The University of Minnesota college sports team is the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The university fields men’s and women’s basketball, cross-country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field teams. The Gopher men athletics are baseball, football, and wrestling. The Gopher women’s team is basically rowing, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Joel Maturi has been the University of Minnesota Athletic Director since 2002.
The Gopher hockey teams belong to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Also in all other sports, the Gophers belong to the Big Ten Conference. The majority of the facilities that the Golden Gopher teams use for competitive play and practice are located on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus. Williams Arena is used for men’s and women’s basketball and Mariucci Arena and Ridder Arenas are used for hockey. Do make note to one exception of the Gopher Athletic facilities is the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, a mile from the East Bank across Interstate 35W, where the Golden Gophers football team will play their home games until 2009, when TCF Bank Stadium opens on the East Bank.
The Gopher cheerleaders, dance team and the U of M’s marching band are also parts of the university’s athletic department; they are present at events for Gopher basketball, Gopher football, Gopher hockey, and volleyball.
In 1880, the U of MN was preparing for spring graduation. For the previous 29 years, different graduation colors were used every ceremony. In spring 1880, President Folwell began a tradition of common school colors at the University of Minnesota. He asked an English instructor, Mrs. Augusta Smith, to select proper colors to use for graduation ribbons and other occasions. She decided on maroon and gold, which made a favorable impression on the University of Minnesota students and faculty in 1880. As the years have continued on, maroon and gold have become the schools colors. The school songs for the University of Minnesota include Minnesota Rouser, Minnesota March, Go Gopher Victory, Our Minnesota, Minnesota Fight, Hail! Minnesota, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The University of Minnesota mascot if Goldy Gopher and he is mascot to 23 varsity teams.
During the 2006-2007 academic year, the Golden Gophers wrestling team won the NCAA national championship and the Big Ten team title. Golden Gophers also won conference championships in men’s golf, men’s hockey, men’s swimming and diving, women’s indoor track and field and women’s rowing.
Because of such good sports years, Golden Gopher tickets have become a hot item among a lot of Minnesotans, and some other states, but because of such popularity, the best Gopher tickets sell fast. If you are planning on going to a game that Golden Gophers are playing, my advice to you is to buy the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher tickets now while they last and enjoy your next Golden Gophers game!