ANNUAL GOPHERHOLE PICTORIAL COUNTDOWN TO GOPHERS SEASON OPENER 2026!

Eastside Forever · Saturday at 11:08 AM

54 days! Retired jersey # in honor of Golden Gopher Heisman Trophy winner, Faribault's Bruce Smith!

Bruce Smith: The 7th Heisman Trophy Winner & Minnesota Legend

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Eastside Forever · Saturday at 11:22 AM

Here is a nice video showing his explosiveness running the ball and then his high character during the time of crisis!

IceBoxGopher · Saturday at 1:57 PM

Bruce Smith, 1940 National Champion, 1940 Second Team All Big Ten, 1941 National Champion, 1941 Heisman Trophy Winner, 1941 First Team All Big Ten, 1941 All American, College Football Hall of Famer.

Stuff · Sunday at 11:41 AM

Eastside Forever said:
Here is a nice video showing his explosiveness running the ball and then his high character during the time of crisis!

I didn't realize there was video of the play at the :20 mark. It was the only TD scored by the Gophers in a 7-6 win against the Wolverines in the 1940 season.

George "Sonny" Franck was the other running back in the back field on that play. He ended up getting drafted 6th overall in the 1941 NFL draft by the NY Giants and finished 3rd in the 1940 Heisman voting. He was quite an athlete as well.

Eastside Forever · Sunday at 12:11 PM

Stuff said:
I didn't realize there was video the play at the :20 mark. It was the only TD scored by the Gophers in a 7-6 win against the Wolverines in the 1940 season.

George "Sonny" Franck was the other running back in the back field on that play. He ended up getting drafted 6th overall in the 1941 NFL draft by the NY Giants and finished 3rd in the 1940 Heisman voting. He was quite an athlete as well.
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Thanks for the great history lesson. Times were incredibly challenging back then. So many true heroes!

IceBoxGopher · Sunday at 12:49 PM

53 Days Out!

George Faust, 1936 National Champion

Frank Marchlewski, 1963 Second Team All Big Ten

Peter Hiestand

D.J. Burris

IceBoxGopher · Monday at 8:38 AM

52 Days Out.

Kyle Mckenzie

Jeff Tow-Arnett

Zac Epping, 2013 All Big Ten Honorable Mention, 2014 First Team All Big Ten

Luther McCoy

Unregistered User · Monday at 9:08 AM

RIP #52 Eric Johnson

Only played one season, and then took his life

Mental health is serious, take care of your friends

GophersInIowa · Monday at 9:11 AM

Unregistered User said:
RIP #52 Eric Johnson

Only played one season, and then took his life

Mental health is serious, take care of your friends

I've not heard about this. Looks like he was a freshman in 1982. Too bad.

IceBoxGopher · 2026-07-14T08:53:10-0500

51 Days Out.

The late Gary Tinsley, who passed away at 22 after his senior season.

I remember it hitting me pretty hard when he passed away. I was about the same age and also set for college graduation that spring in 2012.

From the last game of his career:

A few more players

Darrell Reid, 2004 Second Team All Big Ten