1944 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

1944 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
1944 record	5-3-1 (3-2-1 Big Ten)
Head coach	George Hauser (3rd year)
MVP	John Lundquist
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium

1944 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#2 Ohio State $	6	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	0
#8 Michigan	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Purdue	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Minnesota	3	–	2	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
Indiana	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
#15 Illinois	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	1
Wisconsin	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	5	–	1			1	–	7	–	1
Iowa	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1944 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1944 college football season. In their third year under head coach George Hauser, the Golden Gophers compiled a 5-3-1 record but were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 225 to 162.^[1]

No players were awarded any major awards, All-American status or All-Big Ten status.^[2][3][4] Back John Lundquist was awarded the Team MVP Award.^[5]

Total attendance for the season was 179,979, which averaged to 29,997. The season high for attendance was against Northwestern.^[6]

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	Result	Attendance
09/23/1944	Iowa Seahawks*		Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	L 13-19	31,687
09/30/1944	Nebraska*		Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	W 39-0	21,876
10/07/1944	Michigan		Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	L 13-28	37,256
10/14/1944	Missouri*		Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	W 39-27	24,207
10/28/1944	at Ohio State		Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	L 14-34	43,563
11/04/1944	Northwestern		Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	T 14-14	46,482
10/11/1944	Indiana		Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	W 19-14	30,254
11/18/1944	at Iowa		Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA	W 46-0	11,200
11/25/1944	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	W 28-26	30,000
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll.

Game notes

Michigan

Week 4: Michigan at Minnesota

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 0 7 7 14 28 Minnesota 0 0 6 7 13 Date: October 7, 1944 Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN Game attendance: 40,052[7] Referee: William A. Blake (Loras)

On October 7, 1944, Minnesota lost to Michigan by a 28 to 13 score at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. The outcome was the first victory by a Michigan team playing on the road against Minnesota since 1932. Michigan fullback Bob Wiese scored three touchdowns. Bill Culligan scored Michigan's first touchdown, and Joe Ponsetto kicked all four points after touchdown. In the first quarter, Michigan stopped two Minnesota drives inside the Michigan 10-yard line. Michigan gained all of its yards from scrimmage on the ground, attempting only one pass, and finishing the game with 265 net rushing yards. Minnesota gained 119 yards rushing and 81 passing yards.^[7][8]

References

1. "Minnesota Yearly Results (1940-1944)". College Football Data Warehouse (David DeLassus). Retrieved July 16, 2015.
2. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 179
3. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 180
4. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 182
5. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181
6. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
7. Arch Ward (October 1, 1944). "Wolverines Gain First Triumph at Minnesota in 12 Years, 28-13". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1.
8. "Michigan Defeats Minnesota, 28 to 13; Fullback Wiese Races Across Gophers' Goal Line Thrice on Minneapolis Gridiron; 40,052 See Stirring Game; Wolverines Twice Halt Rivals on 1-Yard Stripe -- Fumbles Costly to Both Teams". The New York Times (UP story). October 1, 1944.