# 1995 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 1995 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jim Wacker, the Golden Gophers compiled a 3–8 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 368 to 272.
Offensive guard Todd Jesewitz and linebacker Broderick Hall (American football) were named All-Big Ten second team. Defensive back Justin Conzemius was named Academic All-American second team. Kicker Mike Chalberg, defensive back Justin Conzemius, defensive tackle Troy Duerr, offensive lineman Chris Fowlkes, linebacker Peter Hiestand, offensive lineman Todd Jesewitz, quarterback Rob Jones, wide receiver Tony Levine, defensive tackle Antoine Richard, linebacker Craig Sauer, quarterback Cory Sauter, linebacker Jim Tallman, defensive end Dave Watson, linebacker Parc Williams and long snapper Scott Williams were named Academic All-Big Ten.
Craig Sauer was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award and Carl Eller Award. Cory Sauter was awarded the Bruce Smith Award. Mike Chalberg was awarded the Bobby Bell Award. Justin Conzemius was awarded the Butch Nash Award. Running back Chris Darkins was awarded the Paul Giel Award.
Total home attendance for the season was 291,173, which averaged out to 48,529 per game. The season high for attendance was against Wisconsin.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 16 | 6:00 pm | Ball State* | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis | MSC | W 31–7 | 48,420 |
| September 23 | 11:00 am | at Syracuse* | Carrier DomeSyracuse, New York | Creative | L 17–27 | 42,780 |
| September 30 | 6:00 pm | Arkansas State* | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis | MSC | W 55–7 | 42,472 |
| October 7 | 6:00 pm | Purdue | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis | | W 39–38 | 39,343 |
| October 14 | 6:00 pm | No. 14 Northwestern | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis | MSC | L 17–27 | 50,504 |
| October 21 | 12:00 pm | at Michigan State | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, Michigan | | L 31–34 | 70,123 |
| October 28 | 2:30 pm | at No. 9 Michigan | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, Michigan (Little Brown Jug) | ABC | L 17–52 | 104,929 |
| November 4 | 6:00 pm | No. 4 Ohio State | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis | ESPN2 | L 21–49 | 46,418 |
| November 11 | 6:00 pm | Wisconsin | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis (Paul Bunyan's Axe) | ESPN2 | L 27–34 | 64,016 |
| November 18 | 1:00 pm | at Illinois | Memorial StadiumChampaign, Illinois | | L 14-48 | 45,521 |
| November 25 | 1:05 pm | at Iowa | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale) | | L 3–45 | 65,794 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Ball State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ball State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: September 16, 1995
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
* Game attendance: 48,420
* Box Score

### Syracuse

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Syracuse | 3 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
at Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York
* Date: September 23, 1995
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 42,780
* TV: Creative
* Box Score

### Arkansas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Arkansas State | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Minnesota | 24 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 55 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: September 30, 1995
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
* Game attendance: 42,742
* Box Score

### Purdue

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Purdue | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 0 | 17 | 15 | 39 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 7, 1995
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
* Game attendance: 39,343
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PUR - Alstott 11 run (Bobich kick)
MIN - Sauter 1 run (Chalberg kick)
Second quarter
PUR - Bobich 19 FG
PUR - Alstott 1 run (Bobich kick)
Third quarter
MIN - Darkins 7 run (Chalberg kick)
PUR - Alstott 3 run (Bobich kick)
MIN - Darkins 45 run (Chalberg kick)
MIN - Chalberg 48 FG
PUR - Alford 78 pass from Trefzger (Bobich kick)
Fourth quarter
MIN - Darkins 24 run (Chalberg kick)
PUR - Trefzger 4 run (Bobich kick)
MIN - Sauter 1 run (Thelwell pass from Sauter)
Top Passers
PUR - Rick Trefzger - 13/24, 264 yards, 1 TD
MIN - Cory Sauter - 15/26, 142 yards, 1 INT
Top Rushers
MIN - Chris Darkins - 38 rushes, 294 yards, 3 TDs
PUR - *Mike Alstott 28 rushes, 133 yards, 3 TDs
Top Receivers
PUR - Brian Alford - 6 receptions, 172 yards, 1 TD
MIN - Ryan Thelwell - 6 receptions, 55 yards :

### Northwestern

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 3 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 14, 1995
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
* Game attendance: 50,504
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
NU - 3:49-Valenzisi 20 FG
MIN - 0:30-Kratochvil 4 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
Second quarter
MIN - 13:08-Darkins 6 run (Chalberg kick)
NU - 9:47-Valenzisi 29 FG
NU - 5:42-Autry 18 run (Bates pass from Schnur)
Third quarter
NU - 3:57-Autry 11 run (Valenzisi kick)
Fourth quarter
NU - 12:21-Autry 73 run (kick failed)
MIN - 8:51-Chalberg 47 FG
Top Rushers
MIN - Chris Darkins - 25 rushes, 75 yards, 1 TD
NU - Darnell Autry - 28 rushes, 169 yards, 3 TDs
Top Passers
MIN - Cory Sauter - 29/50, 303 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
NU - Steve Schnur - 13/23, 194 yards, 1 TD
Top Receivers
MIN - Ryan Thelwell - 10 receptions, 105 yards
MIN - Chris Darkins - 5 receptions, 55 yards
NU - D'Wayne Bates - 6 receptions, 100 yards
NU - Matt Hartl - 5 receptions, 64 yards :

### Michigan State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| Michigan State | 14 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
* Date: October 21, 1995
* Game time: 11:00 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 70,123
* Box Score

### Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Michigan | 21 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 52 |
at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
* Date: October 28, 1995
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 104,929
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
MICH - 8:04-Biakabutuka 52 run (Hamilton kick)
MICH - 7:30-Biakabutuka 16 run (Hamilton kick)
MICH - 4:47-Toomer 75 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick)
Second quarter
MIN - 2:38-Chalberg 30 FG
MIN - 0:47-Cooper 2 run (Chalberg kick)
Third quarter
MICH - 13:27-Toomer 52 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick)
MICH - 9:41-Hamilton 26 FG
MICH - 1:55-Howard 5 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick)
Fourth quarter
MICH - 11:59-Riemersma 6 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick)
MICH - 5:16-Williams 11 run (Hamilton kick)
MIN - 1:19-Nelson 13 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
Rushing
MIN - Rafael Cooper - 14/68, 1 TD
MICH - Tshimanga Biakabutuka - 19/196, 2 TDs
Passing
MIN - Cory Sauter - 39/20/2, 206 yards, 1 TD
MICH - Brian Griese - 19/14/0, 271 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving
MIN - Ryan Thelwell - 6/85
MIN - Johnny Woodson - 5/36
MICH - Amani Toomer - 5/177, 2 TDs
MICH - Mercury Hayes - 2/50 :

### Ohio State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio State | 7 | 28 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Minnesota | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: November 4, 1995
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
* Game attendance: 46,418
* Referee: Tom Quinn
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
MIN - Javon Jackson 9-yard run (Mike Chalberg kick)
OSU - Terry Glenn 39-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick)
MIN - Tutu Atwell 10-yard pass from Jason Murdock (Mike Chalberg kick)
Second quarter
OSU - Bobby Hoying 9-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
OSU - Eddie George 11-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
OSU - Pepe Pearson 18-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
OSU - Rickey Dudley 9-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick)
Third quarter
OSU - Eddie George 87-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
OSU - Eddie George 1-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
Fourth quarter
MIN - Lee Hutton 54-yard pass from Jason Murdock (Mike Chalberg kick)
Top Passers
OSU - Bobby Hoying - 16/24, 287 yards, 2 TDs
MIN - Jason Murdock - 13/27, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Top Rushers
OSU - Eddie George - 23 rushes, 178 yards, 3 TDs
OSU - Pepe Pearson - 12 rushes, 71 yards, 1 TD
Top Receivers
MIN - Tutu Atwell - 8 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD
OSU - Terry Glenn - 3 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD
Top Tacklers
OSU - Rob Kelly - 8 (6 solo, 2 assisted)
MIN - Justin Conzemius - 7 (7 solo)
Interceptions
OSU - 2 - Mike Vrabel (1), Anthony Gwinn (1) :

### Wisconsin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 34 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: November 11, 1995
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
* Game attendance: 64,016
* Box Score

### Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Illinois | 10 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 52 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
* Date: November 18, 1995
* Game time: 1:00 pm CST
* Game attendance: 45,521
* Box score
Game information :
Sources: Box score and Game recap
First quarter
ILL - 9:46-Cushing 40 pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)
ILL - 7:00-Scheuplein 44 FG
Second quarter
ILL - 14:23-M. Johnson 2 run (Scheuplein kick)
MIN - 3:06-Atwell 40 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
ILL - 0:56-J. Johnson 6 run (Scheuplein kick)
Third quarter
ILL - 6:00-Scheuplein 29 FG
MIN - 1:10-Cooper 2 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
Fourth quarter
ILL - 13:37-Dulick 6 pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)
ILL - 9:55-Rice 27 fumble return (Scheuplein kick)
ILL - 7:18-Holcombe 29 run (Scheuplein kick)
Top Rushers
MIN - Rafael Cooper - 29 rushes, 94 yards
MIN - Javon Jackson - 5 rushes, 34 yards
ILL - Robert Holcombe - 24 rushes, 206 yards, 1 TD
ILL - Ty Douthard - 8 rushes, 48 yards
Top Passers
MIN - Cory Sauter - 34/21, 242 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
ILL - Johnny Johnson - 22/11, 174 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
MIN - Johnny Woodson - 6 receptions, 74 yards
MIN - Tutu Atwell - 4 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
ILL - Jason Dulick - 4 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD
ILL - Matt Cushing - 2 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD :

### Iowa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Iowa | 7 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 45 |
at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
* Date: November 25, 1995
* Game time: 1:05 pm CST
* Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C), Sunny, Wind W 10 mph (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 65,794
* Referee: Jim Kemerling
* TV: ESPN
* Box score and Game recap