University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Athletics Timeline (1910-1939)
1910
The University of Minnesota Marching Band introduces marching formations and a halftime show to Gophers football games.
Minnesota begins varsity intercollegiate wrestling competition.
1912
The Golden Gophers men’s tennis team wins its third consecutive Big Ten Conference championship.
1919
Minnesota begins varsity intercollegiate competition in men’s swimming and diving.
1919
The Golden Gophers men’s basketball squad goes 13-0 on the season and wins a second Helms National Championship.
1921
Minnesota begins competition in varsity men’s ice hockey.
1922
Minnesota begins competition in varsity men’s golf. The program would win its first Big Ten title in 1929.
1924
Minnesota plays its first football game in the new Memorial Stadium on October 24.
1925
John Faricy becomes the first NCAA swimming champion, winning the 200-yard breaststroke.
1928
“The Barn,” officially the University of Minnesota Field House, opens; it will later be renamed Williams Arena.
1929
Sportswriters name Bronko Nagurski the best fullback and tackle in the nation, making him the only player to ever be named a first team consensus All-American at two different positions in the same season.
1932
Bernie Bierman, a Minnesota alum, takes over as head football coach; his teams will post five undefeated seasons, five national championships, and six Big Ten titles.
1933
Gopher baseball wins its first Big Ten title under head coach and future athletic director Frank McCormick.
1934
Minnesota wins football’s national championship, a feat it will repeat four more times in eight seasons, including three back-to-back.
1934
Minnesota’s athletic teams become known as the “Golden” Gophers. Legendary KSTP-AM radio announcer Halsey Hall coined the term in reference to the team’s all-gold uniforms that were a staple of Bernie Bierman’s football teams in the 1930s.
1935
The Golden Gophers post perfect records in overall and conference football on their way to a second national championship.
1936
Minnesota wins its third straight national football championship.
1937
John Whitaker becomes Minnesota’s first national wrestling champion, winning the 175-pound title.
