Minnesota Golden Gophers football

Minnesota Golden Gophers football
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Name	Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Athletic director	Mark Coyle
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	Big Ten West
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Stadium	Huntington Bank Stadium
Stadium capacity	50,805
Colors	Maroon and Gold
Mascot	Goldy Gopher

Minnesota Golden Gophers football represents the University of Minnesota in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition, playing in the Big Ten Conference's Big Ten West division. The team has won six National Championship titles, with the most recent being in 1960. The Golden Gophers have also produced notable players such as Bronko Nagurski, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Tony Dungy, a Super Bowl-winning coach. The team is led by P.J. Fleck, who has been the head coach since 2017 and has previously coached at Western Michigan University.

History

The history of the team dates back to 1882, when the university first fielded a football team, with Thomas Peebles as the first coach. The team has since been coached by notable figures such as Henry L. Williams, who led the team to four National Championship titles, and Bert Smith, who coached the team to a Rose Bowl victory in 1962. The Golden Gophers have also had notable players such as Bruce Smith, a Heisman Trophy winner, and Carl Eller, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team has played in several bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Outback Bowl, and has been ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll on several occasions, including a #1 ranking in 1960 under coach Wendell Smith. The team has also been a part of the Big Ten Conference since 1896, and has won several conference championships, including a shared title with Michigan State University in 2019.

Rivalries

The Golden Gophers have several rivalries, including with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers, with whom they contest the Paul Bunyan's Axe trophy, and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, with whom they contest the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. The team also has a rivalry with the University of Michigan Wolverines, with whom they have played over 100 times, and the Ohio State University Buckeyes, who have won several National Championship titles. The Golden Gophers have also played against other notable teams, including the University of Southern California Trojans, the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the Penn State University Nittany Lions. The team has also been a part of the Big Ten Conference's Big Ten West division since 2014, and has played against teams such as the Northwestern University Wildcats and the Purdue University Boilermakers.

Stadium

The Golden Gophers play their home games at Huntington Bank Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 50,000 and is located on the university's campus in Minneapolis. The stadium was opened in 2009 and has hosted several notable games, including a matchup against the University of Michigan Wolverines in 2015. The stadium has also been the site of several Big Ten Conference championships, including a shared title with Michigan State University in 2019. The team has also played at other stadiums, including Metropolitan Stadium and Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, and has hosted several bowl games, including the Quick Lane Bowl and the Music City Bowl. The stadium is also home to the team's Marching Band, which performs at every home game and has been a part of the university's tradition since 1886.

Coaches

The Golden Gophers have had several notable coaches, including Henry L. Williams, who led the team to four National Championship titles, and Bert Smith, who coached the team to a Rose Bowl victory in 1962. The team is currently coached by P.J. Fleck, who has been the head coach since 2017 and has previously coached at Western Michigan University. Other notable coaches include Glen Mason, who coached the team from 1997 to 2006, and Tim Brewster, who coached the team from 2007 to 2010. The team has also had several assistant coaches, including Kirk Ciarrocca, who has coached at several schools, including Rutgers University and Penn State University. The team's coaching staff has also included notable figures such as Jerry Kill, who coached the team from 2011 to 2015, and Tracy Claeys, who coached the team from 2015 to 2016.

Seasons

The Golden Gophers have had several notable seasons, including the 1960 season, in which they won the National Championship title under coach Wendell Smith. The team has also had several successful seasons under coach P.J. Fleck, including the 2019 season, in which they finished with a record of 11-2 and won the Outback Bowl. The team has also played in several bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl, and has been ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll on several occasions. The team has also been a part of the Big Ten Conference's Big Ten West division since 2014, and has played against teams such as the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. The team's schedule has also included games against notable teams such as the University of Southern California Trojans and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Traditions

The Golden Gophers have several traditions, including the Marching Band, which performs at every home game and has been a part of the university's tradition since 1886. The team also has a tradition of playing the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers for the Paul Bunyan's Axe trophy, and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. The team's fans also have a tradition of singing the Minnesota Rouser, which is the university's fight song, and of wearing Maroon and Gold, the team's colors. The team has also been a part of the Big Ten Conference's Big Ten West division since 2014, and has played against teams such as the Northwestern University Wildcats and the Purdue University Boilermakers. The team's traditions have also included the Goldy Gopher, the team's mascot, who has been a part of the university's tradition since 1940.

Category:Big Ten Conference football