Minnesota Golden Gophers football under Joe Salem The Minnesota Golden Gophers were coached by Joe Salem for five seasons from 1979 to 1983 . In those five season 19 wins , 35 losses and one tie . In the Big Ten , they won 12 games , lost 32 and tied one . Six players were named All - Big Ten first team . Thirteen players were named All - Big Ten second team . Fourteen players were named Academic All - Big Ten . 1979 . The 1979 season was the Golden Gophers ' first under head coach Joe Salem . The Golden Gophers won four games , lost six and tied one game . Total attendance for the season was 241 , 942 , which averaged to 40 , 323 . The season high for attendance was against Purdue . Split End Elmer Bailey was named All - Big Ten first team . Defensive lineman Alan Blanshan and offensive lineman Bill Humphries were named Academic All - Big Ten . Quarterback Mark Carlson was awarded the Team MVP Award . Elmer Bailey was awarded the Offensive MVP Award . Free safety Keith Edwards was awarded the Defensive MVP Award . 1980 . The 1980 season was the Golden Gophers ' second under head coach Joe Salem . The Golden Gophers won five games and lost six . Total attendance for the season was 265 , 105 , which averaged to 44 , 184 . The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa . Fullback Garry White , tailback Marion Barber Jr . and defensive end Jeff Schuh were named All - Big Ten first team . Offensive guard Ken Dallafoir , free safety Mike Robb , linebacker Jeff Schuh and defensive tackle Dana Noel were named All - Big Ten second team . Defensive lineman Brent Harms , defensive lineman Fred Orgas and free safety Mike Robb were named Academic All - Big Ten . Marion Barber Jr . was awarded the Team MVP Award . Garry White was awarded the Offensive MVP Award . Jeff Schuh was awarded the Defensive MVP Award . 1981 . The 1981 season was the Golden Gophers ' third under head coach Joe Salem . The Golden Gophers won six games and lost five . Total attendance for the season was 301 , 248 , which averaged to 43 , 035 . The season high for attendance was against Michigan . It was the final season in Memorial Stadium . Linebacker Jim Fahnhorst and offensive tackle Ken Dallafoir were named All - Big Ten first team . Flanker Chester Cooper , offensive lineman Bill Humphries , defensive end Karl Mecklenburg and defensive lineman Fred Orgas were named All - Big Ten second team . Defensive lineman Brent Harms , Defensive lineman Fred Orgas , free safety Mike Robb and safety Rick Witthus were named Academic All - Big Ten . Quarterback Mike Hohensee was awarded the Team MVP Award . Chester Cooper was awarded the Offensive MVP Award . Jim Fahnhorst was awarded the Defensive MVP Award . Game summaries . Oregon State . 1982 . The 1982 season was the Golden Gophers ' fourth under head coach Joe Salem . The Golden Gophers won three games and lost eight . Total attendance for the season was 413 , 200 , which averaged to 59 , 028 . The season high for attendance was against Iowa . It was the first season in the H . H . H . Metrodome . Offensive lineman Randy Rasmussen , offensive lineman Bill Humphries and defensive end Karl Mecklenburg were named All - Big Ten second team . Mecklenburg , defensive lineman Fred Orgas and fullback Bob Stroup were named Academic All - Big Ten . Quarterback Mike Hohensee was awarded the Team MVP Award . Randy Rasmussen was awarded the Offensive MVP Award . Karl Mecklenburg was awarded the Defensive MVP Award . 1983 . The 1983 season was the Golden Gophers ' fifth and final season under head coach Joe Salem . The Golden Gophers won one game and lost ten . Total attendance for the season was 243 , 674 , which averaged to 48 , 734 . The season high for attendance was against Wisconsin , although the game against Nebraska drew only two people less . Linebacker Peter Najarian was named All - Big Ten second team . Najarian and split end Fred Hartwig were named Academic All - Big Ten . Offensive Tackle Randy Rasmussen was awarded the Team MVP Award . Tight end Jay Carroll was awarded the Offensive MVP Award . Peter Najarian was awarded the Defensive MVP Award .