Minnesota sports have had periods of success. the Vikings of the 70s, the Lynx in the last decade, the Twins winning championships in the 80s and early 90s, and the Stars playing for the Stanley Cup twice.
Looking back, though, I think when taking in college and professional results, 1995-2005 may have had the most amount of success at a single period of time.
Here's teams did in the big four sports for both Division 1 college and professional:
Plus, other Gopher sports had plenty of success during that time, too.
Now of course the big asterisk is the basketball situation, but if we're just looking at results, wins and losses, this was a pretty good string of years.
If we compare that to say, the last decade:
And here's how DII and DIII did in the last decade.
Looking back, though, I think when taking in college and professional results, 1995-2005 may have had the most amount of success at a single period of time.
Here's teams did in the big four sports for both Division 1 college and professional:
- Minnesota Vikings - Reached playoffs six times, won two division titles and made it to the NFC Championship Game twice.
- Minnesota Wild - Franchise established and reached Western Conference Finals once
- Minnesota Timberwolves - Reached the playoffs eight times, won a division championship and made it to the Western Conference Finals Once
- Minnesota Twins - Won three division titles/playoff berths and reached the ALCS once
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Football - Went to six bowl games, winning three, and had two ranked finishes. Had a 10 win season once and beat No. 2 Penn State in another
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Basketball - Reached NCAA tournament four times, making the Final Four once. Won a Big Ten Championship. Earned five NIT trips, winning one.*
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey - Won two national championships, one regular season conference title, three conference tournament titles. Went to eight NCAA tournaments, making the Frozen Four four times
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Baseball - Won four regular season Big Ten titles, three conference tournament championships and went to the NCAA tournament six times.
Plus, other Gopher sports had plenty of success during that time, too.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Basketball went to the NCAA tournament four times, making the Sweet 16 three times and the Final Four once.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey won three national championships, four regular season conference titles, three conference tournament titles and went to the national tournament six times.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Volleyball won a conference regular season title, went to the NCAA tournament nine times, went to the Final Four twice and was national runner-up once.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Wrestling won four conference titles and two national championships.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher golf team won the national championship in 2002 and two Big Ten titles.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Soccer won two Big Ten titles
- Minnesota Dance Team won three national titles.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Men's Swimming won six Big Ten titles, Gopher Women's Swimming won two conference titles.
- Minnesota Golden Gopher Men's Track won three indoor conference titles and one outdoor.
- Bemidji State Hockey won (D-II) national titles in 1995 and 1997
- UMD Women's hockey won national titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003l.
- UMD Men's Hockey went to the Frozen Four in 2004
Now of course the big asterisk is the basketball situation, but if we're just looking at results, wins and losses, this was a pretty good string of years.
If we compare that to say, the last decade:
- Vikings, (including 2009), made five playoff berths, three division titles, two NFC Championship Game appearances.
- Wild, six playoff berths, advanced past first round twice
- Timberwolves, one playoff berth
- Twins, (including 2009), won four division titles, made five trips to the plaoffs, but did not advance.
- Lynx, won four WNBA titles and made the finals six times
- Whitecaps won on WNHL title
- Gopher Football, went to seven bowls, winning four. Split one division title and finished ranked once.
- Gopher Hockey won six conference titles, one conference tournament title and earned four Frozen Four berths.
- Gopher Basketball made four NCAA tournaments and two NITs. Won one NIT.
- Gopher Baseball won three conference titles, two conference tournament titles and made three NCAA berths. Reached the super regional once.
- Gopher Women Hockey won four national titles, and was national runner-up twice
- Gopher Volleyball made three Final Fours
- Gopher Softball won two conference titles, three conference tournament championships and made the NCAA five times, reaching the Women's College World Series once.
- UMD Hockey won three national titles and went to four Frozen Fours.
- St. Cloud State went to one frozen four
And here's how DII and DIII did in the last decade.
- NSIC Teams won four Mineral Water Bowls
- Minnesota teams went to the DII Elite Eight four times.
- UMD won a football national title.
- St. Cloud State went to one frozen four
- Minnesota State Mankato was national runner-up twice.
- Concordia ST. Paul won six national titles in volleyball
- St. Thomas was national runner-up in DIII football twice.
- St. Thomas won two DIII national titles in basketball.
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