Buck Bravo

While the Minnesota siege of Camp Randall was almost a successful campaign, “almost”  enters the record book indifferent from “never had a chance.”  Wisconsin did not play a good football game, but Minnesota made too many mistakes to pull out a win.  The Gophers almost lifted Paul Bunyan’s axe from the grounds of Camp Randall Stadium, but injuries and inexperience hobbled their effort and they fell under the very axe they sought.

Despite several mistakes and costly turnovers by Minnesota, Wisconsin only won by three points.  A top tier Division 1 team would have won by a much larger margin if given a three-car garage sized window of opportunity.  Each of the following events and decisions would have resulted in a different outcome for the game:

1. The fumble on the opening drive.  This one seems obvious, but it resulted in seven points towards a three point win.
2. Playing “not to lose” with 2:05 left in the first half.  An effective hurry-up offense could have tried to implement a series of sideline passes in order to drive into enemy territory for an  attempted score.  However, the coaching decision on this one may have been a good one since Minnesota’s young receivers, Adam Weber’s inconsistency, and Joel Monroe’s kicking had been liabilities in past weeks.  The point is that a strong offense would have had the confidence to run the two-minute drill.  Even a field goal could have sent the game to overtime.
3. Shady Salamon’s fumble with 7:55 left in the game.  Adam Weber pitched the ball behind Salamon instead of hitting him in stride.  This one also cost the Gophers seven points.
4. Adam Weber’s Decker-less struggles.  Many of his passes have been off-target.  Even the touchdown to Brodrick Smith was underthrown.  Several completions did not hit wide open receivers in stride (including the fumbled pitch to Salamon).  He appeared uncomfortable during the hurry-up offense near the end of the game and threw an interception.  Great quarterbacks shine under pressure and command the hurry-up offense in the two-minute drill.  Long term, losing Eric Decker for a few games may be the best thing that happened to Adam Weber.  Before the injury, Weber would try to force the ball to Decker without giving consideration to other wide receivers.  Now, he is being forced to read the defense and track multiple targets.  Remember the Brett Favre era for the Packers?  Almost every time he established a primary receiver who accumulated impressive statistics, the receiver would leave for a big payday.  Favre never missed a step, and would proceed to make average receivers appear extraordinary.
5. David Gilreath.  Gilreath chose to abandon his home state of Minnesota in order to play for Wisconsin.  Gilreath had a few key receptions for the Badgers.  He is a talented wide receiver who as a Gopher would have given Weber another dangerous target.  If Gilreath had remained home to be a Gopher, the final score probably would have been different.  Apparently the access to abundant fried cheese, liquor stores on Sunday, and the peace and quiet of the Wisconsin countryside is more desirable than an active, thriving metropolis with professional teams for every major sport.

The bottom line is that a three point loss to Wisconsin and a game ending touchdown by Northwestern are the difference between a 9-2 and a 7-4 record for Minnesota.  As the coaching staff bring in talented recruits and the young Gopher team matures, the program should continue to improve.  It just isn’t easy to watch a winnable game fall under the axe once again.

Folk tales of Minnesota and Wisconsin often include that of the legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan.  Paul Bunyan was a giant who at birth required five storks to be delivered.  There are those who doubt whether Paul Bunyan ever actually existed.  For others, the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota could have been made by nothing other than his feet.  Since 1948 the axe of the legendary Paul Bunyan has been held by the victor of the Minnesota/Wisconsin football game.

Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium was built in 1917 and named after Wisconsin governor Alexander Randall.  Randall organized Union troops for the Civil War at a camp on the grounds where the stadium now stands.  If Paul Bunyan’s axe is to return to Minnesota, the Gophers must invade Camp Randall and emerge victorious.

Wisconsin fans will be battle-ready for Saturday’s game.  In Madison there are four primary ways to spend time: drinking beer, eating fried cheese curds, watching football, and drinking beer.  The Gophers will not be welcome in Madison and the environment will be hostile to say the least.

Minnesota will be without star wide receiver Eric Decker…that is unless a Wisconsin reporter called a Tim Brewster bluff.  After watching Decker hobble against Michigan, I’d be surprised to see him on the field.  Minnesota mustered only six points versus Michigan and has struggled on offense as of late.

After starting off the season 3-0, Wisconsin has lost five of seven big ten games.  However, last week the Badgers put up 601 total yards of offense including 441 yards rushing versus Indiana.  Fortunately, Minnesota has been stronger against the rush than the pass.  Wisconsin lacks the two things that have troubled the Gophers the most: a mobile quarterback and a proficient passing game.  Despite Wisconsin’s potential to be an offensive juggernaut, the Gopher defense just might match up well against the Badgers’ power running game.

The Gophers will have the deck stacked against them versus the Badgers.  Expect the Gopher defense to have a strong showing.  Without Eric Decker or home field advantage, Minnesota will need to have someone step up at wide receiver in order for the offense to be effective.  At this time last year, who would have thought that offense would be Minnesota’s greatest concern?

Paul Bunyan’s axe belongs to the state in which he left his footprints.  If a few young Gophers can unexpectedly have breakout performances, perhaps Camp Randall can be plundered.