The 1987 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach John Gutekunst, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 262 to 257.[1]
Offensive guard Troy Wilkow was named All-Big Ten first team.[2] Offensive lineman Paul Anderson, quarterback Rickey Foggie, tailback Darrell Thompson, kicker Chip Lohmiller and linebacker Jon Leverenz were named All-Big Ten second team.[2] Punter Brent Herbel and offensive lineman Dan Liimatta were named Academic All-Big Ten.[3]
Foggie was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award.[4] Darrell Thompson was awarded the Bruce Smith Award.[4] Jon Leverenz was awarded the Carl Eller Award.[4] Chip Lohmiller was awarded the Bobby Bell Award.[4] Linebacker Brian Bonner was awarded the Butch Nash Award.[4] Offensive tackle Dan Rechtin was awarded the Paul Giel Award.[4]
Total attendance for the season was 371,809, which averaged out to 55,116 per game. The season high for attendance was against rival Wisconsin.[5]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 12 | 7:00 pm | Northern Iowa* | | KITN | W 24–7 | 50,120 | [6] |
September 19 | 6:15 pm | California* | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| KITN | W 32–23 | 47,322 | [7] |
September 26 | 7:00 pm | Central Michigan* | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | W 30–10 | 46,868 | [8] |
October 3 | 1:00 pm | Purdue | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | W 21–19 | 49,376 | [9] |
October 10 | 11:30 am | at Northwestern | | RCM | W 45–33 | 22,104 | [10] |
October 16 | 7:30 pm | No. 20 Indiana | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | L 17–18 | 60,340 | [11] |
October 24 | 2:30 pm | at No. 16 Ohio State | | RCM | L 9–42 | 89,801 | [12] |
October 31 | 1:00 pm | Illinois | | | L 17–27 | 60,143 | [13] |
November 7 | 2:30 pm | Michigan | | ABC | L 20–30 | 55,481 | [14] |
November 14 | 7:00 pm | Wisconsin | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
| | W 22–19 | 62,412 | [15] |
November 21 | 1:05 pm | at No. 18 Iowa | | | L 20–34 | 67,700 | [16] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
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Roster
1987 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
G
|
52
|
Paul Anderson
|
Sr
|
TE
|
81
|
Ed Bahr
|
So
|
WR
|
16
|
Michael Baker
|
Jr
|
C
|
61
|
Jeff Batta
|
Jr
|
QB
|
8
|
John Bobinski
|
So
|
QB
|
14
|
Rickey Foggie (C)
|
Sr
|
FB
|
11
|
Roselle Richardson
|
Jr
|
WR
|
49
|
Sam Richter
|
Jr
|
QB
|
15
|
Scott Schaffner
|
Fr
|
OT
|
64
|
Shawn Schultz
|
Jr
|
OT
|
70
|
John Selvestra
|
Fr
|
RB
|
31
|
Al Settembrino
|
Fr
|
OT
|
65
|
Jon Melander
|
So
|
RB
|
24
|
Ed Penn
|
Jr
|
G
|
53
|
Steve Peterson
|
Jr
|
OT
|
68
|
Peter Svien
|
Fr
|
RB
|
39
|
Darrell Thompson
|
So
|
WR
|
86
|
Pat Tinglehoff
|
Fr
|
C
|
63
|
Brian Williams
|
Jr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DT
|
51
|
Bob Coughlin
|
Fr
|
DL
|
99
|
Kraig Hackbarth
|
Fr
|
DT
|
68
|
Gary Hadd
|
Sr
|
FS
|
25
|
Matt Sheldon
|
Fr
|
LB
|
94
|
Mac Stephens
|
So
|
LB
|
57
|
Scott Streiff
|
So
|
FS
|
18
|
Paul Strong
|
Jr
|
LB
|
66
|
Bryan Suess
|
So
|
DT
|
79
|
Mike Sunvold
|
Fr
|
LB
|
96
|
Kevin Sutton
|
Fr
|
LB
|
92
|
Alex Svedarsjy
|
So
|
DT
|
77
|
Trint Trip
|
Jr
|
DT
|
90
|
Ross Ukkelberg
|
Jr
|
CB
|
22
|
Craig Welter
|
So
|
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster
|
References
- ^ "1987 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ a b Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF). p. 180.
- ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF). p. 182.
- ^ a b c d e f Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF). p. 181.
- ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
- ^ "Thompson, 'U' run over Northern Iowa". Star Tribune. September 13, 1987. Retrieved December 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gophers rally to beat Bears". The Forum. September 20, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Minnesota handles Central Michigan". The Saginaw News. September 27, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Purdue has chances but comes up short". The Indianapolis Star. October 4, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gophers win again". The Forum. October 11, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gophers suffer first loss, 18–17". St. Cloud Times. October 17, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State 'Snow's Gophers 42–9". The Marion Star. October 25, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gophers lose third straight". The Duluth News Tribune. November 1, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Victorious Wolverines reclaim Little Brown Jug". The Muskegon Chronicle. November 8, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gophers snap losing streak with 22–19 win over Badgers". The Albert Lea Tribune. November 15, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hawkeyes roll Gophers, 34–20". The Daily Nonpareil. November 22, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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