Goldy Gopher

About Goldy

Goldy first came to life as the Gopher mascot in 1952 when the assistant bandmaster, Jerome Glass, bought a fuzzy wool suit and asked technology junior Jim Anderson to climb into it. Anderson commented that "they took the guy who couldn't march or play and put him where he wouldn't do any harm." The paper mache head of the costume was clamped on and couldn't be removed until after the game, which meant that he couldn't drink or eat while in the costume. To make it even more difficult, the head only had one eye hole and didn't "breathe" very well. In 1955, Milton Bix, of the percussion section, appeared wearing a new $110 suit that was too big and still too hot. The suit still had vision problems and, on hot days, Bix's glasses would fog up, almost blinding him completely. He began to carry a cane, which was passed off as a joke, although he really needed it. William Johnson was the Gopher from 1956-57. During his first appearance, his tail was torn off by pranksters. Nevertheless, Johnson commented about the experience, "I've never had so much fun in my life!" He also stated that being the Gopher, "doesn't take talent, just guts." The name Goldy was given to the gopher sometime in the 1960s, and it stuck. Goldy has become a fixture of the Marching and Pep Bands, as each year a member of the band is chosen to don the suit.

Goldy's Many Faces And Their Memories

~Wilbur "Gabby" Meiners-Was Goldy at two Rose Bowls; known for climbing on the goal post and falling off after a cop kept shaking the post.
~Bill Travis-Tried following Gabby's footsteps by climbing the goal post, but slide off and ended up falling on his head; the crowd of 2,500 high school kids started chanting "Do it again, do it again!" after he fell.
~Keith Randa-Got to film a football commercial with Bob Hope; recalled how hot the suit was and how nice it was to find a cool breeze and turn just right so it could blow in through the eye holes.
~Dave Trembley-Remembers that being Goldy was perhaps the greatest therapy in the world: no matter what happened that week, for three to four hours on Saturday you could "step into a fantasy world with a license to do virtually anything."

Information about the University of Minnesota:

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Enrollment: 45,361
Founded: 1851
Nickname: Golden Gophers
Colors: Maroon and Gold
President: Robert H. Bruininks
Athletic Director: Joel Maturi
Joined Big Ten: 1896 (charter member)