Northwestern @ Minnesota (the Wildcat Angle)

The Wildcat - Photo by JT

As last season, we tried to get some opposing fan perspective here at GEGH when we can.  Not from some other blogger or program insider, that's been done (head on over to The Daily Gopher to read about bloggers fraternizing with other bloggers).  I go for the regular fan perspective here. This week its my good friend and Northwestern alum, TKL.  In addition to using this blog as an opportunity to poke fun at us Gopher fans and our hapless team, TLK will be providing us with his impressions of our new home for on-campus football as he's headed up to Minneapolis to see the game in person.  Here's what our alum friend had to say (for at least as long as his computer would function):

My first trip to the Bank is coming up this weekend, and I can’t wait.  I just hope the chill in the air does not dampen the fun, as I know the Gophers won’t have it in them to accomplish that.  Oh, immediate shot across the bow? Youbetcha, but in all honestly the Gophers have to be better than a loss to a (albeit pretty dangerous) FCS team and one of the Directional Illinois teams over the past few weeks.  From what I've seen, this Minnesota squad looked liked they had some game in them; and fully ready to pull the upset against SC last week, only to come up a bit short.  But you don’t need me to tell you this. This fine Blog here no doubt articulates this fact much better than I.  My take - the 2010 Gophers resemble my laptop right now. . .in desperate need of a re-charge and/or new power source.

So - on to your guests from Evanston this Sat at TCF Stadium: the Northwestern Wildcats.  A fancy team, though I must admit, I haven’t actually laid eyes in person on this year’s 'Cats. While I am a season ticket holder, I've been waiting for the better home match-ups of the Big Ten later this season.  My first game at venerable Ryan (ne Dyche Stadium) Field comes the following week against the injury decimated Purdon’t Boilermakers.  And of course, the final game of the season to be played at historic Wrigley Field against the hated Fighting Illini.  So from the safety of the perch on my couch, they have looked pretty good so far.  Yes, there is no other way to describe a 4-0 season; however I know that things can get away from a previously unbeaten team quickly once Big (12) Ten play begins.  That is why the Wildcats (and Gophers) will be hungry to starts things out right against an opponent that they have a fair shot at defeating.

(The old 2007 Dell is chugging along here. . .just might make it.)

A little primer on the Wildcats: Dan Persa-another in the long line of very capable if not outright great Northwestern quarterbacks.  His favorite connections are Drake Dunsmore, Jeremy Ebert (GBG's fav), and Sidney Stewart,.  The running game is not so hot, although I hear the Gophers are susceptible to the ground attack. The master of the sub-3.0 yds/carry stat Arby Fields and Stephen Simmons will take a backseat to Mike Trumpy (nephew of NBC’s Bob Trumpy of 'Criqui and Trumpy' broadcast fame) who will get the start I believe.  Unless Coach Fitz goes with Jacob Schmidt instead--well, who am I kidding, this backfield is filled with below average backs.  The passing game and the fleet feet of Dan Persa will be the difference.  Kicker, Stefan Demos is solid despite his woeful bowl game performance at the Outback Bowl last year.

On defense, the Cats will be . . . ahhhh no more power. . .signing off before my computer dies. . .Wildcats Win and cover, 27-21.  You can take that to the Bank.

So there we have it, a respectful level of trash talk from an NU fan who shockingly didn't want to talk defense...err... who's computer died.  Good stuff buddy, enjoy your time up in Minneapolis.  

Gophers can't top Musketeers - the 2009-10 season comes to a close.

Despite the outcome, still had a great time at the BC for the Milwaukee NCAA regional.  Attended the pre-game for Minnesota fans at Bootleggers, and it was Gopherrific to see so much Maroon and Gold in one place, all unified and postive.  The bartenders were kept very busy all morning.  After a couple hours of imbibing, I headed into Session 1 with my bud TKL who is a NU and IU alum, and Big Ten thru and thru.

A number of observations/comments:

• Since it was a weekday and before 6pm, the parking situation around the BC was not real good.  All on-street parking on side streets were 3 hour max or less.  I ended up in a ramp that raked you to pay for parking during both sessions 1 and 2.
• On my 9:30 am walk from the ramp to Bootleggers, I walked past not one, but two separate Iowa Hawkeye fans.  By the second one, I was so bewildered at the sight of them that I said to him "What are you guys here shopping for a coach?"  He ignored me.
• Bootleggers was full up of Maroon and Gold.  Pretty awesome.  They had two huge U of Minn Alumni flags hanging from the rafters. The Rouser spontaneously broke out a few times, and spirits were high.  At one point, a large banner was unfurled that said "It's Tubby Time - Let's Dance" or something like that.  Very cool.  
• A group of Oakland fans swung into Bootleggers, and were definitely enjoying themselves.  A fun bunch.
• The BC got pretty full up by midway through the 1st Half, when the corner upper deck seats get filled up, good to see, since a number of the Thursday regional games had a lot of empty seats.
• Xavier and Minnesota brought vocal crowds, both were on top of the game and rallied around their teams at the right moments.
• No beer sales in the BC, no doubt due to NCAA stipulations.  Stuck with Pepsi products.  Got bad gut-rot from a soda.  A little beer will put out that fire.
• Headed back to Bootleggers after Session 1, with a pit stop at the Calderone Pub first.  Nice mix of fans from all the teams in the regional there.  
• Bootleggers was no longer the Gopher haven it was when I left there that morning.  Badger fans had decended upon it, and the Gopher fans started to disperse.  Still our banners were up and we were flying the flag
• Finally the Bootleggers staff start to take down the huge 'Welcome M Alumni' flags.  I offer to buy  one off the guy taking it down, but he states that these belong to the Alumni Association, to which I reply "I'm in the Alumni Association! Sell it to me!"  No dice.

Panoramic view from our seats in Sec 221.

Obstructed view, but close enough that I didn't care.

Goldy keepin' it real, while the Musketeer looks on.

Goldy and the bench look on in the 1st Half.

Tubby paces the sidelines.

For some reason my camera chose to focus on Blake - I thought it kinda made this pic cool.

LW inbounds during the second half.

Gopher Nation stands to acknowledge the seniors, Westbrook, Johnson, and Bostick.

Its over, its all over.

Gopher Bandanna Guy and TKL just glad to be a part of March Madness.

Ralph Sampson the 2nd.  Certainly the tallest man currentlyin the building. Very likely the tallest man currently in the State of Wisconsin. And quite possibly the tallest man currently in the upper Midwest.  Also see Bryant Allen sitting with friends, and Paul Carter sitting with sister on the bottom of photo.

Game 2 - Pitt brings out their lovely cheerleaders, and apparently one grouchy one.  Smile dear, you're at the Big Dance!

The Oakland Golden Grizzly.  I thought he was pretty cool.  Huge head, might be one of the biggest I've ever seen on a mascot.

Pitt sets up the offense.

With Pitt firmly in control, the stands empty out, but the Oakland Grizz faithful stick to the end.