University of Minnesota Athletics
Goldy's Mailbag - Feb. 3, 2011
2/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Welcome to this week's Goldy's Mailbag. This is your chance to get your questions answered about anything and everything related to Golden Gopher Athletics! Submit your question for next week's Mailbag!
When do we renew our football season tickets? - Dick, Maple Grove, Minn.
It's right around the corner. Football season ticket renewals begin February 15 and runs through April 20. Season ticket holders will receive an email on February 15 with instructions on how to renew online. Following the online renewal process, which will last approximately three weeks, those that have not renewed will receive a renewal letter. If you have any questions or comments, you can visit the official home of the Gopher Ticket Office at MyGophersports.com.
If you are a current season ticket holder, you will receive a phone call just before Noon on Friday, Feb. 4 giving you instructions on how to join the Coach Kill Teleconference. If you are not a season ticket holder, you can watch the call live in the Gold Zone by clicking here.
For those that don't have season tickets, I would simply like to point out the home schedule coming up in 2011. Iowa returns for a second straight season looking for its first win in the Bank on Oct. 29, while Wisconsin will make its first appearance since 2009 on Nov. 12. The newest member of the Big Ten, Nebraska, will visit TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 22. Not too shabby.
If you would like to inquire about season tickets, you can contact the Gopher Ticket Office at 612-624-8080 to be placed on the season ticket interest list. You will then receive an application via email within two weeks.
Have the Gophers and Badgers ever met for the WCHA championship at the end of season play off? Who won? I do remember when the Gophers lost to the Badgers for the NCAA championship in hockey..have the two schools ever met for any other national championship? - Steve, Madison, Wis.
Research, nice! Well Steve, the Gophers and Badgers certainly have a fierce rivalry on the ice, but they do not meet too often to decide a title.
Since the WCHA Final Five was formed in 1993, the two teams have never met in the finals. The Golden Gophers have defeated the Badgers in three of their four meetings in the semifinals, including a 4-2 win in 2007. Wisconsin won the only meeting in the third-place game in 2006. If you remember that year, that was the day after Minnesota lost 8-7 in overtime against St. Cloud State.
The two teams have never met in the final series of the regular season with the WCHA crown on the line. In fact, Wisconsin and Minnesota have finished 1-2 in the standings just four times since the Badgers joined the league in the 1960s. Minnesota finished ahead of Wisconsin in 1981, 1988 and 1992, while the Badgers claimed first place in 1990.
Finally, I guess we have to address it. Minnesota and Wisconsin have met once for the national title. After winning the regular season title and the WCHA playoff title, the Golden Gophers cruised into the national title game with a 7-2 rout of Michigan Tech in the semifinals. Wisconsin had lost three of its four games against Minnesota, but prevailed in the finals held in Duluth, Minn. The Badgers earned a 6-3 win to claim the national title.
Well, that was depressing! How about a pick me up from Matt in Rochester...
When was the last time the Golden Gophers beat the number one team in the country at the Barn? - Matt, Rochester
Good timing, Matt. While Ohio State hosts Michigan tonight, regardless of the outcome, they will enter Williams Arena as the number one team in the country on Sunday afternoon.
For starters, the last time Minnesota played anywhere against the number one team in the nation was during the 2004-05 season. The Golden Gophers were defeated by the top-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, 64-56, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Chicago. Illinois was also ranked number one when it defeated the Golden Gophers in Champaign, Ill., earlier that year.
The last time a number one team visited Williams Arena was on Feb. 27, 1993, when Bobby Knight and his Indiana Hoosiers came to town. The game was tied at 39 by halftime, but the Hoosier bench was the difference in the second half in an 86-75 victory. Damon Bailey came off the Indiana bench for 17 points in the game, while Calbert Cheaney added 15 points. Shaquille O'Neal's co-star in the movie "Blue Chips", Matt Nover, added 17 points. For Minnesota, Voshon Lenard had 22 points while Randy Carter added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Now to answer your question, the date was Jan. 26, 1989 when the Illinois "Flying" Illini traveled to Minnesota with a 17-0 record. The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 25-12 lead thanks to a six-minute scoring drought for Illinois, but the Illini fought back in the second half and pulled to within 61-59 on a basket by Marcus Liberty. On Minnesota's next possession, Liberty was called for goaltending against Willie Burton. Kevin Lynch followed with a pair of free throws and the Golden Gophers earned a 69-62 victory.
Kendall Gill missed the game due to a broken foot, but returned later in the regular season. With a full lineup, the "Flying" Illini appeared to be on their way to a national title. Why oh why didn't they block out Sean Higgins of Michigan in the national semifinals. Higgins got the offensive rebound and putback with just a second or two to play to send the Wolverines to the title game against Seton Hall.
Back to Minnesota, the Illini returned to Williams Arena the following year ranked fourth in the country. This time, the Golden Gophers had little trouble and claimed a 91-74 victory.
Looking ahead to Football, s the UofM going to sponsor Football Camps during the Sumer of 2011? I know a High School Kicker/Punter who's interested in attending a local kicking/punting camp. - Mark, Minneapolis
I probably should have held this question for a week, because the coaching staff is just days away from finalizing the dates for their summer football camps. There will be youth camps, as well as high school camps. As a part of the high school camps, kickers and punters will have the opportunity to be coached and evaluated by the Golden Gopher football staff.
The details will be released shortly and can be found here at Gophersports.com. Probably the easiest place to find it will be on the summer camps page which is located here.
Do you have an organization of former varsity athletics letter winners at Univ. Minnesota? - Jack, Fort Collins, Colo.
Hi Jack. In 2006, Joel Maturi brought the National M Club, then an outside organization, under the Athletics Department umbrella. Now known as the "M Club", the organization keeps former Golden Gopher varsity athletes involved and up-to-date on the happenings around the U. In addition, it hosts a number of alumni events throughout the year, as well as honoring the rich tradition and history of Gopher Athletics.
The Director of the M Club is former Golden Gopher football player George Adzick. The M Club Official Website can be found by clicking here!
Here's a clip of George talking at the Signing Day 'Sota Social last night at TCF Bank Stadium.
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