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Minnesota Golden Gophers |
Southern Cal Trojans © |
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Played September 22, 1979 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California |
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Teams' Belt Records
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Team |
Belt Reigns |
Overall Record |
Home Record |
Away Record |
Neutral Record |
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W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
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| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | ||||||||
| Southern Cal © | 4 | 22 | 3 | 1 | .865 | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Previous Belt Meetings: None
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
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Minnesota |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
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Southern Cal |
21 |
14 |
0 |
13 |
48 |
Coach Joe Salem’s first Minnesota Golden Gophers team, with a 1-1 record, traveled to Los Angeles to battle the top-ranked, 2-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson who were playing their home opener. Trojans' Heisman Trophy winning, All-American RB Charles White rushed for 2 touchdowns while the Southern Cal defense held Minnesota to just 38 yards rushing in a 48-14 rout of the Golden Gophers to retain The Belt. The Trojans scored on 5 of their first 6 possessions as they raced to a 35-0 halftime lead. Southern Cal's RB Marcus Allen scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, All-Pac 10 QB Paul McDonald hit All-Pac 10 TE Hoby Brenner for a 17-yard touchdown pass, & White broke loose for a 68-yard touchdown run as Southern Cal took a 21-0 lead in the 1st quarter. White’s 10-yard touchdown run was followed by a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown by Trojans' WR Ray Butler for the halftime margin. Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter but Southern Cal pushed the lead to 41-0 as RB Michael Harper scored on a 1-yard touchdown early in the 4th quarter. Minnesota finally got on the board when RB Marion Barber scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. The Trojans finished their scoring with a 1-yard touchdown pass from QB Scott Tinsley to WR Jeff Simmons while the Golden Gophers final points came on an 18-yard touchdown pass from QB Wendell Avery to WR Jeff Anhorn. McDonald finished with 97 yards passing in limited action while White rushed for 153 yards with 2 touchdowns in just 10 carries. Minnesota's QB Mark Carlson threw for 127 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss. Southern Cal finished the season 11-0-1; Pac-10 Champions & ranked 2nd nationally while the Golden Gophers finished 4-6-1 in Salem’s first season. Minnesota would play for The Belt again in 1980.
