1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season

1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football

Conference| Big Ten Conference
Record| 6–5 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach|

* John Gutekunst (4th season)

Captains|

* Mac Stephens
* Darrell Thompson

Home stadium| Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Seasons

<- 1988

1990 ->

1989 Big Ten Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 7 Michigan $  | 8  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 10  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. 10 Illinois | 7  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 10  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. 16 Michigan State | 6  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
No. 24 Ohio State | 6  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
Minnesota | 4  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Indiana | 3  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
Iowa | 3  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
Purdue | 2  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Wisconsin | 1  | - | 7  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Northwestern | 0  | - | 8  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 11  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from AP Poll

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

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

September 16| 1:00 pm| at Iowa State*|

* Cyclone Stadium
* Ames, IA

| | W 30–20| 45,410|
September 23| 5:00 pm| No. 3 Nebraska*|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN

| | L 0–48| 58,368|
September 30| 1:30 pm| Indiana State*|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN

| | W 34–14| 34,280| [6]
October 7| 1:30 pm| Purdue|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN

| | W 35–15| 36,621|
October 14| 1:00 pm| at Northwestern|

* Dyche Stadium
* Evanston, IL

| | W 20–18| 26,849|
October 21| 1:00 pm| at Indiana|

* Memorial Stadium
* Bloomington, IN

| | L 18–28| 51,069|
October 28| 2:30 pm| Ohio State|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN

| ABC| L 37–41| 33,945|
November 4| 1:30 pm| Wisconsin|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN (Paul Bunyan's Axe)

| | W 24–22| 39,325|
November 11| 12:00 pm| at Michigan State|

* Spartan Stadium
* East Lansing, MI

| | L 7–21| 73,259|
November 18| 11:30 am| No. 3 Michigan|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)

| ESPN| L 15–49| 35,013|
November 25| 1:05 pm| at Iowa|

* Kinnick Stadium
* Iowa City, IA (rivalry)

| | W 43–7| 67,700|

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Central time

## Game summaries

[edit]

### At Iowa State

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

|

### Nebraska

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

|

### Indiana State

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

|

### Purdue

[edit]

Purdue Boilermakers (1–2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2–1)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Purdue | 0 | 3 | 0| 12| 15
Minnesota | 7 | 7 | 14| 7| 35

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

* Date: October 7, 1989
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 36,621
* [7]

* 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

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

|

### At Indiana

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

|

### Ohio State

[edit]

Ohio State Buckeyes (4–2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4–2)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Ohio St | 0 | 8 | 10| 23| 41
Minnesota | 17 | 14 | 0| 6| 37

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

* Date: October 28
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 33,945
* Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
* Box Score

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

* OSU – Carlos Snow – 23 rushes, 74 yards, TD
* MINN – Darrell Thompson – 29 rushes, 133 yards, TD

Top receivers

* OSU – Jeff Graham – 6 receptions, 104 yards, TD
* MINN – Steve Rhem – 3 receptions, 43 yards, TD

|

### Wisconsin

[edit]

See also: Paul Bunyan's Axe

Wisconsin Badgers (2–5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4–3)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total

|
|
|

Wisconsin | 7 | 15 | 22
Minnesota | 10 | 14 | 24

* Date: November 4, 1989
* Game 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

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

|

### Michigan

[edit]

See also: Little Brown Jug

#3 Michigan Wolverines (8–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–4)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Michigan | 0 | 28 | 7| 14| 49
Minnesota | 7 | 0 | 8| 0| 15

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

* Date: November 18, 1989
* Game time: 11:30 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 35,103
* Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
* TV: ESPN
* Box Score

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

[edit]

See also: Floyd of Rosedale

Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–5) at Iowa Hawkeyes (5–5)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Minnesota | 7 |  | | 30| 37
Iowa | 0 | 0 | 7| 0| 7

at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

* Date: November 25, 1989
* Game time: 1:05 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 67,700
* TV: 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

[edit]

1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

RB | `42` | Patrick Cummings | Sr
G | `74` | Mark Drabczak | Jr
RB | `7` | Marcus Evans | Jr
QB | `14` | Marquel Fleetwood | Fr
WR | `2` | Chris Gaiters | Sr
WR | `19` | Kevin Grant | Jr
OL | `58` | Craig Hendrickson | Jr
WR | `85` | Paul Hopewell | So
RB | `22` | James King | So
OL | `67` | J.J. Lennon | Sr
OL | `` | Dan Liimatta
OT | `65` | Jon Melander | Sr
FB | `34` | Rick Meyer | So
WR | `48` | Steve Rhem | Fr
QB | `10` | Jeff Rosga | Fr
QB | `15` | Scott Schaffner | So
RB | `31` | Al Settembrino | So
RB | `33` | Tyrone Stenzel | Sr
TE | `89` | Shane Strain | Sr
OL | `60` | Chris Thorne | Jr
RB | `39` | Darrell Thompson | Sr
WR | `86` | Pat Tinglehoff | Jr
TE | `84` | Trey Whitson | Fr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

DL | `80` | Skeeter Akre | Jr
DL | `95` | Anthony Bryant | So
DL | `51` | Bob Coughlin | Jr
DB | `13` | Derek Fisher | Fr
DB | `4` | Fred Foggie | Jr
LB | `37` | Ron Goetz | Sr
DB | `45` | Frank Jackson | Jr
OL | `56` | Jon Leverenz | Sr
DB | `26` | Sean Lumpkin | So
DL | `28` | Eddie Miles | Sr
DB | `6` | Les O'Hara | Jr
FS | `25` | Matt Sheldon |  So
LB | `55` | Joel Staats | So
LB | `94` | Mac Stephens | Sr
DL | `79` | Mike Sunvold | Jr
DB | `1` | Andre Thaddies | So
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

K | `3` | Brent Berglund | Jr
P | `` | Brent Herbel

Head coach

* John Gutekunst

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

* * *

Roster

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF). p. 180.[permanent dead link‍]
3. ^ a b Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF). p. 182.[permanent dead link‍]
4. ^ a b c d e Keiser, Jeff (2007). "2007 Media Guide" (PDF). p. 181.[permanent dead link‍]
5. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link‍]
6. ^ "Thompson wears out Sycamores". St. Cloud Times. October 1, 1989. Retrieved January 6, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Minnesota 35, Purdue 15". UPI Archives. October 7, 1989. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
8. ^ "Minnesota 35, Purdue 15". UPI Archives. October 7, 1989. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
9. ^ Matt Youmans (October 11, 1989). "Loss to Minnesota sidelines key PU starters". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
10. ^ "Minnesota 24, Wisconsin 22". UPI. November 4, 1989. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
11. ^ "Minnesota adds insult to injury in 43-7 romp" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 27, 1989. p. 1B. Retrieved November 18, 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Minnesota Golden Gophers football

Venues|

* Athletic Park (1892–1898)
* University of Minnesota Armory (1892–1898)
* Northrop Field (1899–1923)
* Memorial Stadium (1924–1981)
* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982–2008)
* Huntington Bank Stadium (2009–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Iowa
* Michigan: Little Brown Jug
* Nebraska
* Penn State: Governor's Victory Bell
* Wisconsin

Culture & lore|

* Goldy Gopher
* Marching band
* Spirit squad
* "Minnesota Rouser"
* "Minnesota March"
* "Go Gopher Victory"
* "Minnesota Fight"
* "Our Minnesota"
* "Hail! Minnesota"
* "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
* Minnesota shift
* T formation
* Smith of Minnesota

People|

* Head coaches
* Annual awards
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1882
* 1883
* 1884–1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number