Gopher The Roses

Minnesota Golden Gophers And Indiana Hoosiers Preview And Final

Preview

I have said many times here that I believe every year we are going to the Rose Bowl and that every weekend we will win that game.

   

People around here, including Sid Hartman, are talking about how this is the first of a three game win streak to get to a bowl game. Huh, that seams like a bit of a stretch to me. Indiana is beatable, Michigan State looks lost, and Iowa has fallen apart.

   

OK, I will drink the Kool-Aid they are serving up. It’s colored maroon and gold. Count me in.

   

I have written in previous weeks that I had seen a few Indiana Hoosier football games on TV and they look good. They are young. I am concerned that they will play us like the Randle El teams of old and that never worked out well for us.

   

Kellen Lewis is a red shirt freshman and I sort of look forward to seeing him play his college career. I think he will be better than Randle El when it is all said and done. He was last weeks Big Ten Player of the Week.

   

James Hardy is around 6’ 6” and he will clearly have an advantage over our undersized secondary.

   

Marcus Thigpen is their running back and returner and he is quick.

   

Indiana’s defense is not very good.

   

Sounds like Matt Spaeth is returning this week. He will be fitted with a special brace and surgery will be required at the end of the season.

   

Spaeth is another reason I support this team. He could very well be a first round draft choice in the 2007 NFL Draft. Playing on a team that needs to win three games to go to a bowl game. Is seriously injured and is putting his team and university above his own self-interest.

   

Prediction

I do not think we can play as bad as we have the rest of the season. Indiana comes in on a roll and I am thinking they cannot keep it going. It will be interesting to see how the home crowd on a homecoming game reacts to Coach Mason if things do not go well.

   

Minnesota by 10. That’s my heart talking, not so much my brain.

   

Indiana Hoosiers blogs

Maybe I did not spend enough time looking but I did not find any blogs about Hoosier football.

   

Big Ten Predictions

Last weeks results, 5-1 (19-5)

   

Minnesota over Indiana

Wisconsin over Penn State

Iowa over Northwestern

Michigan over Ball State

Ohio State over Illinois

Purdue over Michigan State

   

Final

Minnesota Golden Gophers 63 and Indiana Hoosiers 26

Happy Homecoming!!!

   

Lost and now found, the Minnesota Golden Gopher football team. Also found, the pass first to open up the run we were promised back in August.

   

Better late than never.

   

Scoring 21 points in the first quarter and being up 35-0 half way through the second quarter is a good way to start a game. With all that has happened in recent weeks that was one of the best games on both sides of the ball I have seen. Yeah I know it was against Indiana but remember that they have been playing well in recent weeks and this season in general.

   

At halftime the Gophers had 355 yards, 303 by air.

   

By the end of the game Minnesota had 541 total yards on offense.

   

Logan Payne and Ernie “I used stick ‘em this week” Wheelwright had 200+ yards between them.

   

The defense had multiple sacks and interception.

   

As the season has moved on and at least in the Dome, Joel Monroe has been doing a much better job of kicking the ball into the end zone, limiting the number if kick returns.

   

That was a lot of fun and yes I feel much, much better.

   

Notes

-Bryan Cupito is named Co-Offensive Player of the Week sharing the honor with Tyrell Sutton, Running Back from Northwestern University.

-Bryan Cupito was nominated as one of four players for this week’s Cingular All-America Player of the Week Award.

-Bryan Cupito is #2 in career passing yards, passing Asad Abdul-Khaliq.

-Ernie Wheelwright is now tied for 6^th in career touchdown receptions.

   

Statistics

Rushing

Jay Thomas, 79 yards and 2 touchdowns

Amir Pinnix, 68 yards and 1 touchdown

   

Receiving

Logan Payne, 137 yards

Ernie Wheelwright, 116 yards and 2 touchdowns

Eric Decker, 55 yards and 1 touchdown

Matt Spaeth, 30 yards and 1 touchdown

   

Passing

Bryan Cupito, 22-33 for 378 yards

   

Defense

Dominic Barber, 1 interception and 1 touchdown

DJ Jones, 1interception

Mike Sherels, 1 interception

Minnesota Golden Gophers And Ohio State Buckeyes Preview And Final

Preview

Before getting into this weeks game there is another Coach Mason quote worth talking about. At the North Dakota State post game press conference he said:

"This is the kind of game that puts a smile on your face. When you're out coached and outplayed and still win."

It’s just not worth getting a rant over other than to say this, maybe we do need to reconsider his employment.

   

It’s been a while since I have said this and mostly because I have been bitter with the coaching staff. I believe before every season we are going to the Rose Bowl and each Saturday we will win the game, or at least have a chance.

   

This week is an exception.

   

I heard that some players were using the analogy that if the Bison were able to keep it close with the Gophers that the Gophers can keep it close with the Buckeyes?

   

Huh? What? Speechless…

   

Coach Mason heads back to his alma mater. For those that do not know our wide receivers coach Luke Tressel is Ohio State football Head Coach Jim Tressel’s son.

   

Here is my hope for the game today, that our team plays respectable football. We have 18 some players from the state of Ohio on our team and most of them would like to have been given an invitation to play in Columbus.

   

We played well at the Metrodome last year and ran up a lot of yards on the then #1 defense on the country

   

With guys like Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez and James Laurinaitis (another Minnesota kid that got away) my feeling is that Ohio State could take on the worst team in the NFL and stick with them for the 1^st half. After that the size and speed of the NFL team would do them in.

   

Matt Spaeth has suffered a severe shoulder injury and could be out for the season. He will be replaced with Jack Simmons.

   

Ohio State Football Blogs:

Men of the Scarlet and Gray

Around the Oval

Buckeye Commentary

   

Big Ten Predictions

Last weeks results 5-1 (14-4)

   

I thought I was going to have my first 6-0 weekend but Northwestern surrendered the largest comeback in Division I-A history. The positive side is that the Minnesota and Ohio State game of 1989 comes off the record books as tied for the largest comeback.

   

Ohio State over Minnesota

Michigan over Northwestern

Wisconsin over Illinois

Indiana over Michigan State

Iowa over Northern Illinois

Purdue over Penn State

   

Final

Minnesota Golden Gophers 0 and Ohio State Buckeyes 44

   

My gut reaction to this one is a little sarcastic and yes I know Ohio State is #1 in the country. Here goes…

   

MEDIC!!! We need a medic over here. They have at best a faint pulse and shallow breathing. Where did our offense go? Has anyone seen them? OK, I feel better now.

   

Today I was reminded why even though we do not have the greatest team I like our team. I like their character on and off the field. I like them as students and people. I like that they played hard.

   

I hope that for all of those who said bad things about Dominic Jones after the fumble in the Penn State game saw his play yesterday. He came to play. He had a couple of nice plays on Ted Ginn and he had an awesome hit on Ray Small.

   

After knocking Small on his back Jones celebrated with his teammates until he saw that Small was not just down, he was out. Jones settled himself and took off his helmet and looked on as the Buckeye trainers took care of Small. Once Small sat up Jones went over too him and offered him a hand in respect. Dominic Jones, class act.

   

Now having seen Ohio State, Michigan, and Cal and watching most if not all of the highly ranked teams on TV there is no doubt in my mind Ohio State is #1.

   

Statistics

Rushing

Amir Pinnix, 46 yards

   

Receiving

Jack Simmons, 48 yards

   

Passing

Bryan Cupito, 13-25 for 120 yards and 3 interceptions, sacked 2 times

   

Defense

Steve Davis, 1 sack

Minnesota Golden Gophers And North Dakota State Bison Preview And Final

Preview

In order to have bought a ticket to the Iowa game one had to buy a ticket to the North Dakota State Bison football game. From a ticket sales viewpoint that makes sense. Milk the Hawkeyes for some more cash besides what they will spend at the Mall of America.

   

But how “green” will the Dome be on Saturday? My brother has decided not to drive from Alexandria for fear of running into a North Dakota traffic jam on Interstate 94. While I am thinking about it this is a public service message for those from North Dakota. The left lane is a passing lane. Not a cruising lane. Not a lane to drive at various speeds while on your cell phone.

   

Thank you.

    

A lot of people have been saying this is a no win situation for the Gophers. Win big, no one cares. Lose, and those living in the maroon and gold world will implode.

   

The Bison are ranked in the top 10, 6 I think, in 1-AA. They have a good team and quite a few of their players could see playing if they played for Minnesota and other large schools.

   

My concern is the hangover or now funk we seem to be in will carry into this week or worse yet completely over looking this game and to Ohio State.

   

The Gophers will be wearing 1960’s era jerseys. Lets hope we play that way Saturday and the rest of the season.

   

Trumaine Banks is out for the season after breaking his arm against Wisconsin. Dominic Jones will be moved from Strong Safety to Cornerback with Duran Cooley taking Banks spot.

   

North Dakota State Football Blogs

None that I could find

   

Big Ten Predictions

Last weeks results 4-2 (9-3)

   

Minnesota over North Dakota State

Ohio State over Indiana

Michigan over Iowa

Wisconsin over Purdue

Northwestern over Michigan State

Penn State over Illinois

   

Final

Minnesota Golden Gophers 10 And North Dakota State 9

   

A disclaimer. In 1982 when the Gophers moved to the Dome my father purchased 2 season tickets. I have seen many, many odd games (Wisconsin, Purdue, and Ohio State are the usual suspects) over the years. I have seen the Gophers be blown out (Oklahoma and Nebraska come to mind) and give it to others.

    

In all of this time I have missed only 10 games all due to being sick with one thing or another and this years Temple game for the funeral of my grandma. I have missed a few weddings of family members but made it the receptions. My family and friends know where my commitment is on Saturdays in the fall when the Gophers play at home.

   

I did not attend the game against North Dakota State for no reason other than I did not want to. I was behind in work, had not slept much during the week, and frankly did not care about the game. I did make sure I gave my tickets to a friend and his son and yes they are Gopher fans. I would never give my tickets to someone not wearing the maroon and gold.

   

As for the game itself (I did watch it on TV) worse than winning big or losing is what happened. Gopherland in celebration after a blocking a Bison field goal to not lose the game just does not look or feel good.

   

As the Gophers made their way off the field the students made a point to cheer for their peers but as the coaching staff made their way to the tunnel the boo’s were heard again. Maybe now Coach Mason understand who the fans are frustrated with and who they think should be held accountable for the season.

   

I understand that during the game when the student section started the “Fire Mason” chant the U of M Marching band would start playing to drown out the students. Hmmm, I would like to know who came up with that plan.

   

62,845 was the paid attendance and from what I saw on TV and heard from those at the game, at least half were cheering for the Bison. I hate to say this but I feel bad for the Bison. They were the better team.

   

Statistics

Rushing

Amir Pinnix, 97 yards and 1 TD

   

Receiving

Matt Spaeth, 49 yards

   

Passing

Bryan Cupito, 10-24 for 150 yards and sacked 2 times

   

Defense

Willie VanDeSteeg, 1 sack

Todd Meisel, 1 sack

Neel Allen, 1 sack

Jamal Harris, 1 interception

Minnesota Golden Gophers And Wisconsin Badgers Preview And Final

Preview

Oh how I have a bad feeling about this one. Sort of like waking up the day after drinking Leinenkugel’s and sausage filled with cheese. Not that I have ever consumed anything like that, the beer yes the sausage/cheese no. But in keeping with the Wisconsin Badger football theme…

   

I have an emotional hangover from last week. Seems like most Gopher fans do too. And here we go to “Mad Town” where we seem to not do so well.

   

As a side note I am growing tired of watching native Minnesotans play football for other teams. This week we get to see John Stocco (Holy Angels) for the last time. He has looked good wearing the red and having Bucky Badger “high five” him all the time. If I remember correctly he was not recruited by Minnesota.

   

And how about that Wisconsin band? On probation including hazing allegations. Very nice. Maybe they should do a take off of Girls Gone Wild. Maybe, Badgers In The Wild.

   

Minnesota and Wisconsin play for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. This is the 116^th meeting between the schools and the longest continuous rivalry in NCAA I-A football. I think Lehigh and Lafayette have played 1 or 2 years longer in I-AA.

   

While fishing on Lake Minnetonka my buddy Brian took my by this house:

    

    

Prediction

I hate to say this but I think Wisconsin will win easily but hopefully not in a blow out.

    

Wisconsin Football Blogs:

Badger Sports

Bucky Blog

Cute Sports

    

Big Ten Predictions

Last week’s results 5-1, my Gophers let me down but the Hoosiers helped out.

    

Wisconsin over Minnesota

Michigan over Penn State

Ohio State over Michigan State

Northwestern over Purdue

Indiana over Iowa

Illinois over Ohio

   

Final

Minnesota Golden Gophers 12 and Wisconsin Badgers 48

   

Wow, that was a lot of fun to watch. This game became so bad that the game announcers had a split screen with the in studio guys and talking about other things while showing Gophers and Badgers playing. To make it worse for us Gophers fans, or more like taking us out of our misery, they switched to another game.

   

For as many points as Wisconsin put on us the stat sheet, 400 total yards, was not that glamorous.

   

I have very little to comment on except for the Mario Reese celebration. So we blocked a kick and returned it for 2 points. He dove in the end zone a la Reggie Bush. I like enthusiasm. I like having energy. Dude, we were getting our Gopher tail kicked up and down the field. The celebration was not necessary.

   

Statistics

Rushing

Amir Pinnix, 97 yards and 1 TD

   

Receiving

Matt Spaeth, 42 yards

Eric Decker, 26 yards

   

Passing

Bryan Cupito, 13-28 for 94 yards, 1 Interception and sacked 3 times

   

Defense

Steve Davis, 1 sack

Todd Meisel, 1 sack

   

   

   

Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions Preview And Final

Preview

Let me start by saying that I believe the Gophers can and will win this game. Why? If the Gophers can play this week (without the usual big game loss hangover that they seem to be plagued with) like they did against Michigan they will win.

   

Besides a fair performance by the Gophers I do not think that Penn State football is that good this year, at least not at this point in the season.

   

As a team they are not that big or athletic as in years past. Their QB seems a bit above average but nothing to get excited about. Their offensive line is thin in terms of available players and their secondary is not that good.

   

The Gophers should pass early to set up the run. Plain and simple. After all this is what we were promised at the beginning of the season.

   

Minnesota and Penn State play for the Governor’s Victory Bell, which started in 1993 when Penn State was admitted to the Big Ten. Minnesota is 4-5 against Penn State

   

Prediction

Minnesota by 10.

   

Penn State Football Blogs:

Penn State, like Michigan, has no shortage in the number of bloggers supporting their university and college teams. Here are the ones I like the best:

   

50-Yard line

Inside PA Sports

Black Shoe Diaries

The Nittany Notebook

There Is No Name On My Jersey

   

Big Ten Predictions

A disclaimer, I am way more a fan than a Las Vegas odds maker and I do little if any research. This is what I think, nothing more and nothing less. Well, maybe some bias.

   

Minnesota over Penn State

Ohio State over Bowling Green

Wisconsin over Northwestern

Michigan over Michigan State

Indiana over Illinois

Iowa over Purdue

   

Final

I am not sure how to express my frustration with this loss.

   

I am upset with the official for calling the pass interference call on Trumaine Banks. I wonder if the one who threw the flag has been one of the many that Coach Joe Paterno has chased down over the years. Remember, I have stated that I have a lot of respect for Jo Pa but this smells of payback for calls gone against them over the years. Two wrongs do not make a right.

   

There is no way you throw a flag from the backside. There is no way he had an angle on that play to make the call. And note that the official closest to the play did not flag the play.

   

Besides the pass interference call there are a few situations that stick out as major moments in this game and not one of them went our way. Yes, our players made some mistakes but our coaches contributed or to go so far as to say they helped create the situation.

   

The first is the Dominic Jones fumbled punt near the goal line. While I do not understand how something like that happens I never played football. I never had guys running down the field running as fast as they could wanting to take my head off as I was standing there all by myself waiting for the ball to come back to earth.

   

I do take issue with the coaches for putting him in that position to begin with. We had a 4^th down and less than a yard around our own 45-yard line. The crowd was in the game. Momentum was up for grabs. And once again Coach Mason goes conservative. I am growing tired of his line that goes something like, “It’s more fun to coach and play to win than not to lose.”

   

Really? When was the last time we made an aggressive play to win decision?

   

So we punted, as did Penn State, which is how we got to the fumble.

   

How about the lame attempt at running out the clock at the end of the first half? Once again we go conservative. (I am still looking for the coaching to win attitude). Now I grant that Amir Pinnix running out of bounds and stopping the clock was a mistake but three running plays and the punt is not being aggressive.

   

While the three run plays were going on there were a few fans that started booing. After the punt a small chant started in the student section, “Fire Mason”. After the Penn State touchdown to make it Nittany Lions 14-7 and the end of the half the chant came back very loud accompanied by a chorus of boos.

   

In the second half Trumaine Banks was hurt and had to sit out a play. His replacement was a little used young guy. Now if there was ever a time to play that soft zone, it was then. Nope, we go man to man and gave up the big play.

   

Three coaching decisions made as much an impact as one blown call by the referee.

   

Then there was the missed extra point in OT by Jason Giannini. Speechless. I was then and I am now.

   

After all of that the game was in hand except for the call from one referee who was out of position.

   

How many more games will Gopher fans have to endure like this one?

   

Notes

-Matt Spaeth moves in front of Ben Utecht in all time tight end receptions and moves to 11^th regardless of position.

   

Statistics

Rushing

-Amir Pinnix, 76 yards and 2 TD’s

   

Receiving

-Matt Spaeth, 99 yards and 1 TD

-Logan Payne, 94 yards

-Eric Decker, 66 yards and 1 TD

   

Passing

-Bryan Cupito, 25-36 for 347 yards, 2 TD’s, sacked 3 times

   

Defense

-John Shevlin, 1 Interception

-Will VanDeSteeg, 1 Sack

   

I am a big fan of Joe Paterno:

   

   

   

And there goes The Bell:

   

Michigan Wolverines 28 and Minnesota Golden Gophers 14, Posted October 5 2006

This could very well be the longest post in the 16+ months of this blog. I have not been doing any analyzing of previous games because of a lack of time but I am ready to make up for it and I have a couple of tangents to go on too.

   

Last year I was heavy on statistics. This year there will be more commentary…

   

Thoughts on the game

There are some good things to take from the game. After sending Laurence Maroney, Greg Eslinger, and Mark Setterstrom to the NFL the running game is still pretty good. Michigan had only given up something like 78 yards in four games. That’s not per game, total. .8 yards per carry give or take a tenth.

   

Brian Cupito had a decent game throwing the ball, 17-34 for 215 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. I would take that output every week.

   

The defensive secondary looked a little like swiss cheese against the pass. Part of that was because Michigan was running the ball well so we put the safety up in the box forcing our guys to play man against their receivers.

   

I would much rather play man defense and get burned than play that soft zone we usually do. What’s the difference if you give a big play or a bunch of small one’s. The result is still a touchdown.

   

Had we not taken a penalty that brought back a touchdown and had we scored late in the game things could have been pretty crazy at the Metrodome. Not a big stretch of the imagination when you consider the previous three games.

   

I am not convinced that Michigan is as good as the rankings have us believing. Are they good? Absolutely. Are they great? I don’t think so. The score does not tell the story. The statistics do. Michigan could have scored 40+ points. That is not why I am knocking them.

   

Let’s face it, this Gopher team is not as good as the previous ones. For me that means Michigan should have kicked our Gopher tail up and down the field more so than they did.

   

Before every game starts I think we can win it and this was one of those that could have been.

   

Anyway, I thought Michigan would have done more.

   

To the woman sitting behind me a few rows

Michigan came to the Dome highly ranked and when you have them on a 3^rd down early in the game (or at any point) do not tell someone wearing the same colors as you, “Down in front.”

   

Are you kidding me? This is a football game. A rivalry game. Well, sort of anyway. Down in front? Get off your butt and cheer with me.

   

This weekend if I hear it again my response will not be kind.

   

Students leaving early

I was listening to the Sports Huddle with Sid Hartman and Dave Mona on WCCO this past Sunday morning and quite a few times comments were made about the students leaving during the 4^th quarter. Hints were made that they were heading to the bars.

   

Sorry guys, but you are out of touch. 50,000+ fans and 10,000+ of them are students heading back top campus. That does not include the fans who park near campus too. Any idea how long it takes to get back there by way of bus? Depending on where a student lives and how long the lines are it can be a minimum of 45 minutes and as much as 90.

   

One more thought. Less than 24% of the students are over the age of 21. I have heard that freshmen and sophomores are 60%+ the number of students in attendance. So no, they were not heading to the bars. A party maybe but most of them were just heading back home.

   

And why not criticize the “old folks” who left early? I was there until the end and the same percentage of old folks left as did the students.

   

Am I happy that the fans leave early? No. But even the Twins game yesterday had people leaving at the top of the 9^th. That is absurd.

   

Football Blogosphere

A few weeks ago I ran across some great college football blogs and I thought it would be cool to add links to them here. Michigan has quite a few and I have linked to them below. They give an interesting view on what they think of their own team and of our Gophers.

   

For the most part things about Minnesota are positive except for their dislike of playing in the Dome. It will not shock you to know I agree with them:

   

Ronald Bellamy's Underachieving All-Stars

iBlog For Cookies

M Zone

Maize n Brew

mgoblog

Straight Bangin'

The Blog That Yost Built

Schembechler Hall

Stadium and Main

   

From The Blog That Yost Built:

So now, after a year of being paraded around in Minnesota like it was the Stanley Cup, the Little Brown Jug can return to its familiar home: A trunk in the laundry room at Schembechler Hall. Maybe when today's newborns are the Gophers' freshmen, we'll let them see it again. Hopefully by then they will have learned that when you've been owned by a team for the better part of two decades, one win doesn't give you the right to plant a flag.
   
Unless it's your first road conference win in about 4 years and it's the other school's Homecoming game.

Hey, I was one of those who had my picture taken with the jug and I appreciate you letting us borrow it for a while.

   

Speaking of which, we get robbed in the number of days we held on to it. We won it on October 8^th, 2005. We lost it on September 30^th, 2006. Not exactly a year. 2007 the game is played on October 27^th so they have it an extra month. Or it could be years too. I know this is a weak item to bring up but when you see it once every decade and a half every day, week, month counts.

   

Here’s a pick of the Little Brown Jug (somewhere in there) heading off to Ann Arbor and a very happy Wolverine fan:

   

   

   

   

   

Some pictures related to the game is this one from Deke. We had five Michigan Dekes make the drive for the game:

   

   

   

   

   

Here are the previously mentioned student sections:

   

   

   

   

   

The Twins and White Sox played earlier in the day at the Dome, another reason to bring the Gophers back to campus, so many of the baseball players were in attendance. Torii Hunter and Joe Mauer were shown on the big screen a couple of times.

   

This is a picture of A.J. Pierzynski shortly after being heckled by fans and him giving some comments back:

   

   

   

   

   

I brought my cousin Leah with me to the game. She had taken me to the Vikings and Carolina Panthers game so I thought a payback would be nice. I forgot how loud she can yell. At one point in the game, after having been quite for a little while, the guy in front turned around to see what was wrong.

   

Leah had the hiccups. Soon after they were cured and she was back at it. Leah and I and Leah with my season ticket friends that sit next to me, Rosemary and David:

   

   

   

   

No pictures from the game itself as I was too focused on watching it.

   

San Francisco Trip Day 2, Minnesota vs Cal, Posted September 24 2006

After sleeping in a little bit Jason, Dan and I headed out for brunch. I took this picture from Peidmont, as we were hopeful the fog was going to break and it did look a little brighter:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Besides, Dan told me not to worry. The weather is always better in Berkeley.

   

We then headed over to the Cal campus. Jason, Dan and I were pledge brothers of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at the University of Minnesota. When Jason and I make these trips we try to pick a game where the school has a Deke chapter.

   

We found the Cal Deke’s. They have a great location on the opposite corner to the stadium so we pulled in and asked if we could park there. After explaining who we were their response was, “Absolutely, and the beer is inside.” Ahh, just like home.

   

There were not many guys around as it was still early so we took a quick tour of the chapter house:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Outside they had their drinking table ready for the pre-game festivities:

   

   

   

   

   

   

We then headed to a reception held by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association and Goal Line Club. I was not yet ready for the game but seeing the maroon and gold fans got me going:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Goldy helped:

   

   

   

   

   

   

The best motivator was this one. It is a picture of student’s window across from the reception:

   

   

   

   

   

   

After eating, meeting some friends, having a beer or two (I swear that’s all I had), and hearing from among others President Bruininks:

   

   

   

   

   

   

We headed back to the Deke house to meet the guys. Their “preparations” for the game were in full swing:

   

   

   

   

   

   

There was the friendly shake, offering of the beer (I said no, really I did), Deke talk, and then once the formalities were over with the friendly trash talk between the Golden Bears and Golden Gophers began. Cal was just coming off their loss to Tennessee the week before and the fall from the Top 10.

   

We took amore extensive tour of the chapter house and found that they have an amazing view and a really cool mural:

   

   

   

   

   

   

After meeting some of their alumni we decided to head to the stadium. Not a far walk by any means but, umm, it was steep:

   

   

   

   

   

   

I took some pre-game pictures:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Cal started with the ball and was held to a three and out. Minnesota started on their own 29 yard line and marched down the field, scoring in our end of the field:

   

   

   

   

   

   

But no, wait. They ruled Alex Daniels knee was down at the one-foot mark. I included that picture because on the TBS telecast they had a three second clip of the Minnesota fans cheering. It shows about 10 rows of happy maroon and gold clad people including in the second row of the picture Jason yelling and clapping and me taking that picture.

   

Minnesota does score on the next play so all went well:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Because Minnesota dominated Cal on that drive many of the Gopher fans started chanting, “You can’t stop us. You can’t stop us.” That seemed a little premature although it was nice to hear the optimism. The Cal student sections certainly looked a little concerned:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Cal went on to tie the game and then take a 14-7 lead. On the kickoff following the second Cal touchdown Dominic Jones returned it for a 99-yard touchdown. It happened quickly and with the camera in my pocket I missed it. Here’s a pic from the replay in the stadium:

   

   

   

   

   

   

After a few punts by each team Cal took a 21-14 lead and then a 28-14 lead. A late second quarter drive by the Gophers stalled and Jason Giannini kicks this field goal (off the upright but through) to make it 28-17 at the half:

   

   

   

   

   

   

And that’s as good as it would get. The scoreboard continued to move for Cal:

   

   

   

   

    

   

The fog started coming back fast and thick (compare these two picks with the one before the game started):

   

   

   

   

   

   

Final score Cal 42 and Minnesota 17.

   

We went back to Deke to catch the end of the Ohio State vs. Texas game and other scores from the day.

   

We had a good day except for the game and the weather. Jason had to remind that we were in the Bay Area, at Berkeley watching a game outdoors and that was good enough for him. Apparently his glass was half full and mine was half empty.

Let's Go Gophers, October 8 2005

How ‘bout them Golden Gophers!!!

So here I am posting from Michigan. I was in the Big House today and for the second year in a row sat facing the sun in a long game and have really bad sunburn.

The difference this year is a fantastic victory by our team.

I have a few pics to post later and many posts related to the recruiting world when I get back to

tomorrow.

So for now,

Hats Off To Thee…

And a mission to find something that looks like a Little Brown Jug to drink from.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Football 4-0, September 26 2005

I am not sure where to start with the Gophers Homecoming victory over the 11^th ranked Purdue Boilermakers.

Whew. How many times over the years we have been that close and had it go the other way? How many games against Purdue have been wild and crazy? How many times have we shot ourselves in the foot? Again, that ’03 Michigan game haunts us all…

But not this time. This time we made mistakes, turnovers, penalties, and some questionable conservative play calling yet persevered.

I cannot say enough about the commitment that our Gopher football team showed on Saturday afternoon. That was an amazing performance, this game should go down in history as one of the best victories the program has had.

Running back Laurence Maroney was a workhorse, posting career highs in rushing (217 yards) and carries (46) and catches (five). He finished with 333 all-purpose yards. We were questioning why late in the game he was alternating so much with Russell. We had lost track of the amount of carries he had.

In the end zone where the student sections are was the following sign, “Maroney, Be Cool, Stay In School”.

Laurence Maroney has moved into 4^th place in the ESPN.com Heisman poll.

College GameDay Final, ESPN’s end of the day college football production, Lou Holtz gave Laurence Maroney a “helmet sticker” for his performance. I believe that is the first time a Minnesota Golden Gopher football player has received that recognition.

There are quite a few stories online regarding the Gopher victory. Jim Souhan of the StarTribune has the best one that will give you an idea of what I saw and felt in my seats on the 25-yard line.

The following are links to other stories on the Gopher victory:

GopherSports.com

ESPN.com

StarTribune.com, Gopher sports page

CBS.Sportsline.com

What follows are a few of the many game notes on GopherSports.com:

-The Maroon and Gold has amassed 300 yards rushing in four consecutive games.

-The Minnesota offense has produced 200 yards rushing in 23 of the last 29 games.

-With his career-high 217 rushing yards today, Laurence Maroney became only the sixth player in school history with 3,000 career rushing yards. He passed Marion Barber (1977 -80) to move into fifth place with 3,167 yards. Leading the list are Darrell Thompson (4,654 yards), Thomas Hamner (3,810), Marion Barber III (3,276) and Chris Darkins (3,235).

-Minnesota has forced a turnover in all four games this season and in five consecutive games.

-Minnesota has recorded at least one sack in eight straight games.

-The Golden Gopher defense allowed only 22 rushing yards in the first half.

-Cupito threw a career-high three touchdown passes today.

Later on this week I will have another posting regarding the game with more information on how the individual players performed and overcame obstacles.

Gopher Football 3-0, September 20 2005

Now it is for real. Not that Tulsa, Colorado State, and Florida Atlantic were not good foes to play against, well maybe FAU, but we proved some things over the past three games and it is time to move forward with the Big Ten schedule.

   

Purdue, raked #11 in the country, comes to town for an early Homecoming game at the Metrodome. I have not followed the Boilermakers “preseason” so I have very little to comment about on them.

   

Our guys looked good on Saturday. Yes, FAU was small and looked a bit like a JV team but overall we did pretty well. A couple of missed PAT’s again. It may be time to put in an ad in the school paper like Coach Mason did a couple of years ago. At a school this large there has to be one guy who can kick a football through the uprights.

   

A couple of notes from the game:

-Gary Russell has his first career 100-yard rushing day.

-This is the 17th time under Glen Mason that the Golden Gophers have had two players rush for more than 100 yards. The Golden Gophers are now 15-2 in those games.

-Minnesota has not been shut out in a school record 87 games

-Minnesota has won a Big Ten-best 19 straight non-conference games.

-Maroney needs 50 yards to become only the sixth player in school history with 3,000 career rushing yards. Leading the list are Darrell Thompson (4,654 yards), Thomas Hamner (3,810), Marion Barber III (3,276), Chris Darkins (3,235) and Marion Barber (3,094).

-Maroney caught three passes, one for a TD.

-Gophers first and only punt came late in the 4^th quarter.

   

Minnesota has the #1 rushing offense in the country. Purdue has the #1 rushing defense in the country.

   

ESPN has picked up the Purdue game this week. ABC picked up the Minnesota at Penn State game on Oct 1.

We will no more after this Saturday on the state of Gopher football team.