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? 

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!

Minnesota's "Greatest Games" - Big Ten Network On-Demand

On the recommendation of a friend, I sat down tonight to take a look at what the On Demand offerings of the BTN were, and I was pleased to see that each team in the conference had their own 'Greatest Games' offered.  Much to my dismay, the current offering was the March 8th, 1997 basketball game between the Gophs and the Badgers.  We all know how that one ended - Ty Calderwood tearing his jersey off, and the Badgers squeeking out a win to put them in the NCAA tourney.  Hardly a 'greatest game' for the Gophs.  Especially since there were at least 4 other games from that season alone that would have qualified, and been Minnesota wins. And yet loving the '96-97 team as much as I do, I couldn't help but watch the whole game anyways, despite knowing the outcome.  I originally watched this game on a 19" color TV with poor over-the-air reception in my dorm in Comstock Hall, so it was nice to see the game with a little more clarity.

Some other random observations from the game:
- the general dickish-ness of Sam Okey
- Paul Grant is probably my 2nd favorite Badger player to watch (Patrick Tompkins forever being my #1)
- how much more character and volume the UW Fieldhouse had compared to the Kohl Center today
- Court-Dawg James is, and always will be my favorite player from the Clem Haskins era.  If only he had not thrown that phonebook...
- I loved that 1-3-1 zone we ran under Clem, especially with Bobby Jackson on the baseline
- The Miles Tarver/Sam Okey stare down at midcourt was fantastic theatre - this moment was worth the watch alone.
- Trevor Winter's clubbing of Paul Grant was truly thuggish, yet I couldn't help but appreciate his willingness to send a message.
- David Burkemper might have been the most useless player on offense in the history of the Big Ten.
- Jacobson's three to take back the lead with under a minute to go was about as cold-blooded a basket as you'll ever see.
- Where the hell was Bucky Badger?  I don't think I saw him once on the broadcast.

Anyways, despite the loss in the end, a fun watch. Especially since it becomes very evident early in the game that Minnesota is clearly the more talented team from top to bottom, but just didn't scrap the way the Badgers did.  A classic Big Ten game, with bodies on the floor almost every possession.  Check it out if you have BTN On Demand, and have an hour with nothing better to do.