 The
University of Minnesota Twin Cities is the oldest and
largest part of the University of Minnesota school system.
Its student body is the second-largest in the United
States according to autumn 2005 statistics, with 51,175
students.
The University was originally built in
1851 and was located about a mile upstream of the Mississippi
river from where it stands today. The school had to
shut down following a financial crisis during the American
Civil War, but reopened in 1867. It was upgraded from
a preparatory school to a college in 1869.
Today's campus has buildings on both banks
of the river, but the East Bank is the main portion
of the campus and covers 307 acres. The West Bank of
the campus has been growing rapidly, first seeing major
development in the 1960s. The West Bank covers 53 acres
and is home to many arts buildings and the business
school.
Sports teams associated with the University of Minnesota
Twin Cities campus go by the Golden Gophers moniker.
The Gopher mascot is a tradition as old as the state.
Minnesota was tabbed the “Gopher State”
in 1857 and the University appropriately adopted the
animal as its mascot. However, the “Golden”
adjective has not always been a part of the Gopher nickname.
During the 1930s, the Gophers wore gold jerseys and
pants. Legendary KSTP-AM radio announcer Halsey Hall
coined the term “Golden Gophers” in reference
to the team’s all-gold attire on the field. The
term stuck and the University amended their formal moniker
to the Golden Gophers. Despite, the golden term, the
teams’ colors maroon, gold, and white.
The Gophers are members of the Big Ten Conference and
the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in the NCAA.
Most of the facilities that the teams use for training
and competitive play are located on the East Bank of
the Minneapolis campus. There are arenas for male and
female basketball (Williams Arena) as well as hockey
(Mariucci Arena and Ridder Arena). The Golden Gophers
football team plays at the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome,
home of the NFL Minnesota Vikings and MLB Minnesota
Twins, in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are a team
rich with history and success. The school has held recent
national championships in men's hockey (2002 and 2003),
women's hockey (2004 and 2005), wrestling (2001, 2002),
and men's golf (2002). The University of Minnesota has
a long tradition in football winning the National Championship
6 times (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960).
The rich history of the Golden Gopher
Football program is well known by most college football
fans. Winning six national championships and home to
many outstanding players, including Bronko Nagurski,
the only college football player ever voted to be an
All-American at two different positions in the same
season, and Bruce Smith, the winner of the 1941 Heisman
Trophy. Current coach Glen Mason is working hard to
bring another Championship to the Minnesota Golden Gophers
Football team.
The Golden Gopher Men’s Hockey team
is enveloped in deep tradition. Beginning in 1922,
the University of Minnesota has long been known as a
hockey stronghold. The Gophers have had many great players
skating on the University pond including the legendary
Herb Brooks, John Mariucci and Neal Broten. The hockey
team has several championship titles and will continue
to be strong for many years to come. Selling out Mariucci
arena to a sea of maroon and gold fans is a regular
occurrence for the Men’s Golden Gopher Hockey
team.
The Golden Gophers Men’s Basketball
team play their games at Williams Arena, which seats
14,000 fans, so fans are constantly clamoring for college
basketball tickets at Williams Arena. The Gophers have
been to Final Fours, won Big Ten titles, and produced
NBA legends like Kevin McHale, Flip Saunders and Bobby
Jackson. Despite any controversies surrounding the Gophers
basketball team, the most recent being an academic scandal
a few years ago, the Gopher Men’s Basketball team
is moving forward and doing things the right way. Coach
Dan Monson is working toward improving the talent level
and keeping the team in the hunt for the Big Ten title
and doing some damage in the NCAA Tournament. The Gopher
Basketball program has what it takes to put on a great
show.
Minnesota is an enormous school in a huge
market, so Golden Gophers tickets are extremely hot.
Whether you want to see the Football team at the big
Dome, the Men’s Basketball team at “The
Barn” or the Men’s Hockey team at Mariucci,
the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are sure
to impress! |
