Iceland12
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
- Messages
- 24,758
- Reaction score
- 2,421
- Points
- 113
Once linebacker De'Vondre Campbell leaped to snatch a tipped pass from Michigan quarterback Shane Morris out of the air, he could see there was nothing stopping him the first pick-six of his University of Minnesota career.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior forgot what he was taught when he played tight end and wide receiver in high school. He carried the ball away from his body, letting it hang low as he jogged in from 30 yards out.
Gophers coach Jerry Kill gave him grief for that later.
"He said, 'Next time, tuck the ball,' " Campbell said with a smile. "I was like, 'Coach, I knew nobody was going to catch me.' "
Campbell's interception return for a touchdown in a 30-14 win over the Wolverines on Sept. 27 was one of 15 forced turnovers this season for the Gophers (4-1, 1-0 in the Big Ten), who led the Big Ten in that category before the bye last week.
Going into Saturday's game against Northwestern at TCF Bank Stadium, Minnesota is still among the nation's leaders in takeaways.
Northwestern relies on an opportunistic defense, too. The Wildcats (3-2, 2-0) are tied for 11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (plus-six) with Minnesota.
"We always do ball drills, do strip drills," said Gophers senior linebacker Damien Wilson, who has an interception and fumble recovery. "We try to create as many turnovers as possible. Bottom line is when we do get a turnover, we try to score on every chance we get.
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_26697661/gophers-northwestern-both-capitalizing-turnovers
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior forgot what he was taught when he played tight end and wide receiver in high school. He carried the ball away from his body, letting it hang low as he jogged in from 30 yards out.
Gophers coach Jerry Kill gave him grief for that later.
"He said, 'Next time, tuck the ball,' " Campbell said with a smile. "I was like, 'Coach, I knew nobody was going to catch me.' "
Campbell's interception return for a touchdown in a 30-14 win over the Wolverines on Sept. 27 was one of 15 forced turnovers this season for the Gophers (4-1, 1-0 in the Big Ten), who led the Big Ten in that category before the bye last week.
Going into Saturday's game against Northwestern at TCF Bank Stadium, Minnesota is still among the nation's leaders in takeaways.
Northwestern relies on an opportunistic defense, too. The Wildcats (3-2, 2-0) are tied for 11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (plus-six) with Minnesota.
"We always do ball drills, do strip drills," said Gophers senior linebacker Damien Wilson, who has an interception and fumble recovery. "We try to create as many turnovers as possible. Bottom line is when we do get a turnover, we try to score on every chance we get.
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_26697661/gophers-northwestern-both-capitalizing-turnovers