Greatest individual sports achievement in Gopher history.

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In the 1928 Minnesota-Wisconsin game, Wisconsin was ranked #1 in the country and needed to beat the Gophers in the final game of the season to clinch the Big Ten Conference.

Bronko Nagurski was recovering from two fractures in his vertebrae he suffered 5 weeks earlier. While injured Bronko still played both offense and defense. On defense, he blocked a pass, intercepted a pass, caused a fumbled, and recovered that fumble. On offense he rushed for the games only touchdown.

The Gophers won the game 6-0 denying the Badgers a B1G championship.
 
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Dave Winfield in the CWS gets a lot of chatter, and rightly so.

The best individual performance I've seen was Tyler Johnson vs Auburn. Dude had like 500 catches, including possibly the best receiving TD I've ever seen, for like half a million yards against a highly regarded defense.

Close 2nd for me would be Mo Ibrahim vs Iowa. I forget the exact year, but it was in Kinnick and he must have had 40 carries for a ton of yards against a very stout Iowa defense that KNEW he was getting the ball. Unfortunately, while driving for surely what was going to be the winning TD he fumbled deep in Iowa territory. Absolutely heroic effort, but ultimately couldn't finish the job.
 

Limiting my selection to something I saw in person (not on TV) - have to mention Voshan Lenard in a triple OT win over Iowa at Williams in March 1994. It was set up as Lenard's last game at the barn (but he ended up coming back for his senior year) and he did not disappoint, 38 points. The shot I will always remember came at the end of the first overtime, Gophers down by 3 and inbounding the ball after a timeout with about 5 seconds left on the clock. Everyone in the gym and everyone watching at home knew it was going to Voshon - he launched a long 3 with three guys hanging on him as time expired - swish!. He was not normally a big "rah-rah" or emotional guy, but have rarely seen a player so happy after a win as he ran around the court "high-fiving" the fans.
 



THE SAVAGE GOPHER said:
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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I remember Sweet Lou playing with the cast. I think it was a hard cast, which would no longer be allowed.
 

Bronko Nagurski being named All American at two positions (fullback and tackle) in the same season.
 

Bobek said:
I remember Sweet Lou playing with the cast. I think it was a hard cast, which would no longer be allowed.
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Did not the know hard casts were no longer allowed (but it makes sense). Saw an interview of Lou when he was with the Hawks in the NBA - said that playing with the cast in his collegiate senior year permanently altered his shooting. He was not complaining (he had a great HOF NBA career), but more of an explanation on how he developed his very well-regarded jump shot.
 




Stuff said:
In the 1928 Minnesota-Wisconsin game, Wisconsin was ranked #1 in the country and needed to beat the Gophers in the final game of the season to clinch the Big Ten Conference.

Bronko Nagurski was recovering from two fractures in his vertebrae he suffered 5 weeks earlier. While injured Bronko still played both offense and defense. On defense, he blocked a pass, intercepted a pass, caused a fumbled, and recovered that fumble. On offense he rushed for the games only touchdown.

The Gophers won the game 6-0 denying the Badgers a B1G championship.
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I think this one is the winner. In addition to rushing for the touchdown, wasnt it something ridiculous like a 6 play, 80+ yard touchdown drive where all 6 plays were Bronko rushes?
 

Not the greatest due to yardage and td totals, but Maroney had a 46 carry 5 catch game vs Purdue in a double OT win and four weeks later had 43 carry game vs Wisconsin.
 

bleedsmaroonandgold said:
I think this one is the winner. In addition to rushing for the touchdown, wasnt it something ridiculous like a 6 play, 80+ yard touchdown drive where all 6 plays were Bronko rushes?
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It was 6 straight rushes but they started the drive deep in Wisconsin territory because previously Bronko had both caused and recovered a fumble from the Wisconsin running back.
 





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