BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
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per BTN:
High point: Things started well, as the Golden Gophers opened with a 3-0 mark, taking down Buffalo, Oregon State and Middle Tennessee thanks to outstanding play by the defense. But it was all downhill from there. Minnesota dropped its Big Ten opener–at home–to Maryland, which was disappointing. And the Gophers followed that belly flop with losses at Purdue and vs. Michigan State. The defeat in West Lafayette was painful, as Minnesota blew a late lead after seemingly having the game won.
Low point: There were many. But let’s go with the last two games, as the Golden Gophers were shutout by Northwestern (39-0) and Wisconsin (31-0) in dropping four of their last five contests. The game before those shutouts, Minnesota scored 54 points in a win vs. Nebraska. The Gophers had just 182 yards vs. Northwestern and 133 against Wisconsin. After the season, QB Demry Croft announced he was transferring.
Offensive MVP: RB Rodney Smith. He was one of the few steady offensive options, running 229 times for 977 yards and catching 17 passes en route to notching 1,447 all-purpose yards. Smith also ran back kickoffs, returning one for 100 yards for a TD. The 5-11, 210-pound junior was a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten pick and helped Minnesota rank fourth in the Big Ten in rushing (182.4 ypg).
Defensive MVP: LB Thomas Barber. The 6-1, 233-pound sophomore emerged as a standout. The son of former star Gopher RB Marion Barber, Thomas led the team with 115 tackles while forcing three fumbles with an interception. Barber was named third-team All-Big Ten by the media.
http://btn.com/2017/12/15/2017-football-season-review-minnesota-golden-gophers/
Go Gophers!!
High point: Things started well, as the Golden Gophers opened with a 3-0 mark, taking down Buffalo, Oregon State and Middle Tennessee thanks to outstanding play by the defense. But it was all downhill from there. Minnesota dropped its Big Ten opener–at home–to Maryland, which was disappointing. And the Gophers followed that belly flop with losses at Purdue and vs. Michigan State. The defeat in West Lafayette was painful, as Minnesota blew a late lead after seemingly having the game won.
Low point: There were many. But let’s go with the last two games, as the Golden Gophers were shutout by Northwestern (39-0) and Wisconsin (31-0) in dropping four of their last five contests. The game before those shutouts, Minnesota scored 54 points in a win vs. Nebraska. The Gophers had just 182 yards vs. Northwestern and 133 against Wisconsin. After the season, QB Demry Croft announced he was transferring.
Offensive MVP: RB Rodney Smith. He was one of the few steady offensive options, running 229 times for 977 yards and catching 17 passes en route to notching 1,447 all-purpose yards. Smith also ran back kickoffs, returning one for 100 yards for a TD. The 5-11, 210-pound junior was a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten pick and helped Minnesota rank fourth in the Big Ten in rushing (182.4 ypg).
Defensive MVP: LB Thomas Barber. The 6-1, 233-pound sophomore emerged as a standout. The son of former star Gopher RB Marion Barber, Thomas led the team with 115 tackles while forcing three fumbles with an interception. Barber was named third-team All-Big Ten by the media.
http://btn.com/2017/12/15/2017-football-season-review-minnesota-golden-gophers/
Go Gophers!!