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Minnesata Golden Gophers Football Program...

March 27, 1991 - The NCAA banned the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football program from...

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
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EVENTDAY | March 27

"Minnesata Golden Gophers Football Program Sanctioned 1991"

Last updated 📅 2025-03-27

March 27, 1991 - The NCAA banned the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football program from postseason play in 1992. In an article he did for the Chicago Tribune, Ed Sherman tells the tale of the incident quite well.

A former University of Minnesota administrator, Luther Darville, started the practice way back in 1982 of handing out cash to football players. Others in the Minnesota program caught him red-handed in 1988 and stopped the practice with consequences. Therefore, the NCAA felt obligated to do its investigation. In its aftermath, it laid the hammer down on the program in 1991, not allowing the team to participate in a bowl game for the 1991 postseason.

Mr. Sherman brings up some great points about people who committed crimes, both in Darville's handing out the funds and the 1982-era players who accepted them, did not suffer much from the NCAA penalty. But the legacy players and coaches in the Golden Gophers program, almost a decade later, served the penance for what their predecessors did so long ago. D. Alan Williams, chairman of the NCAA's infraction committee in 1991, had a different opinion, according to the article. First, he said, the NCAA isn't penalizing individuals. "The penalties are to the institution. It's always unfortunate, but the committee has what it requires to do before it."

The matter comes down to the fact that there has to be a better punishment for violating institutions; perhaps a more efficient and timely investigation, rather than one three years in length, would be a good place to start.

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EventDay

"March 27 American Football Historical Events"

March 27 might seem like an ordinary day in respect to American football, but beneath its surface lies a rich football history filled with impactful players who defied expectations and events that will entertain and intrigue, from one of the best centers to have ever played college or pro football to a story of a college program's suspension, NFL record attendance, and even students who wanted to ban football.
This list dives deep into the careers of the greatest NFL stars who donned the gear with distinction. Get ready to discover a diverse group of gridiron greats. Step onto the hallowed gridiron of history and peer into the annals of March 27th. This seemingly ordinary date on the calendar holds within its twenty-four hours a collection of moments that have subtly, yet significantly, shaped the landscape of American football. Imagine the silent turning points, the nascent beginnings, and the echoes of greatness that have marked this particular day. It's a date where the destinies of future legends may have been unknowingly set in motion, and the trajectories of iconic teams could have subtly shifted. Consider the possibility of pivotal decisions made behind closed doors, the quiet signings that would later ignite stadiums, or perhaps the very first breaths taken by individuals who would go on to etch their names into the sport's most prestigious halls...

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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there! Brought to you by Number 80 Productions and Pigskin Dispatch _________________________

Sports Jersey Dispatch
If you like remembering players of the NFL by their numbers then you may also enjoy going uniform number by number in othre team sports as well. We have it for you on our other website in baseball, basketball, hockey and more on the Sports Jersey Dispatch. _________________________

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