BleedGopher
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per Madison.com:
Minnesota’s 2018 season wasn’t all that impressive on the surface.
The Golden Gophers finished 7-6, including a 3-6 mark in Big Ten play that placed them in a tie for fifth in the West division.
A shocking 22-point victory over the University of Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium to end the regular season, however, perhaps did more for their program than bowl eligibility or a typical rivalry triumph ever could.
It marked Minnesota’s first win over the Badgers since 2003 and largest victory in Madison since 1936 — exactly the type of win coach P.J. Fleck sought when trying to show the Gophers are moving in the direction of future success.
“Winning that game,” Fleck said during Big Ten Media Days, “especially how we won it and where we won it and hadn't won there since 1994 — hadn't won the game in 14 straight years — breaking that mold creates this hope for the future. That’s what I hope our state of Minnesota understands, is we're doing things that haven't been done in a very long time. Maybe ever in some areas.”
Fleck often harps on first-time accomplishments, but he and the Gophers must now attempt to do something UW did for 13 straight years — keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
A once-great rivalry that had become far too predictable suddenly has new life, and build-up to the Badgers’ trip to Minneapolis on Nov. 30 is likely to surpass many matchups of the past decade-plus.
“Getting the axe back I thought meant a lot for both teams,” Fleck said. “I know maybe Wisconsin is not happy that we have the axe, but it's healthy for the rivalry … after 14 straight years of one of the greatest rivalries in college football, Paul Bunyan's Axe being one-sided.”
https://madison.com/wsj/sports/coll...cle_6549585d-6fa6-58c7-ab61-8a07f0873a14.html
Go Gophers!!
Minnesota’s 2018 season wasn’t all that impressive on the surface.
The Golden Gophers finished 7-6, including a 3-6 mark in Big Ten play that placed them in a tie for fifth in the West division.
A shocking 22-point victory over the University of Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium to end the regular season, however, perhaps did more for their program than bowl eligibility or a typical rivalry triumph ever could.
It marked Minnesota’s first win over the Badgers since 2003 and largest victory in Madison since 1936 — exactly the type of win coach P.J. Fleck sought when trying to show the Gophers are moving in the direction of future success.
“Winning that game,” Fleck said during Big Ten Media Days, “especially how we won it and where we won it and hadn't won there since 1994 — hadn't won the game in 14 straight years — breaking that mold creates this hope for the future. That’s what I hope our state of Minnesota understands, is we're doing things that haven't been done in a very long time. Maybe ever in some areas.”
Fleck often harps on first-time accomplishments, but he and the Gophers must now attempt to do something UW did for 13 straight years — keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
A once-great rivalry that had become far too predictable suddenly has new life, and build-up to the Badgers’ trip to Minneapolis on Nov. 30 is likely to surpass many matchups of the past decade-plus.
“Getting the axe back I thought meant a lot for both teams,” Fleck said. “I know maybe Wisconsin is not happy that we have the axe, but it's healthy for the rivalry … after 14 straight years of one of the greatest rivalries in college football, Paul Bunyan's Axe being one-sided.”
https://madison.com/wsj/sports/coll...cle_6549585d-6fa6-58c7-ab61-8a07f0873a14.html
Go Gophers!!