As tired as we are of hearing about it, it gives an otherwise pedestrian game a story line. No doubt once the Gophers recommitted to playing, the Holiday Bowl itself is probably delighted that a national story line has given life to this bowl, which will potentially improve ratings.
What would the local MN/WA scribes write about without the controversy? Mike Leach's comeback win over us while at Texas Tech? Rodney and Jonathan coming from the same HS? The national scribes would have ignored this game, obviously we'd certainly have preferred that, but the reporters are writing the story given to them on a platter.
Go Gophers!!