College Sports Established
1896
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
College Name
University of Minnesota
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1896 – Present / Big 10
Nickname
Golden Gophers - The Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the most beloved teams in the NCAA. With their long and storied history, it’s no surprise that they have such a loyal following. But where did this unique nickname come from?
It all started in 1884 when two students at the University of Minnesota were looking for a mascot to represent their school. They decided on an animal native to Minnesota: The gopher! This small burrowing rodent is known for its industriousness and resourcefulness, which fit perfectly with university life!
But why “Golden”? After much debate, it was decided that gold would be used as part of the team's color scheme due to its association with success and prosperity – qualities that every college student strives towards achieving during their time at university. As such, they became known as The Golden Gophers!
Throughout its long history, this iconic name has become synonymous with excellence on and off-field, representing hard work and dedication across generations of players who proudly wear maroon & gold jerseys each season - making them one of America's favorite collegiate sports teams today!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 3
1964, 1960, 1956
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 7
1960, 1941, 1940, 1936, 1935, 1934, 1904
Soccer 0
- 1882
- 1936
- 1940
- 1960
- 1964
- 2002
-
Minnesota’s football Beginning
In 1882: Minnesota’s first football team is formed under the direction of coach Frederick Heffelfinger. -
Minnesota’s football 1936 National Champs
In 1936: Minnesota’s football team wins its fourth national championship after finishing 7-1 and defeating Washington 21-0 in the Rose Bowl. -
Minnesota’s football team wins national championship
In 1940: Minnesota’s football team wins its fifth national championship after finishing 8-0 and defeating Michigan 7-6. -
1960 Minnesota Gophers Football Champs
The 1960 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1960 Big Ten Conference football season. In their seventh year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled an 8–2 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 228 to 88. The team was selected national champion by four NCAA-designated major selectors in ... -
Gophers College World Series Champs 1964
The eighteenth tournament’s champion was Minnesota, coached by Dick Siebert. The Most Outstanding Player was Joe Ferris of third-place Maine. -
Minnesota’s men’s basketball team reaches its second Final Four
In 2002: Minnesota’s men’s basketball team reaches its second Final Four after winning the South Regional and defeating Oregon 77-62 in the national semifinal.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the most storied teams in college sports. With a long and successful history, they have been a part of NCAA Division I athletics since 1895. The team has won numerous championships, including four national titles and 24 conference championships, often competing fiercely against their rivalry team, the Wisconsin Badgers. They’ve also had some legendary players, such as Bud Grant, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, and Kevin McHale, who have become Hall-of-Famers in their respective sports leagues.
Throughout their illustrious history, there have been many memorable moments for fans to enjoy, from watching great games at Williams Arena or TCF Bank Stadium back to Memorial Stadium, which was home until 1981 when it was replaced by Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome which served as home until 2009 when TCF Bank stadium opened up on campus again after renovations were complete in 2016. During this period, we saw many football success stories, with them winning the Big Ten Championships five times under head coach Glen Mason (2000–2004). We also witnessed men's basketball make Final Four appearances twice (1997 & 2019) while making two NIT Championship game appearances during that same period (1993 & 1998). In addition, they've seen plenty of success outside those two major programs, with multiple National Championships earned by other teams within Minnesota Athletics, such as baseball, softball, hockey, wrestling, etc.
Overall it's safe to say that no matter what sport you're talking about, you can always count on seeing greatness out of the University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers athletes every year, whether competing for an NCAA title or just trying their best against rival schools like Wisconsin Badgers. So if you're looking for top-quality collegiate athletics, look no further than your Minnesotan school, known affectionately around these parts simply as “Gopher Nation!”
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