Forty University of Minnesota alumni, parents, students and fans (and one giant excitable gopher) played Alumni on a Stick on Sunday, August 24, at the Minnesota State Fair.
The game, quickly becoming a favorite on the U of M stage along Dan Patch Avenue, features photos of alumni and clues. If the contestant can’t guess the answer, audience members can try to “steal” the prize.
A morning session was hosted by Linda Mona and the afternoon game by Dave Mona. During that afternoon session, Goldy Gopher was among the contestants. Earlier, head football coach Tim Brewster had stopped by to discuss Saturday’s season opener and the under-construction TCF Bank Stadium.
One of only two athletes every drafted in three different professional sports
Played for 22 seasons with the San Diego Padres, the New York Yankees, the California Angels, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Minnesota Twins, and the Cleveland Indians
Retired in 1995 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001
As a B-25 pilot with the 340th Bombardment Group, flew 56 combat missions in Europe
Retired from NASA in 1982 and became president of Space Services Inc. of Houston, a company he founded to develop rockets for small commercial payloads
Died on June 13, 1993, in Texas from complications of a brain tumor
4 - Click here for answer VP of basketball operations and general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Starred for thirteen seasons in the NBA for the Boston Celtics
Named All-Big Ten in 1979 and 1980 and still ranks second in University of Minnesota history in career points and rebounds
Made two guest appearances on the television sitcom Cheers
Was the keynote speaker at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association 2007 Annual Celebration
Became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in February 2007
Third person in the history of the NFL to win Super Bowls as both a player and a head coach
7 - Click here for answer Invented the world’s first wearable, battery-powered external cardiac pacemaker
Founded Medtronic, Inc.
There is a museum in Minneapolis that bears his name
Now lives on the Big Island of Hawaii and has embraced spirituality and healing
Was a speaker at this year’s University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s Annual Celebration
8 - Click here for answer A 6’5” shooting guard who attended the University of Minnesota from 1978 to 1982, leading the Gophers to a Big Ten Conference championship in his senior year
He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1982 and played 9 seasons with the team.
Considered as one of the earliest three-point specialist and competed in the first-ever Three-Point Shootout in 1986
After playing with the San Antonio Spurs for one season in 1991, he joined the Chicago Bulls and won the 1993 NBA Championship
After retiring, he worked as a broadcast analyst for the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball games.
9 - Click here for answer Creator and host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion
Was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994
Lent his voice to an animated version of the Norse god Odin in an episode of the Disney animated “Hercules” and was considered for the voice of Mr. Ed
Strongly opposed militancy in the movement for civil rights
Grew up in the home of his aunt and uncle in a low-income, integrated community in St. Paul; worked his way through the U of M and graduated in 1923
13 - Click here for answer Former United States Congresswoman representing Colorado’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years
Currently President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers
Author of 24 Years of House Work … and the Place is Still a Mess
Champion of free speech and higher education
14 - Click here for answer American agricultural scientist and humanitarian that has been called the “Father of the Green Revolution”
Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970
Received the Congressional Gold Medal, America’s highest civilian award, on July 17, 2007
Met his wife at a coffee shop in Dinkytown, where he worked while at the U of M
Played Kent Winkdale, host of “Pig in a Poke,” in the movie National Lampoon’s European Vacation
Had a recurring role on the sitcom Night Court as Buddy, eccentric formal mental patient
16 - Click here for answer Author of the bestsellers Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt
Founded an envelope manufacturing company in Minneapolis
Writes a syndicated column that appears in the New York Times, the Star-Tribune, and other national newspapers
Often called, “Mr. Make Things Happen”
17 - Click here for answer Probably best known for her role as Denzel Washington’s wife in the movie John Q, in which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award
Other film credits include Bait, The Manchurian Candidate, and Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Made her feature film debut in Set It Off opposite Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Vivica A. Fox
After starring in Oprah Winfrey’s movie “Beloved,” Oprah refers to her as “my daughter.”
Print View
Played the part of Oliver Wendell Davis on the 1960s sitcom, Green Acres
Starred in both basketball and baseball for the Golden Gophers
Longtime NASA flight director and Apollo 17 astronaut
VP of basketball operations and general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Best known for playing Billie Newman on the television series Lou Grant
Played quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1973 to 1976
Invented the world’s first wearable, battery-powered external cardiac pacemaker
A 6’5” shooting guard who attended the 
Creator and host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion
Contemporary musician and composer
42nd Vice President of the 
Was executive director of the NAACP for 22 years; died in 1981
Former United States Congresswoman representing 
American agricultural scientist and humanitarian that has been called the “Father of the Green Revolution”
Best known for playing Gomez Adams on The Addams Family
Author of the bestsellers Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt
Probably best known for her role as Denzel Washington’s wife in the movie John Q, in which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award
Known for his starring role in the television series 
Former defensive star with the Minnesota Vikings; another member of the “Purple People Eaters” tough defensive line
18-year veteran of WCCO-TV; the U is one of her regular beats