The 1996 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Jim Wacker, the Golden Gophers compiled am overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 1–7 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for ninth at the bottom of the Big Ten standings, and were outscored 340 to 236.
Linebacker Luke Braaten, offensive tackle James Elizondo, offensive guard Pat Hau, quarterback Rob Jones, long snapper Derek Rackley, cornerback Fred Rodgers, quarterback Cory Sauter, linebacker Jim Tallman, linebacker Parc Williams and quarterback Spergon Wynn were named Academic All-Big Ten.[1]
Wide receiver Ryan Thelwell and offensive tackle Gann Brooks were awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award.[2] Wide receiver Tutu Atwell was awarded the Bruce Smith Award.[2] Parc Williams was awarded the Carl Eller Award.[2] Free safety Rishon Early was awarded the Bobby Bell Award.[2] Cory Sauter was awarded the Butch Nash Award.[2] Defensive tackle Jerome Davis was awarded the Paul Giel Award.[2]
Total attendance for the season was 261,113, which averaged out to 43,519 per game.[3] The season high for attendance was again rival Iowa.[3]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 7 | 7:00 pm | at Northeast Louisiana* | | | W 30–3 | 24,842 |
September 14 | 7:00 pm | Ball State* | | | W 26–23 | 41,007 |
September 21 | 7:30 pm | No. 23 Syracuse* | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| ESPN2 | W 35–33 | 45,756 |
October 5 | 11:20 am | at Purdue | | ESPN Plus | L 27–30 | 39,343 |
October 12 | 11:30 am | at No. 15 Northwestern | | ESPN2 | L 24–26 | 35,848 |
October 19 | 3:00 pm | Michigan State | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | L 9–27 | 45,434 |
October 26 | 6:00 pm | No. 10 Michigan | | ESPN2 | L 10–44 | 41,246 |
November 2 | 11:30 am | at No. 2 Ohio State | | ESPN2 | L 0–45 | 93,588 |
November 9 | 11:20 am | at Wisconsin | | ESPN Plus | L 28–45 | 78,006 |
November 16 | 6:00 pm | Illinois | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| MSC | W 23–21 | 34,321 |
November 23 | 7:30 pm | Iowa | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
| ESPN2 | L 24–43 | 53,349 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
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[4]
Roster
1996 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
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Players
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Coaches
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Offense
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DB
|
22
|
Tyrone Carter
|
Fr
|
CB
|
24
|
Rodney Heath
|
Sr
|
FS
|
23
|
Crawford Jordan
|
Jr
|
SS
|
32
|
Mike Juszczak
|
Jr
|
OLB
|
39
|
Ray Kaiser
|
Jr
|
DT
|
94
|
Josh Rawlings
|
Fr
|
DT
|
58
|
Antoine Richard
|
So
|
CB
|
2
|
Craig Scruggs
|
So
|
ILB
|
46
|
Rufus Smith
|
So
|
OLB
|
15
|
Don Williams
|
Jr
|
ILB
|
37
|
Parc Williams
|
So
|
ILB
|
93
|
Jude Wimberger
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
26
|
Blake Zochert
|
Fr
|
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster
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References
- ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 182
- ^ a b c d e f Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181
- ^ a b Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
- ^ "1996 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |