Goldy Gopher, the renowned mascot of the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers, has a long history that reflects the ...

Goldy Gopher was born a chipmunk. That’s because when George Grooms originally drafted the design in the 1940s that would become the University’s mascot, he lived in Iowa, where there were no gophers.

Holtz became the head football coach at the University in 1984 ... In order to do this, Wanvig said he softened Goldy’s eyebrows and made him thinner. This gopher, which is still the official ...

Goldy Gopher visits with a young fan at Williams Arena during a game in March. ] AARON LAVINSKY • [email protected] (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune) ...