ANNUAL GOPHERHOLE PICTORIAL COUNTDOWN TO GOPHERS SEASON OPENER 2026!

[Eastside Forever]

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

To make videos like this, try out the free trial, https://syllaby.io/?via=tim81** ð Bruce Smith: The 7th Heisman Trophy Winner & Minnesota Legend ðExplore ...

youtube.com

 

[Eastside Forever]

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

 

[IceBoxGopher]

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]

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]

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.
View attachment 45143

Thanks for the great history lesson. Times were incredibly challenging back then. So many true heroes!

 

[IceBoxGopher]

53 Days Out!

George Faust, 1936 National Champion


Frank Marchlewski, 1963 Second Team All Big Ten


Peter Hiestand


D.J. Burris

 

[IceBoxGopher]

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]

RIP #52 Eric Johnson

Only played one season, and then took his life

Mental health is serious, take care of your friends

 

[GophersInIowa]

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]

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


Akeem Akinwale

 

[IceBoxGopher]

We're down to 50 days away!

Greg Larson, 1960 First Team All Big Ten, 1960 National Champion


Bill Light, 1971 First Team All Big Ten


Jack Lynn, 2015 All Big Ten Honorable Mention


Nathan Roy, 2025 FWAA Freshman All American

 

[IceBoxGopher]

Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) on X

T-minus 5️⃣0️⃣ days until the opener‼️ #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers

x.com

 

[highwayman]

53 Days Out!

George Faust, 1936 National Champion
View attachment 45145

Frank Marchlewski, 1963 Second Team All Big Ten
View attachment 45147

Peter Hiestand
View attachment 45148

D.J. Burris
View attachment 45150

My black and gray gloved hand about to slap the pig!! You can see my maroon Gopher hard hat just to the right.

 

[Eastside Forever]

Post in thread 'ANNUAL GOPHERHOLE PICTORIAL COUNTDOWN TO GOPHERS SEASON OPENER!!' https://gopherhole.com/boards/threa...-to-gophers-season-opener.118555/post-3152281


St Paul Harding's Ollie Bakken. #50
1974 Gopher MVP
ALL BIG TEN 2nd Team Middle Linebacker

 

[BTChamp]

My black and gray gloved hand about to slap the pig!! You can see my maroon Gopher hard hat just to the right.

Nice.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

WE'RE UNDER 50!

49 Days Away

Richard Peterson


Matt Kingsbury

 

[Eastside Forever]

#49 is Jumpin' Jim Brunzell. 1968

 

[PMWinSTP]

#49 is Jumpin' Jim Brunzell. 1968

The High Flyer.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

48 Days Away!

Nick Tow Arnett, 2009 All Big Ten Honorable Mention


Jake Filkins


Mason Carrier

 

[IceBoxGopher]

47 days out

Paul Nixon


Alex Bisch


Jacob Herbers

 

[Eastside Forever]

1972, 1973 and 1974 DB, # 47,
Greg Engebos

Greg's Obituary https://share.google/VvoMvN5gdzHmxx4FI

 

[IceBoxGopher]

Today brings us to 46.

Winston DeLattiboudere III


Cameron Botticelli

 

[BTChamp]

2 absolute studs

 

[Eastside Forever]

# 45. Francis 'Pug' Lund - M Club Hall of Fame - University of Minnesota Athletics https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-lund-html

 

[Eastside Forever]

Pug Lund - All American
https://share.google/QwiXrNkENmxi8XT84

Check out this video, "pug lund" https://share.google/rn2olRoq6P5PEQfDW

 

[IceBoxGopher]

45 Days Away!

Francis LeRoy "Pug" Lund, 1932 Second Team All Big Ten, 1933 First Team All Big Ten, 1933 All American, 1934 First Team All Big Ten, 1934 All American, 1934 Big Ten Player of the Year, 1934 Big Ten Champion, 1934 National Champion, College Football Hall of Fame



Sean Hoffman, 2000 Second Team All Big Ten


Carter Coughlin, 2017 All Big Ten Honorable Mention, 2018 Second Team All Big Ten, 2019 Second Team All Big Ten


Cody Lindenberg, 2022 All Big Ten Honorable Mention, 2024 First Team All Big Ten

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

The Sean Hoffman pic gives off scrimmage vibes if you look in the stands