1904 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team


The 1904 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1904 Western Conference football season. In their fifth year under head coach Henry L. Williams, the Golden Gophers compiled a 13–0 record. The 1904 Minnesota team has been recognized as a college football national champion by the Billingsley Report.
The 146 point victory over Grinnell represents both the largest point total and the largest margin of victory in Gopher football history.
Ten Minnesota players were recognized on the 1904 All-Western college football team: quarterback Sigmund Harris ; halfbacks Otto Nelson Davies and James Edward Kremer ; fullback Earl Current ; end Bobby Marshall ; tackles Percy Porter Brush and George Leland Case ; guards Walton W. Thorpe and Daniel D. Smith, Minnesota ; and center Moses Strathern.
Two players also received recognition on the 1904 College Football All-America Team. Quarterback Sigmund Harris received third-team honors from Walter Camp, and guard Walton Thorp received first-team honors from Illinois coach Fred Lowenthal and third-team honors from Walter Camp.
Notably, Minnesota did not play fellow undefeateds Michigan in 1904, despite the fact that they were members of the same conference. A matchup between the two teams surely would have served as a de facto national championship game for the 1904 season.

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