh, I suppose it could be worse, we could be Georgia fans. Here's a team that started the year, rightly or wrongly, number 1. All they've done since then is remain undefeated, going 4 and oh. They now are rated 3 behind a team which has had two bye weeks and another which has beaten one team with a winning record (Cincinnati (2-1)), a schedule which is now a combined 3-7 (the other win being from D-Iaa Chattanooga). Of course, Oklahoma also had the benefit of the bye week, and we know how much voters love that. I can't say it enough, AP voters, USA Today voters, and their polls are an absolute joke. I'd be better served asking Mark May to give me a list of his favorite teams, in order, 1 to 119. Granted Pitt would be #1 and Ohio State #119, but at least everyone would see how ridiculous it is. The real problem with the polls is that people credit them as legit at some level. Let's stop this absurd popularity contest and play some football.

If it seems like I've forgotten to pound away at the Minnesota Gophers this week, I will once again confess to that being by design. As I've said in Lighter Sides gone past - any school with a 100 year hatred of Michigan is A-OK in my book, and I just can't go at the poor Gophers. Terrelle Pryor's development should continue along just beautifully as he gets some live reps in preparation for Wisconsin and Penn State. Who knows, maybe if the Buckeyes can beat a team rated above them they can maybe gain a spot in the polls. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
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Traditions & Opponent Perspective

Minnesota fans expect a lot, like most Big Ten fans, since their school is so rich with history and tradition - including a tradition of winning. After all, the Golden Gopher football team has been crowned national champions six times, ranking them seventh all-time in recognized football national championships. Also, to date, the Minnesota Gophers are the only football team to win three consecutive national championships (1934, 1935, and 1936). Although the past few years have been rough on Gopher fans, Buckeye fans feel a natural connection with the U of M team, as both schools have a rivaly with Michigan.
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• Why Maroon and Gold? In 1880, the University of Minnesota was preparing for spring graduation, and 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.
• Ski-U-Mah! This famous Minnesota phrase, pronounced SKY-YOU-MAH, is more than 115 years old. In 1884, two Minnesota rugby players tried to think of a fitting team yell. They used the word "Ski", a Sioux battle cry meaning "victory," and combined it with "U-Mah" (representing the University of Minnesota and rhyming with "rah-rah-rah") to create a team cheer. The phrase stuck and was incorporated into both official school songs, "Hail Minnesota" and more commonly in the "Minnesota Rouser."
• The "Minnesota Rouser" is one of two official school songs at the University of Minnesota. It was written in 1909 by Floyd M. Hutsell in response to a contest sponsored by the Minneapolis Tribune. The contest was judged by University President and Governor of Minnesota, with the winner receiving $100. (One fan noted that one of the losing songs was later rewritten and became "On Wisconsin." We have not verified this, but that's hilarious if true!) The rouser is sung at Gopher sporting events, along with the other official University song, "Hail Minnesota."

Minnesota, Hats off to thee!
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To thy colors, true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah! Rah! Rah! for Ski-U-Mah,
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah for the U of M.
[Repeat]
M - I - N - N - E - S - O - T - A!
Minnesota!
Minnesota!
Yeaaaaaaah Gophers!
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• 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. 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 Goldy began his illustrious career as U of M mascot in the 1940s, but the story of the famed gopher begins almost a century earlier.
• Chosen to be Minnesota's official animal in 1857, Goldy's ancestors were the first of their kind to receive such an honor. That same year, Minnesota was declared the Gopher State. Taking advantage of the natural connection, Clarence Spears, U of M football coach, named his team the Gophers in 1926. Several years later, Bernie Bierman's champion football team was coined the "golden swarm," a reference to their gold-colored jerseys, and the team soon became the "Golden Gophers."

• U of M's trophy games are:

• The Little Brown Jug - Oldest of college football's 57 trophy-game traditions, Michigan and Minnesota play for it each year. The tradition started in 1903 when Michigan coach, Fielding Yost left his jug in Minneapolis following a tie in which the fans rushed the field, and Minnesota made him win it back. The five-gallon jug 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. The first game in the series, a 63-0 Gopher victory in 1890, is printed on the handle near the axe's head. The results of every successive game line the handle in red ink.
• 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.

• A tradition at the University of Minnesota since 1914, Homecoming features annual events, such as student sports and philanthropy competitions, lip sync performances, a bonfire, pep fest and parade, the traditional Gopher homecoming football game, and more.
• The University of Minnesota Marching Band was founded in 1892 as the University Cadet Band, with 29 members. In 1910, the first formations and halftime show were presented during the Gopher football season. Included in the formations was the first "Block M". The current Block M is now a symbol of the University. With more than 300 members, the "Pride of Minnesota" performs at all home football games and at an annual indoor concert at Northrop Auditorium.
• Jim Mitchell, a former drum major, was the first black drum major in the history of the Big Ten.
• Another band tradition: the Swinging Gates, a staple of the pregame show. The colors are marched down the field as the band "swings" around.
• According to Gopher fans, playing in the Metrodome has taken away much of the atmosphere/traditions. The band used to march down University Avenue past the frat houses to Memorial Stadium, and that tradition might be picked up again when the new stadium opens on campus in 2009. As of now, they march a couple of blocks from Washington Avenue to the Dome and perform on the plaza outside the stadium before games. Postgame is on the field now, and is very likely to stay there in the new stadium too.
• One fan noted that "nobody can match what Minnesota has going on on the sidelines during football games." Their dance team has won four straight national championships, and Goldy annually finishes in the top 5 among college mascots.
• When the Gophers get a first down, the PA announcer will say "And that's another Golden Gopher ..." with the fans finishing it off by yelling "first down!" and doing the arm motion. One fan groaned, "of course, you might not see Gopher fans do it more than a couple of times against the tOSU defense on Saturday."
• They also have a mini-cannon that is set off after touchdowns.
• After every score, the band plays a Superman-type song and Goldy wearing a U of M flag cape gets lifted on a large platform above the male cheerleaders. He then leads everyone in clap where he does a pushup for every point they have scored.
• The student section will often chant "Spin Your Head" to Goldy at random points in the game and Goldy then "loosens" his head and spins it in a complete 360. According to one Gopher fan, "It sounds kind of lame on paper, but the students go crazy for it."
• The fans hold up their shoes in the air before the team kicks any extra points or field goals.
• Cheerleading is a Gopher tradition, especially because they invented it in 1898.
• One fan noted that "overall, if you want traditions, hockey rules all here, as you might have seen in the 2 losses your Buckeyes got handed this weekend." Ouch.

Hopefully we will make up for those hockey losses on the football field on Saturday!

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Historical Data

University of Minnesota: Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) Founded 1851

Football 1st Season: 1882
Stadium: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, MN). Minnesota is early in the process of building a stadium on the campus. Groundbreaking was September 30, 2006 and estimates for completion are for fall of 2009.
Constructed: 1982
Seating Capacity: 63,669
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Conference: Independent from 1882-1895, Big Ten Conference since 1896
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Mascot: Gopher (Goldy)
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 18 Big Ten Titles: 1900*, 1903*, 1904*, 1906*, 1909, 1910*, 1911, 1915*, 1927*, 1933*, 1934, 1935*, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1960*, 1967* (*=Co-Champions)
Consensus All-Americans: 33 (28 different players as of 2007)
College Hall-of-Famers: 20
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 6 - Bobby Bell, Carl Eller, Bud Grant, Bronko Nagurski, Leo Nomellini, Charlie Sanders
Award Winners: 1 AFCA COY, 1 Eddie Robinson COY, 1 Bear Bryant COY, 1 Heisman, 3 Outlands, 1 Rimington, 1 Thorpe Award, 1 Socrates Award and 1 Mackey Award
National Championships: 6 Recognized National Titles
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-14 years, Coaches-9 years​

Records

All Time: 628-451-44 (.579)
Bowl Games: 5-7-0 (.417) Most recently a 44 to 41 overtime loss to Texas Tech in the 2006 Insight Bowl. Texas Tech erased a 31 point deficit with 7:47 left to play in the 3rd quarter to mount the greatest comeback in Bowl game history. Two days later, head coach Glenn Mason was fired.
All Time vs the BigTen: 316-342-27 (.481) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 7-40-0 (.149) Most recently a 30 to 7 loss in Minneapolis (2007).
Coach?s Reord: Tim Brewster, 2007-current, 5-11-0 (.313)

2007 Season: 1-11-0 (.083)
Sep 1 - L vs. Bowling Green, 31-32 OT
Sep 8 - W vs. Miami-Ohio, 41-35
Sep 15 - L at Fla Atlantic, 39-42
Sep 22 - L vs. Purdue, 31-45
Sep 29 - L vs. Ohio State, 7-30
Oct 6 - L at Indiana, 20-40
Oct 13 - L at Northwestern, 48-49
Oct 20 - L vs. North Dakota St, 21-27
Oct 27 - L at Michigan, 10-34
Nov 3 - L vs. Illinois, 17-44
Nov 10 - L at Iowa, 16-21
Nov 17 - L vs. Wisconsin, 34-41

2008 Schedule
Aug 30 - W vs. Northern Ill, 31-27
Sep 6 - W at Bowling Green, 42-17
Sep 13 - W vs. Montana State, 35-23
Sep 20 - W vs. Fla Atlantic, 37-3
Sep 27 - at Ohio State, 12:00 PM
Oct 4 - vs. Indiana, 12:00 PM
Oct 11 - at Illinois, 12:00 PM
Oct 18 - Open
Oct 25 - at Purdue, 12:00 PM
Nov 1 - vs. Northwestern, 12:00 PM
Nov 8 - vs. Michigan, TBA
Nov 15 - at Wisconsin, TBA
Nov 22 - vs. Iowa, 7:00 PM​

Links

Official Sites:
Official School Site - University of Minnesota
Student Newspaper - The Minnesota Daily
Official Athletic Site - Gopher Sports
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference

Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - GoldenSports (Scout)
Message Boards - Gopher Illustrated (Rivals)
Message Boards - Gopher Hole (Independent)

Team Page - NCAA
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports/Rivals
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - Vegas Insider
Team Page - Wiki

Blog - CPBalls
Blog - Where I Stand
Blog - MNSG Sports - Gophers
Blog - Minnesota Sports Track
Blog - Paging Jim Shikenjanski
Blog - GopherNation
Blog - Minnesota Golden Gophers

Local News Sources:
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Local News
Twin Cities (Pioneer Press) - Local News

Team Previews and Breakdowns:
2008 Spring Preview (PDF - Gopher Sports
2008 Media Guide (Links to PDF) - Gopher Sports
2008 Game Notes (PDF) - Gopher Sports
2008 Game Notes (PDF) - Ohio State Buckeyes
2008 Game Preview - NCAA
2008 Game Preview - The Sports Network
2008 Game Preview - AP
2008 Game Preview - ESPN
2008 Game Preview - Sports Xchange (Inside Slant)
2008 Game Preview - Sports Xchange (Notes & Quotes)
2008 Game Preview - Sports Xchange (Strategy & Personnel)
2008 Preview - Scout (Crunching the Numbers)

Prospectus, Rosters & Other Info.:
2008 Roster - Gopher Sports
2008 News Releases - Gopher Sports
2008 Schedule - Gopher Sports
2008 Stats - Gopher Sports
2008 B10 WeeklyRelease (PDF) - BigTen

2008 Preview - CFN
2008 Preview - Offense - CFN
2008 Preview - Defense - CFN
2008 Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2007 Preview - CFN
2006 Preview - CFN

Travel:
2008 Transportation & Parking Guide - Ohio State Buckeyes
2008 ADA Guide - Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio Stadium Guide (Detailed Info) - OSU
Campus Visitor's Guide - OSU
Tickets & Merchandise - Hang On Sloopy
2008 Travel Guide - Ohio State Buckeyes
Visitor's Bureau - Experience Columbus

Big Ten:
2008 BigTen Prospectus (PDF) - BigTen
2008 BigTen Team Breakdowns (PDF) - BigTen
2008 BigTen Media Info(PDF) - BigTen
2008 BigTen Composite Schedule (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Season in Review (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Overall Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Conference Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2008 CFN Big Ten Preview - CFN
2008 CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Team - CFN
2008 CFN B10 Schedules & Predictions - CFN
2008 CFN B10 Team Capsules - CFN
2008 CFN B10 Unit Rankings - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Season WrapUp - CFN
2008 BigTen Football Preview - CNN/Si
2008 BigTen Football Preview - CollegeSports-Fans
2008 BigTen Football Preview - College Football Poll
2008 BigTen Football Preview - MSNBC
​

BigTen Players of the Week

Week #1 - Aug. 30, 2008
Offense - QB Juice Williams, Illinois & QB Kellen Lewis, Indiana
Defense - LB Obi Ezeh, Michigan
Special Teams - P Stefan Demos, Northwestern

Week #2 - Sept. 6, 2008
Offense - RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State & QB Adam Weber, Minnesota & RB Evan Royster, Penn State
Defense - DE Karl Klug, Iowa
Special Teams - FB Frank Halliburton, Purdue

Week #3 - Sept. 13, 2008
Offense - RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
Defense - LB DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin
Special Teams - PR Andy Brodell, Iowa

Week #4 - Sept. 20, 2008
Offense - RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
Defense - DE Vince Browne, Northwestern & LB Navorro Bowman, Penn State
Special Teams - PK Amado Villarreal, Northwestern
​

Preseason Top 25 Rankings

None​

Preseason Watch Lists

None​

Preseason Accolades

BigTen Preseason Media Poll
1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Illinois

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Chris "Beanie" Wells - Ohio State

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - James Laurinaitis - Ohio State​

Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data

Link to 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers Game Preview​

 

[bkochmc]

One correction in "The Lighter Side" section...

His name is Morgan Trent.

Great job everyone!