Gopher Football
With their backs against the wall, the Gophers completed a sweep of their final three games to become bowl eligible for the 5th straight year and the 7th time in eight years. Both teams piled up the yards on offense but Iowa’s five turnovers proved to be the difference. The final score was 34-24 in front of 64,140 fans, split about 70/30 in favor of the Gophers for the 100th meeting in this spirited border rivalry.
The turnover margin of 5:1 in favor of the Gophers was the statistic that really mattered in this game. The Gophers scored a touchdown after an Iowa fumble on the game’s first drive. Near the half Mike Shrrels had an interception when Iowa had the ball first and goal on the three yard line. The Gophers scored another touchdown after an Iowa interception in the third quarter. At that point Jake Christensen relieved Iowa quarterback Drew Tate, who had two interceptions and a fumble to that point. Christensen’s second pass of the game was intercepted by Mario Reese and the Gophers once again scored a TD off the turnover. Fittingly, Tate was intercepted with 1:11 left to end any hope of a Hawkeye comeback.
People can complain all they want about a 6-6 team going to a bowl but in this case the Gophers deserve it. First, the Minnesota schedule was a killer with seven opponents being ranked at some point in the season and with five of them being in the top ten at some point. Second, the Gophers finished strong with three straight wins and four wins in their last five games. In fact, road games at Ohio State and Wisconsin were the only losses in the second half of the season. This strong finish also bodes well for the future, with only 11 seniors on the current roster.
Offensively, the Gophers were hitting on all cylinders all the way. Bryan Cupito, who is as responsible as any one player for the Gophers’ strong finish, had 267 yards passing and two touchdown throws. Logan Payne had seven catches and Matt Spaeth had five. The offense again found their long lost two-headed attack on the ground with Amir Pinnix (119 yards) and Jay Thomas (79 yards). Like last week against Michigan State, the backs were able to get some yards late in the game to keep the lead safe.
All in all, this season went about as well as I expected. The schedule looked tough going in and it was. Iowa and their 2-6 Big Ten season was really the only stunning disappointment. I think youth played a big part in Minnesota’s 2-4 record in the first half of the season with Purdue and Penn State being the games that slipped away. In the second half they won all four games that they had a legitimate shot at winning.
The Motor City Bowl is out of play for the Big Ten with Indiana losing today. Purdue should get the Champs Sports Bowl bid, although they still have a game left to play in Hawaii. That seemingly leaves Iowa and Minnesota jostling for the Alamo Bowl and the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. Iowa seemingly has the edge for the slightly better Alamo Bowl on the strength of their bigger fan base. The Gophers have a boost from their strong finish and Iowa’s disastrous finish. Another plus for Minnesota is that they have never been to the Alamo Bowl while Iowa has been there a few times, but not recently.
In any case, the Gophers will get a good bowl. As well, beggars can’t be choosers and when you have a 6-6 record you are definitely beggars.