The are the college sports team for the
University Of Minnesota . The university fields both men's and women's teams in
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 .
Joel Maturi has been the
Athletic Director since 2002.
In men's and women's
Ice Hockey , the teams compete in the
Western Collegiate Hockey Association . In all other sports, the
Gopher s compete in the
Big Ten Conference . Most of the facilities that the teams use for training and competitive play are located on the East Bank of the
Minneapolis campus. There are arenas for men and women
Basketball (
Williams Arena ) as well as
Hockey (
Mariucci Arena and
Ridder Arena ). A notable exception is the
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome , a mile from the East Bank across
Interstate 35W , where the Gophers will play their home football games until 2009, when
TCF Bank Stadium opens.
Cheerleaders, the Dance Team the
University Of Minnesota Marching Band and the university's
Pep Band are also part of the university's athletic department; they are present at events for basketball, hockey, football, and volleyball.
During the 2006-2007 academic year, the Golden Gophers wrestling team won the NCAA national championship and the Big Ten team title. The Golden Gophers also won conference championships in men's hockey, men's golf, women's rowing, men's swimming and diving, and women's indoor track and field.
- Football (6):
:1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
- Men's Basketball (2):
:1902, 1919
- Men's Ice Hockey (5):
:1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
- Women's Ice Hockey (3):
:2000, 2004, 2005
- Baseball (3):
:1956, 1960, 1964
- Men's Outdoor Track and Field (1):
:1948
- Wrestling (3):
:2001, 2002, 2007
''Notes: With the exception of football, national championships are awarded by the
National Collegiate Athletic Association . The NCAA itself does not award a championship for Division I-A football. The NCAA began awarding national championships for men's basketball in 1939; previous championships were retroactively awarded by the
Helms Athletic Foundation . The NCAA began awarding national championships for women's ice hockey in 2001; previous championships were awarded by the American Women's College Hockey Alliance.''
In 1880, the University of Minnesota was preparing for spring graduation. For the previous 29 years, different graduation colors were used every ceremony. In spring 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.
, team mascot.]]
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.
1 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 “golden” decade of Gopher football.
School Song s for the university include
Minnesota Rouser ,
Minnesota March ,
Go Gopher Victory ,
Our Minnesota ,
Minnesota Fight ,
Hail! Minnesota , and the
Battle Hymn Of The Republic .
See Also: Minnesota Golden Gophers football
- Big Ten Conference Championships (18):
:1900, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1927, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1960, 1967
- Bowl Games (11):
:Rose – 1961, 1962
:Hall of Fame – 1977
:Independence – 1985
:Liberty – 1986
:Sun – 1999, 2003
:MicronPC.com – 2000
:Music City – 2002, 2004, 2005
:Insight –
2006
See Also: Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball
- NCAA Tournament Appearances (6):
:1972, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2005
- Sweet 16 Appearances (3):
:1982, 1989, 1990
- NIT Appearances (9):
:1973, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003
- NIT Championships (1):
:1993
