1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

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1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Independence Bowl, W 20–13 vs. Clemson
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	7–5 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Lou Holtz (2nd season; first 11 games); John Gutekunst (bowl game);
Defensive coordinator	John Gutekunst (2nd season)
Home stadium	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
	Seasons ← 1984 1986 →

1985 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	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

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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]

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 Trophy. Ray Hitchcock was awarded the Bruce Smith Award. Peter Najarian was awarded the Carl Eller Award. Kicker Chip Lohmiller was awarded the Bobby Bell Award. Flanker . Andy Hare was awarded the Butch Nash Award. David Puk was awarded the Paul Giel Award.^[4]

The total attendance was 426,918, which averaged out to 60,985 per game. The season high for attendance was against rival Wisconsin.^[5]

Schedule[edit]

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	Wichita State*		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN		W 28–14	56,094	^[6]
September 21	Montana*		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN		W 62–17	55,700
September 28	No. 2 Oklahoma*		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	TBS^[7]	L 7–13	62,446
October 5	Purdue		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	TBS	W 45–15	59,503
October 12	at Northwestern		Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		W 21–10	24,512
October 19	at Indiana		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN		W 22–7	28,331–38,826 (paid)	^[8]^[9]
October 26	No. 9 Ohio State	No. 20	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN		L 19–23	64,455
November 2	at Michigan State		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		L 26–31	63,758
November 9	Wisconsin		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)		W 27–18	64,571
November 16	No. 8 Michigan		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)	TBS	L 7–48	64,129
November 23	at No. 3 Iowa		Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry)		L 9–31	66,020
December 21	vs. Clemson*		Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA (Independence Bowl)		W 20–13	42,800
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel[edit]

1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB		Fudgy Abercrombie
WR		Melvin Anderson
RB		Valdez Baylor
WR		Jason Bruce
RB		Gary Couch
QB		Rickey Foggie
RB		Erik Fors
WR		Eugene Gailord
WR		Andy Hare
OL		Ray Hitchcock
OL		Jim Hobbins
RB		Courtney Holmes
QB		Alan Holt
G		Jon Lilleberg (C)
QB		Mike Moe
TE		Craig Otto
RB		Ed Penn
RB		David Puk
DL		Dan Rechtin
RB		Roselle Richardson
RB		Bobby Singletary
TE		Kevin Starks
RB		Terry Stewart
RB		Kevin Wilson
OL		Troy Wolkow

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB		Warren Berry
DL		Anthony Burke
DB		Patrick Cummings
LB		Mark Dusbabek
DB		Duane Dutrieulle
DL		Gary Hadd
LB		Bruce Holmes
S		Larry Joyner
DB		Matt Martinez
DL		Doug Mueller
LB		Peter Najarian (C)
DB		Donovan Small
DL		Steve Thompson
DB		David Williams

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
P		Adam Kelly
K	`25`	Chip Lohmiller

Head coach

Lou Holtz

Coordinators/assistant coaches

John Gutekunst
(Defensive coordinator)
George Stewart

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries[edit]

Wichita State[edit]

Montana[edit]

Oklahoma[edit]

#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Period	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
OU – Lashar 21-yard field goal OU – E. Johnson 1-yard run (Lashar kick) OU – Lashar 21-yard field goal MINN – Starks 12-yard pass from Foggie (Lohmiller kick)

Purdue[edit]

At Northwestern[edit]

At Indiana[edit]

Ohio State[edit]

#9 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–1) at #20 Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–1)

Period	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

First quarter

MINN – Chip Lohmiller 36-yard field goal, 8:34. Minnesota 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 4:51.

Second quarter

MINN – Chip Lohmiller 50-yard field goal, 14:56. Minnesota 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards, 5:41.
OSU – Keith Byars 2-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 9:37. Ohio St 7–6. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:19.
OSU – Rich Spangler 38-yard field goal, 4:26. Ohio St 10–6. Drive: 9 plays, 34 yards, 4:16.
MINN – Ricky Foggie 7-yard run (run failed), 0:05. Minnesota 12–10. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:15.

Third quarter

MINN – Ricky Foggie 1-yard run (Chip Lohmiller kick), 6:15. Minnesota 19–10. Drive: 18 plays, 88 yards, 8:45.

Fourth quarter

OSU – Ed Taggart 1-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Rich Spangler kick), 14:31. Minnesota 19–17. Drive: 16 plays, 90 yards, 6:44.
OSU – Vince Workman 16-yard run (pass failed), 10:36. Ohio St 23–19. Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 2:55.

Top passers

OSU – Jim Karsatos – 11/17, 115 yards, TD, INT
MINN – Ricky Foggie – 14/20, 147 yards, INT

Top rushers

OSU – Keith Byars – 18 rushes, 67 yards, TD
MINN – Ricky Foggie – 18 rushes, 57 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

OSU – Mike Lanese – 2 receptions, 36 yards
MINN – Melvin Anderson – 7 receptions, 74 yards

At Michigan State[edit]

Wisconsin[edit]

Wisconsin Badgers at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Period	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
^[10]

Game information

WIS: Gregoire 23-yard field goal
MIN: M. Anderson 89-yard pass from Foggie (Lohmiller kick)
WIS: Gregoire 49-yard field goal
WIS: Howard 4-yard run (run failed)
MIN: Baylor 5-yard run (Lohmiller kick)
MIN: Lohmiller 22-yard field goal
MIN: Puk 32-yard run (Lohmiller kick)
MIN: Lohmiller 47-yard field goal
WIS: Vinci 36-yard pass from Howard (pass failed)

Top passers

WIS – Howard – 16/32, 167 yards
MINN – Foggie – 5/19, 242 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

WIS – Emery – 25 rushes, 124 yards
MIN – Baylor – 11 rushes, 43 yards

Top receivers

WIS – Vinci – 2 receptions, 51 yards
MIN – Couch – 2 receptions, 124 yards

Michigan[edit]

Michigan at Minnesota

	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[edit]

Minnesota at Iowa

	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

Independence Bowl (vs Clemson)[edit]

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
^ ^a ^b Year-by-Year Results, 2007, archived from the original on July 20, 2008, retrieved November 25, 2007
^ ^a ^b Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182^{[permanent dead link]}
^ 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.
^ 2020 Football Media Guide WEB; https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/10/14/2020_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf
^ 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 .
^ Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 10. Retrieved 2019-Jan-29.

[1] "1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.

[Gutey-2] Bio: John Gutekunst, 2007, archived from the original on December 21, 2007, retrieved November 19, 2007

[IndyBowlHist-3] Year-by-Year Results, 2007, archived from the original on July 20, 2008, retrieved November 25, 2007

[JK-4] Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182^{[permanent dead link]}

[pg160-5] Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160^{[permanent dead link]}

[1985WSU1-6] "Gophers open with 28–14 rouser". Star Tribune. September 15, 1985. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] 2020 Football Media Guide WEB; https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/10/14/2020_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf

[8] Hammel, Bob (October 20, 1985). "Minnesota spoils IU's homecoming". Sunday Herald-Times. Bedford, Indiana. p. B1. Retrieved December 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .

[9] 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 .

[10] Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 10. Retrieved 2019-Jan-29.

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v t e Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Venues	Athletic Park (1892–1898) University of Minnesota Armory (1892–1898) Northrop Field (1899–1923) Memorial Stadium (1924–1981) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982–2008) Huntington Bank Stadium (2009–present)
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National championship seasons in bold