1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team American college football season
The 1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their fourth year under head coach John Gutekunst , the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 283 to 263.[ 1]
Kicker Brent Berglund, offensive lineman Dan Liimata, tailback Darrell Thompson and defensive tackle Mike Sunvold were named All-Big Ten second team.[ 2] Punter Brent Herbel was named Academic All-American.[ 3] Running back Pat Cummings, punter Brent Herbel, offensive lineman Dan Liimatta, offensive lineman Jon Melander, quarterback Scott Schaffner and linebacker Joel Staats were named Academic All-Big Ten.[ 3]
Darrell Thompson was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award and Bruce Smith Award.[ 4] Linebacker Eddie Miles was awarded the Carl Eller Award.[ 4] Brent Berglund was awarded the Bobby Bell Award.[ 4] Dan Liimatta was awarded the Butch Nash Award.[ 4] Jon Melander was awarded the Paul Giel Award.[ 4]
Total attendance for the season was 237,552, which averaged out to 39,592 per game. The season high for attendance was against the Nebraska Cornhuskers .[ 5]
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source September 16 1:00 pm at Iowa State * W 30–2045,410
September 23 5:00 pm No. 3 Nebraska * L 0–4858,368
September 30 1:30 pm Indiana State * Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN W 34–1434,280 [ 6]
October 7 1:30 pm Purdue Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN W 35–1536,621
October 14 1:00 pm at Northwestern W 20–1826,849
October 21 1:00 pm at Indiana L 18–2851,069
October 28 2:30 pm Ohio State Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN ABC L 37–4133,945
November 4 1:30 pm Wisconsin W 24–2239,325
November 11 12:00 pm at Michigan State L 7–2173,259
November 18 11:30 am No. 3 Michigan ESPN L 15–4935,013
November 25 1:05 pm at Iowa W 43–767,700
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Game summaries
At Iowa State
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2022 )
Nebraska
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2022 )
Indiana State
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2022 )
Purdue
Darrell Thompson injured right knee midway through first quarter and did not return
[ 8]
[ 9]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Purdue
Passing
Jeff Lesniewicz
13/19, 191 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing
Receiving
Minnesota
Passing
Scott Schaffner
9/19, 144 Yds, 2 TD
Rushing
Marcus Evans
102 Yds, TD
Receiving
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
PUR
MINN
1
Minnesota
Darrell Thompson 7-yard touchdown run, kick good
0
7
2
Purdue
51-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan
3
7
2
4:16
84
Minnesota
Marcus Evans 2-yard touchdown run, kick good
3
14
3
2
Minnesota
James King 34-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good
3
21
3
Minnesota
Shane Strain 32-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good
3
28
4
Minnesota
Marquel Fleetwood 3-yard touchdown run, kick good
3
35
4
5:17
Purdue
Jerome Sparkman 20-yard touchdown run, 2-point conversion failed
9
35
4
0:00
Purdue
Rod Dennis 37-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Lesniewicz, 2-point conversion failed
15
35
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
15
35
At Northwestern
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2022 )
At Indiana
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2022 )
Ohio State
Game information
First quarter
MINN – Darrell Thompson 12-yard run (Brent Berglund kick), 12:11. Minnesota 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 28 yards, 1:18.
MINN – Brent Berglund 30-yard field goal, 4:17. Minnesota 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 9 yards, 3:00.
MINN – Sean Lumpkin 85-yard fumble return (Brent Berglund kick), 3:07. Minnesota 17–0.
Second quarter
MINN – Steve Rhem 29-yard pass from Scott Schaffner (Brent Berglund kick), 9:50. Minnesota 24–0. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:40.
MINN – Chris Gaiters 5-yard pass from Scott Schaffner (Brent Berglund kick), 4:29. Minnesota 31–0. Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 3:36.
OSU – Carlos Snow 1-yard run (pass good), 0:10. Minnesota 31–8. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:19.
Third quarter
OSU – Pat O'Morrow 25-yard field goal, 10:04. Minnesota 31–11. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:56.
OSU – Carlos Snow 15-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 0:20. Minnesota 31–18. Drive: 11 plays, 98 yards, 4:52.
Fourth quarter
MINN – Brent Berglund 32-yard field goal, 11:24. Minnesota 34–18. Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards, 3:56.
OSU – Carlos Snow 27-yard pass from Greg Frey (pass good), 9:51. Minnesota 34–26. Drive: 4 plays, 46 yards, 1:33.
MINN – Brent Berglund 42-yard field goal, 5:15. Minnesota 37–26. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 2:10.
OSU – Greg Frey 1-yard run (pass good), 3:04. Minnesota 37–34. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 2:11.
OSU – Jeff Graham 15-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 0:51. Ohio St 41–37. Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 1:01.
Top passers
OSU – Greg Frey – 20/31, 362 yards, 3 TD, INT
MINN – Scott Schaffner – 13/18, 154 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
Top receivers
OSU – Jeff Graham – 6 receptions, 104 yards, TD
MINN – Steve Rhem – 3 receptions, 43 yards, TD
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers (2–5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4–3)
Date : November 4, 1989Game time : 2:30 p.m. EDT Game weather : Indoors (dome)Game attendance : 39,325[ 10]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wisconsin
Passing
Rushing
Robert Williams
21 Rush, 129 Yds, TD
Receiving
Minnesota
Passing
Rushing
Darrell Thompson
32 Rush, 143 Yds, TD
Receiving
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
WISC
MINN
1
10:20
11
86
Minnesota
Darrell Thompson 1-yard touchdown run, Brent Berglund kick good
0
7
2
0:38
Wisconsin
Lionell Crawford 2-yard touchdown run, kick good
7
7
2
0:00
Minnesota
39-yard field goal by Bert Berglund
7
10
Wisconsin
Touchdown
14
10
Minnesota
Chris Gaiters 17-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, Bert Berglund kick good
14
17
Minnesota
Interception returned 73 yards for touchdown by Ron Goetz, Bert Berglund kick good
14
24
80
Wisconsin
Robert Williams 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good
22
24
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
22
24
At Michigan State
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2022 )
Michigan
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Michigan
Passing
Michael Taylor
12/16, 231 Yds, 4 TD
Rushing
Leroy Hoard
11 Rush, 90 Yds, TD
Receiving
Greg McMurtry
7 Rec, 165 Yds, 3 TD
Minnesota
Passing
Marquel Fleetwood
11/23, 100 Yds, 2 INT
Rushing
Darrell Thompson
18 Rush, 50 Yds, TD
Receiving
Pat Tinglehoff
7 Rec, 77 Yds
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
MICH
MINN
1
10:08
12
76
4:52
Minnesota
Darrell Thompson 1-yard touchdown run, Brent Berglund kick good
0
7
2
9:24
7
88
3:23
Michigan
Greg McMurtry 34-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor , J.D. Carlson kick good
7
7
2
4:14
5
59
1:43
Michigan
Greg McMurtry 34-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good
14
7
2
2:06
1
44
0:15
Michigan
Leroy Hoard 29-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good
21
7
2
0:45
3
75
0:23
Michigan
Greg McMurtry 25-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good
28
7
3
9:48
10
77
5:12
Michigan
Allen Jefferson 3-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good
35
7
3
0:00
10
36
5:10
Minnesota
Marquel Fleetwood 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good
35
15
4
11:03
8
80
3:57
Michigan
Allen Jefferson 15-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good
42
15
4
3:43
6
60
3:07
Michigan
Desmond Howard 19-yard touchdown reception from Elvis Grbac , Gulam Khan kick good
49
15
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
49
15
At Iowa
Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–5) at Iowa Hawkeyes (5–5)
at Kinnick Stadium , Iowa City, Iowa
Date : November 25, 1989Game time : 1:05 p.m. CDT Game attendance : 67,700TV : None
First win versus Iowa since 1984
Biggest win versus Iowa since 1949
[ 11]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Minnesota
Passing
Rushing
Darrell Thompson
122 Yds
Receiving
Iowa
Passing
Rushing
Nick Bell
19 Rush, 133 Yds
Receiving
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
MINN
IOWA
1
Minnesota
Chris Gaiters 14-yard touchdown reception from Darrell Thompson , Brent Berglund kick good
7
0
3
Iowa
Mike Saunders 12-yard touchdown reception from Matt Rodgers , kick good
7
4
Minnesota
Marquel Fleetwood 22-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed
19
7
4
Minnesota
39-yard field goal by Brent Berglund
22
7
4
8:45
Minnesota
Interception returned 30 yards for touchdown by Eddie Miles, kick good
29
7
4
4:42
Minnesota
James King 5-yard touchdown run, kick good
36
7
4
4
Minnesota
Marcus Evans 1-yard touchdown run, kick good
43
7
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
43
7
Personnel
References
^ "1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017 .
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF) . p. 180. [permanent dead link ]
^ a b Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF) . p. 182. [permanent dead link ]
^ a b c d e Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF) . p. 181. [permanent dead link ]
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF) , p. 160 [permanent dead link ]
^ "Thompson wears out Sycamores" . St. Cloud Times . October 1, 1989. Retrieved January 6, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Minnesota 35, Purdue 15" . UPI Archives . October 7, 1989. Retrieved December 23, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota 35, Purdue 15" . UPI Archives . October 7, 1989. Retrieved December 23, 2022 .
^ Matt Youmans (October 11, 1989). "Loss to Minnesota sidelines key PU starters" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota 24, Wisconsin 22" . UPI . November 4, 1989. Retrieved December 21, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota adds insult to injury in 43-7 romp" (PDF) . The Daily Iowan . November 27, 1989. p. 1B. Retrieved November 18, 2018 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold