To think that the Gophers took their foot off the accelerator because they didn't want Q to look bad is beyond comprehension. No one I ever played with or known in competitive sports has that mindset. Now, it looked like Bob told them to quit forechecking aggressively and play 3 or 4 back defense. That seems possible. But certainly not because he didn't want to embarrass the Q players. No chance in hell.
I was just talking with someone about this yesterday at a comic con. She is a new writer of comics and a big hockey fan. We were bemoaning the Wild and Gopher collapses.
The concensus was that Minnesota sports team lack the "killer instict" and take their foot off the gas before the critical period or game is over.
This inability to finish anything is so Minnesotan. I say that being a born and raised current resident of Minnesota. It is part of the administration and Board of Regents at UMN.
I look at the path of least resistance taken by administrative people at UMN and just shake my head. The athletic department doesn't stand up for itself. That is obvious by how long it took to build the athletic village. Tubby Smith brought it up when he came in and when he left it still wasn't off the ground. In fact, IIRC they broke ground in it about 8 years after he left.
The hallmark of Minnesota behavior isnt MN Nice, its obfuscation, redirection and delay tactics.