BleedGopher
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per the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Better Than Its Record
Prior to the bowl game, Johnson made an observation about Minnesota that didn’t rate as a jaw-dropper, but has some pertinence in light of the result. As a 6-6 team, the Gophers played some games well and others not as much. In the final six games of the regular season, Minnesota lost, won, lost, won, lost and won.
The first loss and last win might encapsulate its variance – the Gophers lost at Nebraska 53-28, falling behind 28-0 and surrendering 383 rushing yards to a winless Cornhuskers team. In the final game, Minnesota hammered Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium 37-15, ending a 14-game losing streak in one of its two biggest rivalry games. The Gophers held the Badgers to 170 rushing yards, more than 100 yards under its season average to that point.
This was clearly a team capable of playing well (particularly after firing defensive coordinator Robb Smith) and that has an emerging talent in running back Mohamed Ibrahim. The redshirt freshman began the season third on the depth chart but finished the season on a roll, even before his career day against the Jackets, averaging 118 yards in his final four games, the last three against bowl teams.
Tech played a team that was capable of playing well and clearly ready to play. The Jackets were not at their best, made mistakes early to fall behind and suffered critical lapses. The result was a 34-10 defeat.
“Obviously, they were more physical than us at the point of attack,” safety Malik Rivera said. “I think that’s just what it was. We needed to be more physical. We needed to be more tough and we weren’t.”
https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/...a-tech-loss-minnesota/aTkxMS8qN4btheZpmRw6XI/
Go Gophers!!
Better Than Its Record
Prior to the bowl game, Johnson made an observation about Minnesota that didn’t rate as a jaw-dropper, but has some pertinence in light of the result. As a 6-6 team, the Gophers played some games well and others not as much. In the final six games of the regular season, Minnesota lost, won, lost, won, lost and won.
The first loss and last win might encapsulate its variance – the Gophers lost at Nebraska 53-28, falling behind 28-0 and surrendering 383 rushing yards to a winless Cornhuskers team. In the final game, Minnesota hammered Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium 37-15, ending a 14-game losing streak in one of its two biggest rivalry games. The Gophers held the Badgers to 170 rushing yards, more than 100 yards under its season average to that point.
This was clearly a team capable of playing well (particularly after firing defensive coordinator Robb Smith) and that has an emerging talent in running back Mohamed Ibrahim. The redshirt freshman began the season third on the depth chart but finished the season on a roll, even before his career day against the Jackets, averaging 118 yards in his final four games, the last three against bowl teams.
Tech played a team that was capable of playing well and clearly ready to play. The Jackets were not at their best, made mistakes early to fall behind and suffered critical lapses. The result was a 34-10 defeat.
“Obviously, they were more physical than us at the point of attack,” safety Malik Rivera said. “I think that’s just what it was. We needed to be more physical. We needed to be more tough and we weren’t.”
https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/...a-tech-loss-minnesota/aTkxMS8qN4btheZpmRw6XI/
Go Gophers!!