The Gophers will now play under the sun. It might not make a difference in the long run, despite our hopes that it will. But there have been some amazing moments in the dome for this team.
BEFORE
Heading into the early 80s, the Gophers were clearly an average football team within the Big Ten. They last had a .500 record in 1978. They hadn't been to a bowl since 1977, when they were .500 in conference play and defeated Washington AND Michigan, the schools in the Rose Bowl. Check out these highlights and the wardrobe of the fans!
Lost in all of these warm vibes was a school that had failed to achieve a winning record in the conference since 1972. So, ten years later, a trip to this new domed stadium was considered a big move. The Gophers would give it a 2 year try-out, since things will be better. Sure, each frat along University Ave. can continue to have their own BBQ. People can still cruise. Just continue driving until you hit the stadium. And think of it: big city lights, it's always warm, it'll be great for southern recruits!
1982
A team that had the look of "we're coming!" Their first game of the year, at home against Ohio, was a complete mauling of the green and white with over 56,000 there. It had been a couple years since they played in front of a home crowd that big...and for Ohio, no less. Through 3 games (1 of which a victory over Purdue) the Gophers were 3-0 and now ranked #19! Here they go about to play a FOURTH straight home game, against Illinois. What happened? The Gophers lost, and Illinois later on went to the Liberty Bowl. And that tipped the scales. The Gophers lost all their remaining games to finish 3-8.1983 - the nadir
After a win at Rice (with the attendance a suspiciously round 10,000), the Gophers met #1 Nebraska at home. Over 62,000 saw this final score: 83-14. Footage of this fucking insane game reportedly exists, as multiple Nebraska football sites claim to have the game on video. You can find a clip on You Tube which shows multiple touchdowns with no Maroon jerseys around. But the cover of the program is a perfect "before" picture. It's sad that it was Nebraska who had to show the Gophers where they really were. But life's funny that way. This Gopher team finished the season playing 3 schools in the top 15. Combined score of the losses: 169-43.
1984-1985: Dr. Lou arrives
When Lou Holtz came to coach the Gophers, it was the kick start the team needed. Literally starting at zero, Holtz laid out plans for what was needed to get the Gophers back to glory. Staying in the dome was a certain because the dome was the future - it was big time. The University agreed and signed a gigantic lease. Next, an indoor practice facility would be needed. The "Taj Maholtz" (as many called it) continued to put the Gophers on a competitive level. The fact that there was a clause that stated he could get out of his contract if the chance to coach Notre Dame was available bothered no one. His team was winning. They were winning big ten games...hell, big ten road games for the first time since 1981. His second year reached even greater heights. As Prince was getting through this thing called life, the Gophers nearly defeated #3 Oklahoma (back when moral victories were considered victories). The Gophers were ranked. They went to and won a bowl game people had heard of. This team was on the rise. Who knows what would have happened had he stayed. But Lou isn't famous for turning around the Gophers.
1986 - 1990: Mediocrity and boredom
Coordinator John Gutekunst took over the head coach duties. And at first, it was a start mirroring so many others. Unlike last year, the Gophers wouldn't push Oklahoma to the brink; They'd lose 63-0. Then it was followed up with a loss to Pacific. Haven't heard much from them lately? They no longer field a team. But after that junk kicking, big ten wins were happening right and left, combined with the unthinkable: a win AT Michigan. Another bowl game in a setting people had heard of, and the season left people wondering: so is this how it is? The Gophers will be a pretty good squad and go to bowl games? The answer is yes and no.
Gutekunst continued to put forth squads that would take one step forward, and then one back. 1987, the team started 5-0, only to wilt under the weight of the big ten schedule. (Sound familiar?) The following year, the only wins came from the MAC conference (Sound familiar?) with a 2-7-2 record. Could you even motivate your players with a record like that? They tied Northwestern (a situation akin to no one saying you're a loser to your face but the word is certainly out). The 1989 team rebounded to a 6-5 overall record (4-4 in the big ten), while the following year they posted a winning big ten record to go with the 6-5 season. During that 1990 season, I was the sports editor for something called the Olson Junior High Norseman. Through connections I was touring the facilities, having a great time. Suddenly I was told "Trip, here's John's office. Maybe we can chat for your paper for a few minutes." Yes, my first sports interview was Gutekunst, and he was polite to this 13 year old pretending to be a writer. In the interview, he stated his expectations were for a 6-5 season. Eerily, he was right. As a fan it disappointed me considering I thought they could be better than that. But that's where they stood. And, had there been as many bowl games then as there are now, they'd have likely gone to one. So here we were again: can they be a pretty good squad and go to bowl games?
The following year answered that question with "No." The team went 2-9, including a bizarre 6-3 win over Purdue I unfortunately attended. During the Homecoming parade a yell went toward McKinley Boston: "Great day for an outdoor game." Mr. Boston nodded and said "Yeah." The seed was clearly planted then, with Gopher players complaining of the "tomb-like" atmosphere of a half full Metrodome. It was time for some high comedy, some energy. And boy, did they get it.
1992: My heart's pumping
Or, so said Jim Wacker, the new Gopher football coach. He and Denny Green started at the same time, and had very different early returns. For Jim, it was T shirts stating "Guaranteed Saturday Air Delivery." His offense was completely different than John's (whatever it was). His team also went 2-9, but finished the year by defeating Rose Bowl-bound Iowa. The Gophers missed 3 extra points in that game, but Jim was carried off the field. Yet another turnaround had begun, right? Of course, no one is mentioning how tired they are of all the turnarounds.
1993: My corpuscles are jumping
Jim's second season doubled the win total and, following a win over top-20 Wisconsin, had a winning big ten record (at that point). Rejoice! Oh right, the next game, they blew a lead over Illinois and lost the rest of their games.
1994: I bet that's Joe Paterno!
It is late afternoon in August. Your writer was invited to a booster-led dinner for the team. It was right after a practice, and the practice went longer than scheduled. The freshmen, who were supposed to set up tables for the feast, had done no such thing. Someone much older and larger said aloud "what are we going to do?" I knew that "we" wouldn't do anything, but I could lift up some of these plastic folding chairs. And just seconds later I hear "There you go, buddy. We'll get these set up." It was Coach Wacker, carrying tables to set up himself. It was simply the two of us doing everything until players slowly showed up. This left me with two emotions: this is awesome that the coach is doing this and wait, he's the coach, shouldn't he tell someone to do this? As he and I walked back and forth (and large boosters laughed and talked to each other in hushed tones) a helicopter flew overhead. Coach claimed that was the Penn State staff, trying to get secrets for this team. The end of the story is that Minnesota lost by over 50 points to Penn State.
1995-1996: "I'm sick of these gosh darn moral victories."
In Jim's final two seasons, he managed one big ten win a year. The above comment was said during a telecast of KARE's "Gopher Sports Extra." As those in the Twin Cities wondered how long he'd be there...out of nowhere, he was gone. To me he seemed a nice guy who was in way over his head.
Glen Mason
I'm not placing years on this since it is recent history. He stood on the Williams Arena court before he ever coached a game and said "We will win." This was met with apathy. But he did win. And then, failure. There would be wins, and a ranking and then...
Tim Brewster has returned the team to its Dominate Pre-Season/Average to Bad in Big Ten style. And there the school stands, just as it did when it entered the blue room.
One step forward, one step back.
