The Minnesota Golden Gophers represent the University of Minnesota in NCAA's Division I-A college football, playing under the Big Ten Conference. The football program was established back in 1882 and has been a member of the Big 10 since its first inception in 1896. The Gophers consider the Wisconsin Badgers as its age old rivals as the teams have been battling each other every year but one, in 1906. The teams have faced each other in a total of 116 games, the most played in any college football rivalry in Division I-A. The Golden Gophers currently leads the series rivarly with 59 wins and 8 draws.
As a member of the Big 10 Conference, the Golden Gophers has had winning records from 1900-1919. The team has also taken home the national championship in six different occassions (1934,'35,'36,'40,'41,'60), with 18 conference championships, and 5 Postseason Bowl Game wins in 12 tries. Minnesota is also home to several notable football players, including 6 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees and 2 Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees.
Minnesota Golden Gophers 2008 Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown (Prev School)
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| 1 | Tramaine Brock | FS | 6-0 | 187 | Jr. | Long Beach, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast)
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| 2 | Ryan Collado | DB | 5-9 | 170 | So. | Cincinnati, Ohio (Hills Christian )
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| 3 | Harold Howell | DB | 5-8 | 160 | So. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin)
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| 4 | Clint Brewster | QB | 6-1 | 195 | RFr. | Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen)
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| 5 | R.J. Buckner | RB | 5-11 | 205 | So. | Keller, Texas (Harvest Christian Academy)
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| 7 | Eric Decker | WR | 6-2 | 215 | Jr. | Cold Spring, Minn. (Rocori)
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| 8 | Adam Weber | QB | 6-3 | 220 | So. | Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View)
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| 9 | David Pittman | QB | 5-11 | 185 | Jr. | Snellville, Ga. (Pasadena City College)
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| 12 | Damola Ogundipe | RB | 5-7 | 175 | So. | New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale)
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| 13 | Michael McKelton | DB | 5-10 | 185 | Jr. | Royal Palm Beach, Fla. (Royal Palm Beach)
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| 14 | Damien White | WR | 6-0 | 170 | RFr. | Culver City, Calif. (Culver City)
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| 15 | Jack Simmons | TE | 6-4 | 240 | Sr. | Libertyville, Ill. (Carmel)
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| 16 | Ben Kuznia | WR | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. | Olivia, Minn. (BOLD)
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| 17 | Tony Mortensen | QB | 6-3 | 230 | Sr. | Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson)
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| 19 | Andrew Allison | DB | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. | Ladysmith, Wis. (Ladysmith)
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| 19 | Mike Maciejowski | QB | 6-3 | 215 | Sr. | Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington)
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| 20 | Justin Chatman | Athlete | 5-9 | 180 | RFr. | Mesquite, Texas (Horn)
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| 20 | Jay Thomas | RB | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. | Oakdale, Minn. (Tartan)
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| 22 | Duane Bennett | RB | 5-9 | 195 | So. | Fairview Heights, Ill. (O'Fallon Township)
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| 24 | Marcus Sherels | WR | 5-11 | 165 | Jr. | Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)
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| 27 | Kyle Theret | DB | 5-11 | 185 | So. | Murrieta, Cal (J.K. Mullen High)
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| 28 | Kevin Mannion | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. | Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)
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| 30 | Lee Campbell | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Jr. | Naples, Fla. (Gulf Coast)
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| 32 | Nathan Triplett | LB | 6-3 | 240 | Jr. | Maple Plain, Minn. (Delano)
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| 33 | Rex Sharpe | LB | 6-3 | 230 | Jr. | Fairfield, Ala. (Arizona Western)
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| 34 | Tyler Johnson | RB | 5-10 | 195 | Jr. | Fridley, Minn. (Concordia Academy)
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| 34 | Andre Tate' | LB | 6-2 | 210 | RFr. | Mendota Heights, Minn. (Henry Sibley)
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| 35 | Jon Hoese | LB | 6-2 | 200 | So. | Glencoe, Minn. (Glencoe-Silver Lake)
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| 36 | Joel Monroe | K | 5-11 | 190 | Sr. | Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Robbinsdale Cooper)
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| 37 | Eric Ellestad | K | 6-2 | 205 | So. | Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Armstrong)
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| 38 | Blake Haudan | P | 6-0 | 210 | Jr. | Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit)
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| 38 | Marcus Singletary | DB | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | Hinesville, Ga. (Rainy River CC)
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| 39 | Nicholas Stommes | DB | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | Owen, Wis. (Owen-Withee)
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| 40 | Nathan Tow-Arnett | DB | 6-0 | 200 | Fr. | Redwood Falls, Minn.
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| 41 | Justin Kucek | P | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | Canfield, Ohio (Canfield)
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| 42 | Logan U'u | LB | 5-10 | 225 | Jr. | Oakland, Calif. (Laney College)
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| 44 | Deon Hightower | LB | 6-3 | 215 | Sr. | Arlington, Texas (Mansfield Summit)
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| 45 | Thomas Hennessey | LB | 5-11 | 215 | Jr. | Somerset, Wis. (Somerset)
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| 47 | Ryan Coleman | LS | 6-1 | 230 | So. | Brookfield, Wis. (Brookfield East)
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| 48 | Bryan Klitzke | DB | 6-1 | 185 | RFr. | Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls)
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| 48 | Nick Tow-Arnett | TE | 6-4 | 250 | Jr. | Redwood Falls, Minn. (Redwood Valley)
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| 49 | Scott Jilek | FS | 5-11 | 205 | So. | Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
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| 50 | Patrick Sveum | LB | 6-1 | 220 | Jr. | Rochester, Minn. (Century)
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| 51 | Eric Small | DT | 6-2 | 280 | Jr. | Naperville, Ill. (Joliet JC)
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| 52 | Jeff Tow-Arnett | OG | 6-2 | 275 | Jr. | Redwood Falls, Minn. (Redwood Valley)
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| 53 | D.J. Burris | OC | 6-2 | 280 | So. | Kenton, Ohio (Kenton)
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| 55 | Tony Strouth | DT | 6-0 | 240 | RFr. | Edina, Minn. (Edina)
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| 56 | Steve Davis | LB | 6-2 | 225 | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo. (McCluer North)
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| 59 | Steve Moore | LB | 6-2 | 230 | Sr. | Coon Rapids, Minn. (Blaine)
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| 60 | Ryan Wynn | OL | 6-5 | 240 | RFr. | Plymouth, Minn. (Maple Grove)
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| 61 | Trey Davis | OL | 6-2 | 275 | RFr. | Farmington, Minn. (Farmington )
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| 63 | Andy Brinkhaus | OT | 6-3 | 300 | So. | Bloomington, Minn. (Bloomington Jefferson)
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| 66 | Nedward Tavale | OG | 6-2 | 320 | Jr. | St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall)
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| 67 | Nick Weber | OG | 6-6 | 300 | Sr. | Hastings, Minn. (Rochester CC)
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| 68 | Chris Bunders | OL | 6-3 | 305 | RFr. | Maple Grove, MN (Osseo)
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| 71 | Chris Mensen | OL | 6-5 | 255 | Jr. | Solon, Iowa (Solon)
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| 73 | Jason Meinke | OT | 6-5 | 270 | Jr. | Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview)
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| 74 | Ryan Ruckdashel | OG | 6-5 | 275 | Jr. | Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview)
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| 75 | Otis Hudson | DT | 6-5 | 300 | Jr. | Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
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| 76 | Dominic Alford | OT | 6-3 | 315 | So. | Cleveland, Ohio (Shaker Heights)
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| 77 | Matt Carufel | OL | 6-5 | 295 | Jr. | Forest Lake, Minn. (Notre Dame)
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| 78 | Ryan Orton | OL | 6-4 | 265 | RFr. | Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
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| 81 | Ralph Spry | WR | 5-11 | 175 | So. | Auburn, Ala. (Auburn)
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| 84 | Jimmy Thompson | WR | 6-1 | 180 | RFr. | Hayward, Wis. (Hayward)
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| 87 | Kyle Moore | WR | 6-1 | 180 | RFr. | St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall)
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| 88 | Collin McGarry | TE | 6-4 | 230 | So. | Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater)
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| 89 | Barrett Moen | DT | 6-3 | 270 | Jr. | Bloomington, Minn. (Jefferson)
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| 90 | Raymond Henderson | DE | 6-6 | 250 | Jr. | Oak Creek, Wis (Oak Creek)
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| 91 | William VanDeSteeg | DE | 6-4 | 255 | Sr. | Silver Lake, Minn. (Glencoe-Silver Lake)
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| 92 | William Brody | DE | 6-4 | 240 | Sr. | Garfield Heights, Ohio (Benedictine)
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| 93 | Derrick Onwuachi | DE | 6-5 | 250 | Jr. | Newhall, Calif. (College of the Canyons)
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| 94 | Willie Dyson | LB | 6-3 | 230 | So. | Ballwin, Mo (Kirkwood)
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| 96 | Curtis Hughes | TE | 6-4 | 240 | So. | Chicago, Ill. (Gwendolyn Brooks Prep)
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| 96 | Matt Stommes | DT | 6-7 | 270 | Jr. | Richmond, Minn. (Eden Valley-Watkins)
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| 97 | Anthony Jacobs | DE | 6-2 | 285 | RFr. | Northfield, Minn. (Northfield)
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| 99 | Garrett Brown | DT | 6-2 | 290 | Jr. | New Haven, Conn. (Fairfield College Prep)
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| | Xzavian Brandon | WR | 6-3 | 185 | Fr. | Duluth, Ga. (Northview)
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| | Terrell Combs | Athlete | 6-2 | 250 | Fr. | Lexington, Ky. (Bryan Station)
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| | Keanon Cooper | FS | 6-0 | 200 | Fr. | Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
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| | Tim Dandridge | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Fr. | Detroit, Mich. (Highland Park)
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| | Jewhan Edwards | DT | 6-2 | 320 | Fr. | Philadelphia, Pa. (Roman Catholic)
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| | DeLeon Eskridge | RB | 5-11 | 190 | Fr. | San Francisco, Calif. (Junipero Serra)
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| | Ryan Grant | Athlete | 6-2 | 215 | Fr. | Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
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| | MarQueis Gray | QB | 6-4 | 215 | Fr. | Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis)
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| | Brandon Green | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Fr. | Chicago, Illinois (Robeson)
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| | Vince Hill | Athlete | 6-0 | 190 | Fr. | Baltimore, Md. (Milford Academy)
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| | Johnny Johnson | Athlete | 5-9 | 180 | Fr. | Chicago, Ill. (Robeson)
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| | Brandon Kirksey | DE | 6-2 | 265 | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo. (Hazelwood East)
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| | Eric Lair | TE | 6-3 | 210 | Fr. | Houston, Texas (Lamar)
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| | Simoni Lawrence | SS | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | Upper Darby, Pa. (Valley Forge Military)
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| | Sam Maresh | LB | 6-3 | 235 | Fr. | Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
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| | Tim McGee | DT | 6-4 | 300 | Jr. | Columbia, S.C. (East Mississippi)
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| | Cedric McKinley | DE | 6-5 | 250 | Jr. | Demopolis, Ala. (Mississippi Gulf Coast)
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| | Da'Jon McKnight | WR | 6-3 | 200 | Fr. | Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
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| | John Nance | QB | 6-4 | 185 | Fr. | St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Durham Hall)
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| | Spencer Reeves | LB | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
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| | Shady Salamon | RB | 5-10 | 185 | Fr. | South St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Durham Hall)
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| | Traye Simmons | DB | 5-11 | 175 | Jr. | Marietta, Ga. (College of the Sequoias)
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| | Brodrick Smith | WR | 6-3 | 200 | Fr. | Garden City, Kan. (Garden City)
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| | Troy Stoudermire | CB | 5-10 | 185 | Fr. | Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
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| | Gary Tinsley | LB | 6-1 | 220 | Fr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast)
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| | Kevin Whaley | RB | 5-9 | 180 | Fr. | Virginia Beach, Va. (Salem)
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| | D.L. Wilhite | Athlete | 6-4 | 235 | Fr. | Lexington, Ky. (Bryan Station)
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