Minnesota Golden Gophers football under John Gutekunst The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was led for six full seasons from 1986 to 1991 by John Gutekunst . Coach Gutekunst also coached the Golden Gophers in the 1985 Independence Bowl . The team had a 29 – 36 – 2 overall record . In the Big Ten they had a record of 18 – 28 – 2 . Darrell Thompson was named Big Ten freshman of the year . Seven players were named All - Big Ten first team . Seventeen players were named All - Big Ten second team . Punter Brent Herbel was named Academic All - American first team . Twenty - two players were named Academic All - Big Ten . 1985 . When former Minnesota head coach Lou Holtz left the Golden Gophers to coach at Notre Dame , assistant John Gutekunst was tapped to coach the Golden Gophers in the 1985 Independence Bowl . Attendance was 42 , 845 . Quarterback Rickey Foggie was named offensive player of the game , while linebacker Bruce Holmes was named defensive player of the game . 1986 . The 1986 season was the Golden Gophers ' first season under head coach John Gutekunst . The Golden Gophers won six games and went to a second straight bowl game for the second time in school history ( the first being the 1961 and 1962 Rose Bowls ) . Total attendance for the season was 335 , 150 , which averaged out to 55 , 858 per game . The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa . Freshman tailback Darrell Thompson was named the Big Ten ' s freshman of the year . Thompson and kicker Chip Lohmiller were named All - Big Ten first team . Center Ray Hitchcock , Safety Larry Joyner and offensive linemen Jim Hobbins and Troy Wolkow were named All - Big Ten second team . Offensive lineman Paul Anderson , punter Brent Herbel and offensive lineman Jim Hobbins were named Academic All - Big Ten . Darrell Thompson was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award and Bruce Smith Award . Linebacker Mark Dusbabek was awarded the Carl Eller Award . Chip Lohmiller was awarded the Bobby Bell Award . Offensive tackle Anthony Burke was awarded the Butch Nash Award . Offensive tackle Norries Wilson was awarded the Paul Giel Award . 1987 . The 1987 season was the Golden Gophers ' second season under head coach John Gutekunst . The Golden Gophers won six games and lost five . Total attendance for the season was 371 , 809 , which averaged out to 55 , 116 per game . The season high for attendance was against rival Wisconsin . Offensive guard Troy Wilkow was named All - Big Ten first team . Offensive lineman Paul Anderson , quarterback Rickey Foggie , tailback Darrell Thompson , kicker Chip Lohmiller and linebacker Jon Leverenz were named All - Big Ten second team . Punter Brent Herbel and offensive lineman Dan Liimatta were named Academic All - Big Ten . Rickey Foggie was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award . Darrell Thompson was awarded the Bruce Smith Award . Jon Leverenz was awarded the Carl Eller Award . Chip Lohmiller was awarded the Bobby Bell Award . Linebacker Brian Bonner was awarded the Butch Nash Award . Offensive tackle Dan Rechtin was awarded the Paul Giel Award . 1988 . The 1988 season was the Golden Gophers ' third season under head coach John Gutekunst . The Golden Gophers won two games , lost seven and tied two . Total attendance for the season was 312 , 596 , which averaged out to 44 , 657 per game . The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa . The tie against Illinois was the last tie for the Golden Gophers and under current NCAA rules , it will be the last in Golden Gophers history . Punter Brent Herbel was named All - Big Ten second team . Punter Brent Herbel and offensive lineman Brent Liimatta were named Academic All - Big Ten . Wide receiver Chris Gaiters was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award . Split end Chris Gaiters was awarded the Bruce Smith Award . Chris Gaiters was selected as a 3rd team All - American . Strong safety Joel Brown was awarded the Carl Eller Award . Brent Herbel was awarded the Bobby Bell Award . Defensive tackle Ross Ukkelberg was awarded the Butch Nash Award . Center Pat Hart was awarded the Paul Giel Award . 1989 . The 1989 season was the Golden Gophers ' fourth season under head coach John Gutekunst . The Golden Gophers won six games and lost five . 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 . 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 . 1990 . The 1990 season was the Golden Gophers ' fifth season under head coach John Gutekunst . The Golden Gophers won six games and lost five . Total attendance for the season was 243 , 511 , which averaged out to 40 , 585 per game . The season high for attendance was against the Iowa . Center Chris Thome was named All - Big Ten first team . Offensive tackle Mike Sunvold and defensive back Sean Lumpkin were named All - Big Ten second team . Quarterback Scott Schaffner and linebacker Joel Staats were named Academic All - Big Ten . Mike Sunvold was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award and Carl Eller Award . Quarterback Marquel Fleetwood was awarded the Bruce Smith Award . Cornerback Kenneth Sebree was awarded the Bobby Bell Award . Cornerback Frank Jackson was awarded the Butch Nash Award . Running back Jim King was awarded the Paul Giel Award . 1991 . The 1991 season was the Golden Gophers ' sixth and final season under head coach John Gutekunst . The Golden Gophers won two games and lost nine . Total attendance for the season was 218 , 219 , which averaged out to 36 , 369 per game . The season high for attendance was against the San José State . Offensive linemen Chip Brixius , defensive back Chris Cohen , wide receiver Omar Douglas , linebacker Dan LiSanti , running back Ken McClintock , defensive back Jeff Rosga and linebacker Lance Wolkow were named Academic All - Big Ten . Defensive back Sean Lumpkin was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award and Carl Eller Award . Tight end Patt Evans was awarded the Bruce Smith Award . Ken McClintock was awarded the Bobby Bell Award . Linebacker Joel Staats was awarded the Butch Nash Award . Quarterback Scott Schaffner was awarded the Paul Giel Award .