1980 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

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1980
Marion Barber, Jr.
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
1980 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Michigan $ 8 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 15 Ohio State 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 17 Purdue 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Iowa 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Minnesota 4 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Indiana 3 – 5 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Illinois 3 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 1
Michigan State 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 0 – 9 – 0 0 – 11 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from
AP Poll

The 1980 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1980 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Joe Salem, the Golden Gophers finished in fifth place in the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten), compiled a 5–6 record (4–5 against Big Ten opponents), and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 250 to 210.[1]

The team's statistical leader included quarterback Tim Salem (son of head coach Joe Salem) with 887 passing yards, fullback Garry White with 959 rushing yards, Chester Cooper with 210 receiving yards, and tailback Marion Barber Jr. with 66 points scored.[2] Several Minnesota players also ranked among the Big Ten leaders in various statistical categories, including the following:

  • Marion Barber led the Big Ten with 11 rushing touchdowns and ranked seventh with 769 rushing yards.[3]
  • Garry White ranked second in the Big Ten with 5.4 yards per rushing attempt, third with nine rushing touchdowns and 1,136 yards from scrimmage, and fourth with 959 rushing yards.[3]
  • Tim Salem ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 13 interceptions, eighth with a 47.6 pass completion percentage and ninth with 887 passing yards and an 80.1 passer efficiency rating.[3]

Marion Barber was the team captain and received the team's Most Valuable Player award. Barber, fullback Garry White, and defensive end Jeff Schuh were named All-Big Ten first team. Offensive guard Ken Dallafoir, free safety Mike Robb, linebacker Jeff Schuh, and defensive tackle Dana Noel were named All-Big Ten second team. Defensive lineman Brent Harms, defensive lineman Fred Orgas and free safety Mike Robb were named Academic All-Big Ten.[4]

Total attendance for the season was 265,105, which averaged to 44,184. The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 13Ohio*
W 38–1435,114
September 20at No. 2 Ohio State
L 0–4787,916
September 27No. 5 USC*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
L 7–2455,115
October 4at Northwestern
W 49–2117,747
October 11at Purdue
L 7–2169,399
October 18Michigandagger
L 14–3756,297
October 25Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 24–658,158
November 1at Illinois
W 21–1851,202
November 8Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 31–730,092
November 15Michigan State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
L 12–3030,329
November 22at Wisconsin
L 7–2554,229
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1980 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 41 Marion Barber Jr. Sr
WR 85 Ken Hughes Fr
G 65 Bill Humphries So
WR 1 Kelvin Jenkins Sr
OT 79 Wally Kersten Jr
QB 2 Jeff Kleinheinz Fr
OT 69 Kent Penovich Sr
QB 10 Tim Salem Fr
TE 81 Randy Sonnenfeld Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 89 Jim Fahnhorst Jr
DT 75 Jim Olsonoski Fr
DE 96 Jeff Schuh Sr
DE 59 John Wood So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Jim Gallery
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

Ohio

On September 13, Minnesota defeated the

Marion Barber, Jr. also rushed for 127 yards, and Garry White scored three touchdowns to lead the Golden Gophers.[6]

At Ohio State

On September 20, in its first game against a Big Ten opponent, Minnesota lost to Ohio State (AP No. 2), 47–0, before the largest crowd (87,916) in Ohio Stadium history. Ohio State led, 33–0, at halftime in the one-sided contest. Minnesota running back Garry White fumbled twice, and quarterback Tim Salem threw three interceptions to help the Buckeyes' cause.[7]

USC

On September 27, Minnesota lost to USC (AP No. 5), 24–7, in Minneapolis. The game drew a crowd of 55,115, the largest to attend a Minnesota football game in seven years. 1981 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen rushed for 216 yards on 42 carries and scored two touchdowns for USC.[8]

At Northwestern

On October 4, the week's only conference game matched Minnesota against

Marion Barber, Jr. (118 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and Garry White (129 rushing yards, two touchdowns).[9]

At Purdue

On October 11, Purdue defeated Minnesota, 21–7, in West Lafayette. In the first half, Purdue took a 21-0 lead, as Mark Herrmann completed 14 of 19 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Purdue was shut out in the second half, and Herrmann had only 28 passing yards in the second half, but Purdue's 21 points in the first half were enough for the victory.[10]

Michigan

Week 6: Michigan at Minnesota
1 234Total
• Michigan 7 1677 37
Minnesota 0 707 14
  • Date: October 18
  • Location: Minneapolis
  • Game attendance: 56,297
Scoring summary
1MICHButch Woolfolk 27-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh)MICH 7-0
2MINNMarion Barber 2-yard run (Galley kick)TIE 7-7
2MICHHaji-Sheikh 45-yard field goalMICH 10-7
23:27MICHWoolfolk 10-yard run (Haji-Sheikh kick)MICH 17-7
20:25MICHHaji-Sheikh 29-yard field goalMICH 20-7
20:02MICHHaji-Sheikh 19-yard field goalMICH 23-7
3MICHAnthony Carter 23-yard pass from John Wangler (Haji-Sheikh kick)MICH 30-7
4MINNBarber 1-yard run (Gallery kick)MICH 30-14
4MICHCarter 5-yard pass from Wangler (Haji-Sheikh kick)MICH 37-14

On October 18, Minnesota lost to Michigan, 37–14, on homecoming day at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. The crowd of 56,297 was the largest at Memorial Stadium since 1973.[11] Minnesota crowded the line of scrimmage to stop Michigan's run game, opening up the passing game. Michigan quarterback John Wangler completed 16 of 22 passes for 227 yards.[12]

In the first quarter, Michigan drove 80 yards on 11 plays, ending with a 27-yard touchdown run by Butch Woolfolk. The Golden Gophers tied the game early in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Marion Barber. Ali Haji-Sheikh put Michigan back in the lead with a 45-yard field goal.[12]

With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, Wangler threw an interception at Minnesota's 15-yard line. Two plays later, Barber fumbled, and Michigan recovered at the five-yard line. Woolfolk followed with his second touchdown on a one-yard run.

After a defensive hold, Haji-Sheikh kicked his second field goal with 25 seconds remaining in the half. Minnesota fumbled again on its next play from scrimmage, and Michigan recovered at the eight-yard line. Haji-Sheikh kicked his third field goal of the quarter. Michigan scored 13 points in the last three-and-a-half minutes of the half, including two field goals in the last 30 seconds, to take a 23–7 lead at halftime. After the game, Minnesota coach Joe Salem said: "It was unbelievable. Everything in the world that you could imagine going wrong happened to us in those last few minutes of the second quarter. The roof caved in."[11]

In the second half, Wangler threw two touchdown passes to Anthony Carter—a 27-yarder in the third quarter and a five-yarder in the fourth quarter. Carter, who faced man-to man-coverage for much of the game, caught nine passes for 142 yards in the game. After the game, coach Schembechler boasted that "Anthony Carter is the best receiver I've ever had. He's dynamite."[11] Carter added, "my eyes kind of light up when I see man-to-man coverage."[11]

Minnesota scored a fourth-quarter touchdown after Rich Hewlett turned the ball over on a fumble at Michigan's 20-yard line. Barber scored on a one-yard run.[12][11]

Iowa

On October 25, in the annual battle for the

Marion Barber, Jr. scored three rushing touchdowns for Minnesota.[13]

At Illinois

On November 1, Minnesota defeated

Marion Barber, Jr. and Garry White rushed for 162 and 103 yards, respectively.[14]

Indiana

On November 8, Minnesota defeated Indiana, 31–7, in Minneapolis. Indiana quarterback Tim Clifford was knocked out of the game in the first half by "a savage blindside tackle" by Jeff Schuh. Minnesota running back Garry White rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns.[15]

Michigan State

On November 15, Michigan State defeated Minnesota, 30–12, before a crowd of 30,329 in Minneapolis. Michigan State quarterback John Leister passed for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Minnesota quarterback Tim Salem completed only 5 of 15 passes, threw two interceptions, and fumbled twice.[16]

At Wisconsin

Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–5) at Wisconsin Badgers (3–7)
Period 1 2 34Total
Minnesota 7 0 007
Wisconsin 6 0 61325

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Date: November 22, 1980
  • Game attendance: 54,229
  • [17]

On November 22, in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan' Axe, Wisconsin defeated Minnesota, 25–7, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Wisconsin quarterback, Jess Cole, in his second start, scored four touchdowns.[18] Tim Salem was injured when he was tackled throwing a pass in the second quarter and did not return.[19]

References

  1. ^ "1980 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "1980 Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "1980 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  4. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Minnesota 38, Ohio U. 14". Akron Beacon Journal. September 14, 1980. p. C7.
  7. ^ "OSU slams Gophers, 47–0". Detroit Free Press. September 21, 1980. p. 1G, 5G.
  8. ^ Mal Florence (September 28, 1980). "Marcus Allen Has a Big Day at Minnesota". Los Angeles Times. p. III-1.
  9. ^ "Barber-led Minnesota overwhelms Northwestern, 49–21". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1980. p. 3E.
  10. ^ "Purdue, Too". The Indianapolis Star. October 12, 1980. p. 4-1, 4-12.
  11. ^
    Newspapers.com
    .
  12. ^ a b c Mick McCabe (October 19, 1980). "U-M jars Gophers for Jug, 37-14". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 15H.
  13. ^ "Hawkeyes commit 'offensive suicide,'24-6". Des Moines Register. October 26, 1980. pp. 1D–2D.
  14. ^ Jim Barnhart (November 2, 1980). "Illinois passes football; Minnesota passes Illini". The Pantagraph. p. B3.
  15. ^ "I.U.'s forecast: cold December". The Indianapolis Star. November 9, 1980. p. 4-1, 4-7.
  16. ^ James Tinney (November 16, 1980). "'Start season now,' say surging Spartans". Lansing State Journal. p. C1.
  17. ^ "Wisconsin 25, Minnesota 7". UPI Archives. November 22, 1980. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "Wisconsin 25, Minnesota 7". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 23, 1980. p. 5H.
  19. ^ "Wisconsin 25, Minnesota 7". UPI Archives. November 22, 1980. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
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