Stu’s Hunt Down: Chip Lohmiller
Posted on April 17th, 2008 – 11:37 AMBy Michael Rand
The Huntdown
Name: John Lohmiller
Nickname: Chip
Claim to Fame, Minnesota: a Woodbury native, Lohmiller was a placekicker for the University of Minnesota. He racked up a couple All-Big Ten honors, with his game-winning field goal against #2 Michigan at the Big House in 1986 being the high-water mark.
Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: the Washington Redskins decided that using a second-round pick on a [redacted] kicker was a capital idea, and made Lohmiller the 55th pick of the 1988 NFL Draft. He put together a respectable career (although Jim Ducibella was glad to see him go), and led the NFL in points in 1991. Unfortunately, the highlight of his professional career, a McDonald’s commercial with Pete Stoyanovich, is no longer available on the YouTubes.
Where He Is Now: is the head football coach of the Pequot Lakes Patriots. Hunt Down staffers were unable to confirm at press time if he also takes part in Bean Hole Days. We’re going to assume “yes,” because, hey, Bean Hole Days.
Glorious Randomness: Greg Smedstad of Ogilvie, Minnesota, once drafted Chip Lohmiller in the first round of a fantasy football draft. This was surpassed only in hilarity by Kyle “Special K” Krebsbach of Plymouth, Wisconsin, opening the bidding on Mike Vanderjagt at $12 in a $100-cap auction league. Feel free to share your Chip Lohmiller memories, Bean Hole Days recommendations or fantasy draft blunders in comments.
Proprietor Glorious Randomness: One of the first stories we ever wrote for the now-defunct Page 2/Rotation was a piece about Lohmiller and what he had been up to. We were up near Pequot with the RandBall Better Half and the in-laws, so we arranged an interview. It happened to be while the Gophers were playing Michigan in 2005. And it happened that while we were sitting and talking, Jason Giannini kicked a field goal from virtually the same spot as Lohmiller had made his in 1986, giving us not just a feature story but an unexpected sidebar for the next day.
As the Gophers moved into field goal position late in their game Saturday at Michigan, the last Minnesota player to know what it was like to boot the Wolverines out of the Big House with a loss was watching with eager eyes. Chip Lohmiller — viewing the game at a diner in Crosslake, by pure coincidence with a Star Tribune writer — nailed a 30-yard field goal to give the Gophers a 20-17 victory at Michigan in 1986.
That had been the last time Minnesota claimed the Little Brown Jug until Saturday, when an eerily similar set of circumstances led Jason Giannini to put one through the uprights from the exact same distance — “the exact same spot on the field,” Lohmiller said — to give Minnesota a stunning 23-20 victory.
Now, go on with the fantasy stories.
14 Responses to "Stu’s Hunt Down: Chip Lohmiller"
If you’d rather not talk about fantasy in April, I bet this will do.
Unless the Chiefs are asking for Adrian Peterson, shouldn’t the Vikings make this happen five minutes ago?
Sounds good to me Stu.
Stu, everytime I read this blog and see your name I can’t help but think of that joke about the guy with no arms and no legs. (I hope this joke does not offend you or anyone elso Stu) What do you call a guy with no arms and no legs sitting in pot cooking on the stove? Stu (Stew). Sorry I have been wantting to get that off my chest for a long time.
I think every Hunt Down should end with references to Jason Giannini’s field goal against Michigan, from now on.
I’m betting Jason Giannini is on board, too.
I once saw Doug Woog dancing to a live techno band’s cover of Madonna’s “Vogue” in a bar near Pequot Lakes. I’m not sure if it was a Bean Hole Days sanctioned event or not.
I wish I could remember the name of that bar. Anyone have any ideas? It was a few miles north of the Commander. Suprisingly* I do not remember much else from that night.
*a lie
Skol: no worries. I, too, have read Truly Tasteless Jokes VI.
Jon: I’ll see what I can do. Would Rhys Lloyd or Jim Gallery be acceptable substitutes?
Clarence: Can’t help you on the other bar name, but it’s always nice to see the Commander referenced. Outstanding work today.
How’s this for a bad fantasy pick. Fred Lane after he had been killed by his wife. True story.
Thanks Stu. I spent a portion of my formative years traversing bars in the Nisswa to Walker beltway. I just can’t put my finger on the name of that bar.
But the image of the Wooger “striking a pose” with his little hands framing his bald head is seared in my memory.
It’s funny that I always hear stuff (possible Jared Allen trade) on this blog about an hour before it’s reported on the Strib website or other places. And my wife thinks I’m nuts for reading this blog all the time.
Brad: that’s awesome. Not for Fred Lane, obviously, but you know what I mean.
Clarence: Jon Marthaler wants to know if you have any video of the incident for his Doug Woog fansite (http//www.theyrenotbooingtheyresayingwooooooooog.angelfire.tripod.com). Get in touch with him if you do.
hmmm…30 yard field goal for the win. Outdoors. Infront of 100k+ fans. For the brown jug. Against Michigan. On the Road.
vs.
38 yard field goal. Indoors. Infront of 64k+ fans. Against Atlanta. At home. For the win in the NFC Championship game.
Guess the Vikings should have traded 5 players and 6 picks for Chip in 1998 instead of Herschel Walker in 1989 (I guess we got the wrong personality in that trade).
Sorry, no video of the Vogue dance.
I did find a video of Coach Woog’s wedding reception at the South St. Paul VFW, when he still had hair:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd-Z1zjlf8g
The whole wedding party kicks in at about 1:23. But I can’t get enough of the hip thrusts at the very beginning.
Chip’s grandfather was James “Red” McLeod, the guy who wrote “Skol, Vikings” and numerous other songs you would recognize. He also arranged music for the University bands for many many years.
The 2005 kick by Giannini was the only good thing he’s done in his Gopher career. Praise Jesus that he got benched after 2 games in ‘07. He is just painful to watch.
