Deliverance

Saturday’s loss to Iowa was more than a single game.  It was the finale of an adventure gone wrong.

In 1982, the Gopher Football program embarked upon an adventure into the unknown.  Minnesota had played football within the safe confines of Memorial Stadium, an outdoor football stadium on the University of Minnesota’s campus.  The daring decision was made to embark upon an adventure into the unknown of indoor football at the off-campus Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. 

Along this winding journey Minnesota encountered terrible obstacles and setbacks.  Weary and broken, fans and talented recruits alike were convinced that the horrors of the Metrodome adventure would never cease.  The most unspeakable incident of the Metrodome adventure was in 2002, when uncivilized drunken fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes tore down the goalposts in the Gophers’ own Metrodome. 

Iowa once again humiliated the Gophers with a 55-0 victory at the Dome, but this time the Gopher fans, players, and recruits emerged from the adventure knowing that they would never revisit the Metrodome again.  Gopher Nation has emerged from the Metrodome adventure battered and bruised, but having found deliverance.

Fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes do not have the luxury of a home state NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL team to follow.  Besides a NASCAR track, University of Iowa sports are the only show around.  Every other year, Iowa football fans would emerge from their fields of cornstalks and pig farms for a pilgrimage to the Metrodome.  As pig farming is common in both southern Minnesota and throughout Iowa, it is fitting that the victor of the football game receive the bronzed statue of a pig named Floyd of Rosedale.  Make no mistake about it, Floyd is a prized hog for Iowans.

The biannual game at the Metrodome between the Gophers and the Hawkeyes often hosted well over 10,000 Iowa fans.  It was never difficult to discern Iowa from Minnesota fans.  Since it was off-campus, the Metrodome was the only stadium in the Big Ten that allowed the consumption of alcoholic beverages.  Iowa fans never hesitated to make the most of that privilege. 

Prior to Saturday’s game Hawkeye fans were screaming, hooting and hollering in the hallways of the Metrodome.  I saw one group of Iowa fans dancing in a circle while they sung a chant with a Country-Western twang, synchronized as if to the tune of an invisible banjo. 

During the lopsided game, I witnessed two drunken Iowa fans taunting a Gopher fan with vulgar language and broken grammar.  They reveled in the chance to humiliate a Minnesota city folk and make him squeal like a pig.  By the end of the third quarter, many Gopher fans had left the lopsided game and the once deafening Metrodome was as quiet as Des Moines on a Saturday night.

Iowa fans were delighted to watch their coach run up the score towards the end of the game.  In Iowa the virtues of honor, respect, manners, and sportsmanship are apparently just strange words associated with big city folk.  If ever in the future the Gophers are ahead of the Hawkeyes by over 40 points near the end of the game, I have no doubt that the Gopher Nation would be shamed by a dastardly attempt to throw a long bomb pass.  The Iowa and Minnesota rivalry is more than a friendly competition, it is a clash of cultures.

Alas, Iowa fans will not be able to gather in mass at TCF Bank Stadium.  A few thousand Iowans may acquire tickets, but they will be far outnumbered by those clad in Maroon and Gold.  Gopher Nation will never revisit the Metrodome and can move on from the unspeakable horrors that happened along that awful adventure.  Unfortunately for Floyd of Rosedale, he will be sequestered back to Iowa for another year.  No pig squealed more loudly on Saturday night than Floyd of Rosedale as he headed back to Iowa.  He knows that there are some fates worse than a can of Spam.

Vroom Vroom

Based upon the predictions that I’ve read this evening, it appears that the Gophers will be playing in the Motor City Bowl.  If Congress passes the 25 billion dollar bailout plan for the big three auto makers, perhaps a portion will come back to Miinesota as payment for a bowl appearance in Detroit.  I hate to say that I predicted a Motor City Bowl appearance on September 7 when I posted the following comment:

“We’ll be going to Detroit, a cornucopia of tourism and winter delight, for the Motor City Bowl come December.”

At the time of the post, I thought that I’d be accused of overestimating the Gopers’ potential.  How times have changed.  Check back Monday morning for a full recap of Saturday’s events.

Iowa Media and Blog Predictions

- The Iowa City Press-Citizen discusses TCF Bank Stadium and the end of Kinnick North Stadium in this article.

- The only Iowa blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, has no reservations in expressing Iowa’s feelings towards Minnesota.  Black Heart Gold Pants enters a verbal rage in this article:

It’s not entirely the fault of the fans, either; Minnesota is the only Big Ten team playing in an off-campus multi-purpose garbage heap, and the trip from St. Paul is a hike. Of course, this means plenty of empty seats for me and 40,000 of my closest friends. I’m coming to your city, Gophers, and I’m bringing hell with me. Your new stadium may belong to TCF Bank, but your old one still belongs to us.

- The Star Tribune features an article about the Metrodome’s evolution into the worst stadium in college football.

- Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press discusses the recruits who are expected to attend Saturday’s game.

- Nadine Babu of GopherHole.com interviews four Gopher seniors in this article.

- Golden Gopher Football blog wraps up the Wisconsin game and notes that “All that matters now is Iowa.”

- The Daily Gopher asks, “Who hates Iowa”?

- The University of Miinesota now has an official bowl game website.

- Adam Rittenberg of ESPN’s Big Ten Blog discusses Tim Brewster’s reaction to Texas naming Will Muschamp as their coach in waiting behind Mack Brown.

- Michigan blog Maize and Blue Nation states “I hate Iowa. I think Minnesota will win. That is all.”

- Michigan Sports Center predicts ”Shonn Greene will have another big day and will lead the Hawkeyes to victory.”

- Penn State’s The Nittany Line notes ”The Gophers and their 62nd ranked rushing defense are about to learn what an amazing running back Shonn Greene is.”

Iowans Take One Last Sentimental Journey

Since 1982, Iowans have taken a biannual pilgrimage into Minnesota in order to support their beloved Hawkeyes in Kinnick North Stadium.  Officially known as the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Kinnick North Stadium has been good to fans of Iowa football. 

Iowa, the home state of John Wayne, is one of the last states that still embodies the Midwestern image of the family farm, small towns without locked doors and honest, humble people.  Minnesota football fans have always dreaded the influx of yellow-clad Iowans into their territory.  The Iowa Hawkeyes have a record of 18-8 at Kinnick North.  But just as railroads ended the era of covered wagon caravans headed West, so will the 2009 opening of TCF Stadium Bank end the pilgrimage of Iowans to Kinnick North Stadium.  Progress has a price.  Iowa fans have but one last sentimental journey to Kinnick North Stadium, and their beloved Hawkeyes will face a determined opponent.

Both Minnesota and Iowa enter the game with a record of 7-4.  In addition to having similar records, the two teams should match up well.  Iowa’s offensive strength is their running game.  Shonn Greene is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate averaging 6.2 yards per carry and having 15 touchdowns.  Take away yardage from scrambling quarterbacks, and Minnesota has been strong against the run.  The Gopher defense should force the Iowa offense to open up the passing game, and sophomore Hawkeye quarterback Ricky Stanzi will be tested.  The Iowa defense has been strong against the run and will likely force the Gophers to pass.  The Gophers should have wide receiver Eric Decker back from an injury, and will likely likely respond to the Iowa defense with a passing frenzy.

Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s game, the end of an era will be at hand.  Minnesota fans will be relieved to have finally escaped the sterile environment of the Metrodome.  In 2009, tickets will be in high demand for TCF Bank Stadium.  It will be one of the best stadiums in all of college football, while the Metrodome has been one of the worst.  The high demand for tickets at TCF Bank Stadium will greatly diminish the number of Iowans who are able to attend the 2010 game.  Hundreds of years from now, Iowans may actually ponder the question as to whether there was a mythical Kinnick North Stadium.  For now, many will inevitably shed a tear on Saturday for their memories at Kinnick North Stadium.

Recruit Videos 11/18/2008

Following are videos of players that may still be on the radar for Minnesota’s 2009 recruiting class:

Taylor Lewan is a four star recruit scheduled to be visiting Minnesota this weekend, and would be a great commit for the Gophers.  The Gophers need offensive linemen and Lewan looks like the real deal:

Daryl Robinson is rumored to be visiting this weekend, and his highlight video justifies all four of those Scout.com stars:

Jeremy Gainer is another four star recruit who is also rumored to be visiting, and lays some vicious hits on defense in this video:

Bryant Allen visited Minnesota recently, and runs the 40 in a blazing 4.3 seconds:

Edward “Eddie” Nuckols is still undecided and could end up in Maroon and Gold.  A 290 pound four star recruit who is also a fullback, Nuckols’ video is impressive to say the least:

Delano Johnson is playing at College of the Sequoias with Clint Brewster.  He would be ready to play next year:

Anthony “Juice” Leon is a 6′3, 230 pound four star safety also playing at College of the Sequoias.  Leon hits like a truck and would be a perfect fit for Ted Roof’s aggressive defense:

Randall Dent is also uncommitted, and still lists Minnesota as a school of interest:

Falling Under the Axe

While the Minnesota siege of Camp Randall was almost a successful campaign, “almost”  enters the record book indifferent from “never had a chance.”  Wisconsin did not play a good football game, but Minnesota made too many mistakes to pull out a win.  The Gophers almost lifted Paul Bunyan’s axe from the grounds of Camp Randall Stadium, but injuries and inexperience hobbled their effort and they fell under the very axe they sought.

Despite several mistakes and costly turnovers by Minnesota, Wisconsin only won by three points.  A top tier Division 1 team would have won by a much larger margin if given a three-car garage sized window of opportunity.  Each of the following events and decisions would have resulted in a different outcome for the game:

1. The fumble on the opening drive.  This one seems obvious, but it resulted in seven points towards a three point win.
2. Playing “not to lose” with 2:05 left in the first half.  An effective hurry-up offense could have tried to implement a series of sideline passes in order to drive into enemy territory for an  attempted score.  However, the coaching decision on this one may have been a good one since Minnesota’s young receivers, Adam Weber’s inconsistency, and Joel Monroe’s kicking had been liabilities in past weeks.  The point is that a strong offense would have had the confidence to run the two-minute drill.  Even a field goal could have sent the game to overtime.
3. Shady Salamon’s fumble with 7:55 left in the game.  Adam Weber pitched the ball behind Salamon instead of hitting him in stride.  This one also cost the Gophers seven points.
4. Adam Weber’s Decker-less struggles.  Many of his passes have been off-target.  Even the touchdown to Brodrick Smith was underthrown.  Several completions did not hit wide open receivers in stride (including the fumbled pitch to Salamon).  He appeared uncomfortable during the hurry-up offense near the end of the game and threw an interception.  Great quarterbacks shine under pressure and command the hurry-up offense in the two-minute drill.  Long term, losing Eric Decker for a few games may be the best thing that happened to Adam Weber.  Before the injury, Weber would try to force the ball to Decker without giving consideration to other wide receivers.  Now, he is being forced to read the defense and track multiple targets.  Remember the Brett Favre era for the Packers?  Almost every time he established a primary receiver who accumulated impressive statistics, the receiver would leave for a big payday.  Favre never missed a step, and would proceed to make average receivers appear extraordinary.
5. David Gilreath.  Gilreath chose to abandon his home state of Minnesota in order to play for Wisconsin.  Gilreath had a few key receptions for the Badgers.  He is a talented wide receiver who as a Gopher would have given Weber another dangerous target.  If Gilreath had remained home to be a Gopher, the final score probably would have been different.  Apparently the access to abundant fried cheese, liquor stores on Sunday, and the peace and quiet of the Wisconsin countryside is more desirable than an active, thriving metropolis with professional teams for every major sport.

The bottom line is that a three point loss to Wisconsin and a game ending touchdown by Northwestern are the difference between a 9-2 and a 7-4 record for Minnesota.  As the coaching staff bring in talented recruits and the young Gopher team matures, the program should continue to improve.  It just isn’t easy to watch a winnable game fall under the axe once again.