Minnesota - Wisconsin Postgame Notes - University of Minnesota Athletics

Minnesota Series/Specialty Notes

Today's game marked the 117th meeting between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the most-played rivalry in the FBS (formerly Division 1-A). Minnesota now leads the all-time series 59-50-8, although the Badgers hold a 33-24-3 edge with Paul Bunyan's Axe on the line and have won the past four meetings between the schools.

The Gophers are now 37-19-2 all-time when facing the Badgers in the Twin Cities. Saturday marks the first time the two teams have played each other in a season finale since 2002 (between 1933 and 1982 the schools played every regular season finale against each other).

Saturday's contest was the final collegiate game for 16 Minnesota seniors. Over the last four years, Minnesota's seniors have produced 21 victories and led the Gophers to three bowl games.

The Gophers' Saturday appearance on the Big Ten Network was their eighth of the season, the second-highest total in the conference (behind only Indiana with nine).

The Golden Gophers now hold an all-time record 627-450-44. The 2007 campaign marks the 124^th season of Minnesota football.

Minnesota is now 316-341-28 all-time in Big Ten play.

Minnesota Team Notes

The Gophers have at least one rushing touchdown in 59 of their past 66 games.

Minnesota allowed just one sack in Saturday's game, just their 14^th of the season in 467 pass attempts just one every 33.4 attempts. Minnesota's offensive line has allowed two or fewer sacks in 16 of their past 17 contests. Minnesota has ranked first or second in the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed every season since 2002. Overall, Minnesota has allowed just 78 sacks since '02, by far the fewest total in the Big Ten over that span.

The Gophers have accumulated 350 yards of total offense in 11 of their past 16 games, and more than 400 yards in eight of 14 contests, including six times in 2007.

Minnesota gained at least 500 yards of total offense (501 Saturday) three times in 2007.

Minnesota's time of possession edge of 1:50 (30:27 vs. 28:37) was their largest of the Big Ten season. The Gophers won the battle for possession time four times in 2007.

Minnesota Individual Notes

Freshman quarterback Adam Weber broke Bryan Cupito's single-season touchdown record of 22 with three touchdown passes Saturday against Wisconsin, giving him 24 for the season.

By passing for 352 yards against the Badgers, Weber also breaks Cupito's 2006 team record for most passing yards in a season with 2,895. Weber already owns Minnesota's single-season records for pass completions (258), pass attempts (449) and total offense (3,512).

Weber's 71-yard touchdown completion to Ralph Spry was Minnesota's longest play from scrimmage since a 95-yard run by Laurence Maroney in 2005. It was also the Gophers' longest reception since Cupito found Paris Hamilton with an 82-yard touchdown strike vs. Illinois 10/23/04.

With 87 rushing yards Saturday afternoon (including 80 in the first half), Weber becomes the first Gopher quarterback to lead the team in rushing yardage (724) since Rickey Foggie in 1984. Weber's season total of 724 rushing yards also broke Foggie's '84 quarterback rushing record of 647 and is the third-highest total ever by a Gopher freshman runner.

Eric Decker's six receptions Saturday against the Badgers gave him 67 for the 2007 season, breaking Tutu Atwell's school record of 62 set in 1996. Decker now has 87 receptions for his career.

Decker's two touchdown catches also gave him nine for the season, tying him with four players (including teammate Ernie Wheelwright) for the third-highest single-season total in Gopher history. Decker caught at least one touchdown pass in seven games this season.

With his third 100+ yard receiving game of the season (125 yards total), Decker finishes 2007 with 909 total receiving yards, tying Jared Ellerson (2003) for the fifth-highest total in school history.

Gopher senior wideout Ernie Wheelwright finished with seven catches for 92 yards in his final collegiate game, ending his career as one of the most accomplished Minnesota receivers ever. Wheelwright finishes third all-time in career receiving yards (2,434), second all-time in career receptions (163), second all-time in career touchdown catches (26) and fourth with six career 100-yard receiving games.

With a combined 13 catches and 217 receiving yards Saturday, Decker and Wheelwright wrap up the 2007 season as one of the most potent receiving duos in the Big Ten. The pair finished with 133 catches, 1,683 receiving yards and 18 touchdown catches in 2007.

Decker and Wheelwright's 18 touchdowns and 133 catches are the most ever by a Gopher receiving duo, and their combined 1,683 receiving yards are the third-highest total ever by two Minnesota players in a single season.

Decker and Wheelwright hauled in at least five passes apiece in the same game six times this season.

Kicker Joel Monroe's 47-yard field goal in the first quarter was the second-longest of his career, coming on the heels of his career-long 54-yard conversion last week against Iowa. It marked the first time Minnesota had kicked 40+ yard field goals in back-to-back games since 2003, when Rhys Lloyd kicked a 44-yarder vs. Iowa (11/15) and 42-yarder vs. Oregon (Sun Bowl, 12/31).

With two field goals Saturday, Monroe finishes the season with five in a row, the longest such streak of his career. It was also the first time a Gopher kicker had made more than one field goal in a game this season.

Kyle Theret's second quarter interception was his team-leading third of the season, tying Jordan Crawoford's freshman team record set in 1994. Theret also led the team with 72 interception return yards.

Seniors Dom Barber and John Shevlin paced Minnesota with nine tackles apiece Saturday, wrapping up their Gopher careers with 191 and 197 tackles, respectively.

Duane Bennett's third quarter touchdown run was his fourth TD of the season. Spry's fourth quarter TD catch was the third of the year.

Four Gopher freshmen (Weber, Bennett, Spry and Tray Herndon) scored 13 touchdowns this season, accounting for nearly 31 percent of the team's total (13 of 42).

Upcoming Events