1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1938
| team = Minnesota Golden Gophers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| short_conf = Big Ten
| APRank = 10
| record = 6–2
| conf_record = 4–1
| head_coach = Bernie Bierman
| hc_year = 7th
| off_scheme = Single-wing
| def_scheme =
| mvp = Larry Buhler
| captain = Frank Twedell
| stadium = Memorial Stadium
| champion = Big Ten champion
}}
{{1938 Big Ten Conference football standings}}
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.{{cite web|title=1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=November 1, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1938-schedule.html}}
Guard Frank Twedell was named an All-American by the Associated Press and United Press.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 179 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Twedell and quarterback Wilbur Moore were named All-Big Ten first team.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 180 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Fullback Larry Buhler was awarded the Team MVP Award.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 181 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Total attendance for the season was 237,000, which averaged to 47,400. The season high for attendance was against Michigan.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 160 | year = 2007 | url = http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1938
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Washington
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| score = 15–0
| attend = 50,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Nebraska
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 16–7
| attend = 46,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| w/l = w
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| score = 7–0
| attend = 52,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Michigan
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| gamename = Little Brown Jug
| score = 7–6
| attend = 54,212
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = Northwestern
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| score = 3–6
| attend = 48,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| w/l = w
| rank = 12
| opponent = Iowa
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 28–0
| attend = 42,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 12
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
| score = 0–19
| attend = 55,245
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium
| site_cityst = Madison, WI
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 21–0
| attend = 38,000
}}
}}
Game summaries
=Michigan=
{{AFB game box start
| Title = Week 3: Michigan at Minnesota
| Visitor = Michigan
| Host = Minnesota
| V1 =0 | V2 =0| V3 =0| V4 =6
| H1 =0 | H2 =0| H3 =0| H4 =7
| Date = October 15, 1938
| Location = Memorial Stadium
Minneapolis
| StartTime =
| ElapsedTime =
| Attendance =
| Weather =
| Referee =
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
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.{{cite web|title=Michigan vs. Minnesota|publisher=David DeLassus|work=College Football Data Warehouse|access-date=May 25, 2015|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=2030|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524095939/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=2030|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite news|title=Minnesota Rally Nips Michigan, 7-6; Both Teams Score in Final Period, Gophers on Pass--55,000 Watch the Fray |newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 12, 1939|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/10/16/archives/minnesota-rally-nips-michigan-76-both-teams-score-in-final-period.html}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers football navbox}}
{{Big Ten Conference football champions}}
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons