Minnesota Golden Gophers
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The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The Gophers compete in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's and women's ice hockey where the teams compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Team colors are maroon and gold. The name comes from a nickname for the state of Minnesota, "The Gopher State," which came from a political cartoon published in 1858, and the fact that the 1930s-era teams started the practice of wearing gold-colored uniforms.
The common sports between men and women include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, rowing, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and wrestling. Women's-specific sports include soccer, softball, and volleyball. Cheerleaders and a marching band or pep band are present at events for basketball, hockey, football, and volleyball. The cheerleaders and bands are also overseen by the university's athletic department.
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National titles
- Football:
- Six titles: 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960.
- Bowl game victories: 1962 Rose, 1985 Independence, 2002 Music City, 2003 Sun, 2004 Music City
- Baseball (NCAA): 1956, 1960 and 1964
- Men's ice hockey (NCAA): 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
- Men's golf: 2002
- Wrestling: 2001, 2002
- Outdoor track and field: 1948
- Women's ice hockey: 2004, 2005
- Men's basketball (National Invitation Tournaments): 1993, 1998
Traveling football trophies
- The Little Brown Jug [1] (http://www.gophersports.com/history/mfball/LittleBrownJug.asp?sport_id=mfball) – accidentally left in Minnesota back in 1903 by Michigan coach Fielding Yost, it is painted with the victories of the two teams
- Floyd of Rosedale [2] (http://www.gophersports.com/history/mfball/FloydofRosedale.asp?sport_id=mfball) – since 1935 the Gophers and the Iowa Hawkeyes have fought to win this bronze pig
- Paul Bunyan's Axe [3] (http://www.gophersports.com/history/mfball/PaulBunyanAxe.asp?sport_id=mfball) – Minnesota and the Wisconsin Badgers have passed this trophy back and forth since 1948, although it records the two teams' encounters since 1890
- Governor's Victory Bell [4] (http://www.gophersports.com/history/mfball/VictoryBell.asp?sport_id=mfball) – The newest of the four trophies, the bell was created to commemorate the 1993 entrance of Penn State's Nittany Lions into the Big Ten.
Famous Gopher athletes
Baseball
- Paul Molitor
- Dave Winfield (also played basketball at Minnesota)
Basketball
Men's
Women's
Football
- Bobby Bell
- Carl Eller
- Ric Flair (better known as a professional wrestler)
- Bud Grant (also played baseball and basketball at Minnesota, and played basketball professionally)
- Bronko Nagurski (most famous for football, but was also a professional wrestler)
- Bruce Smith
Hockey
Wrestling
- Shelton Benjamin (better known as a professional wrestler)
- Brock Lesnar (better known as a professional wrestler)
Unclassified
Facilities
- Baseline Tennis Center
- Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Soccer Stadium
- Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex
- Bierman Track Stadium
- University Fieldhouse
- Metrodome
- Jane Sage Cowles Softball Stadium
- Les Bolstad Golf Course
- Mariucci Arena
- Ridder Arena
- Siebert Field
- The Sports Pavilion
- Williams Arena
- U of M Aquatic Center