University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota - Purdue Postgame Notes
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota
- Today's game was Tim Brewster's fourth as a collegiate head coach and third at the Metrodome.
- Tonight's game marked the 64th meeting between the Gophers and the Boilermakers.
- Purdue has now won 10 of the past 12 meetings between the two teams. Nine of the last 15 meetings between the two teams had been decided by a touchdown or less.
- The Golden Gophers now hold an all-time record 627-442-44. The 2007 campaign marks the 124th season of
- The last time these two teams met at the Metrodome was Sept. 24, 2005, a 42-35 double-overtime victory for
- The Gophers and Boilermakers have now met 19 times in a Big Ten opener, with the last time coming in 2005.
- The Gophers have scored 20 or more points in 57 of 68 games dating back to back to 2001. The Gophers have also scored 30 points or more in 33 games of their past 53 games.
- With 232 yards rushing Saturday night,
- The Golden Gophers have notched at least 350 yards of total offense in their past eight games.
- With two sacks surrendered Saturday,
- So far this season,
- Adam Weber's touchdown pass gives him 11 for the 2007 season, breaking the Minnesota freshman record of 10 set by Rickey Foggie in 1984. Weber is also on pace to shatter Bryan Cupito's program record of 22 set last season.
- Weber's 20 rushing attempts Saturday were the most by a Gopher quarterback since Billy Cockerham's 23 against
- Amir Pinnix now has 439 rushing yards through four games in 2007. He needs to average just 70.1 yards per game to reach 1,000 during his senior season. It would mark the ninth straight season that
- Pinnix's 53 yards rushing Saturday night puts him in sole possession of ninth place on the Gophers' all-time rushing chart. He needs just 39 more to overtake Garry White (2,353 yards rushing from 1977-1980) for eighth place.
- Duane Bennett's second half-opening 44-yard scamper early in the third quarter was the longest play from scrimmage of his career and eclipsed his season rushing total up to that point (41 yards). His four-yard touchdown run on the next play was the first of his career. His 11.6 yards per carry were also the most by a Gopher back this season.
- Cornerback Desi Steib recorded 11 unassisted tackles Saturday against the Boilermakers, a career-high and the most unassisted tackles by a Gopher this season. Steib has 19 tackles total in 13 games last year.
- Mike Sherels' block of Chris Summers' field goal attempt was the first of his career and the Gophers' first since Oct. 21 of last year, when they recorded a team block against
- Eric Decker and Adam Weber have now connected for touchdowns in three of
- After notching five catches for 81 yards Saturday against the Boilermakers, senior wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright improved his season totals to 16 and 205. He now has 1,488 receiving yards for his career, passing Luke Leverson (1,843) for fifth on the Gophers' all-time leaderboard. He needs 566 yards to move into fourth.
- Wheelwright has now collected catches in 37 of 41 career games and has 109 during his time as a Golden Gopher, tying him with Matt Spaeth for ninth on the Gophers' career chart. He needs just three catches to move past Jared Ellerson and Aaron Osterman for seventh.
- Ralph Spry's 11-yard gain on a reverse play in the first quarter was the first rushing attempt of his Gopher career. His 19-yard third quarter reception was also his longest play from scrimmage.
- Joel Monroe's 33-yard field goal in the first quarter was his longest of the season and the second-longest of his career. He kicked a 39-yard field goal in the 2005 Music City Bowl.
- Jay Thomas' one-yard touchdown run was the sixth of his career.
- Dominique Barber's pass break-up in the first quarter was his fourth of 2007, matching his season's total from a year ago and giving him nine for his career. The Gophers' single-season mark is 18, set by Willie Middlebrooks in 1999.
- Justin Kucek's 61-yard punt in the second quarter was a career-long and the longest by a Gopher since Rhys Lloyd's 63-yard boot during the 2004 season. Kucek entered Saturday with a career average of 39.9 yard per punt, the fourth-highest average in Gopher history.
- Freshman Kyle Theret's second quarter interception was the first of his career and the third of the season for the Gophers. His 43-yard return was the first interception return of the season for
- Theret's pick was also the first of the season for Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. He had gone 114 attempts without an interception.
- Ernie Wheelwright's streak of seven straight games with a touchdown reception came to and end Saturday. Ron Johnson also accomplished the feat in 1999 and 2000.
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballFleck Postgame Locker Room
Thursday, November 06
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Beat Spartans
Wednesday, November 05
Coach Fleck Postgame Interview
Sunday, November 02
Highlights: Gophers 23, Michigan State 20
Saturday, November 01