Greatest individual sports achievement in Gopher history.

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Otis

Otis

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There is an article comparing Ohtani’s game 4 NLDS performance vs other individual accomplishments, which made me think, “What is the greatest single accomplishment in a single day by a Gopher?

A few nominations:

Kent Kitzmann, 1977, 56 carries for 266 yds in a 21-0 victory over Purdue.

Chris Darkins, 1995, 38 carries for 298 yds in a 39-38 victory over Purdue.

Mo may have done the best if he hadn’t torn his Achilles against OSU.

Tyrone Carter, 1996, 2fumble recoveries for touchdowns vs Syracuse and Donovan McNab.

What do you have?
 

Otis said:
There is an article comparing Ohtani’s game 4 NLDS performance vs other individual accomplishments, which made me think, “What is the greatest single accomplishment in a single day by a Gopher?

A few nominations:

Kent Kitzmann, 1977, 56 carries for 266 yds in a 21-0 victory over Purdue.

Chris Darkins, 1995, 38 carries for 298 yds in a 39-38 victory over Purdue.

Mo may have done the best if he hadn’t torn his Achilles against OSU.

Tyrone Carter, 1996, 2fumble recoveries for touchdowns vs Syracuse and Donovan McNab.

What do you have?
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I once saw Dave Winfield hit a line-drive triple to right-center field that probably never got more than 10 feet off the ground. Hardest ball I have even seen hit.

I think the ones you posted are more in the vein of what you are looking for on this thread.
 

Of the ones I'm old enough to remember the Darkins game would be it for sure.
 

Dave Winfield was Shohei before Shohei. In the 1973 College World Series semifinal against USC he went the first 8 innings, allowing only an infield single while striking out 15 against a Trojans team that included future major leaguers Fred Lynn, Roy Smalley, Rich Dauer and Steve Kemp. He left with one out in the 9th after throwing an incredible 140 pitches with a 7-0 lead that the Gophers bullpen somehow blew.

He was dominant in his first CWS start earlier in the week as well, throwing a complete game shutout, allowing only 6 hits with 14 strikeouts vs. Oklahoma. He also happened to hit .467 and was named MOP of the tournament.

Editor's Note: I just realized this was probably a question of dominant football performances rather than of Gophers across any sport, but my Winfield nomination stands.
 
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Joel Pryzbilla 33 and 14 against Indiana,

Mohammed Ibrahim against Iowa (if it didn't end in a fumble). I think the interception the next drive around the goal line is what cost the game winning field goal to lose 13-10. However 39 carries for 263 yards in brutally cold weather. Probably would have been 40 if not for the interception.
 



I'd be remiss if I didn't include the best Gophers performance I ever saw in person: Bobby Jackson against Clemson in the '97 Sweet 16: 36 points and 9 boards in an ironman 49 minutes. He refused to let that team lose. An absolutely brilliant game from a briliant player.
 



WindyCityGopher said:
I'd be remiss if I didn't include the best Gophers performance I ever saw in person: Bobby Jackson against Clemson in the '97 Sweet 16: 36 points and 9 boards in an ironman 49 minutes. He refused to let that team lose. An absolutely brilliant game from a briliant player.
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Came here to say exactly this.
 






If we're looking at football there are so many standouts from that 2019 season that could probably be picked as good options for the modern era. I think David Cobb and Mohamad Ibrahim had a couple games each where they put the team on their back and dragged them to victory.

Other sports, on the ice I'd say Adam Wilcox was amazing in the Frozen Four game against North Dakota. UND was attacking hard all game and Wilcox only allowed one goal. Made 0.6 possible.

On the basketball court, Jordan Murphy against Purdue (27 pts, 8 rbs, 4 asts, 1 stl) in the Big Ten Tournament and Trevor Mbakwe against Indiana in 2013 (21 pts, 12 rbs, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 ast) were great recent ones.

Going back a bit more, you could look at a few of the games Thomas Vanek or Jordan Leopold played on the ice in early 2000s season. Bobby Jackson's Sweet 16 game against Clemson is another big one.
 


GopherMenace said:
Not Tanner Morgan fan boy but his stats in the 2019 game v Purdue were insane

21/22 396 yards 4 TDs and 0 INTs
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Great game. I think his 4th down throw, at Fresno State, in combination with Autman-Bell's catch, was perhaps the greatest individual football play, possibly in history. And I was never a huge Morgan fan. Given the circumstances, the down, the yardage, the time on the clock, the fact that no person could catch that ball other than CAB, it was a perfect throw. How CAB caught that ball, in bounds, ridiculous. Combine both individual plays, and you get one fantastic football play.
 


Neal Broten's 1979 NCAA Championship game winning goal vs No Dak
 
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Ho Jon said:
He was sooooo fun to watch run the ball. When he turned that corner, so sharply, to not go out, wow.
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Look at how big the OL splits are, great camera angle to show it. Also how slow the LB’s are. I know the uniform style will never come back because of shoulder pad design, but I love the big TV numbers on top, and of course Darrell’s insane speed.
 


I think some are confusing "greatest play" for "greatest game" or "greatest achievement".

In terms of the achievements mentioned, so many either ring a bell for me or would be incredible to see. Probably some efforts bigger than this but in terms of ones that I have seen in person, the Eric Decker football game vs Cal in a losing effort in 2009 stands out, along with Maxx Williams' game vs Iowa in a huge blowout.
 



Lou Hudson -
During his senior year, he played with a cast on his shooting hand, but still averaged
19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting left-handed.
 

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