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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota vs. Penn State Game Notes
10/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
GAME NOTES
Penn State 28 (4-2, 2-1), Minnesota 27 (2-4, 0-3)
Oct. 7, 2006
Attendance: 45,227
Minnesota Series/Specialty Notes
• Penn State holds a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series against the Gophers. The two teams first met in 1993 in Penn State’s first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions won the first four games of the series, while the Gophers bounced back with four straight wins of their own before losing last year’s game at University Park.
• Glen Mason is 4-4 against Penn State’s legendary coach Joe Paterno.
• Glen Mason is 60-54 all time at Minnesota and 119-118-1 in his career.
• The last time Minnesota was without possession of any of the four traveling trophies for which they play (Governor’s Victory Bell, Little Brown Jug, Paul Bunyan’s Axe, Floyd of Rosedale) was 1997, Mason’s first season as head coach.
• Minnesota’s last overtime game was a 42-35 double overtime win over Purdue on Nov. 1, 2005.
• The Golden Gophers are 1-3 under Mason in overtime games.
Minnesota Team Notes
• Minnesota scored a touchdown on its first possession of the game for the sixth time in its last seven contests dating back to the Music City Bowl last season. The Golden Gophers’ streak of five consecutive games in which they scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game was snapped last week against Michigan.
• The Gophers have now amassed at least 300 yards of total offense in 44 of the past 45 games dating back to the 2002 season. With its 415 yards of total offense today, Minnesota reached the 400-yard mark for the fourth time this season.
• The Gophers have now scored at least one rushing touchdown in 44 of their last 47 contests dating back to 2002.
• Minnesota was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time since Nov. 6, 2004, at Wisconsin.
• Minnesota’s 68 rushing yards against Penn State were its fewest since running for 73 yards in the 38-14 loss at No. 5 Wisconsin on Nov. 6, 2004.
• Minnesota’s 347 passing yards were its most since posting 396 yards in the 45-31 loss to Ohio State on Oct. 29, 2005.
Minnesota Individual Notes
• With six catches on the day, Matt Spaeth moved past Ben Utecht for the all-time lead for career receptions by a tight end. He now has 87 for his career and moved into 10th-place all-time in career receptions, regardless of position.
• Spaeth became the 19th member of the Gophers’ 1,000-yard receiving club with his 30-yard touchdown catch on Minnesota’s first possession. He is only the second tight end in Minnesota history, joining Utecht, to surpass the 1,000-yard mark. Spaeth now has 1,077 yards receiving for his career, needing just 135 yards to move past Utecht for first place all-time for receiving yards by a tight end.
• Spaeth’s touchdown catch gave him 10 for his career, moving him into a tie for 11th-place all-time in career touchdown receptions.
• Spaeth now has a catch in 16 consecutive games.
• Spaeth had the 17th multi-catch game of his career.
• Spaeth’s 99 receiving yards set a career high, while his six receptions tied a career best.
• Spaeth has started 35 consecutive games, the longest current starting streak on the team.
• With two pass breakup in the third quarter, Trumaine Banks moved into a tie for first-place all-time in career pass breakups with 31. He joins Ukee Dozier (2001-04) and Michael Lehan (1999-2002) at the top of the career record chart.
• Amir Pinnix posted the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
• Deon Hightower recorded the first pass breakup of his career late in the first quarter.
• Justin Kucek’s 59-yard punt in the third quarter was a career long. His previous career-long came on the first kick of his career, a 55-yarder at Tulsa in the season opener last season.
• With 94 yards receiving on the day, Logan Payne is now only 17 yards away from becoming the 20th member of the Gophers’ 1,000-yard receiving club.
• Payne’s 94 receiving yards were the fourth-most in his career. He owns three games with 100 or more receiving yards.
• Payne has five consecutive six-reception games.
• With two touchdown passes on the day, Bryan Cupito now has 44 career touchdown passes, ranking second all-time in school history. He needs 11 TD passes to tie Cory Sauter (1994-97).
• Cupito recorded the 14th multi-touchdown game of his career against Penn State.
• Cupito’s 347 passing yards were the second-most in his career (396 vs. Ohio State on Oct. 29, 2005).
• Dominic Jones’ 17-yard punt return in the first quarter was his longest of the season.
• John Shevlin’s interception in the second quarter was the second of his career. His first came at Iowa on Nov. 11, 2005.
• Eric Decker and Mike Chambers had the second multi-catch games of their careers.
• Decker’s touchdown catch in overtime was the second of his career.
• Decker’s 66 receiving yards and four receptions were career highs.
• Chambers’ three catches matched a career-high.
• Pinnix’s 22-yard reception in the fourth quarter matched a career long.
Penn State 28 (4-2, 2-1), Minnesota 27 (2-4, 0-3)
Oct. 7, 2006
Attendance: 45,227
Minnesota Series/Specialty Notes
• Penn State holds a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series against the Gophers. The two teams first met in 1993 in Penn State’s first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions won the first four games of the series, while the Gophers bounced back with four straight wins of their own before losing last year’s game at University Park.
• Glen Mason is 4-4 against Penn State’s legendary coach Joe Paterno.
• Glen Mason is 60-54 all time at Minnesota and 119-118-1 in his career.
• The last time Minnesota was without possession of any of the four traveling trophies for which they play (Governor’s Victory Bell, Little Brown Jug, Paul Bunyan’s Axe, Floyd of Rosedale) was 1997, Mason’s first season as head coach.
• Minnesota’s last overtime game was a 42-35 double overtime win over Purdue on Nov. 1, 2005.
• The Golden Gophers are 1-3 under Mason in overtime games.
Minnesota Team Notes
• Minnesota scored a touchdown on its first possession of the game for the sixth time in its last seven contests dating back to the Music City Bowl last season. The Golden Gophers’ streak of five consecutive games in which they scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game was snapped last week against Michigan.
• The Gophers have now amassed at least 300 yards of total offense in 44 of the past 45 games dating back to the 2002 season. With its 415 yards of total offense today, Minnesota reached the 400-yard mark for the fourth time this season.
• The Gophers have now scored at least one rushing touchdown in 44 of their last 47 contests dating back to 2002.
• Minnesota was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time since Nov. 6, 2004, at Wisconsin.
• Minnesota’s 68 rushing yards against Penn State were its fewest since running for 73 yards in the 38-14 loss at No. 5 Wisconsin on Nov. 6, 2004.
• Minnesota’s 347 passing yards were its most since posting 396 yards in the 45-31 loss to Ohio State on Oct. 29, 2005.
Minnesota Individual Notes
• With six catches on the day, Matt Spaeth moved past Ben Utecht for the all-time lead for career receptions by a tight end. He now has 87 for his career and moved into 10th-place all-time in career receptions, regardless of position.
• Spaeth became the 19th member of the Gophers’ 1,000-yard receiving club with his 30-yard touchdown catch on Minnesota’s first possession. He is only the second tight end in Minnesota history, joining Utecht, to surpass the 1,000-yard mark. Spaeth now has 1,077 yards receiving for his career, needing just 135 yards to move past Utecht for first place all-time for receiving yards by a tight end.
• Spaeth’s touchdown catch gave him 10 for his career, moving him into a tie for 11th-place all-time in career touchdown receptions.
• Spaeth now has a catch in 16 consecutive games.
• Spaeth had the 17th multi-catch game of his career.
• Spaeth’s 99 receiving yards set a career high, while his six receptions tied a career best.
• Spaeth has started 35 consecutive games, the longest current starting streak on the team.
• With two pass breakup in the third quarter, Trumaine Banks moved into a tie for first-place all-time in career pass breakups with 31. He joins Ukee Dozier (2001-04) and Michael Lehan (1999-2002) at the top of the career record chart.
• Amir Pinnix posted the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
• Deon Hightower recorded the first pass breakup of his career late in the first quarter.
• Justin Kucek’s 59-yard punt in the third quarter was a career long. His previous career-long came on the first kick of his career, a 55-yarder at Tulsa in the season opener last season.
• With 94 yards receiving on the day, Logan Payne is now only 17 yards away from becoming the 20th member of the Gophers’ 1,000-yard receiving club.
• Payne’s 94 receiving yards were the fourth-most in his career. He owns three games with 100 or more receiving yards.
• Payne has five consecutive six-reception games.
• With two touchdown passes on the day, Bryan Cupito now has 44 career touchdown passes, ranking second all-time in school history. He needs 11 TD passes to tie Cory Sauter (1994-97).
• Cupito recorded the 14th multi-touchdown game of his career against Penn State.
• Cupito’s 347 passing yards were the second-most in his career (396 vs. Ohio State on Oct. 29, 2005).
• Dominic Jones’ 17-yard punt return in the first quarter was his longest of the season.
• John Shevlin’s interception in the second quarter was the second of his career. His first came at Iowa on Nov. 11, 2005.
• Eric Decker and Mike Chambers had the second multi-catch games of their careers.
• Decker’s touchdown catch in overtime was the second of his career.
• Decker’s 66 receiving yards and four receptions were career highs.
• Chambers’ three catches matched a career-high.
• Pinnix’s 22-yard reception in the fourth quarter matched a career long.
Players Mentioned
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