# 1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 1989 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach John Gutekunst, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 283 to 263.
Kicker Brent Berglund, offensive lineman Dan Liimata, tailback Darrell Thompson and defensive tackle Mike Sunvold were named All-Big Ten second team. Punter Brent Herbel was named Academic All-American. Running back Pat Cummings, punter Brent Herbel, offensive lineman Dan Liimatta, offensive lineman Jon Melander, quarterback Scott Schaffner and linebacker Joel Staats were named Academic All-Big Ten.
Darrell Thompson was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award and Bruce Smith Award. Linebacker Eddie Miles was awarded the Carl Eller Award. Brent Berglund was awarded the Bobby Bell Award. Dan Liimatta was awarded the Butch Nash Award. Jon Melander was awarded the Paul Giel Award.
Total attendance for the season was 237,552, which averaged out to 39,592 per game. The season high for attendance was against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 16 | 1:00 pm | at Iowa State* | Cyclone StadiumAmes, IA | | W 30–20 | 45,410 |
| September 23 | 5:00 pm | No. 3 Nebraska* | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | | L 0–48 | 58,368 |
| September 30 | 1:30 pm | Indiana State* | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | | W 34–14 | 34,280 |
| October 7 | 1:30 pm | Purdue | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | | W 35–15 | 36,621 |
| October 14 | 1:00 pm | at Northwestern | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | | W 20–18 | 26,849 |
| October 21 | 1:00 pm | at Indiana | Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN | | L 18–28 | 51,069 |
| October 28 | 2:30 pm | Ohio State | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | ABC | L 37–41 | 33,945 |
| November 4 | 1:30 pm | Wisconsin | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN (Paul Bunyan's Axe) | | W 24–22 | 39,325 |
| November 11 | 12:00 pm | at Michigan State | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | | L 7–21 | 73,259 |
| November 18 | 11:30 am | No. 3 Michigan | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug) | ESPN | L 15–49 | 35,013 |
| November 25 | 1:05 pm | at Iowa | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA (rivalry) | | W 43–7 | 67,700 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Purdue

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Purdue | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 7, 1989
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 36,621
* Darrell Thompson injured right knee midway through first quarter and did not return
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Purdue | Passing | Jeff Lesniewicz | 13/19, 191 Yds, TD, INT |
| Purdue | Rushing | | |
| Purdue | Receiving | | |
| Minnesota | Passing | Scott Schaffner | 9/19, 144 Yds, 2 TD |
| Minnesota | Rushing | Marcus Evans | 102 Yds, TD |
| Minnesota | Receiving | | |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PUR | MINN |
| 1 | | | | | Minnesota | Darrell Thompson 7-yard touchdown run, kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Purdue | 51-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 4:16 | | 84 | | Minnesota | Marcus Evans 2-yard touchdown run, kick good | 3 | 14 |
| 3 | | 2 | | | Minnesota | James King 34-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good | 3 | 21 |
| 3 | | | | | Minnesota | Shane Strain 32-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good | 3 | 28 |
| 4 | | | | | Minnesota | Marquel Fleetwood 3-yard touchdown run, kick good | 3 | 35 |
| 4 | 5:17 | | | | Purdue | Jerome Sparkman 20-yard touchdown run, 2-point conversion failed | 9 | 35 |
| 4 | 0:00 | | | | Purdue | Rod Dennis 37-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Lesniewicz, 2-point conversion failed | 15 | 35 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 15 | 35 |

### Ohio State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St | 0 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 41 |
| Minnesota | 17 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 37 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 28
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 33,945
* Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
MINN – Darrell Thompson 12-yard run (Brent Berglund kick), 12:11. Minnesota 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 28 yards, 1:18.
MINN – Brent Berglund 30-yard field goal, 4:17. Minnesota 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 9 yards, 3:00.
MINN – Sean Lumpkin 85-yard fumble return (Brent Berglund kick), 3:07. Minnesota 17–0.
Second quarter
MINN – Steve Rhem 29-yard pass from Scott Schaffner (Brent Berglund kick), 9:50. Minnesota 24–0. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:40.
MINN – Chris Gaiters 5-yard pass from Scott Schaffner (Brent Berglund kick), 4:29. Minnesota 31–0. Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 3:36.
OSU – Carlos Snow 1-yard run (pass good), 0:10. Minnesota 31–8. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:19.
Third quarter
OSU – Pat O'Morrow 25-yard field goal, 10:04. Minnesota 31–11. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:56.
OSU – Carlos Snow 15-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 0:20. Minnesota 31–18. Drive: 11 plays, 98 yards, 4:52.
Fourth quarter
MINN – Brent Berglund 32-yard field goal, 11:24. Minnesota 34–18. Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards, 3:56.
OSU – Carlos Snow 27-yard pass from Greg Frey (pass good), 9:51. Minnesota 34–26. Drive: 4 plays, 46 yards, 1:33.
MINN – Brent Berglund 42-yard field goal, 5:15. Minnesota 37–26. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 2:10.
OSU – Greg Frey 1-yard run (pass good), 3:04. Minnesota 37–34. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 2:11.
OSU – Jeff Graham 15-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 0:51. Ohio St 41–37. Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 1:01.
Top passers
OSU – Greg Frey – 20/31, 362 yards, 3 TD, INT
MINN – Scott Schaffner – 13/18, 154 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
OSU – Carlos Snow – 23 rushes, 74 yards, TD
MINN – Darrell Thompson – 29 rushes, 133 yards, TD
Top receivers
OSU – Jeff Graham – 6 receptions, 104 yards, TD
MINN – Steve Rhem – 3 receptions, 43 yards, TD :

### Wisconsin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 15 | 22 |
| Minnesota | 10 | 14 | 24 |
* Date: November 4, 1989
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 39,325
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wisconsin | Passing | | |
| Wisconsin | Rushing | Robert Williams | 21 Rush, 129 Yds, TD |
| Wisconsin | Receiving | | |
| Minnesota | Passing | | |
| Minnesota | Rushing | Darrell Thompson | 32 Rush, 143 Yds, TD |
| Minnesota | Receiving | | |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | WISC | MINN |
| 1 | 10:20 | 11 | 86 | | Minnesota | Darrell Thompson 1-yard touchdown run, Brent Berglund kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:38 | | | | Wisconsin | Lionell Crawford 2-yard touchdown run, kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:00 | | | | Minnesota | 39-yard field goal by Bert Berglund | 7 | 10 |
| | | | | | Wisconsin | Touchdown | 14 | 10 |
| | | | | | Minnesota | Chris Gaiters 17-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, Bert Berglund kick good | 14 | 17 |
| | | | | | Minnesota | Interception returned 73 yards for touchdown by Ron Goetz, Bert Berglund kick good | 14 | 24 |
| | | | 80 | | Wisconsin | Robert Williams 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good | 22 | 24 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 22 | 24 |

### Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan | 0 | 28 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: November 18, 1989
* Game time: 11:30 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 35,103
* Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
* TV: ESPN
* Box Score
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Michigan | Passing | Michael Taylor | 12/16, 231 Yds, 4 TD |
| Michigan | Rushing | Leroy Hoard | 11 Rush, 90 Yds, TD |
| Michigan | Receiving | Greg McMurtry | 7 Rec, 165 Yds, 3 TD |
| Minnesota | Passing | Marquel Fleetwood | 11/23, 100 Yds, 2 INT |
| Minnesota | Rushing | Darrell Thompson | 18 Rush, 50 Yds, TD |
| Minnesota | Receiving | Pat Tinglehoff | 7 Rec, 77 Yds |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | MICH | MINN |
| 1 | 10:08 | 12 | 76 | 4:52 | Minnesota | Darrell Thompson 1-yard touchdown run, Brent Berglund kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | 9:24 | 7 | 88 | 3:23 | Michigan | Greg McMurtry 34-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | 4:14 | 5 | 59 | 1:43 | Michigan | Greg McMurtry 34-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 2 | 2:06 | 1 | 44 | 0:15 | Michigan | Leroy Hoard 29-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good | 21 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:45 | 3 | 75 | 0:23 | Michigan | Greg McMurtry 25-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good | 28 | 7 |
| 3 | 9:48 | 10 | 77 | 5:12 | Michigan | Allen Jefferson 3-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good | 35 | 7 |
| 3 | 0:00 | 10 | 36 | 5:10 | Minnesota | Marquel Fleetwood 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good | 35 | 15 |
| 4 | 11:03 | 8 | 80 | 3:57 | Michigan | Allen Jefferson 15-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good | 42 | 15 |
| 4 | 3:43 | 6 | 60 | 3:07 | Michigan | Desmond Howard 19-yard touchdown reception from Elvis Grbac, Gulam Khan kick good | 49 | 15 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 49 | 15 |

### At Iowa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota | 7 | | | 30 | 37 |
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
* Date: November 25, 1989
* Game time: 1:05 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 67,700
* TV: None
* First win versus Iowa since 1984
* Biggest win versus Iowa since 1949
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Minnesota | Passing | | |
| Minnesota | Rushing | Darrell Thompson | 122 Yds |
| Minnesota | Receiving | | |
| Iowa | Passing | | |
| Iowa | Rushing | Nick Bell | 19 Rush, 133 Yds |
| Iowa | Receiving | | |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | MINN | IOWA |
| 1 | | | | | Minnesota | Chris Gaiters 14-yard touchdown reception from Darrell Thompson, Brent Berglund kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | | | | | Iowa | Mike Saunders 12-yard touchdown reception from Matt Rodgers, kick good | | 7 |
| 4 | | | | | Minnesota | Marquel Fleetwood 22-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed | 19 | 7 |
| 4 | | | | | Minnesota | 39-yard field goal by Brent Berglund | 22 | 7 |
| 4 | 8:45 | | | | Minnesota | Interception returned 30 yards for touchdown by Eddie Miles, kick good | 29 | 7 |
| 4 | 4:42 | | | | Minnesota | James King 5-yard touchdown run, kick good | 36 | 7 |
| 4 | | 4 | | | Minnesota | Marcus Evans 1-yard touchdown run, kick good | 43 | 7 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 43 | 7 |