The ***-OFFICIAL-*** MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (VS). KANSAS JAYHAWKS (GAME THREAD)

[thailleagle]

Seasons been fun, every game seemed like a journey, I've never experienced a season like this where every game was as intense as a bowl game. This being a bowl game is twice as intense, lol.......

And this game really has me excited because of the new hire. I can't expect too much in only a month but it will be interesting to see what he has come with. Tonights Offense will be very interesting.......

If our Offense can move the ball I feel like we'll give our Defense enough to keep up with Kansas's High-Powered Offense and keep the game close. We could pull it off.......

But.......

If we come flat and even remotely close to what we've done the last half of the season this will be a quick blowout, unfortunately just as bad if not worse the Iowa.......

Minnesota 27, Kansas 45 :confused:

But the Gopher fan in me is predicting.......

Minnesota 37, Kansas 34 :D

Go Gophers! :cool:

[bigtenchamps1899]

gophers-6
jayhawks-6

first tie in bowl history;)

[Dr.Don]

Gophers 3, Kansas 2. DEFENSIVE Battle all the way. KS will get their 2 points on the last play of the game where we are punting from deep in our own territoryon the last play, and we choose to run the ball out of the endzone for a safety. How is that for a prediction???????????

[Gold Rush]

Don't have a good feeling about this one......not too confident in our offense right now and I don't know if an offensive line coaching change will make too much of a difference. At least it sounds like we will go with a FB on 3rd and short on occasion so maybe we will start to convert some of those 3rd and shorts......maybe there will be a few other surprises too.

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Gophers 134 - Kansas 1

[thailleagle]

Terrible Kickoff.......

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.......

[thailleagle]

And Kansas scores on the 1st play of the game........

Wooooooow........

[gophersfan]

KU TD. 7-0. that was fast.

[BBShopGo4]

Opening kick-off out of bounds...not auspicious!

Then TD on first play. Should have been a sack, but he gets away and finds a guy open. Theret made a bad mistake in not staying deep.

It's going to be a shootout

[bigtenchamps1899]

who just got burned?

[Gold Rush]

I think it's time for a rally beer........I have a feeling I might be drunk before this one's over...

[gophersfan]

horrible start. fumble the return and can't get a good return.

[thailleagle]

Stoudamire fumbles the Kickoff and gets it to the 15.......

We're gonna beat ourselves before Kansas has to even put in any effort.......

[gophersfan]

Decker. what a great pass.

[Yah-E]

Why the fcuk did we get a guy with a lips announcing this game!? YEAAAHHHHH

[Schlic Daddy]

wow what a start to a game!

[thailleagle]

WHAT PLAY WAS THAT!?!?!?!?!?!?

[gopherguy05]

Pittman!!!!

Decker!!!!

Woo!!!

[bigtenchamps1899]

9 yards on the first run from the I

[BBShopGo4]

We finally see Pittman make a play. Pitch to Pittman and he goes long to Decker... First Gopher running play goes for 9 up the middle with power blocking.

[gophersfan]

TD Minnesota. woohoo.

[gopherguy05]

Hause with the TD!!!

WHO????


And the new running game begins now...

[thailleagle]

WHOSE OFFENSE IS THIS?!?!?!?!?!

[bigtenchamps1899]

we might have a game on our hands!

[Zales04]

What a way to start the game, eh?

[bigtenchamps1899]

defens=e needs to shrug off that last play

[alpinegopher]

Stommes starting, doesn't look like Alford is dressed. Could be wrong

[thailleagle]

Wait....wait....wait........

Did I miss something?

4 plays with Weber under center?

*looks on the sideline*

*doesn't see Glen Mason*

*is confused*

[Gold Rush]

LOL..........Good to get that TD right back and it's good to see Pittman with a nice pass, too.
Really liked using Hoese in the goal line situation...

[bigtenchamps1899]

brock starting at corner?

what disciplinary reasons

[thailleagle]

No BPT? That'll hurt........

[BBShopGo4]

No BPT? That'll hurt........

BPT is in there now. Apparently, he didn't get the start due to a discipline issue.

[Zales04]

No BPT? That'll hurt........

They said not starting, I assume we'll see him eventually.

[bigtenchamps1899]

No BPT? That'll hurt........
just not starting, did not say not playing

[thailleagle]

Thank God........

We're finally mixing up looks on Offense, I am so f*ckin' stoked!!!!!!!!

[bigtenchamps1899]

decker is a stud

[thailleagle]

Eskridge looks like a real back now.......

[Gold Rush]

You can really tell what a difference that Decker makes when he plays -- we are a totally different team when he is healthy.

I don't know if there is another team in the entire country that relies on a single receiver for so much of their offense.

[thailleagle]

Brandon Green is 10x better then Spry.......

[gopherguy05]

GREEN!!!

Wow!

This offense is scary...in a very good way...

[bigtenchamps1899]

b green is a stud!

[gopherguy05]

wow 3rd and 4 and we run a power right up the middle.....yeah something have definately changed....

[thailleagle]

Long Sustaining Drives........

[gopherguy05]

Hoese again......


wow..

[bigtenchamps1899]

13 plays 80 yards! i'm giddy

[thailleagle]

14-7.......

I wouldn't have ever guessed we'd score 14 points in the 1st Quarter let alone the 1st half........

I've been preaching on Hybrid Formations ala John L. Smith and it finally seems like God has answered my prayers, lol........

[Zales04]

It's great to see us be able to run the ball again!

[Gold Rush]

Jon Hoese is a TD Machine........I think Kansas wishes he would have missed the trip.

[bigtenchamps1899]

defense is going to be big tooday

[thailleagle]

We're finally not being defended 1 dimensionally........

[Studwell55]

Green had zero idea the ball was going to him on that route. He was actually watching Decker on the other side of the field when it was thrown. Or do my eyes deceive me?

Let's win!!!!

Go Gophers!!!!

[bigtenchamps1899]

monroe's got the kicking goin (besides the first kick

[Gold Rush]

I am telling you guys, the rally beers are working over here........ever since I started pounding them down we have been scoring and making plays..........hopefully everyone is doing the same!!

[bigtenchamps1899]

bend not break territory

[thailleagle]

Eric Small, come on, get it together..........

Another dumb penalty.......

[gopherguy05]

well....noone ever said this was going to be a 14-10 type of game......

[Gold Rush]

Fortunately our offense has come to play or this would be ugly.

[Zales04]

The one commentator is starting to drive me nuts with that lisp. I am also not impressed with their sound. They show the KU band playing but you can't hear them, and the crowd noise seems almost non-existant at times. The explosions are too loud.

[Gold Rush]

I think Stoudermire is going to end up being a very good player for us -- it is going to be fun to watch him the next few years!

[gopherguy05]

big 3rd down here...

edit..

Crappy pass weber....come on

[thailleagle]

Another dumb penalty.......

[gopherguy05]

There's the bait again....Mannion


thats 2 bad penalties.....looks like some things haven't changed...

[Zales04]

There's the bait again....Mannion


thats 2 bad penalties.....looks like some things haven't changed...

They're gonna be the death of us

[PigAxeJug]

hoese? cool

[thailleagle]

EDIT: Bullsh*t Penalty on that call........

[Border Gopher]

Who's coaching this team?

[thailleagle]

Never mind, here comes that dumb penalty.......smh........

[Studwell55]

EFFING BULL*&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!#.

[thailleagle]

Now it's the Defense keeping *themselves* out there on the field.......

[Gold Rush]

Rats........that sucked..........time for another rally beer.

We need to answer back right now and stuff it down their throat.

[gopherguy05]

That was a terrible PI penalty.....cost us 7 points right there....

Anyone hear what conference these Refs are from. Prob the WAC....wrong and corrupt....

[calminnfan]

Sure hope there are some good half time adjustments!

[calminnfan]

Sorry, but all I get is the internet. Not sure if the penalties are justified or not. All I can see is that the Gophers have 4 penalties and Kansas has none!

[MinneNoVA]

What a horsesh$t PI call! I just reviewed the play on DVR - no effing way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're going to get hosed by the refs...again! Where are these refs from, anyway!?

[Gold Rush]

Well right now we need some second QUARTER adjustments.

I think Eskridge will be moved down to about our #3 or #4 running back by next season. Not that you can blame him though when there are very small holes to run through.

[thailleagle]

"Kansas is starting to respect the Minnesota running game."

Haven't heard anything remotely close to that since Mason.......

[josh087]

HORSE S@#* pass interference call

[calminnfan]

It seems a good time for a big play turnover on defense. If Kansas marches down the field here, the Gophers are in for a long afternoon!

[gopherguy05]

We need a big d-stop this drive...with or without the refs. If KU goes up 14, I don't feel too confident.

Also time to try passing the ball again instead of running it 3 times and punting...

[gopherguy05]

11 passes in a row for Reesing...someone needs to get in a passing lane. They are dinking and umping for 6-8 a play and its killing us....

[thailleagle]

Briscoe is murdering out there.......

[gopherguy05]

No pressure...guys wide open 8 yds deep. Come on Gophers...you need to figure out a way to stop this....

[Zales04]

11 passes in a row for Reesing...someone needs to get in a passing lane. They are dinking and umping for 6-8 a play and its killing us....

Sounds familiar from 5 years ago...

[gopherguy05]

Seriously....Sherels can't cover Briscoe....he's getting torched every single play

[GO4INLALALAND]

Our DB are not even challenging the receivers. KU's QB and WR are playing pitch and catch. We need a turnover now.

[josh087]

Glen Mason defense on display

[bigtenchamps1899]

d briscoe, 8 catches for 124 yards so far...can we do something?

[thailleagle]

This is starting to be hard to watch.......

Our poor Defense.......

[thailleagle]

Seriously....Sherels can't cover Briscoe....he's getting torched every single play

And he's our fastest guy on Defense.......

[calminnfan]

The Gophers defense resembles melted butter at this point!

[Great Plains Gopher]

Down 21-14 they should have opened up the passing game. The running was great to see, but KU is unstoppable passing, so you can beat them only by outscoring them - for that you have to pass a lot. This could be a rout.

[GO4INLALALAND]

We need to double Briscoe. Otherwise we will never get a stop on defense.

[thailleagle]

They make it look so effortless........

[Gold Rush]

Great plains..........you may be right........this is looking ugly. We need a break

[gopherguy05]

This is getting ugly....

11 plays, 81 yards 4:11 off the clock...

They are smoking us. Pass for 8, option for 7, pass for 6, pass for 12...

Roof better figure something out, cause even if our Offense does play like we did the first two drives we'll lose by 14

[calminnfan]

MN better get another TD before half time, or this is going to be similar to the Iowa debacle!

[thailleagle]

Call a TIMEOUT!

[calminnfan]

Not trying to be cruel, but why the time out? MN can not seem to stop them?

[gopherguy05]

Campbell just got burnt....that was bad.

[GO4INLALALAND]

Our DB's can not cover anyone.

[gopherguy05]

our linebackers CAN NOT cover...

they are slow in coverage, they are slow in chasing the option, they are jut slow.

We will be screwed on D until we fix that, because its a glaring weakness that Kansas obviously saw in the tape from Iowa, etc.

[tikited]

Our defense just gave up. This thing could go very wrong in the second half. Suck it up Goph's--come on!!

[Gold Rush]

We will have to regroup and work on a few adjustments at halftime.

I think we can learn a lot from playing a team like Kansas - they have a hell of a coach and maybe we can learn a few things about running our offense as well as defense.

[Gold Rush]

I just hope Kansas doesn't score again here.........we go in the half down 28-14 and at least we are still in the game....

[gopherguy05]

finally a good pass by weber.... he was looking like Michigan and Iowa weber for a while...

[gopherguy05]

our o-line still can't block anyone.....they just cost us 3 points...

[thailleagle]

Weber looking scared out there and Kansas can detect it.........

I would just launch that ball in the End Zone this play, why not?

[thailleagle]

Oh wait.......that might be a stupid idea I almost forgot what happened against Northwestern........

[thailleagle]

finally a good pass by weber.... he was looking like Michigan and Iowa weber for a while...

Spoketh too sooneth.......

[gopherguy05]

they just rushed 3 guys and had 2 about to sack weber on 3rd and 25....

Hope Davis kicks the crap out of these guys this spring...


And now the punt is blocked....great

[gopherguy05]

Lucky to only be down 14 at half.....gonna need some major adjustments by Roof and Davis/Dunbar to get back in this.

[Gold Rush]

Hey -- good to see Steve Davis get a pick in his last game as a Gopher....

[Zales04]

Lucky to only be down 14 at half.....gonna need some major adjustments by Roof and Davis/Dunbar to get back in this.

I'll believe it when I see it. The 2nd quarter looked like the last 4 games.

[thailleagle]

Funny thing about this is I expect this but when we started off strong on Offense I had a change of heart about the game but now I'm pretty much back to my original thinking in order to not let this game seem like a letdown. We get the ball first coming out of the half and we have to score........

[calminnfan]

Now they get an interception

[Great Plains Gopher]

Gophers look horrible on defense - absolutely inept on pass coverage. Child's play for KU. We have to open it up passing to have any chance to avoid a rout. Second quarter we were too conservative - offense has no rhythm.

[calminnfan]

Hate to say this, but I am afraid I have lost confidence in the Gophers passing game as well!

Why has the Gophers defense turned so bad the past 6+ quarters?

[bigtenchamps1899]

if we can make those major adjustments then i will be pleasantly surprised

[Zales04]

I'm gonna need a few more Surlys if the 2nd half is as bad as the first.

[thailleagle]

I'm all for the Power Running but mix it up, please! Weber has only thrown 10 passes the entire game and had only thrown 5 prior to that last drive.......

[Gold Rush]

So far Weber is 7-12 for 79 yards and 0 tds and 0 ints. Sort of TJack numbers.....fortunately, Pittman is 1-1 for 75 yards and that helps a lot.

Eskridge - 11 carries for 25 yards and a 2.3 avg. which is pretty typical in this offense.

Meanwhile, Reesing has torched the Gophers --- 19 of 23 for 221 yards ............4 TD's and 1 meaningless pick.

We really need to turn it around in the second half...........

[calminnfan]

Anyone who may have been concerned about the Gophers losing Roof should be able to relax now!

[thailleagle]

Ted Roof is not going anywhere, lol........

[bigtenchamps1899]

d briscoe if he keeps this up will finish with 20 catches for 300 yards

[Gold Rush]

I STILL don't know if Tim Brewster is a good football coach. Last year I gave him a D, but this year I had bumped it up to C+.

I don't think he really has done anything special in this game.........I guess go out and recruit some more when you get done to get some more players - that is probably what he does best.

I think this Kansas coach might look like 1 cheeseburger short of a heart attack but he is a hell of a coach.

[Zales04]

What horrible play-calling

[gopherguy05]

so from the first two plays, I can tell that they basicially put all of Davis's plays in the playbook, and took out all the spread passing plays...seriously...pass the fricking ball...it worked in the first half...

This is looker more like a Mason team with every other posession...

[calminnfan]

I think the teams have studied the tapes on the Gophers, Weber in particular and know how to pound them, and the Gophers have no response.

They are not ready for the upper echalon of teams yet. They have improved, but clearly not as much as we hope. The only thing I hope now is that the talent level will continue to increase and that they prove me wrong.

[Great Plains Gopher]

Three stupid plays in a row- trying to run every play - suicide. Who's calling these plays?

[thailleagle]

so from the first two plays, I can tell that they basicially put all of Davis's plays in the playbook, and took out all the spread passing plays...seriously...pass the fricking ball...it worked in the first half...

This is looker more like a Mason team with every other posession...

Mason passed.......

[GO4INLALALAND]

Throw the freakin ball.

[calminnfan]

Glad the Gophers made the bowl game, but it looks like more Ruesse fodder at this point!

[gopherguy05]

please, please tell me why Lee Campbell is covering briscoe.....anyone???

Yay! Kansas stupid penalty saved the MN defense....

[calminnfan]

They got a penalty break...wow!

[bigtenchamps1899]

please, please tell me why Lee Campbell is covering briscoe.....anyone???

Yay! Kansas stupid penalty saved the MN defense....

theyu'll just pass it to briscoe for 17

[calminnfan]

So much for the break!

[gopherguy05]

unbelievable.....


This game's over. Our defense sucks...
terrible pressure, terrible coverage...

I give up, I can't do it anymore...

[GO4INLALALAND]

Our D really looks pathetic.

[bigtenchamps1899]

vds! i am goinbg to miss that gallut

[Gold Rush]

I would take Mason's offense over this one in a hearbeat and I wish we would have kept it. Mason knew how to run the ball and had an offense that could beat the best run defenses in the country and literally pound 200-300 yards on them.

We can't run anymore and our rushing attack is a joke. It is embarrassing watching this team run the football. When people say this is looking like Mason's teams I respectfully disagree because Mason's team would be moving the ball in the right direction....

[bigtenchamps1899]

gotta do something about TOP KU 21:00 UM 13:52

[gopherguy05]

wow a D-stop...

Wow some damn cuties wearing Maroon in the stands


Attention, Mr Dunbar and Mr. Davis:

Pass the ball to Eric Decker. If he is covered pass to Brandon Green. If he is covered how bout Nick Tow-Arnet down the slot? Anyone? Bueller??

[thailleagle]

Play-Action, come on!

[gopherguy05]

Has Shady actually carried the ball at all? Maybe he could get 3 instead of 2 every time instead...

[Gold Rush]

hey -- a second down and short conversion........that's a start!!!

[gopherguy05]

Eskridge fumbles......

Where's Shady????

[thailleagle]

Eskridge with the expected fumble.......please put Shady in.......

[Zales04]

Well, that's it for me. No use getting pissed off anymore.

[gopherguy05]

LOL....see ya in 2009....I'm done for good now.

We look like a high school team. I haven't seen a defense get that faked out since i watched by cousin's 12 year old team use the fumblerooskie.

[thailleagle]

Hard to believe we were up 14-7 at one point.......

[thailleagle]

Stoudamire is incredible........

[tikited]

I seriously have lost any positive feelings I had for this team. Five losses in a row will do that. Not just losses, but the way we lost them as well. The defense is just as bad as any Mason teams and the offense is light years worse. I really hope the new recruits can play right away.

[Gold Rush]

If there is one bright spot to this game besisdes Pittman's pass, it's Troy Stoudermire. He has looked good on his many kickoff returns......

[Gold Rush]

Oh and Eskridge can kiss that starting tailback spot goodbye.

After that last fumble, he will be lucky to even sniff the backfield again next year...

[thailleagle]

Or the rest of this game.......

[gophersfan]

Anyone having problems seeing the time on the scoreclock from NFL Network.

[Gold Rush]

Wouldn't it be cool to see the Gophers stage an improbable comeback?? I wonder what that feels like......I would have to ask all the fans from the teams that have played the Gophers over the years...........LOL.

[thailleagle]

I would just be happy if they made it interesting........

[bigtenchamps1899]

lets just have stoudamire run one back every time

[thailleagle]

We're just very physical up front.......

[gophersfan]

What a hiorrible play calling on that 4 down series at the 1.

[tikited]

What a joke. Dumb dumb dumb

[BBShopGo4]

Oh and Eskridge can kiss that starting tailback spot goodbye.

After that last fumble, he will be lucky to even sniff the backfield again next year...

Even though it's not acceptable to lose the ball in the pile, but....

Eskridge got back on top of the fumble and was down. The Umpire was looking right at it but didn't blow the whistle. The LB ripped the ball from DeLeon after he was already down by contact. We got screwed on that call.

[calminnfan]

You know it is not your day when...

[bigtenchamps1899]

i would be pissed if i were stoudamire!

[The Big L]

Wow. Just, wow.

[thailleagle]

What a waste of a great kickoff return........

[maliksealy]

this game is over

[bigtenchamps1899]

here's the trunaround right hers

[Gold Rush]

Yeah BB, you are probably right. It might have been a bad call, but when you look at a healthy Bennett, Lipscomb, Whaley, and Shady Saloman, I think Eskridge needs all the help he can get. He needs to do something very special today and I don't know if he will even see the field.....

[calminnfan]

Well, the game may not be over, but they had better get into the end zone this drive!

[calminnfan]

kinda interesting that with last years recruiting class, Stoudemire was one of the players I was least excited about. Right now he is their biggest playmaker!

[Gold Rush]

You know what calminn.......at least the team has not quit. They are still working hard and not giving up. Maybe they should try to get Stoudermire some more touches but change the tempo of the game -- maybe if they can score quickly here they can get Kansas to do something stupid and we can get back in the game again....

[thailleagle]

We're decently moving the ball but we're not finishing.......

If they learn how to pass and throw out of both the Power I & Spread we'll be a dangerous Offenses.......

[calminnfan]

You know what calminn.......at least the team has not quit. They are still working hard and not giving up. Maybe they should try to get Stoudermire some more touches but change the tempo of the game -- maybe if they can score quickly here they can get Kansas to do something stupid and we can get back in the game again....

Your right, and actually I do realize the OL and some of the young players simply need some maturing and gelling together, but I was hoping for a better showing today!

[gophersfan]

please stop running the ball Gophers. throw it on every down.

[gophersfan]

TD Decker. 35-21

[Gold Rush]

Good point, thail. You can tell we just aren't quite there yet, but I think we are closer than a lot of people think.

TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigtenchamps1899]

couple more three and outs for KU and we could get back in this...

[bigtenchamps1899]

am i glad decker is coming back next year...i cant wait for next years WR corps

[alpinegopher]

Agreed.

Almost comical that Stoudermire can't get more touches. Probably tired from all the kick returns the last few games. HA

[calminnfan]

A turnover and quick score, and this may be a game yet!

[gophersfan]

great Defense there. punt time KU.

[thailleagle]

Defense finally comes to life.......

[bigtenchamps1899]

briscoe is like a poor man's decker:)-

[gophersfan]

wow. we starting this drive at the 1.

[calminnfan]

Figures!

[bigtenchamps1899]

nice punt. how about a 99 yard drive?

[bigtenchamps1899]

how many yards does KU average on offense?

[thailleagle]

About a thousand.........

[calminnfan]

A big play now would sure go a long way!

[bigtenchamps1899]

is eskeridge benched? haven't seen him in a while

[bigtenchamps1899]

i would love to see more b green

[Gold Rush]

There is still time, but I wish we would have played a little better especially defensively in the first half.

[gophersfan]

how was that not a late hit on KU for hitting webber out of bound.

[bigtenchamps1899]

two sacks almost erased weber's entire 31 yard run

[Gold Rush]

You know what......I think I would still take this loss over the last Insight Bowl loss to Texas Tech. This one is fairly painless compared to that .....

[bigtenchamps1899]

You know what......I think I would still take this loss over the last Insight Bowl loss to Texas Tech. This one is fairly painless compared to that .....

there were some flashes...but we need MUCH improve,ment over the winter to be challenging CAL next year.

[thailleagle]

This one feels way better too considering we were 1-11 last year and are playing a team that went to a BCS game last season.......

We still have the same routine though, we were always 1 play away from still being in the game but we couldn't convert on critical 3rd downs and gave up penalties all around the board at critical times.

We were heavy underdogs in this game so I guess it's not a big disappointment but it does feel like it since we were in the game practically the whole time and kept taking ourselves out of it.........