Iceland12
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THE TAKEAWAY
Minnesota: The Gophers get what in the end turned into a blowout win, a little payback for a loss at Illinois two years ago and guarantee themselves bowl eligibility. But they struggled for three quarters to put away a limited Illini team. While some players acknowledged celebrating a bit, Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys downplayed the significance of being bowl eligible. He said his team still hopes to find a way to the Big Ten title game. And he said he never worried that Illinois was hanging around longer than he'd like.
"I never really felt uncomfortable as long as we had a lead," Claeys said.
Illinois: Even if Lunt had played there's no guarantee Illinois would be better off with him than George. Turner has been Illinois' only real receiving threat this season. Illinois needs its defense, which Smith has called the strength of the team, to create the kind of turnovers that gave the Gophers short fields Saturday.
INTO THE WIND
Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner and his receivers struggled with the wind. The senior was 10-19 for 112 yards, and the 20 mph gusts didn't help, Claeys said.
"It was big. It hurt the passes toward the sidelines," the coach said,
McGHEE'S HIT
Claeys said after the game that hits like the one that led to McGhee's ejection are difficult to avoid.
"When those guys are going down that low, it's hard," he said. "I hate to tell them to go down to the legs all the time. We've got to stay below the shoulders."
THANKFUL
Likely no one was happier to be spending Saturday in Champaign than Minnesota linebackers coach Mike Sherels. He tweeted Friday, his 32nd birthday, that "this one is special because I almost didn't make it." Sherels spent much of August being treated for what has only been described as a serious digestive problem that required multiple surgeries. He rejoined the team in early October.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400869679
Minnesota: The Gophers get what in the end turned into a blowout win, a little payback for a loss at Illinois two years ago and guarantee themselves bowl eligibility. But they struggled for three quarters to put away a limited Illini team. While some players acknowledged celebrating a bit, Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys downplayed the significance of being bowl eligible. He said his team still hopes to find a way to the Big Ten title game. And he said he never worried that Illinois was hanging around longer than he'd like.
"I never really felt uncomfortable as long as we had a lead," Claeys said.
Illinois: Even if Lunt had played there's no guarantee Illinois would be better off with him than George. Turner has been Illinois' only real receiving threat this season. Illinois needs its defense, which Smith has called the strength of the team, to create the kind of turnovers that gave the Gophers short fields Saturday.
INTO THE WIND
Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner and his receivers struggled with the wind. The senior was 10-19 for 112 yards, and the 20 mph gusts didn't help, Claeys said.
"It was big. It hurt the passes toward the sidelines," the coach said,
McGHEE'S HIT
Claeys said after the game that hits like the one that led to McGhee's ejection are difficult to avoid.
"When those guys are going down that low, it's hard," he said. "I hate to tell them to go down to the legs all the time. We've got to stay below the shoulders."
THANKFUL
Likely no one was happier to be spending Saturday in Champaign than Minnesota linebackers coach Mike Sherels. He tweeted Friday, his 32nd birthday, that "this one is special because I almost didn't make it." Sherels spent much of August being treated for what has only been described as a serious digestive problem that required multiple surgeries. He rejoined the team in early October.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400869679