Login
Login

1973 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1973

| team = Minnesota Golden Gophers

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Big Ten Conference

| short_conf = Big Ten

| record = 7–4

| conf_record = 6–2

| head_coach = Cal Stoll

| hc_year = 2nd

| mvp = Steve Neils

| mvp2 = Matt Herkenhoff

| captain = Mike Steidl

| stadium = Memorial Stadium

}}

{{1973 Big Ten Conference football standings}}

The 1973 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1973 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Cal Stoll, the Golden Gophers compiled a 7–4 record but were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 295 to 260.{{cite web|title=1973 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/1973-schedule.html}}

End Steve Neils and offensive tackle Matt Herkenhoff shared the team's Most Valuable Player award. Neils and end Keith Fahnhorst were named All-Big Ten first team. Offensive guard Darrel Bunge and wide receiver Rick Upchurch were named All-Big Ten second team. Defensive lineman Jeff Gunderson was named Academic All-Big Ten.{{Citation | last = Keiser | first = Jeff | title = 2007 Media Guide | pages = 179–182 | 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 245,706, which averaged to 40,951. The season high for attendance was against Nebraska.{{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=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1973

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 15

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Ohio State

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| score = 7–56

| attend = 86,005

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 22

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1973|team=North Dakota Fighting Sioux|title=North Dakota}}

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| score = 41–14

| attend = 35,477

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 29

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Kansas

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS

| score = 19–34

| attend = 30,205

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Nebraska

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 7–48

| attend = 56,782

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| w/l = w

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| score = 24–3

| attend = 37,710

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Kinnick Stadium

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 31–23

| attend = 55,137

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| w/l = l

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 4

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename = Little Brown Jug

| score = 7–34

| attend = 44,435

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| score = 52–43

| attend = 30,081

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| w/l = w

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| score = 34–7

| attend = 36,890

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Illinois

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 19–16

| attend = 34,438

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 24

| w/l = w

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 19–17

| attend = 34,412

}}

}}

Game summaries

=At Ohio State=

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Minnesota Golden Gophers|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Minnesota Golden Gophers (0–0) at #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0)

|date=September 15

|time=

|road=Minnesota

|R1= 0|R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=0

|home=Ohio State

|H1=14 |H2=21 |H3=7 |H4=14

|stadium=Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

|attendance=86,005

|weather={{convert|74|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/73-1-Minnesota.pdf Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • OSU – Champ Henson 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 10:24. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
  • OSU – Cornelius Greene 4-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 8:44. Ohio State 14–0. Drive:

Second quarter

  • MINN – John King 1-yard run (Steve Goldberg kick), 12:59. Ohio State 14–7. Drive:
  • OSU – Archie Griffin 93-yard kickoff return (Blair Conway kick), 12:45. Ohio State 21–7.
  • OSU – Champ Henson 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:51. Ohio State 28–7. Drive:
  • OSU – Brian Baschnagel 5-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:00. Ohio State 35–7. Drive:

Third quarter

  • OSU – Neal Colzie 78-yard punt return (Blair Conway kick), 5:36. Ohio State 42–7.

Fourth quarter

  • OSU – Champ Henson 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 10:39. Ohio State 49–7. Drive:
  • OSU – Billy Ezzo 55-yard pass from Greg Hare (Blair Conway kick), 1:51. Ohio State 56–7. Drive:

|stats=

;Top passers

  • MINN – John Lawing – 5/9, 31 yards, INT
  • OSU – Greg Hare – 2/2, 64 yards, TD

;Top rushers

  • MINN – John King – 17 rushes, 51 yards, TD
  • OSU – Archie Griffin – 15 rushes, 129 yards

;Top receivers

  • MINN – Keith Fahnhorst – 3 receptions, 23 yards
  • OSU – Billy Ezzo – 1 reception, 55 yards, TD

}}

=North Dakota=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

=At Kansas=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

=Nebraska=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

=Indiana=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

=At Iowa=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Minnesota

|V1=6 |V2=16 |V3= 2|V4=7

|Host=Iowa

|H1=14 |H2=3 |H3=6 |H4=0

|Date=October 20

|Location=Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=55,137

|Weather=

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= yes|Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=IOWA |Event=Jensen 3-yard run (Kokolus kick) |Score= Iowa 7–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Powell 46-yard run (kick failed) |Score= Iowa 7–6}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=IOWA |Event= Jensen 54-yard run (Kokolus kick) |Score= Iowa 14–6}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Lawing 1-yard run (Henrickson pass from Lawing) |Score= Tie 14–14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=IOWA |Event=Kokolus 22-yard field goal |Score= Iowa 17–14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Upchurch 3-yard run (Sims pass from Dungy) |Score= Minnesota 22–17}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team= IOWA|Event=Fetter 10-yard pass from Ousley (pass failed) |Score=Iowa 23–22}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event= Safety|Score= Minnesota 24–23}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Dungy 10-yard run (Goldberg kick) |Score=Minnesota 31–23 |LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{Clear}}

=Michigan=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

=At Northwestern=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Minnesota

|V1=7 |V2=14|V3=21 |V4=10

|Host=Northwestern

|H1=7 |H2= 7|H3=14 |H4=15

|Date=November 3

|Location=Dyche Stadium • Evanston, Illinois

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather=

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team= NW|Event=Craig 18-yard pass from Anderson (Blazevich kick) |Score= Northwestern 7-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team= MINN|Event=J. Jones 4-yard run (Goldberg kick) |Score= Tie 7-7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=NW |Event=Craig 19-yard pass from Anderson (Blazevich kick) |Score= Northwestern 14-7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Upchurch 5-yard run (Goldberg kick) |Score= Tie 14-14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Upchurch 5-yard run (Goldberg kick) |Score= Minnesota 21-14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=NW |Event=Stevens 21-yard pass from Anderson (Blazevich kick) |Score= Tie 21-21}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=M. Jones 40-yard pass from Lawing (Goldberg kick) |Score= Minnesota 28-21}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=M. Jones 48-yard pass from Lawing (Goldberg kick) |Score= Minnesota 35-21}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Lawing 5-yard run (Goldberg kick) |Score= Minnesota 42-21}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= 3|Time= |Team=NW |Event=Key 12-yard run (Blazevich kick) |Score= Minnesota 42-28}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= 4|Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Goldberg 35-yard field goal |Score= Minnesota 45-28}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= 4|Time= |Team=NW |Event=Harris 13-yard pass from Anderson (Blazevich kick) |Score= Minnesota 45-35}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= 4|Time= |Team= MINN|Event=M. Jones 48-yard pass from Lawing (Goldberg kick) |Score= Minnesota 52-35}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= 4|Time= |Team= NW|Event= Frederickson 20-yard pass from Anderson (Harris pass from Anderson) |Score= Minnesota 52-43|LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

Palm Beach Post. 1973 Nov 4.

{{Clear}}

=Purdue=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Purdue

|V1= 0|V2= 0|V3=7 |V4=0

|Host=Minnesota

|H1=17 |H2=10 |H3=0 |H4=7

|Date=November 10

|Location=Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=36,890

|Weather=

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=John Lawing 1-yard run (Steve Goldberg kick) |Score= MINN 7-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Goldberg 32-yard field goal |Score= MINN 10-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Rick Upchurch 21-yard run (Steve Goldberg kick) |Score= MINN 17-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=John Lawing 1-yard run (Steve Goldberg kick) |Score= MINN 24-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Steve Goldberg 43-yard field goal |Score= MINN 27-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=PUR |Event=Bobrowski 1-yard run (Conner kick) |Score= MINN 27-7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=MINN |Event=Holmes 1-yard run (Steve Goldberg kick) |Score=MINN 34-7 |LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

"Gophers Shock Purdue." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Nov 11.

{{Clear}}

=At Illinois=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

=Wisconsin=

{{Empty section|date=December 2020}}

Personnel

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1973

| team = Minnesota Golden Gophers

| teamcolors = y

| offensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Darrel|last=Bunge|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dan|last=Christensen|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Tony|last=Dungy|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Keith|last=Fahnhorst|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Gil|last=Fash|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Vince|last=Fuller|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dale|last=Hegland|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dale|last=Henricksen|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=72|class=Sr|first=Matt|last=Herkenhoff|pos=OT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Buddy|last=Holmes|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=John|last=Jones|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Jones|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=John|last=King|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=John|last=Lawing|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Larry|last=Powell|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Jeff|last=Selleck|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Greg|last=Shoff|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=71|class=Sr|first=Dave|last=Simonson|pos=OT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=40|class=Jr|first=Rick|last=Upchurch|pos=RB|link=y}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Ollie|last=Bakken|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=22|class=So|first=Doug|last=Beaudoin|pos=DB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Greg|last=Engebos|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Orville|last=Gilmore|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Paul|last=Glanton|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Jeff|last=Gunderson|pos=DL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=97|class=Sr|first=Steve|last=Neils|pos=DE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Todd|last=Randall|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Keith|last=Simons|pos=DL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Steldl|pos=LB}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Steve|last=Goldberg|pos=K}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-mtt-73-74.html

| head_coach = *Cal Stoll

| asst_coach =

| accessdate= 2018-03-11

}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Minnesota Golden Gophers football navbox}}

Minnesota

Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons

Minnesota Golden Gophers football