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1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

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1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Big Ten champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
APNo. 10
Record6–2 (4–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
MVPLarry Buhler
CaptainFrank Twedell
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1937
1939 →
1938 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Minnesota $ 4 1 0 6 2 0
No. 16 Michigan 3 1 1 6 1 1
Purdue 3 1 1 5 1 2
No. 17 Northwestern 2 1 2 4 2 2
Wisconsin 3 2 0 5 3 0
Ohio State 3 2 1 4 3 1
Illinois 2 3 0 3 5 0
Iowa 1 3 1 1 6 1
Indiana 1 4 0 1 6 1
Chicago 0 4 0 1 6 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1938 Big Ten Conference football season. In their seventh year under head coach Bernie Bierman, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–2 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 97 to 38.[1]

Guard Frank Twedell was named an All-American by the Associated Press and United Press.[2] Twedell and quarterback Wilbur Moore were named All-Big Ten first team.[3]

Fullback Larry Buhler was awarded the Team MVP Award.[4]

Total attendance for the season was 237,000, which averaged to 47,400. The season high for attendance was against Michigan.[5]

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 24Washington*W 15–050,000
October 1Nebraska*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 16–746,000
October 8Purdue
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 7–052,000
October 15Michigandagger
W 7–654,212
October 29at No. 12 NorthwesternNo. 2L 3–648,000
November 5IowaNo. 12
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 28–042,000
November 12at No. 2 Notre Dame*No. 12L 0–1955,245
November 19at No. 12 WisconsinW 21–038,000
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

[edit]

Michigan

[edit]
Week 3: Michigan at Minnesota
1 234Total
Michigan 0 006 6
Minnesota 0 007 7

On October 15, 1938, Minnesota defeated Michigan by a 7 to 6 score. The game was the 29th between the programs, with Minnesota having won the previous four games under head coach Bernie Bierman.[6]

Neither team scored in the first three quarters. Then, in the fourth quarter, Michigan drove 90 yards with Paul Kromer scoring on a short run for touchdown. Right end Danny Smick missed the kick for PAT, and Michigan led, 6 to 0. Later in the quarter, Tom Harmon fumbled at midfield, and the Golden Gophers recovered the loose ball. After Harmon's fumble, Minnesota halfback Harold Van Every threw a long pass to Bill Johnson who was downed at Michigan's 14-yard line. Minnesota's drive was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Van Every to halfback Wilbur Moore. Quarterback George Faust kicked the PAT to give Minnesota a one-point margin of victory. Michigan gained 157 rushing yards and 97 passing yards to outperform Minnesota's 91 rushing yards and 41 passing yards.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 179[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 180[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Michigan vs. Minnesota". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Minnesota Rally Nips Michigan, 7-6; Both Teams Score in Final Period, Gophers on Pass--55,000 Watch the Fray". The New York Times. November 12, 1939.