Last call for a Big Ten win? Going once, going twice... - Penn State @ Minnesota

Another long week for Gopher Bandanna Guy, and I didn't get to write as much as I would have liked.  I watched the Purdue game through bloodshot eyes last Saturday, badly hungover from celebrating my first ever PTP (Pursue the Pennant) Title.  The details of the game barely registered with me outside of the fact that we lost and let Dan Dierking run all over us.  Unacceptable.  A team on its 3rd-string QB, and second tier RBs and WRs, shouldn't be able to score that many points on even our youthfully bad defense.  And yet it happened.  And even when things seemed to look like they might swing in our direction, they turn on us.  'Hacksaw' Gary Tinsley (love that nickname from FBT), epitomized our season by stepping into the passing lane early in the 3rd quarter and picking off an errant Rob Henry pass, returning it down inside the five.  But not before fumbling it out of the back of the endzone.  This play felt like our entire season in a nutshell.  One step forward, two steps back.  The mid-season firing of Brew?  I certainly didn't expect it so soon (I figured right before Iowa was the time), but let's hope this jumpstart's the search for the next coach and will be considered a strong step forward down the line.

And Weber, our all-time leading passer - continues to pile up garbage time numbers, and ascend up the Big Ten All-Time passing charts in what is becoming the most meaningless compilation of career numbers in recent memory.  All those yards and TD, for so few wins.  To be fair, this season's horrific slide is really Web's fault.  He's played fairly well, and minimized his turnovers.  His accuracy is still awful on the short throws, and that's what hurts us from time to time.  But the defense can't stop anybody, and so the offense is under all the pressure to win games. 

And wait, what's this?  A Patrick Reusse column I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH?  Wow.  For a long while I didn't think this would happen, and in this one, Fat Pat actually shows a sliver of positivity that the right guy IS out there to turn the Gophers into a winning program.

But enough about the Purdue loss, and our search for the next head coach.  We've got Penn State and that most milquetoast of trophies coming in - The Governor's Bell.

The Nittany Lions are probably our last, best chance to get a win in the Big Ten this season (and for the remainder of the season for that matter).  They are not good.  Unfortunately, neither are we.  Both squads are winless in the Big Ten, and both have senior that are no doubt disappointed in how things have gone (Adam Weber and Evan Royster). 

Penn State has had an extra week to prepare for this game, coming of a bye week, and have already faced two of the tougher Big Ten defenses (Iowa and Illinois), with little offense to show.  But now they face the polar opposite in defensive prowess.  Their QB, freshman Robert Bolden has struggled with accuracy tossing only 4 TDs to 7 picks, and Royster has not enjoyed the season many expected.  Conventional wisdon would say that the prescription for these woes are to play the Gophers. 

But now the Gophs are truly at rock bottom.  And have nothing to play for but pride and a little personal glory.  The boo-birds at TCF mean nothing now, and Brewster is gone. They know that Ohio State is looming next week, ready to beat them into submission, and they know Penn State is vulnerable.  Question is, can they muster a complete effort one more time this year, and get at least 1 Big Ten win?

I think they can and will.  Horton and Weber will manage to motivate these kids to play with the talent they have (pretty decent on offense), keep the game plan simple, and just play football.  This game also marks my last chance of the season to make a fun 'homer' pick and take the Gophs, because I see them being double-digit 'dogs the rest of the way (maybe not at Illinois, we'll see).  The PSU defense is still a bit dinged up, and that combined with a shakey starting QB on the road seems like a reasonable recipe for a decent Gopher performance.  The one nagging thought in the back of my head though is Royster.  He's yet to really go off this season, and this could be the game.  Royster is a quality and experienced Big Ten back, and could easily gash the Gopher defense for 200 yards and multiple scores if we don't commit to stopping him. 

That said, I think the defense will do just enough to keep him from taking the game completely over, and the offense will put up 30 points, mostly through the air.

Prediction:  Minnesota 31, Penn State 27

Gopher Player of the Game:  Adam Weber - 18-27 for 265 yards and 3 TDs

Nittany Lion Player of the Game: Evan Royster  22 carries for 135 yards and 2 TDs

Good Bye to Brew.

In case you didn't hear by now, the Tim Brewster era of Minnesota Golden Gopher Football is officially over.  Athletic Director Joel Maturi broke the news following the loss to Purdue, and even sent an official email to season ticket holders.  Here's what it said:

Dear Gopher Football Season Ticket Holder:

I want you to be among the first to know that this morning I informed Coach Brewster of my decision to terminate his contract immediately as head football coach. While I appreciate the passion and commitment that Coach Brewster has shown, it is time for a change. In the interim, I have appointed Jeff Horton as the head coach for the remainder of the season.
This decision greatly impacts the future of Gopher Football and the goals we have for this program. Our vision is clear - to produce a team that we can be proud of and return Gopher Football to its rich history of consistently competing for championships.
I believe we are in a great position to attract the right coach to lead our program. We have a new, state-of-the-art football stadium and a world-class academic institution located in a major metropolitan market. Additionally, the Big Ten conference continues to thrive with the addition of Nebraska, divisional play, and a conference championship game.
I understand your frustration with the current state of Gopher Football. But we are convinced that we are going to find the right person to lead our program. I encourage you to continue your support of Gopher Football, and especially our student-athletes, throughout the remainder of this season and in the future.
Go Gophers,

Joel Maturi
Director of Athletics

Fair enough.  I can live with Horton finishing out the season, and I agree that it had to be done.  I'm am surprised it happened in mid-season, and also surprised that Maturi made this move when he could of waited Brew's contract out and let the next University Prez and AD make the big hire.  But in the end, the heat had to be too much for Maturi not to fire Brewster, applied no doubt by the boosters who were rightfully demanding at least signs of improvement.  Signs that were no where to be seen over the past 6 games.  Maturi received a lot of heat for hiring Brewster back in 2007, but his phenomenal hire of Tubby Smith nullifies this (now clear) ineffective hire in my mind.  This next hire will be the one that makes or breaks Maturi's legacy as AD (well that, and getting Tubby's extension signed).

Let the speculation on our future head coach begin.

Boiler up Big Ten bottom-feeders - Gophers @ Boilermakers Preview

When we last left Ross-Ade Stadium, we shut the Boilers down
-photo by JT

Little to no time for a full detail game preview this week.  Out in the field for work, and then evenings of Halo: Reach are dominating my kid-free late nights.  I won't go with out a few brief words though about our upcoming game against Purdue.

Based on press clippings and cliched interview answers from the Gopher players, this team isn't packing it it quite yet.  And I actually believe them.  But can they win this game?

The short answer is 'yes'.  Purdue has been decimated by injuries, losing QB Robert Marve, RB Ralph Bolden, and WRs Keith Smith and Justin Siller (remember when he was a briefly a QB?) for the year.  They are officially wiped out at the skill positions, and that means that the hapless Gopher defense might just have a chance to slow somebody down.  Limiting running QB Rob Henry and halfback Dan Dierking's yards on the ground is the no-brainer key. That happens and a Gopher win is eminent. 

Purdue's defense has some strong performers, but as a unit aren't overwhelmingly good.  They did play a very solid game against Northwestern, limiting them to just 17 points.  Senior DE Ryan Kerrigan is a beast and will be the biggest challenge for the line to stop.  If he can pressure Weber early and often, and generate turnovers, then the Gophers will be in trouble.  OC Jeff Horton knows this though, and will probably dial up lots of inside runs all game, really testing the heart of the Purdue defense, rather than exposing Weber to 5 step drops and the shotgun early.  The O-line has done a nice job limiting sacks this year, so let's hope their improved play continues.  Lots of running mixed in with play action and screens.  Look for the Boilers to have our effective TE screen snuffed out this week, as I'm sure that will be a play they watch on film closely from the Wisconsin game.

Prediction:  Gopher pull the minor upset, grabbing the late lead in the 4th quarter.

Minnesota 27, Purdue 21

Gopher Player of the Game:  MarQueis Gray, 125 yards receiving and 1 TD
Boilermaker Player of the Game:  Dan Dierking, 95 yards rushing and 2 TDs

Minnesota @ Wisconsin: What We Learned

Ahhhhrrrrg! The RED - it burns!
Photo by JT

Another Axe game come and gone.  Another football loss to the Badgers.  We keep this up a few more years and they might actually end up with the all-time wins edge that we’ve maintained for so long.  That has always been the last refuge of the Gopher fan assaulted by Badger ‘we always beat Minnesota’ nonsense.  If we lose that edge we have nothing else.  Yes, 6 National Titles and all that are nice, but they garner us zero respect these days.  Which is not to say that we shouldn’t bring it up, we should embrace our history as Coach Brew reminded us all when he first came to Minnesota.

And now, we need to remind him that by embracing our rich football history, its time for him to leave at the end of the 2010 season.  And by that I mean – we’re 0-7 in our historic rivalry games (sorry PSU, I’m not counting you and that lame-o bell, but that would make us 0-9).  These are two teams that we proudly hold the all-time wins edge over through the decades, and it must be maintained.  Brew can’t win the ‘trinket games’, to borrow a phrase from Grinnin’ Glen Mason, and that’s a history this program can no longer afford to continue creating.  I must admit that I might not have felt this way, had we seen another typical Brewster-era Wisconsin/Minnesota game, you know – where we actually had at least a chance to win in the end.  But that’s not what happened.  We got spanked, and couldn’t even muster a strong enough effort to be competitive.

I said to KZ in the closing moments of this game that this showing against Wisconsin was the last nail pounded into Brewster’s waiting coffin.  I only half-heartedly believe this, because of the whole ‘outgoing University president, lame-duck AD’ issue going on in the background.  It seems likely Maturi would be pressured by the big boosters to can Coach Brew by the end of the year, but whether he breaks down and actually does it is another issue.  But even if we go winless the rest of the way, as long as Brewster doesn’t lose control of the team, I can see that there are a few pros to keeping him around for fulfill his final contract year.  For me, they’re just not enough to warrant a 5^th year.  Yes, I’m aware I’m late to the ‘fire Brewster’ party and I’ll admit he had me pretty snowed in years 1-3.  I was happily awash in the positivity that Glen Mason never provided.  And while I've been critical of Brewster in the past for his inability to maintain continuity at coordinator, and some of his hires (Jedd Fisch anyone?), I've given him more of a pass than I should for his inability to win games, using patience as a shield, thinking there was something at work we just needed to wait for it.  

However, you won’t catch me booing or chanting for Coach Brew’s head, as I still have a high amount of respect for him, and all the hard work he puts in, despite the frustrating results.  And I won’t give up on this team.  I like too many of our young players and am too emotionally invested in quit on them now.   But I digress, back to last Saturday’s game.

As tough as it was to watch (aside from the decent 2nd quarter showing) there were at least a few enjoyable moments of this game.

What I liked:

1)    The new white helmets to go with the all-white jersey and pants.  Very sharp.  I wasn’t  a huge fan of the white/white road duds, but add the white helmets and suddenly they become far more fashionable. 

2)    The play of Da’Jon McKnight, Eric Lair, and MarQueis Gray.  I called for a ‘breakout game’ for McKnight, and while 2 catches for 50 yards is certainly not that, I did get two magnificent TD catches in garbage time.  The other 2 made some nice catches as well, and I'm really liking that TE screen that they run for Lair.

3)    Bielema deciding to go for 2 while up 25 with 6 minutes to go.  Not that I liked the call, but I did like what resulted from the call. By Bielema going for two, we got to - A) stop them from getting 2 more points (phew); B) See Brewster get fired up and pissed off (I love surly Brewster) and; C) it will reinforce the rest of the Big Ten coaching ranks rumored dislike of Bielema. National media consensus also seems to be that it was a asshole call.  Not shocking though, we’re talking about a guy who went to Iowa here.  What goes around comes around.

4)    The number of frosh and sophs on the field during the game who got to experience the bitterness of losing the axe first hand.  Hopefully these kids will remember well, and win it back soon!

What I loathed:

1)    Getting off to a solid start running the ball into Wisconsin territory, only to have to settle for a field goal because we decided to throw the ball 3 times in a row.

2)    The blown call on the Kendricks fumble caused after ‘forward progress’ early in the 3rd on the Badgers opening possession.  It was a clear strip and fumble.  And there was no audible whistle on the broadcast until the ball came out.  A garbage call, and a big momentum changer if it goes Minnesota’s way.

3)    Going for it on 4th and 2 at the fifty with 10:30 to go in the 2nd.  Yes we were down 14, but not getting the conversion there and giving the Badgers a short a field could have put us down 21-0 and the game essentially out of reach very early. Luckily we picked it up, and got a stay of execution.
4)  The lack of energy out of the Gophers.  Maybe I mistook it for the team trying to control their emotions, but only Weber seemed really pumped up.

5)    All the damn red.  ARGGGHH it burns my eyes!

And what did I learn?  Well every week it’s something new. I learned that our trio of receivers, McKnight, Gray, and Lair could actually become one of the Big Ten's best units, and Gray's play in particular will make it tough to send him under center next year (unless he becomes the next Denard Robinson?).  And I learned that turning off the TV immediately after the clock reads 0:00 is a good choice when we lose this rivalry game (I used to watch the post game celebrations as penance).

I also got some reminders of stuff I already knew.  Namely, that stats lie, and no amount of can-do attitude will necessarily translate into a win.  Case in point - in Adam Weber's 4 games versus Wisconsin, he's put up some impressive numbers - 63 completions, 1,074 yards and 11 TDs (1 rushing), with only 4 interceptions.  Pretty good QB #s, and it means nothing as Web is 0-4 to show for it.  And speaking of Web, all this nonsensical talk about his NFL prospects should shut down until he can throw a football accurately.  I don't care what Peyton Manning said about him at his camp, he's passing the ball at under 60% a clip, and for college that ain't good. Accuracy has a high value in the NFL, and Weber doesn't have it. And lastly, I was again reminded what a jackhole Bielema is (although, admittedly I hadn't completely forgotten).

A trip to West Lafayette and a battle with Purdon't coming up next.  Time to jump off the mat, snatch that hammer out of Purdue Pete's hand, and give the Boilers the beatdown that my safety school so richly deserves.

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin':  Bielema claims he went for 2 in the 4th, up 25 (score was 41 - 16) with 6 and a half to go because that's what his "how to be an asshole" chart says.  The over/under on the game was 58, and getting 2 would have put the total score on the 'over'.  Obviously moot, once Minnesota scored its last TD, but an interesting coincidence? 

The Crew's Brew of the Week (Big Ten Week 2) - Bud Light Chelada

photo courtesy of Esquire.com

The disgusting performance last Saturday surely deserves a disgusting beer.  So here you have it, Budweiser's 'Chelada.

For me, it's highly appropriate after the Gopher/Badger tilt.  You get golden Bud Light mixed with red Clamato, two products I've consumed on their own and enjoyed in their own way.   At first thought, you might think that flavoring up a watery Bud Light with some salty, savory clam and tomato juice might just work.  Much like you might think mixing up Golden Gophers with the Red Badgers might make for a great football game (it has in Brew's recent past).  But sadly, sometimes these combos just don't work out.

Esquire.com states this beverage "looks like grapefruit juice, and tastes like the worst Bloody Mary you've ever had." Sounds kinda like   That sounds like a challenge to me, as I've had some absolutely abhorrent Bloody Marys.  Really though, if this faux beer is that bad, Anheiser-Busch should consider advertising this as a healthy beer, lo-cal and loaded with tomato-ey vitamins and minerals.  That or just scrapping it altogether, since we can pretty much make this concoction up on our own at home.  It's pretty much as pointless as 'Bud Light Lime'. 

And if we can't muster a better showing versus Purdon't this week, we might have to switch this weekly post's title to Crew's Liquor of the Week, which makes far less sense, given our head coach's nickname.  Come on Gophs - don't let that happen!

'What we learned' post coming late tomorrow night.  Drink up Gopher fans.

Brewster's last bid for the Axe? - Gophers at Badgers #120

The game culminating Axe Week is nearly here, and its been a pretty quiet week from Coach Brew and the Gophers. One can only assume he's working dilegently with his staff to find a way to finally beat Wisconsin.  He's come close each time he's coached against the Badgers, but come up short all 4 times.  Its been pointed out several times this week by various sources that Brew has managed to lead at halftime in every one of his games against the Badgers.  That's nice and all, and its clearly and improvement over some of the blowouts we had to endure under Mason against the Red Menance (particularly at Camp Randall).  But winning is what is important, and at this point in the Brewster era, moral victories or leading for 3 quarters count for nothing.  And much like last week, the cliched term 'must-win situation' comes to mind.  If Brewster really is coaching for his life, then this rivalry game is one of the few remaining tests Brewster has an opportunity to really impress the boosters and fanbase that things really are going to get better in 2011.  In nearly 4 years of play, we've had zero trophy game wins, and that might be the most damning piece of evidence against Brewster when compiling a case to remove him.  Throw all the other stuff out the window, his lack of wins against Wisconsin and Iowa has been unacceptable.  When your current signature win is a road win at Illinois or Northwestern, that's a problem.  This current, or next Minnesota Golden Gopher Football Head Coach MUST find a way to beat these two hated rivals on a more regular basis.  And what better time than right now to do it this Saturday.  It may not save Brewster's job, but it might help his resume a bit when he's looking for work come December...

The Badgers are holding their homecoming this week, and are coming off a disappointing loss to Michigan State, from a game several Badger fans I talked to felt they should have won.  They'll be hungry for a win and to get their B-10 season back on track. But with the marquee Ohio State night home game coming up next week, and a road trip to Iowa after that, this has some of the hallmarks of a 'trap game'.  Clearly the Badgers have bigger fish to fry, and this stretch will make or break their season.  Badger head coach Brett Bielema has stated that they are in the mindset of taking one game at a time, but this is just typical coach-speak.  The reality is that the Badgers will likely be looking to tune up their game against a lesser opponent this week, and save their best for the big dogs. 

Minnesota will need to play their best defensive game of the year to have a chance this Saturday.  It starts with stopping running backs John Clay (6.2 ypc), Montee Ball (4.4 ypc), and emerging frosh, James White (8.3 ypc).  No small task, given the O-line they run behind, which is mammoth and experienced. Cosgrove and Lee will likely load the box up with 8 and even 9 most of the game, and the Badgers know this.  This is going to leave our inexperienced secondary even more vulnerable, especially to play action.  And although the Badger receiving corps has underachieved based on expectations (as has QB Scott Tolzien), they will be wide open all game even if we can slow the run game down.  Tolzien will likely feast on playaction passes, unless Cosgrove dials up some perfectly timed blitz calls.  So I feel pretty negative about our defensive chances in slowing the Badger offense.  Like the game versus Northwestern, generating turnovers is the primary (and best) way the Gopher defense can equalize things. 

On offense, only giving the Badgers a dose of their own ball-control medicine will allow the Gophs to keep pace.  One of the 3 RBs needs to have a solid game.  Last week it was Eskeridge.  How about Bennett stepping up this week?  It's going to take solid O-line play for that. But Wisconsin's defense is not fearsome, and we should be able to put 20-25 points on them. And if 'Good Web' shows up for 4 quarters, and MarQueis is really over his plantar facitis, getting in the 30-35 points range is possible.  Lair seems to be improving weekly, and McKnight seems primed to have a breakout game.  So the pieces on offense are there to score enough points. As usual, execution is the key.  Will Brew and Horton dial up some trickeration this week in order to get some drives extended?  It seems likely, but those kind of plays only work so often.

On special teams - I have one great fear. Oreske's long hold and release on on punts.  NIU blocked on on us.  NU nearly did.  And Wisconsin would be foolish not to pin their ears back and come after the punter early and often.  Oreske's GOT to get a little quicker on his catch and release.  He holds that ball back there for what feels like an eternity, and I don't want to see this game go down like it did in 2005.



See, its not all coloring books at UW
-photo courtesy UW Library system

But can the Gophers go into Camp Randall and the polyester red haze and somehow beat the Badgers?  There's a chance, and more than just of the 'any given Sunday/Saturday' variety. This team has nothing to lose right now.  Losing to South Dakota probably sucked most of the confidence right out of the team. The loss to NIU took whatever was left of that confidence, put it in a headlock, and suffocated the life out of it.  And then when the Big Ten opener looked like a chance to build confidence anew, the final 2 minutes of that game put us right back to where we started.  Now there's absolutely nothing left to lose.  Pride is likely all this team has left, and while a majority of  Gophers fans are running on empty, I think the players still have plenty.  And even with Wisconsin heavily favored and laying 22 points for this game, pride might be enough. But probably not. All that said, I, while I believe the offense will have a respectable showing and keep the game from becoming a blowout, I simply don't have confidence that the defense has much hope in stopping the Wisconsin run game.

Prediction:  Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 23 

Badger Player of the Game: John Clay - 18 carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs
Gopher Player of the Game: Da'Jon McKnight  7 catches 90 yards, 2 TD

Final note:  Coach Brew - you may be a dead man walking, but don't let that stop you from improving your resume here.  Get that AXE!  Goooooooooo GOPHERS!

Random Dead Badger Pic of the Day

Last one for the week.  Let's get that Axe!

Gophers vs. Badgers- Border Battle Game Preview (the Badger angle)

Badger fans called him 'Nutpunch Decker', but look at Blake Sorensen
molesting Minneosota's favorite receiver - photo by Gophersports.com

Like last week, we've got another opposing fan's perspective on the week's upcoming game. This week its good friend and Wisconsin alum, Roger Murdock.  You may recall last season I lost a bet with Roger, and had to don the cardinal and white for an evening of post-work drinking.  That same bet is on for this year, and I am dreading the possibility of having to wear another article of Badger apparel.  Roger would look much better in my Maroney #22 or Darkins #44 jersey.  Here's what Roger had to say:

As a UW grad and lifelong Badger fan, I was asked by Mr. Bandanna Guy to provide an analysis of the upcoming Badgers-Gophers tussle from a Badgers’ perspective. Now, before I go on, I must admit that my nickname is Goldy. Sucks for a Badger fan. Even worse when Goldy is getting rammed crotch first into the goal post by Bucky and you have the entire student section at Camp Randall chanting, “Crush Goldy’s nuts!” A bit unsettling.

Anyhow, on to the game. This year’s Wisconsin team is disappointing fans for the 11^th straight season. No Big Ten title equals disappointment. Big things were expected out of this year’s team. Most of the offense returned and several defensive starters returned. They were sluggish out of the gate but the hope was they would get it together come Big Ten season. Well, they started on the road with a solid MSU team. Now, Spartan Stadium has not been kind to the Badgers in the past, and 2010 was no different. The Badgers lost by 10 but had a good shot to win this game. Down 3 with about 8 minutes to go they twice had MSU in a 3^rd and long situation and couldn’t stop them. MSU drives the length of the field to seal the game. One 3^rd down stop and the Badgers could have won. Oh Well.

The Badgers offense is not what it was expected to be this year. Some of it has to do with injuries and some has to do with expectations that were a little overboard. In regards to injuries, it has hurt the passing game that Toon and Gilreath have missed 3 games. The only real option with them out is TE Lance Kendricks (who has developed into a great blocker as well). Toon was back against MSU but looked rusty. Hopefully he gets his shit together for this week. With those guys out, the receiving corps is a bunch of JAGs (just a guy) and a white walk-on from Wautoma. John Clay has been a bust this year. He had off-season surgery on both ankles and came into camp looking like the Michelin Man. I believe he spent too much time at Chick-Fil-A back in Racine in the off season. He never had a burst, but he looks slower this season and is not finishing off runs like he did in the past. The O-line was supposed to be the best in the country and looks very pedestrian. Don’t know why, but they look like liquid dog poo.

The D is about what was expected out of them. Not the greatest, but respectable. Chris Borland going out with a season ending injury was a huge blow. As Gopher legend Glenn Mason said about him 68 times in a broadcast last season, “Chris Borland is a FOOTBALL player.” That guy did everything. JJ Watt is very good along the line. He bats down a ton of passes and gets in the backfield a lot. However, he isn’t the best at changing directions and QBs and RBs can put a move on him and get by him. He gets in the backfield like O’Brien Scofield did last year, but he just can't finish the deal. The secondary is crappy but that has been the case since Jamar Fletcher left. Look for a lot of 10 yard cushions, even on 3^rd and 5.

Now, as any good Badger fan would do, I have watched parts of the Minnesota losses. It is just kinda fun. It is obvious that the Gophers can’t stop the run. The killer also seems to be the lack of success on 3^rd and short. You keep giving it to the big white guy and he keeps failing. Now, the 3^rd and short issue shouldn’t be a problem against Wisconsin since they couldn’t stop Case High School (losers of 58 straight games) and 3^rd and short. Now the running thing may be more of an issue. As I mention earlier, Clay has been a disappointment. However, he may have a big day against Minny’s run D. There has been talk this week about Freshman James White taking over the starting role, but I think that was just the coaches going to the media to light a fire under Clay’s ass. White is a quick back that loves to run to the outside but can also pick his gaps in the line, but I see Clay just rumbling up the gut all game long.

So, I see a 31-24 Wisconsin victory. I don’t see Wisconsin punting much, which would be great since the coverage team blows. I see a bunch of 7 minute Wisconsin drives and the game ends with Wisconsin running out the clock with a 6 minute drive to seal the game. Minnesota will move the ball with the passing game but in the end, Tim Brewster coaches the Gophers and Wisconsin will win and retain the Axe for the 43^rd straight year. Honestly, I love watching the Badgers run around with the Axe. It’s my favorite part of the football season. There is nothing more galling than seeing scenes like an English Gophers place kicker running for the Axe. Blah.

I will be at the game with several crappy beers in the system. Should be a good time. On Wisconsin!

There you have it. A bounce-back Wisconsin win, predicted by a Badger fan, but the Gophs easily cover the massive -21.5 points the Badgers are laying.  My prediction coming tomorrow.

Random Dead Badger Pic of the Day

Another day, another dead badger.

Northwestern @ Minnesota - What we learned

Another loss piled on to an already swiftly sinking season.  Of course, some may have already declared the season officially ‘sunk’.  I hadn’t prior to this game, but I’m almost out of buoyancy.  That is to say the season hasn’t completely gone below the waterline for me, but its damn close.  Getting blown out at Wisconsin this week could be the final torpedo to put my last modicum of hope under.  Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.  I don’t want to think about how tough it will be to get excited for the Purdue game the following week if we’re 1-5 and axe-less.  On a fun Gopherhole.com thread started last week, someone asked what movie quote best described the Gopher’s football program over the past several decades.  My response?

Gopher fans - "I think you know how this is going to end.  Don't you?"
- Anton Chigur (Javier Bardem) from 'No Country for Old Men'

Despite a good chance to win against Northwestern, didn’t the whole thing go down just the way you figured?  I know it did for me. And sadly, that’s the exact feeling I started to develop at the back half of the Mason era, but really you could apply it to just about any full season under his tenure.  Now that feeling has crept in to my mindset in the Brewster era. 

The undefeated Wildcats came in and showed themselves to be who we thought they were (and we let ‘em off the hook), a vulnerable and beatable team that was still relatively untested.  A team that Minnesota could best, if only a few things went our way.  And this time, a number of things indeed did go our way – primarily the turnover margin, but also a missed XP, frequent Wildcat penalties, and some blown coverage in the Northwestern secondary. 

The Gopher defense was again overmatched across from the skilled Dan Persa, but they managed to turn over the ‘Cats enough at the right times to allow for the offense to keep pace. Persa was able to do damage with his legs, but the Wildcat RBs were largely held in check.  The front four (Smash Bros. et al) did generate some pressure, but Persa is very quick to flee on the first sign of pocket collapse and run.  Definitely a strength for him in the college game, but it will be considered a weakness come draft day for him, as he didn’t seem to be willing to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball as coverage breaks down.  Cosgrove dialed up some appropriately timed blitzes, (maybe too few?) and the one that resulted in a TD was simply tough luck as Ebert managed to muscle the ball from Collado on what appeared to be in near perfect 1-on-1 coverage.    

Pre-game at the Stub & Herbs's back alley - photo by TKL

And with 2 minutes to go, even a freakily fortunate forward fumble advanced by the Gophs to the 40 (which the TV broadcast crew spent surprisingly little time looking at) still wasn’t enough good fortune to put the Gophers over the top.

The Gopher offense rediscovered their competence for nearly the entire game.  Adam Weber was again secure with the ball, and DeLeon Eskeridge was the prime ballcarrier de jour, with some hard running and nice sidesteps on interior runs that earned him extra yardage.  And it was nice to see the offensive line regain some of their confidence back, and actually started laying wood on some purple jerseys. 

But sadly, all these things listed above were for naught.  With 2 minutes to go, even a freakily fortunate forward fumble advanced by the Gophs to the 40 (which the TV broadcast crew spent surprisingly little time looking at) still wasn’t enough good fortune to put the Gophers over the top.  Incompetence set in for those final 2 minutes, and it was just enough to ensure another loss.  Obviously, based on the ‘Crew’s Brew of the Week’ posted earlier this week, I was surly and furious (pun intended) about the way the last possession went down.  The Strib’s Phil Miller did a nice job breaking down the final 8 plays, coupled with Brewster’s post-game press conference remarks regarding some of the specific play calls.  Read, and you’ll surely find a new irritation for Brewster/Horton (it’s still not clear who’s calling plays in these situations) and their crunch time way of thinking.  I realize it’s easy to say in hindsight, but I think I could have come out of this loss feeling much better if we at least had been able to attempt a field goal or take a last second stab down the field.

It’s simply amazing to me to see how the Gophers fail to execute time and time again in the big moments of the game. Is it inexperience? Coaching? Are they actually overachieving in these close games (I shudder to think if this is true)?  A combination of all these?  I’m sure I don’t know, but losses like these continue to pound nails into the Brewster regime’s coffin.  To come out prepared and able to give a quality Big Ten opponent the fight of their life, and shoot yourself in the foot with a chance to win in the closing moments has got to hurt the psyche of a probably already mentally fragile team. 

The 'Block M', from the NW corner -  photo by TKL

And what was learned from this, yet another tough loss?  Well, the Wildcats apparently don’t care too much about ball security.  They also still don’t have any running backs that could start on any other Big Ten team.  But then the Gophers don’t seem to care about laying a proper block in crunch time either and that’s what in the end really counted.  And finally, I learned that even though I let a well-behaved fan and friend who roots for the other team into our stadium with tickets to my seats, I still feel a little guilty about it.    

This coming Saturday’s prospects? With the Badgers coming home off a tough road loss to the Spartans last week, I feel a Camp Randall spanking coming on.  Then again, the Gophers have always played the Badgers tough and close (but always lost) under Brewster’s tenure. Vegas has the line opening up in the 20-21 point range which seems a smidge too high to me, I think +14.5 is more appropriate for the Gophs, but that line may shrink over the week.

Preview coming on Thursday night, along with Badger alum Roger Murdock’s take on the game.

Random Dead Badger Pic of the Day

Day 3 - another roadside fatality.

A Wildcat visits The Bank

Since TKL had my tix last weekend, it was only fair that he provide me with a little write up of his opinion on his trip up to Minneapolis.  Here's his take on the day/game/stadium:

Back from a nice trip to the Bank where Wildcat fans held their collective breaths on a 4th quarter as Minnesota drive stalled out at the 40 yard line. Great times were had by my friends and I throughout the day, and were capped off by a close victory 29-28.  That was a typical nail-biter of a Wildcat win that we have come to expect in the Pat Fitzgerald era. NU-UM games have also been quite good over the past few years--and this one was no different. Minnesota played pretty well and played turnover-free ball all day until the interception to end the game.  NU made a few too many turnovers, but managed to claw their way back to victory. 

Here are some favorite moments, highlights, and thoughts:

* A beautiful stadium with a nice mix of new and traditional character and features.  Nicely done, U.
* The day was spectacular too.  Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was quite moderate.
* The Stub and Herbs pre-game crowd in the parking lot was a welcoming and friendly group. Always nice to down a couple of Premos and Bloody's among good people within a short walk of the stadium. I scored a free T for GBG too! 
* Great seats, GBG.  Although we were a little confused at first by the Row 1, Row 2 stack job!  The fans around us were very nice too.  My buddy (a Badger fan and Gopher hater) tossed a few grenades around, but overall I think your neighbors won't be giving you too much grief when they see you next game.
* A few empty seats and relatively quiet crowd at times, though.  But this can be expected from a fan-base who has seen Coach Brewster take the air out of the sails of his team with his odd calls and game-planning ability.
* A nice contingency of purple clad fans in the upper deck and a few more sprinkled around the stadium. Ryan Field North? Not quite, but more NU fans than I remember in past games at the Dome.
* Several "Fire Brewster!" chants were heard.  What a dumb set of calls on that last drive too. A buddy of mine went to clinic of his and mentioned he didn't think the guy had all that much fire--and that Mason was a lot more animated, excited, and interested to be with his players.  
* The 1-2 punch of Eskridge and Bennett was very tough to handle.
* Danny Persa can scramble all right. Has a nice toss too. Love it!
* Adam Weber looked quite poised and played a nice game too. Bigtime 15 yd scramble at the end of the game too.
* Jeremy Ebert's weight room time sure paid off when he snatched a big 3rd down TD out of hands of the Gopher defender.
* Sally's post-game was great. We may have purchased them a new flatscreen TV with the amount we dropped there. 
* Heard a few "Touchdown Jackrabbits!" catcalls thrown out on the walk to Sally's. Super funny for some reason--I kept chuckling at this SoDak game/KFAN reference.
* Can't wait for my next trip up to TCF--thanks for the tickets GBG!


Thanks for the impressions TKL, glad you had a nice time.  My only regret is that the Gophers couldn't send you home with a loss.  We'll hit it up next year in Evanston!

Random Dead Badger Pic of the Day

Day 2 of Hate Week.  Enjoy.

The Crew's Brew of the Week (Big Ten Week 1) - Surly Furious

Photo courtesy of WCCO

Ok, so with the difficult Big Ten season starting this week, and alcoholic beverages needed to make it through the remaining games, I'm taking infrequent site contributor 2Mutch's suggestion and running with it.  Welcome to the first of 8 installments of the GEGH Crew's Brew of the Week.

This week's entry, my favorite current beer - Surly Furious.  Its both sad and ironic that the beer I enjoy drinking most also describes my mood immediately following one of the most incompetent 2 minute drill's I've ever seen in recent memory, and I'm a Lions fan, so I've seen more incompetence in the last decade than most have seen in a lifetime.  Yes, I was Furious - you start with a fluke kick return with a weird forward fumble that gets advanced to our own 40 with 2 minutes to go, and we can't even get into position to attempt a long field goal?!?  Then we can't even pass protect on a 4-man rush long enough to let Weber throw.  Finish that off with some idiotic 3rd and long play calls and you've got no chance to score and take the game from a Wildcat team, that is frankly - soft on defense and protecting the ball.  Dammit!  I'm FURIOUS just thinking about it again.

Luckily for me, the hoppy taste of Surly Furious did the job at quenching my rage - putting all feeling in my body up into my tastebuds.  This tasty locally brewed (Brooklyn Park) American IPA is rightfully growing in recognition across the country.  WCCO recently rated it among the top 10 Minnesota beers. Heck, after 857 reviews on beeradvocate.com, Surly Furious received an 'A' grade.  So clearly, I'm not the only one who enjoys this flavorful brew.

And here, thefullpint.com briefly reviews Furious as such.
Surly Brewing Co. – Furious – 16 oz. can poured into my New Belgium beer glass. 6.2% abv.
Appearance: Pours a dark orange or amber with a perfect 1 inch off white head.
Aroma: Light whiffs of piny hops, a little bit of citrus, and crystal malt.
Taste: Orange, lemon, pineapple, bitter piny hops, and sugar sweetness. Finishes with a nice level of bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Juicy, thick. Flavors stick and linger long after the sip.
Overall: Bursting with flavor. I am noticing a trend in the IPAs and IIPA’s coming out of the region. This is a very west coast like beer.

I definitely agree with the assessment of the citrus and other fruity tastes present, and it couples with the bitterness of the hops beautifully.  Exactly what I needed to forget the last 2 minutes of the game vs. Northwestern.  Probably what I'll need to forget the DVR rewatch tomorrow too.  Sweet.

Random Dead Badger Pic of the Day

Yessir - Hate Week is upon us, and the only good badger is a dead one my friends. And that means our usual 'Random Dead Badger Pic of the Day' must start up.  I'd do a random dead pic of a hawkeye too, come Hate Week Part Deux. But nobody knows what the hell a hawkeye is anyway.

So here it is, another dead badger for your morbid enjoyment.  This one looks like he might have been clipped by a van full of Spartan fans.