BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,804
- Reaction score
- 16,241
- Points
- 113
High point: A 17-3 win at Illinois on Nov. 10 was Minnesota’s sixth of the season, making the program bowl eligible. It was a workmanlike victory that put the Gophers over the edge, as the defense permitted just 276 yards. The Minnesota offense was at its best in a 44-28 win over Purdue on Oct. 27, racing to a 34-7 halftime lead en route to notching 458 yards. Philip Nelson was on fire, hitting 15-of-22 passes for 246 yards and three scores.
Low point: Minnesota’s legitimacy as a Legends Division contender took a hit at the start of Big Ten play with three losses in a row: at Iowa (31-13), vs. Northwestern (21-13), at Wisconsin (38-13). That punched a hole in a 4-0 start. In retrospect, the 31-13 loss at Iowa on Sept. 29 is the worst, given the way the Hawkeye offense struggled in just about every other game in 2012.
Offensive MVP: RB Donnell Kirkwood. The sophomore paced the team with 849 yards rushing, proving to be the most consistent weapon on a squad that saw quarterback MarQueis Gray deal with injury and a switch back to receiver and top wideout A.J. Barker abruptly leave the team.
Defensive MVP: E D.L. Wilhite. The senior provided a needed rush off the edge, ranking second in the Big Ten in sacks. He also led the Gophers in tackles for loss, emerging as a much-needed playmaker for a defense that made strides by ranking No. 5 in the Big Ten (352.8 ypg) after finishing 10th in 2011 (403.1 ypg).
http://btn.com/2012/12/18/season-in-review-minnesota-football/?cmp=user+shared+twitter
Go Gophers!!
Low point: Minnesota’s legitimacy as a Legends Division contender took a hit at the start of Big Ten play with three losses in a row: at Iowa (31-13), vs. Northwestern (21-13), at Wisconsin (38-13). That punched a hole in a 4-0 start. In retrospect, the 31-13 loss at Iowa on Sept. 29 is the worst, given the way the Hawkeye offense struggled in just about every other game in 2012.
Offensive MVP: RB Donnell Kirkwood. The sophomore paced the team with 849 yards rushing, proving to be the most consistent weapon on a squad that saw quarterback MarQueis Gray deal with injury and a switch back to receiver and top wideout A.J. Barker abruptly leave the team.
Defensive MVP: E D.L. Wilhite. The senior provided a needed rush off the edge, ranking second in the Big Ten in sacks. He also led the Gophers in tackles for loss, emerging as a much-needed playmaker for a defense that made strides by ranking No. 5 in the Big Ten (352.8 ypg) after finishing 10th in 2011 (403.1 ypg).
http://btn.com/2012/12/18/season-in-review-minnesota-football/?cmp=user+shared+twitter
Go Gophers!!