1947 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Nine Conference
Record6–3 (3–3 Big Nine)
Head coach
MVPLarry Olsonoski
CaptainSteve Silianoff
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1946
1948 →
1947 Big Nine Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Michigan $ 6 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
Minnesota 3 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Illinois 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 3 – 1
Purdue 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Indiana 2 – 3 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
Iowa 2 – 3 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Northwestern 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Ohio State 1 – 4 – 1 2 – 6 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1947 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1947 Big Nine Conference football season. In their 13th year under head coach Bernie Bierman, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–3 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 174 to 127.[1]

Guard Leo Nomellini was named All-Big Ten.[2] Guard Larry Olsonoski was awarded the Team MVP Award.[3]

Minnesota was ranked at No. 14 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.[4]

Total attendance for the season was 289,612, which averaged to 57,922. The season high for attendance was against Purdue.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Washington*
W 7–643,377[6]
October 4at Nebraska*
W 28–1334,500[7]
October 12NorthwesternNo. 17
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 37–2160,669[8]
October 18at No. 6 IllinoisNo. 13
L 13–4056,048[9]
October 25at No. 1 Michigan
L 6–1385,938[10]
November 1Pittsburgh*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 29–056,334[11]
November 8No. 14 Purduedagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 26–2163,659[12]
November 15at IowaNo. 20
L 7–1350,000[13]
November 22Wisconsin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
W 21–063,862[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

See also: 1947 NCAA football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes
Week
Poll123456789Final
AP17 (1)13 (1)———20—19——

Game summaries

Michigan

Week 5: Minnesota at Michigan
1 234Total
Minnesota 0 600 6
• Michigan 0 706 13

In the fifth week of the season, Minnesota a close game against Michigan by a score of 13–6. Michigan scored first on a long touchdown pass from Bob Chappuis to Bump Elliott. The final touchdown in the fourth quarter followed a 24-yard interception return by Jack Weisenburger to the Minnesota 21-yard line. Gene Derricotte scored after faking to the right and then running through a hole on the left side and into the end zone. Chappuis was held to 26 rushing yards, less than two yards per carry.[15]

References

  1. ^ "1947 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 180[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 181[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 18, 1947). "Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings". Times. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Charles Johnson (September 28, 1947). "Gophers Nip Washington, 7-6; Bailey Boots Winning Point". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. Sports 1–2.
  7. ^ Walt Dobbins (October 5, 1947). "NU Rally Short as Gophers Win 28-13". Sunday Journal and Star (Lincoln, Nebraska). pp. 11, 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Charles Johnson (October 12, 1947). "Alert Gophers Whip Cats 37-21". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Charles Johnson (October 19, 1947). "Illinois' Superior Speed, Passing Snap Fighting Gophers' Winning Streak 40-13". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Lyall Smith (October 26, 1947). "Wolverines Nip Minnesota, 13-6". Detroit Free Press – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Charles Johnson (November 2, 1947). "Gophers Subdue Pitt 29-0 With Late Rush". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Charles Johnson (November 9, 1947). "Gophers Rally To Tip Purdue 26-21". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. Sports 1–2.
  13. ^ "50,000 Cheer As Hawks Win The 'Big One'". The Des Moines Register. November 16, 1947. pp. 1L, 2L – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Bernie Swanson (November 23, 1947). "Wisconsin Passes Backfire: Minnesota Wins Finale 21-0; Pass-Hawking Gophers Win". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Walter W. Ruch (October 19, 1947). "Michigan Topples Minnesota, 13 to 6: Wolverines, Outrushed by the Gophers, Take Advantage of Breaks Before 85,000". The New York Times.
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