Gophers win over Penn State has entire state of Minnesota partying like it’s 1960

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 9-0 for the first time since 1904, and local fans are partying like it’s 1960.

The biggest game for Minnesota Golden Gophers football in a few generations took place Saturday, with the 8-0 Gophers welcoming 8-0 Penn State to TCF Bank Stadium. A 24-13 halftime lead became a narrow 31-26 victory but the Gophers are 9-0 for the first time in 115 years.

Penn State’s loss will obviously alter the next College Football Playoff rankings, and it will be interesting to see how high the Gophers rise. Aside from some good seasons under Glen Mason, it’s been a long time since Gophers football made many positive waves locally.

Minnesota last won a college football national title in 1960, under head coach Murray Warmath. Their last Rose Bowl appearance came a year later, so national relevance has simply been non-existent for the program during the entire lifetime of most current Twin Cities sports fans.

After that huge win on Saturday, said long-suffering fans and followers of Gophers football had a rousing celebration.

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1193271407691673600?s=20

To the surprise of no one, head coach P.J. Fleck got in on the fun. But no one could have guessed he would crowd-surf in the locker room.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1193273481384878080?s=20

For some historical context, the Gophers are 9-0 for the first time since Teddy Roosevelt was president.

With zero marks in the loss column still, and the rival Wisconsin Badgers carrying a two-game losing streak into their game Saturday against Iowa, the Gophers have moved into the driver’s seat to win the Big Ten West and go to the conference title game. Road games are coming against Iowa and Northwestern for Minnesota, before the typical season finale against Wisconsin on Nov. 30.

That game against the Badgers could be winner-take-all for the West division, or it may simply be an opportunity for the Gophers to win back-to-back games in the rivalry. But in any case, the Minnesota football program is already at a level of success it hasn’t had in forever, with more still out there for Fleck’s team.

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