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The Minnesota Golden Gophers were led by head coach Lou Holtz during the 1984 season and the 1985 regular season.[1] He did not coach the Gophers in the 1985 Independence Bowl, as he had left to lead the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.[2] In the two seasons, the Gophers won 10 games and lost 12.[1] In the Big Ten, they won 7 games and lost 10.[3] Seven players were named All-Big Ten second team.[4] David Puk was named an Academic All-American, the only player to achieve the title under Holtz.[5] Five players were named Academic All-Big Ten.[5]

1984[]

1984 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1984 record4-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Head coachLou Holtz
Home stadiumH.H.H. Metrodome
Seasons
← 1983
1985 →
1984 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#13/12 Ohio State 7 2 0     9 3 0
Illinois 6 3 0     7 4 0
Purdue 6 3 0     7 5 0
#16/15 Iowa 5 3 1     8 4 1
Wisconsin 5 3 1     7 4 1
Michigan 5 4 0     6 6 0
Michigan State 5 4 0     6 6 0
Minnesota 3 6 0     4 7 0
Northwestern 2 7 0     2 9 0
Indiana 0 9 0     0 11 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1984 season was the Golden Gophers' first season under head coach Lou Holtz.[3] The Golden Gophers won four games and lost seven.[3] Total attendance for the season was 310,745, which averaged out to 51,791 per game.[6] The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa.[6]

Linebacker Peter Najarian, punter Adam Kelly and offensive tackle Mark VonderHaar were named All-Big Ten second team.[4] Linebacker Peter Najarian, defensive lineman Craig Paulson and running back David Puk were named Academic All-Big Ten.[5]

Quarterback Rickey Foggie was awarded the Team MVP Award.[7] Mark VondeHaar was awarded the Bruce Smith Award.[7] Peter Najarian was awarded the Carl Eller Award.[7] Strong safety Larry Joyner was awarded the Bobby Bell Award.[7] Center John Kelly was awarded the Butch Nash Award.[7] Flanker Dwayne McMullen was awarded the Paul Giel Award.[7]

Schedule[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Attendance
09/08/1984* Rice MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN W 31-24   50,576
09/15/1984* at #1 Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE L 7-38   76,077
09/22/1984 at Purdue Ross-Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN L 10-34   61,538
09/29/1984 #3 Ohio State Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN L 22-35   47,534
10/06/1984 Indiana Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN W 33-24   44,786
10/13/1984 at Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI W 17-14   78,770
10/20/1984† Northwestern Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN L 28-31   56,934
10/27/1984 Michigan State Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN L 13-20   47,427
11/03/1984 at Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL L 3-48   76,056
11/10/1984 at Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI L 7-31   101,247
11/17/1984 Iowa Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN W 23-17   63,479
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.



1985[]

1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Independence Bowl, Won, 20-13
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1985 record7-5 (4-4 Big Ten)
Head coachLou Holtz
Home stadiumH.H.H Metrodome
Seasons
← 1984
1986 →
1985 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#10/9 Iowa 7 1 0     10 2 0
#2/2 Michigan 6 1 1     10 1 1
Illinois 5 2 1     6 5 1
#14/11 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 / Coaches' Poll

The 1985 season was the Golden Gophers' second and final season under head coach Lou Holtz.[3] The Golden Gophers won seven games, six under Lou Holtz.[3] The Gophers played in the 1985 Independence Bowl, but it was coached by John Gutekunst.[2] The total attendance was 426,918, which averaged out to 60,985 per game.[6] The season high for attendance was against rival Wisconsin.[6]

Center Ray Hitchcock, linebacker Peter Najarian, offensive guard Jon Lilleberg and strong safety Larry Joyner were named All-Big Ten second team.[4] Running back David Puk was named Academic All-American second team.[5] Puk and linebacker Peter Najarian were named Academic All-Big Ten.[5]

Quarterback Rickey Foggie was awarded the Bronco Nagurski Award.[7] Ray Hitchcock was awarded the Bruce Smith Award.[7] Peter Najarian was awarded the Carl Eller Award.[7] Kicker Chip Lohmiller was awarded the Bobby Bell Award.[7] Flanker . Andy Hare was awarded the Butch Nash Award.[7] David Puk was awarded the Paul Giel Award.[7]

Schedule[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Attendance
09/14/1985* Wichita State MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN W 28-14   56,094
09/21/1985* Montana Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN W 62-17   55,700
09/28/1985* #3 Oklahoma Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN L 7-13   62,446
10/05/1985 Purdue Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN W 45-15   59,503
10/12/1985 at Northwestern Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL W 21-10   24,512
10/19/1985 at Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN W 22-7   38,826
10/26/1985† #3 Ohio State #20 Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN L 19-23   64,455
11/02/1985 at Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI L 26-31   63,758
11/09/1985 Wisconsin Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN W 27-18   64,571
11/16/1985 #8 Michigan Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN L 7-48   64,129
11/23/1985 at #3 Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA L 9-31   66,020
12/21/1985 vs. Clemson Independence StadiumShreveport, LA W 20-13  
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.


References[]

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