Goldy Gopher
| Goldy Gopher | |
|---|---|
 Goldy Gopher at a baseball game | |
| University | University of Minnesota |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Description | Gopher |
| First seen | 1940 |
Goldy Gopher is the mascot for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus and the associated sports teams, known as the Golden Gophers.
During the year, Goldy makes over 1000 appearances and is at virtually all home games for University teams, usually wearing the appropriate sporting attire, and was nominated to and made the 2007 Capital One All-American Mascot Team.
Goldy also competes in the UCA Mascot National Championships, and regularly makes the top 10. He placed 3rd in 2009.
The University's Marching Band was in charge of Goldy until 1992. Up until that time when it was taken from the band and given to the athletic department, Goldy would be in every pregame and halftime show of the band. Each week a new band member would be Goldy, and the mouth could open wide enough so the person could play his or her instrument while marching the drill that Goldy was doing for that show.
The mascot's appearance morphed over the years, and around the late 70s and early 80s, became more aggressive looking, but was revamped in 1986 when the athletics department was trying to change its image. Now it looks less like a gopher and more like buck-toothed chipmunk.
References
University of Minnesota, University Relations, history of and storyline on Goldy Gopher Is Goldy Really a Gopher?
- Capital One Mascot Bowl History
- UCA Mascot National Championships [1]
- Goldy over the years [2]
- Sally's Saloon and Eatery [3]
