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University of Minnesota Athletics
FB: Running Diary from Today's Minnesota-Michigan Game
10/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
All times Eastern
10:05 a.m. - The four-bus Golden Gopher caravan departs from the Crowne Plaza located just outside the Detroit airport.
10:40 a.m. - Following the 35 minute trek to Ann Arbor, the Golden Gopher contingent slowly makes it way through the sea of RVs and tailgators.
10:50 a.m. - If the Minnesota radio team of Dave Lee, David Mona and Darrell Thompson sound out of breath, it's just the 73 row climb from the field to the press box. For those that haven't visited Michigan Stadium, the press box is actually at street level while the field is located well below.
11:10 a.m. - This is the 94th meeting between Minnesota and Michigan. The Wolverines hold the series advantage by a 63-21-3 margin. This is the 88th time the teams have battled for the Little Brown Jug.
Michigan has won 16 in the series with Minnesota's last win occurring on Nov. 15, 1986. (Long snapper Robert McGarry turned one year old that day). The Golden Gophers defeated the second-ranked Wolverines, 20-17, before 104,864 fans and a national television audience on CBS.
Minnesota's previous victory was a 16-0 upset of top-ranked Michigan at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 22, 1977.
11:19 a.m. - Today's weather forecast calls for temperatures in high 50s with winds gusting from 10 to 20 mph. Still expecting the sun to make an appearance at some point.
11:22 a.m. - This is the 18th time in school history that the Golden Gophers have played in front of 100,000 or more fans. Including last week's game at Penn State, this is the first time Minnesota has played in front of 100,000 twice in the same season.
11:27 a.m. - Darrell Thompson, Minnesota's all-time leading rusher, is back in the Big House as a member of the Golden Gopher radio broadcast team. He was a freshman in 1986 when Minnesota claimed its last victory against Michigan. The following year, he rushed for 201 yards in a 30-20 loss at the Metrodome. That's the most ever by a Golden Gopher back against Michigan.
11:35 a.m. - A familiar face on the Michigan sideline. Steve Stripling is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Wolverine staff. He was Minnesota's linebacking coach and recruiting coordinator during Glen Mason's first four seasons with the Golden Gophers.
11:49 a.m. - One thing Minnesota has been able to do against Michigan is run the ball. Two years ago, the Golden Gophers rushed for 424 yards, led by Marion Barber III (197) and Asad Abdul-Khaliq. Last year, Laurence Maroney rushed for 145 yards on 19 carries. In two career games against Michigan, Maroney has 28 carries for 226 yards (8.1 ypc) and three touchdowns.
Minnesota's special teams take the field for warm-ups. Redshirt freshman Justin Kucek wasn't fazed by the big crowd last week at Penn State. He kicked four times for a season- best average of 45.5.
11:58 a.m. - Senior linebacker Kyle McKenzie is the lone player of the Golden Gopher roster from the state of Michigan. McKenzie has played in 46 games, missing just one in his career. He has started 30 of the last 32 games.
12:15 p.m. - Head coaches Glen Mason and Lloyd Carr meet at midfield. With the chill in the air, the Golden Gopher coaching staff is dressed in their maroon windbreakers. The lone exception is 14-year veteran Gordon Shaw who opts for short sleeves. Considering he spent three years in Laramie with the Wyoming Cowboys prior to joining the Golden Gophers, this is downright balmy.
12:23 p.m. - And the Golden Gophers take the field for warmups.
12:26 p.m. - And the Wolverines take the field signaling the start of four consecutive hours of Hail to the Victors bouncing around in my head.
12:31 p.m. - Former Golden Gopher All-American Lamanzer Williams is spotted on the Minnesota sideline. The Michigan native was Minnesota's first All-American in 26 years when he was honored in 1997. Williams had 5.5 sacks in his first three years with Minnesota, but in Glen Mason's first season, he led the nation with 18 sacks. Williams played three seasons in the NFL with Kansas City and Jacksonville.
12:41 p.m. - True freshman Dominic Jones will make his first career start in place of the injured Brandon Owens at strong safety.
12:57 p.m. - Laurence Maroney needs just 62 yards to pass two players (Chris Darkins and Marion Barber III) and move into third place on the school's all-time rushing list. Maroney has rushed for 3,215 yards in just 30 games.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:09 Eastern.
1:01 p.m. - One odd fact about Michigan Stadium - no suites.
1:03 p.m. - Both teams take the field from the same entrance on the 50 yard line.
1:08 p.m. - Minnesota wins the toss and defers. Michigan will receive. This is the first time Minnesota has kicked off to start a game this season.
1:09 p.m. - Underway at the Big House.
1:10 p.m. - Mario Reese gets the start at drop linebacker. Kyle McKenzie is starting at middle linebacker for Mike Sherels. Sherels didn't make the trip due to injury.
1:11 p.m. - We have our first review of the game on Michigan's third and nine conversion. Play stands and it's first and 10 from the 41.
1:18 p.m. - After driving down to the six yard line, Minnesota holds after two straight incomplete passes by Chad Henne. Garrett Rivas converts from 23 yards out. Michigan leads 3-0. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 4:34.
Last year, Michigan scored a touchdown on its opening drive and went on to take a 10-0 lead before Maroney busted an 80-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.
1:22 p.m. - Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom make their 44th straight starts as Minnesota takes over at their 20 yard line.
1:25 p.m. - Micah Rucker makes his second career catch on third and 10. Good for 10 and a first down on the Michigan 45.
1:28 p.m. - Michigan thinks it returns a fumble for a touchdown...but it's ruled down. Fourth and four for the Golden Gophers at the 39.
1:31 p.m. - We have our second review and the play stands. Still fourth down.
1:32 p.m. - The slant to Ernie Wheelwright is knocked away and Michigan takes over at its 39-yard line with 6:49 to play. The Golden Gophers drove 41 yards on their opening drive. Cupito was 2-for-3 for 24 yards.
1:38 p.m. - Freshman Steve Davis has been getting around the right side all day...he gets the sack to put Michigan out of field goal position. Minnesota takes over following the punt at their 19 yard line. Davis now has four sacks on the season.
1:45 p.m. - Maroney passes Chris Darkins (3,235) and moves into fourth place on the school's all-time rushing list.
1:46 p.m. - End of the first quarter as the Golden Gophers face a second and 1 from the Michigan 15. The Golden Gophers have rushed for 56 yards and passed for 51.
1:53 p.m. - Minnesota's drive stalls at the 13 after back-to-back penalties push Minnesota back to the 43. The Golden Gophers rebound to get it back to the 11 and Jason Giannini ties the game with a 29-yard field goal. Scoring drive: 14 plays, 70 plays, 5:44. 12:40 to play in the first half. Cupito is 6-for-8 for 70 yards.
2:01 p.m. - Minnesota stops Michigan at midfield. The big play coming from Mario Reese as he blitzes up the middle and nearly forces a Henne fumble. Ruled an incomplete pass. Minnesota takes over at their 19 with 11:08 to play.
2:06 p.m. - Hart apparently fumbles at the 45. Play is ruled down. Under review.
2:08 p.m. - Play stands on the third review of the game.
2:10 p.m. - Golden Gopher defense steps up again. Anthony Montgomery with the big stop at the Michigan 38. Minnesota takes over at its 18 yard line with 7:48 to play. Minnesota holds a 138 to 98 edge in total offense.
2:12 p.m. - Maroney breaks free for 15 yards to the 33. It's his longest run since the Purdue game.
2:21 p.m. - Rivas' 47 yard field goal is good. Michigan leads 6-3 with 5:50 to play. Michigan uses six plays to go 44 yards in 49 seconds.
2:23 p.m. - Tony Mortenson is your new Gopher quarterback. Minnesota fumbles and Michigan recovers at the Gopher 23.
2:27 p.m. - Michigan makes Minnesota pay for the fumble as the Wolverines convert on fourth and goal from the one yard line. Hart with the first touchdown of the game. It's 13-3 Michigan with 3:10 to play. Scoring drive - 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:32.
2:30 p.m. - Bryan Cupito back in at quarterback. Jakari Wallace returns the kickoff 25 yards to the 25.
2:33 p.m. - Jared Ellerson extends his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 25 thanks to a 35-yard completion to the Michigan 28.
2:36 p.m. - Ernie Wheelwright with the touchdown from Cupito..20 yards out on third and short. Scoring Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:12 and it is 13-10 with 0:58 to play.
Wheelwright is now tied for 10th in school history with 10 career touchdown passes.
2:40 p.m. - Michigan goes three and out and Minnesota calls timeout with 0:34 to play. Michigan will punt from its own 35.
2:41 p.m. - Minnesota takes over at its own 38 after a 14-yard return by Dominic Jones.
2:43 p.m. That's the end of the first half. Michigan 13, Minnesota 10. Minnesota holds a 233-154 advantage in total offense. Cupito is 10-for-16 for 135 yards and a touchdown. Maroney has 15 carries for 56 yards. Minnesota will receive the second half kickoff.
Cupito is now one touchdown pass behind Tony Dungy. Dungy ranks sixth in school history with 25 from 1973-76.
3:02 p.m. - As the teams take the field for the second half, Michigan has some work to do to reach its season average of 427.6 yards of total offense. The Wolverines only have 155 through 30 minutes.
3:05 p.m. - Second half is underway. Jakari Wallace strikes again.....his second 60-plus kickoff return in as many weeks. Minnesota starts at the Michigan 40. It's the longest return given up by Michigan this year.
3:09 p.m. - Maroney just passed Marion Barber III (3,276) and moved into third place on the school's all-time rushing list. Darrell Thompson is the career leader with 4,654 yards, while Thomas Hamner is second with 3,810.
3:13 p.m. - Jason Giannini knots the game with a 26-yard field goal. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 2:20.
3:16 p.m. - Michigan regains the lead on Steve Breaston's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It's the first kickoff return for a TD that Minnesota has allowed since Northwestern's Jeff Backes had a 97-yard return on Sept. 25, 2004. 20-13 Michigan with 12:25 to play in the third. The play was reviewed but the play stands (our fourth review of the game).
3:20 p.m. - Michigan opts to kick away from Wallace. Jason Lamers has his fourth kickoff return in the last two weeks.
3:34 p.m. - Today's attendance - 111,117
3:35 p.m.- It took three tries from the one-yard line, but Maroney takes the sweep and punches it in. The game is tied at 20 with 6:12 to play in the third. Maroney now has 29 career rushing touchdowns. Scoring drive: 13 plays, 61 yards, 6:13
3:43 p.m. - Mario Reese steps up again. He stops Hart on third and two from the 22. Rivas then misses a 42-yard field goal. Golden Gopher ball at the 26 with 3:24 to play in the third.
3:47 p.m. - Golden Gophers will punt from their own 33. Minnesota has eight penalties for 80 yards. Michigan has three for 45.
3:50 p.m. - Steve Davis gets his second sack on third and six. The Wolverines will punt from their own 13 yard line. End of the third quarter.
FYI, Northwestern beats #14 Wisconsin, 51-48.
3:52 p.m. - Michigan has outscored Minnesota, 41-10, in the fourth quarter in the last two meetings.
3:54 p.m. - Minnesota opens the fourth quarter at their own 38 yard line. Michigan had 23 yards of total offense in the third quarter.
3:59 p.m. - Minnesota can't take advantage of a Wolverine pass interference penalty. The Wolverines take over.
4:05 p.m. - Chad Henne only has 12 completions. Michigan is inside the Minnesota 20.
4:08 p.m. - Michigan's drive stalls at the 18 and Rivas missed the 34-yard field goal....his second miss in the last three drives.
Maroney has 112 yards on 29 carries...it is his 18th career 100-yard game. Darrell Thompson holds the school record with 23.
4:13 p.m. - Cupito down on the field after being hit. It's second and 10 from the 32. Tony Mortenson takes over as Cupito is helped off the field.
4:16 p.m. - It's up to the Minnesota defense with 5:36 to play. The defense has allowed just 235 yards today. Michigan has first and 10 at the 28 yard line.
4:24 p.m. - Minnesota's defense holds again and the Golden Gophers will take over at the 12. Tony Mortenson remains in the ball game with 2:49 to play.
4:27 p.m. - Cupito is sitting on the far bench and appears to be done for the game.
4:28 p.m. - The scoreboard at Michigan Stadium has malfunctioned and the official time is being kept on the field.
4:34 p.m. - On third and 10 from their own 26 yard line, Gary Russell explodes for 61 yards to the Michigan 13. Minnesota calls timeout with 1:11 to play.
Russell has his second career 100-yard rushing day. Maroney has 129 while Russell has 128.
Michigan Stadium is silent.
4:38 p.m. - Timeout with six seconds to play. Looking at a 30 yard field goal.
4:39 p.m. - FIELD GOAL IS GOOD!! One second left! Scoring drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:48
4:41 p.m. - GAME OVER - Minnesota wins the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 1986.
