The 1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1985 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second and final year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Golden Gophers compiled a 7–5 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 293 to 240.[1]
| 1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football | |
|---|---|
Independence Bowl champion | |
Independence Bowl, W 20–13 vs. Clemson | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 7–5 (4–4 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| Defensive coordinator | John Gutekunst (2nd season) |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10 Iowa $ | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Michigan | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Ohio State | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When former Minnesota head coach Lou Holtz left the Golden Gophers to coach at the University of Notre Dame, assistant John Gutekunst was tapped to coach the Golden Gophers in the Independence Bowl.[2] Attendance was 42,845.[3]
Quarterback Rickey Foggie was named offensive player of the game, while linebacker Bruce Holmes was named defensive player of the game.[3] Center Ray Hitchcock, linebacker Peter Najarian, offensive guard Jon Lilleberg and strong safety Larry Joyner were named All-Big Ten second team. Running back David Puk was named Academic All-American second team. Puk and linebacker Peter Najarian were named Academic All-Big Ten.[4]
Quarterback Rickey Foggie was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award given to the team's most valuable player.[5] Ray Hitchcock was awarded the Bruce Smith Award (offensive player). Peter Najarian was awarded the Carl Eller Award (defensive player). Kicker Chip Lohmiller was awarded the Bobby Bell Award (special teams player). Flanker Andy Hare was awarded the Butch Nash Award (academic). David Puk was awarded the Paul Giel Award (unselfishness and most concern about the University).[4]
The total attendance was 426,918, which averaged out to 60,985 per game. The season high for attendance was against rival Wisconsin.[6]
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 14 | Wichita State* | W 28–14 | 56,094 | [7] | |||
| September 21 | Montana* |
| W 62–17 | 55,700 | [8] | ||
| September 28 | No. 2 Oklahoma* |
| TBS[9] | L 7–13 | 62,446 | [10] | |
| October 5 | Purdue |
| TBS | W 45–15 | 59,503 | [11] | |
| October 12 | at Northwestern | W 21–10 | 24,512 | [12] | |||
| October 19 | at Indiana | W 22–7 | 28,331–38,826 (paid) | [13][14] | |||
| October 26 | No. 9 Ohio State | No. 20 |
| L 19–23 | 64,455 | [15] | |
| November 2 | at Michigan State | L 26–31 | 63,758 | [16] | |||
| November 9 | Wisconsin |
| W 27–18 | 64,571 | [17] | ||
| November 16 | No. 8 Michigan |
| TBS | L 7–48 | 64,129 | [18] | |
| November 23 | at No. 3 Iowa | L 9–31 | 66,020 | [19] | |||
| December 21 | vs. Clemson* | W 20–13 | 42,800 | [20] | |||
| |||||||
Game summaries
editWichita State
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
Montana
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
Oklahoma
edit#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Minnesota Golden Gophers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 28, 1985
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
| Game information |
|---|
|
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Television broadcast | |
| Game highlights |
Purdue
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
At Northwestern
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
At Indiana
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
Ohio State
edit#9 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–1) at #20 Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–1)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio St | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 19 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Date: October 26, 1985
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
- Game attendance: 64,455
- Referee: Jim Kemmerling
- Box Score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At Michigan State
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
Wisconsin
editWisconsin Badgers at Minnesota Golden Gophers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 9, 1985
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
- Game attendance: 64,571
- [21]
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Michigan
editMichigan at Minnesota
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 8 Wolverines | 10 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 48 |
| Golden Gophers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
- Date: November 16
- Location: Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
- Game attendance: 64,129
At Iowa
editMinnesota at Iowa
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gophers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| • No. 3 Hawkeyes | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
- Date: November 23
- Location:
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, Iowa - Game start:
11:40 a.m. CST - Elapsed time: 3:00
- Game attendance: 66,020
- Game weather: ~25 °F (−4 °C), Cloudy, Wind NNW 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)
- Referee: John Nealon
- TV announcers (TBS Sports): Pete van Wieren and Ron Kramer
| 1 | 9:48 | Iowa | Ronnie Harmon 5-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
| 1 | 1:54 | Minn | Chip Lohmiller 35-yard field goal | IOWA 7-3 |
| 2 | 5:15 | Iowa | Rob Houghtlin 26-yard field goal | IOWA 10-3 |
| 2 | 1:40 | Iowa | Mike Flagg 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 17-3 |
| 3 | 9:39 | Iowa | Kevin Harmon 10-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 24-3 |
| 4 | 14:11 | Iowa | Rick Bayless 5-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 31-3 |
| 4 | 2:01 | Minn | Gailord 16-yard pass from Holt (conversion failed) | IOWA 31-9 |
Independence Bowl (vs Clemson)
editPersonnel
edit| 1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
edit- ↑ "1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ↑ Bio: John Gutekunst, 2007, archived from the original on December 21, 2007, retrieved November 19, 2007
- 1 2 Year-by-Year Results, 2007, archived from the original on July 20, 2008, retrieved November 25, 2007
- 1 2 Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Honors and Awards". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ↑ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Gophers open with 28–14 rouser". Star Tribune. September 15, 1985. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Gophers run down Grizzlies 62–17, but ..." Star Tribune. September 22, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ 2020 Football Media Guide WEB; https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/10/14/2020_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf
- ↑ "Sooners escape Gophers, 13–7". Tulsa World. September 29, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Golden Gophers dominate Purdue with top defense". The Republic. October 6, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Gophers spoil NW homecoming 21–10". The Austin Daily Herald. October 13, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hammel, Bob (October 20, 1985). "Minnesota spoils IU's homecoming". Sunday Herald-Times. Bedford, Indiana. p. B1. Retrieved December 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com
. - ↑ Hammel, Bob (October 20, 1985). "Gophers spoil IU's homecoming, 22-7 (continued)". Sunday Herald-Times. Bedford, Indiana. p. B7. Retrieved December 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ↑ "Backs' injuries make Ohio State's victory a costly one". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 27, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "MSU holds on for victory". The Flint Journal. November 3, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Froggie, Gophers down Badgers". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 10, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Flawless Wolverines crush Golden Gophers, 48–7". The Muskegon Chronicle. November 17, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Gophers can't spoil Iowa's day". Minneapolis Star & Tribune. November 24, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Gophers drop Clemson for a 10 count". The Shreveport Times. December 22, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 10. Retrieved 2019-Jan-29.