BleedGopher
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NO LOOKING PAST WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Gophers didn’t have to worry about overlooking the Aggies and being big favorites. Not with Jerry Kill coming back to town for the first time since making several comments critical of both PJ Fleck and Minnesota since he had to leave the program in 2015, and since Tracy Claeys was fired after the 2016 season.
This week, the Leathernecks of Western Illinois, an FCS program, come to Minneapolis. The Gophers are 37.5-point favorites. Last year, they dismantled Colorado on the road 30-0, then came home and were 31-point favorites against Bowling Green. The Gophers left the field that afternoon shell-shocked, and probably a little embarrassed after a 14-10 loss, arguably the worst in the Fleck era.
It still stings for players back from last year.
"It definitely does, it’s in there but you’ve got to move on from it. Learn from your past to create your future so nothing like that happens again," Schmitz said.
"We try to not think about that, but obviously that was a pretty tough week, pretty tough night. It was a lot to take on," safety Jordan Howden said. "It doesn’t matter if it’s Alabama or Bowling Green, we take it the same. Just be us, play as one and do what we gotta do."
Western Illinois comes to Minneapolis after losing its season opener, 42-25, to Tennessee-Martin. The Leathernecks allowed 260 rushing yards, 577 total and more than 14 yards per completion.
It’s an FCS opponent, it should be another convincing win. But the scars of Bowling Green remain present.
"We’re really just embracing the scars, and that’s something that we have to live with. It’s either we’re going to dwell on it, or make history off that history," linebacker Braelen Oliver said. "It’s football, you can get beat by any team, but you can beat any team also. Mentally, how we prepare is the same as if we’re playing the No. 1 team in the country."
There’s no better refresher of uncomfortably close non-conference games than this past weekend in the Big Ten. Iowa got past South Dakota State 7-3 without an offensive touchdown, managing a field goal and two safeties. Nebraska and North Dakota were tied 17-17 in the third quarter before the Cornhuskers scored the final 21 points.
"I think everybody in here knows a game last year we lost to a team we were highly favored over. So on any given Saturday if you’re not at your best, you can get beat. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, what level they are," quarterback Tanner Morgan said. "We have to be our best every Saturday to give ourselves the best chance to win, and that’s what it’s all about."
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Go Gophers!!
NO LOOKING PAST WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Gophers didn’t have to worry about overlooking the Aggies and being big favorites. Not with Jerry Kill coming back to town for the first time since making several comments critical of both PJ Fleck and Minnesota since he had to leave the program in 2015, and since Tracy Claeys was fired after the 2016 season.
This week, the Leathernecks of Western Illinois, an FCS program, come to Minneapolis. The Gophers are 37.5-point favorites. Last year, they dismantled Colorado on the road 30-0, then came home and were 31-point favorites against Bowling Green. The Gophers left the field that afternoon shell-shocked, and probably a little embarrassed after a 14-10 loss, arguably the worst in the Fleck era.
It still stings for players back from last year.
"It definitely does, it’s in there but you’ve got to move on from it. Learn from your past to create your future so nothing like that happens again," Schmitz said.
"We try to not think about that, but obviously that was a pretty tough week, pretty tough night. It was a lot to take on," safety Jordan Howden said. "It doesn’t matter if it’s Alabama or Bowling Green, we take it the same. Just be us, play as one and do what we gotta do."
Western Illinois comes to Minneapolis after losing its season opener, 42-25, to Tennessee-Martin. The Leathernecks allowed 260 rushing yards, 577 total and more than 14 yards per completion.
It’s an FCS opponent, it should be another convincing win. But the scars of Bowling Green remain present.
"We’re really just embracing the scars, and that’s something that we have to live with. It’s either we’re going to dwell on it, or make history off that history," linebacker Braelen Oliver said. "It’s football, you can get beat by any team, but you can beat any team also. Mentally, how we prepare is the same as if we’re playing the No. 1 team in the country."
There’s no better refresher of uncomfortably close non-conference games than this past weekend in the Big Ten. Iowa got past South Dakota State 7-3 without an offensive touchdown, managing a field goal and two safeties. Nebraska and North Dakota were tied 17-17 in the third quarter before the Cornhuskers scored the final 21 points.
"I think everybody in here knows a game last year we lost to a team we were highly favored over. So on any given Saturday if you’re not at your best, you can get beat. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, what level they are," quarterback Tanner Morgan said. "We have to be our best every Saturday to give ourselves the best chance to win, and that’s what it’s all about."
With Western Illinois next, Gophers aren’t forgetting about loss to Bowling Green
The Gophers host Western Illinois of the FCS on Saturday but are still scarred from last year's loss to Bowling Green.
Go Gophers!!
