The 1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1979 Big Ten Conference football season . In their first year under head coach Joe Salem , the Golden Gophers compiled a 4–6–1 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 271 to 264.[ 1]
Quarterback Mark Carlson received the team's Most Valuable Player award. Free safety Keith Edwards was awarded the Defensive MVP Award. Split End Elmer Bailey was named All-Big Ten first team. Defensive lineman Alan Blanshan and offensive lineman Bill Humphries were named Academic All-Big Ten.[ 2]
Total attendance for the season was 241,942, which averaged to 40,323. The season high for attendance was against Purdue .[ 3]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 8 Ohio * W 24–1033,435 [ 4] September 15 No. 15 Ohio State Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN L 17–2143,515 [ 5] September 22 at No. 1 USC * L 14–4861,966 [ 6] September 29 Northwestern Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 38–833,998 [ 7] October 6 No. 12 Purdue Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 31–1447,281 [ 8] October 13 at No. 11 Michigan L 21–31104,677 [ 9] October 20 at Iowa W 24–760,050 [ 10] October 27 Illinois Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN T 17–1746,449 [ 11] November 3 at Indiana L 24–4235,591 [ 12] November 10 at Michigan State L 17–3175,433 [ 13] November 17 Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry ) L 37–4237,827 [ 14] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 15]
1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DE
70
Steve Cunningham Sr
DE
98
Anthony Davis Fr
CB
25
Howard Davis Fr
DT
91
Jeff Denney Fr
LB
89
Jim Fahnhorst So
LB
56
Jack Johnson Sr
DT
94
Kevin Kellen Fr
DT
92
John Kuduk Sr
LB
35
Mark Laliberte Fr
LB
59
Don Meyer Sr
DE
96
Jeff Schuh Jr
Special teams
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible Roster
Team players in the NFL
edit
^ "1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017 .^ 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 rally to beat testy Ohio 24–10" . Minneapolis Tribune . September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Buck-passer Schlichter spoils Gopher ambush" . The Cincinnati Enquirer . September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "USC rambles past Minnesota" . The Courier-Journal . September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Barber, Carlson spark Minnesota past NU" . The Post-Crescent . September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Minnesota shocks 12th-ranked Purdue, 31–14" . Detroit Free Press . October 7, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Big plays delight crowd, help Michigan" . The Flint Journal . October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Gophers pass Iowa test" . Journal and Courier . October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Illini fight Gophers to tie" . Quad-City Times . October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Hoosiers feast on Gophers 42–24" . Minneapolis Tribune . November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Spartans forsake passing game, run past Gophers" . Battle Creek Enquirer & News . November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Badgers outgun Gophers" . The Winona Daily News . November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 27, 2024 .
