| 1938Minnesota Golden Gophers football | |
|---|---|
Big Ten champion | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 10 |
| Record | 6–2 (4–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Single-wing |
| MVP | Larry Buhler |
| Captain | Frank Twedell |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10Minnesota $ | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16Michigan | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17Northwestern | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 1 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented theUniversity of Minnesota in the1938 Big Ten Conference football season. In their seventh year under head coachBernie Bierman, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–2 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 97 to 38.[1]
GuardFrank Twedell was named anAll-American by theAssociated Press andUnited Press.[2] Twedell and quarterback Wilbur Moore were named All-Big Ten first team.[3]
FullbackLarry Buhler was awarded the Team MVP Award.[4]
Total attendance for the season was 237,000, which averaged to 47,400. The season high for attendance was againstMichigan.[5]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Washington* | W 15–0 | 50,000 | ||
| October 1 | Nebraska* |
| W 16–7 | 46,000 | |
| October 8 | Purdue |
| W 7–0 | 52,000 | |
| October 15 | Michigan |
| W 7–6 | 54,212 | |
| October 29 | at No. 12Northwestern | No. 2 | L 3–6 | 48,000 | |
| November 5 | Iowa | No. 12 |
| W 28–0 | 42,000 |
| November 12 | at No. 2Notre Dame* | No. 12 | L 0–19 | 55,245 | |
| November 19 | at No. 12Wisconsin | W 21–0 | 38,000 | ||
| |||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| •Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
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 coachBernie Bierman.[6]
Neither team scored in the first three quarters. Then, in the fourth quarter, Michigan drove 90 yards withPaul Kromer scoring on a short run for touchdown. Right endDanny 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.[7]