Recent content from Joe Christensen
Gophers football punts spring game, adds new open practice idea
The Gophers football team won't have a spring game but will have one practice open exclusively to Dinkytown Athletes members
Gophers QB recruit wins his state's Gatorade player of the year honor
Drake Lindsey of Fayetteville, Ark., has graduated early and will enroll this month at the university, making him eligible for spring practice.
Former Hopkins star Nnaji leaves basketball to pursue medical degree
Maya Nnaji, an Arizona sophomore basketball player from Hopkins, said she needs to focus on her primary goal: becoming a physician.
Michigan State scores late to tie Gophers men's hockey
The Spartans' Tiernan Shoudy deflected a waist-high shot from the point past Gophers goalie Justen Close with under four minutes remaining in regulation.
Gophers reward Motzko with bigger deal than Wisconsin gave Hastings
The Gophers signed men's hockey coach Bob Motzko to a two-year contract extension, and moved his yearly compensation ahead of Mike Hastings' at Wisconsin.
Gophers men's hockey set to face surprise Big Ten leader Michigan State
The Gophers have a 14-game winning streak against Michigan State, dating to 2019-20, but this looks like a different Spartans team.
Touted NHL prospect Cole Eiserman flips from Gophers to BU
Massachusetts native Cole Eiserman was committed to the Gophers before announcing he was "coming home" to Boston University on Wednesday.
Fan's guide to Gophers football season opener: New rules, new foods
The Gophers football team opens a new season Thursday vs. Nebraska (7 p.m.), and the festivities start hours earlier.
St. Thomas overwhelming favorite to repeat as Pioneer Football champ
The Tommies were picked first on eight of 10 coaches' poll ballots, with Davidson and San Diego the other teams to get a first-place vote.
New Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit at a glance
Plitzuweit hails from eastern Wisconsin, had a decorated playing career at Michigan Tech and has won at each of her coaching stops.
Five things to know about Bud Grant's Gophers career
Grant earned nine letters at Minnesota, in football, basketball and baseball and was twice named All-Big Ten in football, playing both offense and defense.
Greg Harbaugh named Gophers' new co-offensive coordinator
Coach P.J. Fleck quickly patched the hole left with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca's departure to Rutgers by promoting Harbaugh.
Gophers' coordinator Ciarrocca leaving Gophers again, going to Rutgers
For the second time, Kirk Ciarrocca is leaving P.J. Fleck's coaching staff to become offensive coordinator at another Big Ten school.
Running back Ibrahim rewrites chapters in Gophers record book
Mohamed Ibrahim broke four Gophers football records during Thursday's Pinstripe Bowl.
Big Ten and national recruiting rankings
Ohio State was first in the Big Ten recruiting rankings — the Gophers were ninth — and fifth in the national rankings
New Gophers volleyball coach Cook will receive a $425,000 salary under new deal
The University's Board of Regents approved Keegan Cook's new contract on Friday, along with previously reported new deals for P.J. Fleck, Kirk Ciarrocca and Joe Rossi.
Mystery solved: McCutcheon to be promoted to new job in U athletics
Promotion to a newly created job as an assistant athletic director answered a big question resulting from volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon's surprise resignation announcement.
2019 and 2022 Gophers football schedule comparison
This year's Gophers football team is already speculated to eclipse the 2019 team. Here's how the schedules for both years match up.
Five Aurora players to watch in Saturday's USL W title game
Minnesota Aurora has firepower, from goalkeeper Sarah Fuller to scoring ace Morgan Turner to unsung defender Rachel Preston.
Gophers men get first 2023 commitment from top-100 power forward
The Gophers men's basketball team got its first commitment for the Class of 2023 when Kadyn Betts announced he's heading to Minnesota.
Gophers land commitment from Michigan QB who flipped schools
Drew Viotto announced that he has switched his college commitment from Eastern Michigan to Minnesota for the 2023 season.
Gophers land commitment from Prior Lake offensive lineman Greg Johnson
Johnson is the seventh player from the Class of 2023 to commit to the Gophers and the second from Prior Lake.
Running back Irving transfers to Oregon; 6 Gophers sign free-agent deals
Bucky Irving was Minnesota's second leading rusher last season. Both he and Kai Thomas, the No. 1 rusher, have moved on to other Power Five schools.
Gophers football team adds defensive line transfer from Houston Baptist
Defensive tackle Kyler Baugh has two years of eligibility remaining and will be making the jump from the FCS level.
Augustana hires Gophers assistant as its first men's hockey coach
The Sioux Falls, S.D., school is scheduled to start competing in 2023-24, and will be led by Garrett Raboin, who has been the top assistant with the Gophers.
Macalester hires 31-year-old Phil Nicolaides as its new football coach
Nicolaides spent the previous six seasons as defensive coordinator at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va.
Coyle's two-year extension approved by University of Minnesota regents
The Regents voted 9-2 in favor of Coyle's new deal, which runs through 2028. The deal adds more built-in raises for Coyle, whose current base salary is $999,375.
History-making kicker Fuller signs with Minnesota Aurora FC
Sarah Fuller, a goalkeeper for Vanderbilt's women's soccer team, made headlines as the first woman to score a point in a Power Five conference football game.
Four-star receiver Anthony Brown decommits from Gophers
Brown, the brother of Gophers receiver Michael Brown-Stephens, is part of the 2023 recruiting class.
Gophers AD Coyle signs lucrative two-year contract extension through 2028
Mark Coyle can continue to make hundreds of thousands of dollars beyond his nearly $1 million base salary.
Five USMNT players to watch vs. Honduras at Allianz Field
The American squad knows it needs a victory in this World Cup qualifier in St. Paul.
U volleyball adds two transfers: Davis (from Ohio State) and McGhie (Kansas)
Coach Hugh McCutcheon is adding pieces to a team that reached the Elite Eight last season.
Gophers football adds Brick Haley as defensive line coach
Haley has more than 30 years of experience, most recently as the defensive line coach at Missouri.
Minnesota's 2022 hockey Olympians
The Gophers, Minnesota State Mankato, St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth are all represented on the men's team.
Big Ten makes major changes to Gophers' 2022 football schedule
The original schedule set up nicely for a strong Minnesota start. But without changing the teams on Minnesota's schedule, the conference dramatically altered the picture.
Michigan offensive lineman Filiaga transferring to Gophers
After making 42 career starts for the Wolverines, Filiaga will have one year of eligibility remaining at Minnesota.
Gophers land another defensive line transfer from Clemson
Darnell Jefferies was teammates at Clemson with Nyles Pinckney, who transferred to the Gophers at this time last year.
Third U football assistant leaves, will take Indiana defensive coordinator job
Chad Wilt, the defensive line coach, is the third departure from the Gophers coaching staff in four days. All have received promotions.
Lindsay Whalen first-time nominee for Basketball Hall of Fame
The Gophers coach led the team to the Women's Final Four as a player before winning four WNBA titles with the Lynx and two gold medals with Team USA.
Former Minnesota United veteran Ethan Finlay signs with Austin FC
Finlay was a mainstay for the Loons after arriving via trade in 2017, their first season in MLS.
Loons open 2022 schedule in Philadelphia; home opener is March 5
The Loons will open the season on the road, Feb. 26, and play the regular season finale at home on Oct. 9.
New Year's treat: Gophers-Tommies men's hockey game set for Jan. 2
The game will be played at Doug Woog Arena in South St. Paul. Tickets go on sale Thursday morning.
Gophers volleyball coach McCutcheon agrees to contract extension
Hugh McCutcheon new deal will keep him with the Gophers through the 2025 season, pending Board of Regents approval.
Rutgers forfeits Friday's volleyball match against Gophers
The Scarlet Knights announced that the decision not to travel to Minneapolis was non-COVID related.
Four in-state Gophers women's basketball recruits can make it official Wednesday
The local standouts have made their commitments to Lindsay Whalen and the Gophers heading into Wednesday's national signing day.
Highlights of P.J. Fleck's new Gophers contract
Fleck's salary, buyout and assistant coaches' salary pool will all change under the terms of his new deal. Here's how.
Eden Prairie's JD Spielman ending college football career, TCU coach says
The son of Vikings GM Rick Spielman had three strong years as a receiver at Nebraska before transferring to TCU, where he has battled injuries for two seasons.
Frost agrees to three-year extension as Gophers women's hockey coach
Brad Frost, who has won four NCAA titles with the Gophers, will remain under contract through the 2023-24 season.
Gophers' Potts leaves Indiana hospital after six days
The running back has been dealing with an unspecified medical condition suffered late in Saturday's Gophers victory at Purdue.
Red card overturned, Reynoso available for Sunday's Loons match
An independent review panel overturned a red card issued to Minnesota United star Emanuel Reynoso last Saturday against FC Dallas.
U's Potts still in hospital five days after leaving Purdue game
Running back Trey Potts remained hospitalized in Indiana on Thursday, five days after being taken by ambulance after the Purdue game.
Hockey domination: Minnesota schools have 4 of 5 top spots in men's poll
The college hockey season has barely just begun, but teams from Minnesota are sitting tall atop the national rankings, including the No, 4 Gophers.
Gophers men's hockey opener postponed because of a COVID issue at Alaska
The series was rescheduled for Jan. 14-15 at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Motzko agrees to three-year contract extension with U men's hockey
Bob Motzko will receive the extension and a raise under terms of a new agreement that needs to be approved by the Board of Regents.
Preview: St. Thomas football travels to Florida to face Stetson
The Tommies are back on the road this week, this time to the East Coast.
Worst Gophers upset ever? Among the worst in recent decades, at least
Here are some of the other notable upsets for the Gophers under coach P.J. Fleck, others in their recent history and others around college football.
Gophers, Tommies set for debut as Division I opponents on Thursday
Minnesota and St. Thomas have played before. But Thursday night's volleyball match at Maturi Pavilion will be their first competition as Division I opponents.
Steveson, U open wrestling season in Fargo, first home meet on Nov. 20
Gable Steveson will begin defense of his NCAA heavyweight title when the Gophers open their season at the Bison Open in Fargo.
Gophers 2021 football schedule
The 12-game schedule opens Thursday vs. Ohio State.
Loons sign veteran striker Adi, hoping he regains lost scoring touch
Fanendo Adi was a 6-foot-4 goal scoring force for the Portland Timbers from 2015-2017 but has scored only four MLS goals since then.
Former Gophers lineman sues U, NCAA, Big Ten over concussion treatment
Josh Campion started all 39 games the Gophers played between 2012-14 under former coach Jerry Kill, and was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten offensive tackle in 2014.
St. Thomas' D-I football opener canceled due to opponent's COVID protocols
The Tommies said they are looking to find another opponent to replace St. Francis on Sept. 4, which was scheduled to be their first game as a Division I team.
Gophers diver Bacon named Big Ten female athlete of the year
Sarah Bacon has won four NCAA titles for the Gophers, including two this March.
Twins take pair of Big Ten pitchers to start second day of MLB draft
The Twins took pitchers from Michigan and Nebraska, and followed by taking a third baseman from Oklahoma State. Read about them and tap here for live video of the draft.
Twins starter Kenta Maeda faces Tigers, coming off best outing of the season
Maeda blanked Kansas City for six innings in his previous start, which included a new uniform look.
Six Minnesota players among 27 in the mix for U.S. Olympic women's hockey team
The U.S. residency roster includes six players from Minnesota, the most of any state, and eight current or former Gophers, including Amanda Kessel.
Former Prior Lake standout Dawson Garcia transferring from Marquette to North Carolina
The 6-11 Garcia spent one season at Marquette, which has undergone a coaching change from Steve Wojciechowski to Shaka Smart.
Gophers RB and former Owatonna standout Williamson medically retires
Williamson, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards as a high school senior, has battled injuries at the U.
Plasencia ends 'pretty long run' with Gophers programs
Steve Plasencia retired as Gophers men's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Thursday, saying the decision was unrelated to the University of Minnesota's decision to cut indoor track.
Gophers' Curry pauses graduate assistant coaching plan to play one more season
Eric Curry was ready to take on a graduate assistant role with Ben Johnson's staff but is returning to play for a sixth season.
WCHA's men's hockey era officially ends after 70 years
The league shuttered operations this week, as expected, following the departure of seven teams that have joined the newly revived CCHA.
Three Minnesota athletes who could profit most off NCAA's 'NIL' ruling
These Minnesota natives have more than 1.3 million Instagram followers combined, which adds to what they can command for endorsement deals.
Top-rated Minnesota football recruit commits to Stanford
The Gophers were one of several other Power Five teams that offered Hill-Murray's Lucas Heyer, a consensus four-star recruit, a scholarship.
U regents approve name change to Huntington Bank Stadium
The stadium had been known as TCF Bank Stadium since it opened in 2009, but Huntington Bank's merger with TCF was finalized this month.
