SUPER BOWL SERIES: CHIP LOHMILLER
Jan. 29, 2018
Buy Tickets for 2018!
Minneapolis will host the Super Bowl on Feb. 4 when the New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles for the right to be called world champion. The Patriots will be seeking their sixth world championship, while the Eagles are looking for their first. In preparation of the big game, we will take a look back in the coming days at some former Gophers who went on to Super Bowl fame.
Chip Lohmiller played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins from 1988-1994 before making brief stops with the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams the next two seasons. Lohmiller left Minnesota as the all-time leading scorer and is still currently second. He also has the longest field goal make in school history with a 62-yarder. The last time the Super Bowl was in Minneapolis, it was Lohmiller and the Redskins that came out victorious over the Buffalo Bills in 1992. The Woodbury, Minn. native went 3-3 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points.
Gopher Sports: Can you first just walk us through what it was like making the Super Bowl and what the anticipation was like leading up to the big game?
Chip Lohmiller: I started off at the beginning of the year knowing the Super Bowl was going to be in Minneapolis. I grew up around here and went to the U. The excitement of having the chance to play in my hometown at the Metrodome kept the anticipation growing and growing each week as we got into the playoffs. Finally, when we won the division championship is when it got a little exciting and hectic because I had 100 some people or more that wanted tickets. It was like people were coming through the woodworks. Just the excitement of being able to play at home in front of my family and friends where I grew up and where I played football at the University of Minnesota was just a really cool feeling.
GS: How did you work it out to make sure everybody got tickets?
CL: I tried to get as many as I could from the guys and started handing them out. It was pretty hectic because each team member gets some tickets. I had to buy some, had to do some favors but it all worked out in the end. I was able to accommodate 77 people to the game.
GS: What was it like to hit a few big field goals in the Super Bowl?
CL: I had three field goals and four extra points and in the fourth quarter I was able to hit two field goals when they were trying to come back. A couple fourth quarter field goals to put the game out of touch.
GS: What were those moments like just being able to do that and put away the Super Bowl for your team?
CL: We came out pretty strong. We were dominating the game. I had confidence just because I played there in my college ranks. It was home to me. I practiced there throughout college and I felt so comfortable playing in there and just having the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. Obviously there was a lot of pressure with the millions of people watching but it was nice to go out and have a perfect game and contribute to the win for my team.
GS: What was it like afterwards and what kind of support did you get from your community in Minnesota and back here from the University of Minnesota?
CL: Well it was just great. It is good to see some of the locals make it big. Just like nowadays when you see Adam Thielen and some of the other guys make it into the NFL. It is great to see that Minnesota is on the map when it comes to professional athletes whether it’s hockey, football, baseball, basketball ect. It’s nice to see the local boy do good. I was well received in my community of Woodbury and throughout the state.
GS: We were just talking to Matt Spaeth and he said a lot of people claimed him when he won a Super Bowl. Is that something that you noticed? Like man, Chip Lohmiller, that’s my guy.
CL: Yeah, you get the people that say yeah I know him or I grew up with him and it’s all about showing pride to Minnesota and wanting people to know that we have athletes that are good people. Like you said Matt and there are a whole bunch of guys that are Minnesota grown guys that are still here and supporting Minnesota.
GS: Going back to your Gopher days, is there any memory that really sticks out to you?
CL: There is a lot of those. I had a game winner against Michigan in 1986 and a 62-yarder against Iowa even though we lost the game.
GS: Still the longest kick in school history.
CL: Hopefully that will stick around awhile. But just a lot of memories going back to the Gopher days. I played with guys like Rickey Foggie and Darrell Thompson and we still talk.
GS: What are you up to nowadays?
CL: Nowadays I am the head coach at Pequot Lakes. I have been the coach there for 17 years and we made it to the semifinals last year. I am the fire chief in Crosslake and I own a fire training and EMS company throughout the state.
Jan. 29, 2018
Buy Tickets for 2018!
Minneapolis will host the Super Bowl on Feb. 4 when the New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles for the right to be called world champion. The Patriots will be seeking their sixth world championship, while the Eagles are looking for their first. In preparation of the big game, we will take a look back in the coming days at some former Gophers who went on to Super Bowl fame.
Chip Lohmiller played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins from 1988-1994 before making brief stops with the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams the next two seasons. Lohmiller left Minnesota as the all-time leading scorer and is still currently second. He also has the longest field goal make in school history with a 62-yarder. The last time the Super Bowl was in Minneapolis, it was Lohmiller and the Redskins that came out victorious over the Buffalo Bills in 1992. The Woodbury, Minn. native went 3-3 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points.
Gopher Sports: Can you first just walk us through what it was like making the Super Bowl and what the anticipation was like leading up to the big game?
Chip Lohmiller: I started off at the beginning of the year knowing the Super Bowl was going to be in Minneapolis. I grew up around here and went to the U. The excitement of having the chance to play in my hometown at the Metrodome kept the anticipation growing and growing each week as we got into the playoffs. Finally, when we won the division championship is when it got a little exciting and hectic because I had 100 some people or more that wanted tickets. It was like people were coming through the woodworks. Just the excitement of being able to play at home in front of my family and friends where I grew up and where I played football at the University of Minnesota was just a really cool feeling.
GS: How did you work it out to make sure everybody got tickets?
CL: I tried to get as many as I could from the guys and started handing them out. It was pretty hectic because each team member gets some tickets. I had to buy some, had to do some favors but it all worked out in the end. I was able to accommodate 77 people to the game.
GS: What was it like to hit a few big field goals in the Super Bowl?
CL: I had three field goals and four extra points and in the fourth quarter I was able to hit two field goals when they were trying to come back. A couple fourth quarter field goals to put the game out of touch.
GS: What were those moments like just being able to do that and put away the Super Bowl for your team?
CL: We came out pretty strong. We were dominating the game. I had confidence just because I played there in my college ranks. It was home to me. I practiced there throughout college and I felt so comfortable playing in there and just having the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. Obviously there was a lot of pressure with the millions of people watching but it was nice to go out and have a perfect game and contribute to the win for my team.
GS: What was it like afterwards and what kind of support did you get from your community in Minnesota and back here from the University of Minnesota?
CL: Well it was just great. It is good to see some of the locals make it big. Just like nowadays when you see Adam Thielen and some of the other guys make it into the NFL. It is great to see that Minnesota is on the map when it comes to professional athletes whether it’s hockey, football, baseball, basketball ect. It’s nice to see the local boy do good. I was well received in my community of Woodbury and throughout the state.
GS: We were just talking to Matt Spaeth and he said a lot of people claimed him when he won a Super Bowl. Is that something that you noticed? Like man, Chip Lohmiller, that’s my guy.
CL: Yeah, you get the people that say yeah I know him or I grew up with him and it’s all about showing pride to Minnesota and wanting people to know that we have athletes that are good people. Like you said Matt and there are a whole bunch of guys that are Minnesota grown guys that are still here and supporting Minnesota.
GS: Going back to your Gopher days, is there any memory that really sticks out to you?
CL: There is a lot of those. I had a game winner against Michigan in 1986 and a 62-yarder against Iowa even though we lost the game.
GS: Still the longest kick in school history.
CL: Hopefully that will stick around awhile. But just a lot of memories going back to the Gopher days. I played with guys like Rickey Foggie and Darrell Thompson and we still talk.
GS: What are you up to nowadays?
CL: Nowadays I am the head coach at Pequot Lakes. I have been the coach there for 17 years and we made it to the semifinals last year. I am the fire chief in Crosslake and I own a fire training and EMS company throughout the state.
