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University of Minnesota Athletics
Classic Re-Write - Sean Lumpkin
10/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
This article was printed in the October 12, 1991 Minnesota-Purdue official game program. Sean Lumpkin was a four-year starter for the Golden Gophers from 1988-91. He holds two of the four longest interception returns in school history. Both came against Ohio State.
"Coming to the 'U' gave me an opportunity to stay close to home," says Golden Gopher senior Sean Lumpkin. "I feel I play better in front of friends and family because I know they appreciate what I'm trying to do on the field."
The leader of the Minnesota secondary, Lumpkin is a hard-hitting and disciplined safety. In 1991, his fourth year as a starter, he's expected to have a fine season and put himself in a good position for the NFL draft1. He was a pre-season candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back2.
The senior from Golden Valley, Minn., has totaled 219 career tackles, including 45 this season (34 solos). He has 11 career interceptions and a team-leading three interceptions this season3. Lumpkin also has three tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery and two pass break-ups this year.
He was named ABC Chevrolet Most Valuable Player for his performance in the Pittsburgh game earlier this season.
This year, Lumpkin hopes to improve his concentration and cut down on the mental errors that can prove so costly. It's not simply hard to imagine what Sean Lumpkin would do if he improved on his concentration, it's scary. Each year he has gotten bigger and better, tougher and meaner.
An All-Conference and All-State pick at Benilde St. Margaret's High School, Lumpkin earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from USA Today, while averaging six yards per carry as a running back. He came to Minnesota with solid grid credentials and didn't disappoint once he arrived. Lumpkin earned a starting spot midway through his rookie season in 1988 and finished the year with 36 tackles to ranked third among the team's secondary men.
One of the highlights of that first year came in the closing seconds of the Homecoming game against Northwestern. With the score tied and time running out, the Wildcats set up to kick the game-winning field goal. As the ball was snapped, Lumpkin tore around the end, leapt in the air just as the kicker made contact with the ball, and smacked the ball of course to preserve the tie. But even that excitement doesn't stand as his most memorable Gopher experience to date.
"So far, the thing that I'll never forget is the Iowa game my sophomore season," the safety says of the 43-7 victory. "I'll always remember going down to Iowa for the last game of the season and beating them so badly on their home field."
Lumpkin's career has been filled with other memorable moments. His sophomore season of 1989 saw him start every game at safety, record 39 tackles, intercept a pass and recover two fumbles. He returned one of those fumbles 85 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State. His performance that season earned him Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors as selected by the Associated Press.
In 1990, 67 of his team-leading 99 tackles were solo efforts. It causes gray hairs for coaches to see a safety make so many tackles, but it is comforting to know that Lumpkin is capable of protecting the team's defensive backfield. Lumpkin was voted Big Ten Player of the Week following the Golden Gophers' 12-0 shutout of Indiana. He earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the Associated Press and received Honorable Mention notice from the UPI.
One team that seems to bring out the best in Lumpkin is Ohio State. He followed his fumble recovery of 1989 with a 75-yard touchdown return of an interception last year. That interception was one of four to go along with five passes he broke up in 1990.
Lumpkin will graduate with a degree in business and hopes to pursue a career in business when his football career is over.
Written by Joe Pendal
1Sean Lumpkin was a fourth round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints. He played five seasons with the Saints.
2The 1991 Jim Thorpe Award was given to Terrell Buckley of Florida State
3Sean Lumpkin is tied with Jeff Wright (1968-70) for the school record with 12 career interceptions. Lumpkin had five interceptions as a senior.
