Buck Bravo

- The Iowa City Press-Citizen discusses TCF Bank Stadium and the end of Kinnick North Stadium in this article.

- The only Iowa blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, has no reservations in expressing Iowa’s feelings towards Minnesota. Black Heart Gold Pants enters a verbal rage in this article:

It’s not entirely the fault of the fans, either; Minnesota is the only Big Ten team playing in an off-campus multi-purpose garbage heap, and the trip from St. Paul is a hike. Of course, this means plenty of empty seats for me and 40,000 of my closest friends. I’m coming to your city, Gophers, and I’m bringing hell with me. Your new stadium may belong to TCF Bank, but your old one still belongs to us.

- The Star Tribune features an article about the Metrodome’s evolution into the worst stadium in college football.

- Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press discusses the recruits who are expected to attend Saturday’s game.

- Nadine Babu of GopherHole.com interviews four Gopher seniors in this article.

- Golden Gopher Football blog wraps up the Wisconsin game and notes that “All that matters now is Iowa.”

- The Daily Gopher asks, “Who hates Iowa”?

- The University of Miinesota now has an official bowl game website.

- Adam Rittenberg of ESPN’s Big Ten Blog discusses Tim Brewster’s reaction to Texas naming Will Muschamp as their coach in waiting behind Mack Brown.

- Michigan blog Maize and Blue Nation states “I hate Iowa. I think Minnesota will win. That is all.”

- Michigan Sports Center predicts “Shonn Greene will have another big day and will lead the Hawkeyes to victory.”

- Penn State’s The Nittany Line notes “The Gophers and their 62nd ranked rushing defense are about to learn what an amazing running back Shonn Greene is.”

Since 1982, Iowans have taken a biannual pilgrimage into Minnesota in order to support their beloved Hawkeyes in Kinnick North Stadium.  Officially known as the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Kinnick North Stadium has been good to fans of Iowa football. 

Iowa, the home state of John Wayne, is one of the last states that still embodies the Midwestern image of the family farm, small towns without locked doors and honest, humble people.  Minnesota football fans have always dreaded the influx of yellow-clad Iowans into their territory.  The Iowa Hawkeyes have a record of 18-8 at Kinnick North.  But just as railroads ended the era of covered wagon caravans headed West, so will the 2009 opening of TCF Stadium Bank end the pilgrimage of Iowans to Kinnick North Stadium.  Progress has a price.  Iowa fans have but one last sentimental journey to Kinnick North Stadium, and their beloved Hawkeyes will face a determined opponent.

Both Minnesota and Iowa enter the game with a record of 7-4.  In addition to having similar records, the two teams should match up well.  Iowa’s offensive strength is their running game.  Shonn Greene is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate averaging 6.2 yards per carry and having 15 touchdowns.  Take away yardage from scrambling quarterbacks, and Minnesota has been strong against the run.  The Gopher defense should force the Iowa offense to open up the passing game, and sophomore Hawkeye quarterback Ricky Stanzi will be tested.  The Iowa defense has been strong against the run and will likely force the Gophers to pass.  The Gophers should have wide receiver Eric Decker back from an injury, and will likely likely respond to the Iowa defense with a passing frenzy.

Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s game, the end of an era will be at hand.  Minnesota fans will be relieved to have finally escaped the sterile environment of the Metrodome.  In 2009, tickets will be in high demand for TCF Bank Stadium.  It will be one of the best stadiums in all of college football, while the Metrodome has been one of the worst.  The high demand for tickets at TCF Bank Stadium will greatly diminish the number of Iowans who are able to attend the 2010 game.  Hundreds of years from now, Iowans may actually ponder the question as to whether there was a mythical Kinnick North Stadium.  For now, many will inevitably shed a tear on Saturday for their memories at Kinnick North Stadium.

One more game in the Metrodome.  That’s it.  Frustrated Gopher fans exiting the Metrodome Saturday afternoon were not strangers to humiliation.  Sitting in front of me were three Michigan fans who were friendly throughout the game.  In the fourth quarter one of them turned around and asked “Why aren’t more people upset?”  Why?  Because Minnesota fans are used to losing, especially in the Metrodome.  One more trip to the Metrodome until the prospect of next year brings change, hope, and the beginning of a new era for Gopher Football.

Saturday’s loss to Michigan was a reality check for the Gopher Nation.  As previously noted in my Michigan game preview, the Gophers just don’t have the same level of talent…yet.  What do you get when you combine a team in need of talent, a new stadium on the horizon, a deflating loss, and a big recruiting weekend?  You get the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good

1. One more home game until Minnesota plays in TCF Bank Stadium.  Enough said.
2. Ra’Shede Hageman.  One of the top players in the state of Minnesota.  Expect him to make a major impact for the Gophers.  If he stays at tight end he should rack up gaudy receiving numbers in the spread offense.  Jack Simmons will be in the NFL next year, and Hageman may have a chance to contribute as a true freshman.
3. Matt Garin.  Another highly rated player stays home.  Garin has exceptional agility and quickness for his height and size.  If he continues to develop he could be the next Willie VanDeSteeg.
4. Joey Searcy.  The Gophers need defensive tackles for the future, and at 6′1, 276 pounds Searcy is exactly that.  In the footage I’ve seen he’s quick and relentless in his pursuit of the ball.
5. Adam Weber had a trial by fire due to an injury to Eric Decker and a porous offensive line.  The whole experience could help him improve for next year once a more experienced O-line gives him more time in the pocket and he has additional talented receivers.

The Bad

1. The offensive line.  Plagued by inexperience and injuries, the O-line couldn’t open up holes for the running game or protect Adam Weber.
2. The rest of the offense.  Receivers couldn’t get open, first downs were few and far between, and there was no hurry-up offense late in the game.
3. The weather.  Visiting recruits were treated to a chilly and windy day.
4. The loss.  A win on Saturday would have guaranteed that Minnesota doesn’t end up in Detroit for the Motor City Bowl.

The Ugly

The ugly. A picture speaks a thousand words.

The Minnesota Golden Gopher’s matchup versus Bowling Green will be a litmus test for the Gopher’s improvement since last year.  Bowling Green knocked off #25 Pittsburgh in their season opener, and after having defeated the Gophers at the Metrodome last year by a score of 32-31 in overtime will now host the Gophers at home.  Bowling Green fans are confident that they should win this game, as written in this Bowling Green blog.

Pittsburgh held Bowling Green to 64 yards rushing, but racked up 190 yards and two touchdowns passing.  The Gophers will need to stop the Bowling Green passing game in order to win.  Last week, the Gopher secondary gave up two big touchdowns on passing plays by Northern Illinois.  In both instances, the third defensive back Ryan Collado was beat.  Hopefully replacing Collado with Troy Stoudermire or Tim Dandridge will make a difference while in the nickel package. 

If the Gopher offense scores between 28 and 40 points and the Gopher defense can prevent big plays, I think that the Gophers have a legitimate chance of winning.  If David Pittman’s hamstring is finally healed, expect him to add another dangerous option for Adam Weber in addition to Eric Decker and Jack Simmons.  However, if the Gopher offense commits too many turnovers or the defense fails to stop the pass, Bowling Green could hand Minnesota their first loss of the year.  Bowling Green had an interception and forced three fumbles against Pittsburgh, which likely determined the outcome of the game. 

Expect Bowling Green to play slightly better than they did against the Gophers last year.  The Gopher offense should have a strong showing.  Will the Gophers demonstrate defensive improvement versus last year with the addition of JUCO players and new defensive coordinator Ted Roof?  That question may determine the outcome of the game.  I conducted a survey at the ever-reliable Gopher Hole chat board asking what area of the defense is the Gophers’ greatest weakness:

It looks like most Gopher fans think that the defensive line is our greatest liability.  Let’s hope that they can put some pressure on the Bowling Green quarterback and give the defensive backs a chance to attack some forced passes.

If the Gophers can avoid turnovers and control the Bowling Green passing game, this game could be a telltale sign of good things to come for the Golden Gophers.