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Eastside Forever said:
They say Bruce Smith was pretty good, too.
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Indeed

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#54 Bruce Smith is the Golden Gopher's only Heisman Trophy winner, to this point. Paul Giel was runner up to USC Frank Gifford in the early 50s. Jersey #54 was RETIRED in 1977 to recognize Smith's achievement.
 
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Schnauzer said:
55!

Tony Dungy threw a 55-yard touchdown pass for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 1974. The recipient of the pass was Rick Upchurch.
This was the longest passing play of the year for the Golden Gophers in 1974. Dungy played quarterback for Minnesota from 1973 to 1976 and set school records for passing yards and touchdown passes during his career.

If you are wondering what game that took place, so am I. I can find evidence of the play on the UofM archive website, but didn't find box scores to confirm which game that took place.

I did learn a lot about the 1974 Gopher football team during my browsing though. Despite having household names Tony Dungy and Rick Upchurch, the Gophers went 4-7 (2-6 in the B1G) under Cal Stoll that season and Dungy did not complete 50% of his passes.
For the season, Dungy went 39 for 94 with a total of 612 passing yards with 5 TD's and 7 interceptions. Pedestrian, in nearly any college football era. 1975 would be a much better year for Dungy passing the ball.


GDateDaySchoolOpponentConfPtsOppWLTStreakNotes
1Sep 14, 1974SatMinnesota(4) Ohio StateBig TenL1934010L 1
2Sep 21, 1974SatMinnesotaNorth DakotaNon-MajorW4230110W 1
3Sep 28, 1974SatMinnesotaTexas ChristianSWCW97210W 2
4Oct 5, 1974SatMinnesota@(6) NebraskaBig 8L054220L 1
5Oct 12, 1974SatMinnesota@IndianaBig TenL334230L 2
6Oct 19, 1974SatMinnesotaIowaBig TenW2317330W 1
7Oct 26, 1974SatMinnesota@(3) MichiganBig TenL049340L 1
8Nov 2, 1974SatMinnesotaNorthwesternBig TenL1321350L 2
9Nov 9, 1974SatMinnesota@PurdueBig TenW2420450W 1
10Nov 16, 1974SatMinnesotaIllinoisBig TenL1417460L 1
11Nov 23, 1974SatMinnesota@WisconsinBig TenL1449470L 2
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On the opening play of the Iowa game Upchurch scored on an 86 yard run—if memory serves.
 

Eastside Forever said:
From Faribault Minnesota.
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His father Lucius Smith was a legendary attorney who practiced law into his late 90s. As a young man, Lucius was the Rice County Attorney. Lucius was a Gopher football player and the story goes one of his teams lost an excruciating game to Michigan & Lucius vowed he would raise a son who would play for Minnesota and beat Michigan every time—which Bruce’s 1939-1941 teams accomplished.
 


53!

For 53 we need to take a step back from specific yardage touchdowns to TOUCHDOWNS in general, as in rushing touchdowns. As in a school record 53 rushing touchdowns.

Mo Ibrahim took an underwhelming 40 time and a small body and somehow rode it all to a school record number of rushing TDs.

 









Schnauzer said:
52!
2009. First ever game in TCF Bank Stadium. First ever defensive touchdown in the stadium on a massive play from Nate Triplett. His 52 yard fumble recovery TD was the biggest play in the inaugural game in the new stadium.

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That play was incredible. The response? Even more so. The whole stadium shook.
 

Still have not been able to find a picture, but it is my annual reminder that true freshman, #52, Eric Johnson played in 11 games and had 2 interceptions in 1982 at linebacker.

The following spring, his severe depression compelled him to jump off the 10th street bridge.

RIP, mental health is no joke.
 



Schnauzer said:
52!
2009. First ever game in TCF Bank Stadium. First ever defensive touchdown in the stadium on a massive play from Nate Triplett. His 52 yard fumble recovery TD was the biggest play in the inaugural game in the new stadium.

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I wish I could watch that highlight but somehow not see those uniforms. Our first game at the new home too.......
 





We have reached 50 days until Gopher football

Kobe McCrary with a 50 yard TD run vs an overmatched Indiana State squad.

 





Schnauzer said:
55!

Tony Dungy threw a 55-yard touchdown pass for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 1974. The recipient of the pass was Rick Upchurch.
This was the longest passing play of the year for the Golden Gophers in 1974. Dungy played quarterback for Minnesota from 1973 to 1976 and set school records for passing yards and touchdown passes during his career.

If you are wondering what game that took place, so am I. I can find evidence of the play on the UofM archive website, but didn't find box scores to confirm which game that took place.

I did learn a lot about the 1974 Gopher football team during my browsing though. Despite having household names Tony Dungy and Rick Upchurch, the Gophers went 4-7 (2-6 in the B1G) under Cal Stoll that season and Dungy did not complete 50% of his passes.
For the season, Dungy went 39 for 94 with a total of 612 passing yards with 5 TD's and 7 interceptions. Pedestrian, in nearly any college football era. 1975 would be a much better year for Dungy passing the ball.


GDateDaySchoolOpponentConfPtsOppWLTStreakNotes
1Sep 14, 1974SatMinnesota(4) Ohio StateBig TenL1934010L 1
2Sep 21, 1974SatMinnesotaNorth DakotaNon-MajorW4230110W 1
3Sep 28, 1974SatMinnesotaTexas ChristianSWCW97210W 2
4Oct 5, 1974SatMinnesota@(6) NebraskaBig 8L054220L 1
5Oct 12, 1974SatMinnesota@IndianaBig TenL334230L 2
6Oct 19, 1974SatMinnesotaIowaBig TenW2317330W 1
7Oct 26, 1974SatMinnesota@(3) MichiganBig TenL049340L 1
8Nov 2, 1974SatMinnesotaNorthwesternBig TenL1321350L 2
9Nov 9, 1974SatMinnesota@PurdueBig TenW2420450W 1
10Nov 16, 1974SatMinnesotaIllinoisBig TenL1417460L 1
11Nov 23, 1974SatMinnesota@WisconsinBig TenL1449470L 2
Click to expand...
In 1974, only 21 QB in the entire nation completed more than 50% of their passes. It was a different game.

www.sports-reference.com

1974 College Football Passing Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Check out the 1974 College Football Passing Stats and more about College Football at Sports-Reference.com
www.sports-reference.com www.sports-reference.com
 


49!
Thanks to my niece’s wedding, the pre-Deon blowout of Colorado in 2022 was one of 3 Gopher games I have missed (non Covid) in the history of the Bank. It was a game where the final score was a lot closer than what was indicated by the play on the field. Hated to miss this one.

Minnesota 49, Colorado 7


 

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