Blog: Memorial Stadium Memories

On Sept. 12, 2009, the Golden Gophers will return to campus and play outside for the first time since Nov. 21, 1981. Leading up to the debut of TCF Bank Stadium, Gophersports.com will take a look back at some memorable moments from Memorial Stadium. This week, we'll review Minnesota's 19-17 win over eventual Rose Bowl champion Washington in 1977. Next week, the Gophers upset No. 10 USC in a raging snow/sleet storm in 1955 (with video!).

Do you have a favorite memory? Share it with Gophersports.com and we'll post a few throughout the summer.

Oct. 1, 1977 - Minnesota Rallies to Beat Washington, 19-17

Video: Minnesota-Washington Highlights

The 1977 season continues to be one of the most memorable in the history of the Golden Gopher football program, not only because of a trip to the Hall of Fame Bowl, but a trio of memorable victories. In a span of five weeks, Minnesota posted victories over UCLA, Washington and No. 1 Michigan at Memorial Stadium. The Huskies and Wolverines would meet in the Rose Bowl later in the season.

After Minnesota defeated UCLA, 27-13, the Golden Gophers welcomed third-year head coach Don James and his Washington Huskies to town. The 1977 season would kick off a string of three Rose Bowl trips over the next five years for the Huskies.

Playing in front of nearly 32,000 fans under sunny skies, the Golden Gophers took an early 7-0 lead on their only touchdown of the game as Jeff Thompson scored on a three-yard run. Washington responded thanks in large part to future hall of famer Warren Moon. With Minnesota holding a 7-3 lead, Moon found Spider Gaines for a 54-yard touchdown pass. Leading 10-7 in the second quarter, Moon led the Huskies on an 88-yard, 13-play drive capped off by a 16-yard run by the quarterback.

That's when the eventual star of the game got started. Sophomore kicker Paul Rogind hit the first of his four field goals from 38 yards out with 32 seconds to play in the half.

A year after losing to the Huskies by 31 points in Seattle, the Golden Gophers were fortunate to only be down by seven at 17-10. The Washington offense had racked up 252 yards of total offense, but the second half would be a different story. 

With Rogind taking care of the Gophers' offensive production, Minnesota's defense rose to the challenge and held Washington to just 30 yards in the second half. Rogind connected from 26 yards out to cut the Washington lead to 17-13 in the third quarter. His 31-yard field goal early in the fourth brought Minnesota to within one.

With six minutes left in the game, the Gopher defense forced a three-and-out, highlighted by an 11-yard sack of Moon by Stan Sytsma and Doug Friberg. Following the punt, the Golden Gophers took over at the Huskie 47 with 4:44 to play. Minnesota faced a fourth and inches at the 25-yard line and head coach Cal Stoll opted to go for it. Marion Barber (pictured right) vaulted over the left side for the first down and three plays later, Rogind delivered from 32 yards out with three seconds to play.

Moon had one more chance from his 33-yard line following the ensuing kick off, but his throw to Gaines sailed high and the Gophers won 19-17 and improved to 3-1 on the season.

Minnesota quarterback Wendell Avery threw for just 83 yards on 6-of-9 passing, but the Golden Gophers' balanced rushing attack picked up the slack. Four different Gophers had at least nine carries, highlighed by Barber's 69 yards on 12 carries.

Postgame Quotes:

Washington head coach Don James:

"We really didn't get anything established in the second half. Their defense has played well all year. We didn't call as many pass plays and you can always second guess yourself, but when you have a lead the question is do you want to protect it or get more."

Minnesota head coach Call Stoll:

"Give credit to the defense and Paul Rogind."

On the last drive
"We let the clock run down because Washington has such a dangerous and sophisticated offense. I never doubted that Rogind wouldn't kick the winning field goal. I wrote on the blackboard before the game that the kicking game would be the difference...and it was."

"I hoped all week that someone would prick the bubble off the UCLA win and Washington did just that in the first half."

"We have beaten two pretty good football teams in the last two weeks. I had realistically hoped to be 2-2 before going back into the Big Ten. We are one game ahead right now."

Minnesota 19, Washington 17
Oct. 1, 1977
Memorial Stadium
56 Sunny

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Washington	10	7	0	0	17
Minnesota	7	3	3	6	19

		MN	WASH
1st	MN: Thompson 3 run (Rogind kick)	7	0
	WASH: Robbins 29 field goal	7	3
	WASH: Gaines 54 pass from Moon (Robbins kick)	7	10
2nd	WASH: Moon 16 run (Robbins kick)	7	17
	MN: Rogind 38 field goal	10	17
3rd	MN: Rogind 16 field goal	13	17
4th	MN: Rogind 31 field goal	16	17
	MN: Rogind 32 field goal	19	17

	Washington	Minnesota
First Downs	13	15
Rushing Attempts	41	57
Net Yards Rushing	133	202
Net Yards Passing	151	83
Passes Attempted	16	9
Passes Completed	10	6
Had Intercepted	1	0
Total Offensive Plays	57	66
Total Net Yards	284	285
Fumbles: No./Lost	2/1	0/0
Penalties: No./Yards	2/20	7/45
Interceptions: No./Yards	0/0	1/25
Number of Punts/Avg.	6/38.8	7/34.4
Punt Returns: No./Yards	2/7	4/21
Kickoff Returns: No./Yards	6/132	3/91

Washington						Minnesota
Rushing	Att.	Yards	TD	Long		Rushing	Att.	Yards	TD	Long
Moon	8	26	1	16		Avery	9	16	0	12
Steele	13	37	0	17		Thompson	11	30	1	6
Gipson	13	46	0	10		Brady	2	4	0	4
Tyler	3	17	0	8		Barber	12	69	0	34
Stevens	4	7	0	5		Breault	4	16	0	5
						Kitzmann	5	14	0	5
						White	10	48	0	13
						Bailey	3	3	0	4
						Mathews	1	2	0	2

Totals	41	133	1	17		Totals	57	202	1	21

Washington						Minnesota
Passing	Att.-Comp.-Int.	Yards	TD	Long		Passing	Att.-Comp.-Int.	Yards	TD	Long
Moon	16-10-1	151	1	54		Avery	9-6-0	83	0	21

Totals	16-10-1	151	1	54		Totals	9-6-0	83	0	21

Washington						Minnesota
Receiving	No.	Yards	TD	Long		Receiving	No.	Yards	TD	Long
Gaines	2	66	1	54		Bailey	1	21	0	21
Briggs	3	8	0	5		Breault	1	14	0	14
Greenwood	2	60	0	42		Anhorn	2	33	0	17
Steele	2	11	0	11		White	1	7	0	7
Stevens	1	6	0	6		Bourguin	1	8	0	8

Totals	10	151	1	54		Totals	6	83	0	21

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