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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Game Day Blog - Indiana
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Gopher Game Day Blog vs. Indiana
It's game day for Minnesota Golden Gopher Football. Follow along with us here on GopherSports.com as Minnesota plays its first home Big Ten game of the season. We'll give you some insight into the game, a bit of a running commentary and hopefully a look inside some of the things you might not get watching the game on television or listening on the radio. As always, feel free to send a note with a question or comment on the blog. Send those notes and comments to aseeley@umn.edu.
2:05 p.m.
The Gophers win their Big Ten home opener 16-7 over Indiana. Minnesota now leads the series against Indiana 37-25-3. Today's victory marks the Gophers' first win over a Big Ten opponent since beating Iowa 34-24 on Nov. 18, 2006. Minnesota is now 5-1 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play, while Indiana falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference action.
Eric Decker tied the school record for receptions in a game with 13 for 190 yards. He is tied with Aaron Osterman who had 13 catches against Michigan in 1994. The 190 yards ranks third all-time.
2:01 p.m.
Joel Monroe made a 38-yard field goal to put the Gophers up 16-7 with just 22 seconds remaining in the game. It's Monroe's third FG of the game.
1:45 p.m.
The Minnesota defense continues to do its job. The Gophers forced a three-and-out of their own, giving Minnesota the ball back at its own 29-yard line with 7:43 remaining in the contest. Once again, a score (any kind of score) would make Minnesota fans (and probably the Gophers themselves) feel a lot more comfortable right now.
1:41 p.m.
Three-and-out for the Gophers. On third down, Weber had WRs Ralph Spry and Eric Decker both open in the same vicinity. That was the problem. Spry and Decker both tried to catch the ball and it ended up falling to the turf for an incompletion.
1:36 p.m.
Minnesota gets the ball back with 10:09 remaining in the game at its own 19-yard line. Good news. It looks like Eric Decker is going to be OK. He's back on the field for this possession. The Gophers could really use a score of any kind on this possession. They are clinging to a six-point lead. Putting Indiana and its quick-strike offense down by two scores would be huge at this juncture.
1:23 p.m.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Gopher WR Eric Decker tied a Minnesota school record for pass receptions in a game with 13. But it was a costly reception. Indiana's Geno Johnson hit Decker in the back of the head on the tackle and Decker was on the field for a while. He is back up, but looks a bit woozy.
1:16 p.m.
That's the end of the fourth quarter. Minnesota just caught a big break near the end of the third quarter. On first-and-10 at their own 21-yard line, Adam Weber's pass to Shady Salamon was tipped into the air by Salamon. Indiana cornerback Richard Council had the ball go right to him for a likely interception and a possible touchdown. But the ball hit Council's facemask and fell harmlessly to the turf. Minnesota 13, Indiana 7. When the teams return to the field, it will be third-and-9 for Minnesota at its own 22-yard line.
1:10 p.m.
Once again, Minnesota capitalizes on a Hoosier turnover. But once again, the Gophers have to settle for a field goal. Joel Monroe just hit a 42-yard field goal, his season-long. Gophers 13, Hoosiers 7 with 2:05 left in the third.
1:08 p.m.
Eric Decker just set a career-high mark for receiving yards. He now has 12 catches for 175 yards. The 12 receptions matches his career-best. Gophers face third-and-long at the Indiana 25-yard line.
1:05 p.m.
Another big turnover. IU QB Kellen Lewis just scrambled for a long gain, but fumbled on a hit by Gopher corner Ryan Collado. Safety Tramaine Brock tracked the ball down right in front of the Minnesota bench to give the Gophers possession back on the Indiana half of the field.
1:00 p.m.
Minnesota just returned the favor on Indiana's turnover deep in Minnesota territory to open the third quarter. The Gophers drove inside the Hoosiers' 20 and looked like they were going to get some points off the possession. But DeLeon Eskridge fumbled on a solid hit by the Hoosiers' Nick Polk and Indiana recovered at their own 16-yard line. 5:59 remaining in the third quarter, still Minnesota 10, Indiana 7. The turnover battle is tied at 2-2. Minnesota holds a 4-3 lead in explosive plays (see earlier posts for details on explosive plays).
12:54 p.m.
The Gopher defense, sparked by another Willie VanDeSteeg sack, just picked up another three-and-out. On the ensuing punt, Indiana hit punt returner Troy Stoudermire before the ball arrived. You can't do that. It's a 15-yard penalty, which will give Minnesota possession at the Hoosier 40-yard line. VanDeSteeg's sack gives him two in the game, the first time he's had two or more since the Michigan State game in 2006. It also gives Willie 14.5 sacks in his career, which puts him alone in fifth place on the Gopher career sack chart.
12:50 p.m.
Minnesota took advantage of the turnover and turned it into points. The big play in the drive was another long reception after a scramble for Adam Weber. This time he hit Decker for an apparent touchdown. But Decker stepped out of bounds at the 7-yard line. The Gopher offense was unable to get into the end zone. But Joel Monroe converted a 29-yard field goal. Decker now has eight receptions for 133 yards. His career-high for receivng yards is 165, set last season at Florida Atlantic. With 10:11 remaining in the third quarter, Minnesota 10, Indiana 7.
12:43 p.m.
There is a big review happening right now. Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis drove the Hoosiers downfield, deep into Minnesota territory. But linebacker Steve Davis forced a fumble on a sack of Lewis, which was snagged out of mid-air by linebacker Lee Campbell. A big turnover for the Gopher defense, stopping what looked like a possible Indiana scoring drive. The review left the play as called on the field. First-and-10 Minnesota.
12:38 p.m.
The second half is under way. Minnesota kicks off for a touchback and Indiana will have first-and-10 at its own 20-yard line.
12:17 p.m.
The Gophers have dominated the opening half but don't have anything to show for it as the teams go to the lockerroom tied at 7-7. Minnesota has outgained Indiana 164-101, with 77 of the Hoosiers' yards and their lone first down coming on the touchdown pass from Chappel to Thigpen. The Gophers have also missed a field goal and both teams have turned the ball over once.
12:09 p.m.
Well I spoke too soon. After holding the Gophers, Indiana burned the Minnesota defense on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Chappel to running back Marcus Thigpen. Thigpen sprinted up the middle of the Minnesota defense and was wide open. Linebacker Deon Hightower was just not able to stay with the fleet-footed scatback as the Hoosers evened the game at 7-7. The 77-yard play was also IU's first 1st down of the game.
12:05 p.m.
Things are not getting any easier for the Hoosiers' offense. After taking over on the Minnesota Ben Chappell was picked off by Lee Campbell on the first play of the drive. It was Campbell's second interception of the season.
12:00 p.m.
The Gopher defense continues to stand tall. Minnesota forces Indiana to its fourth straight 3-and-out. Through nearly two quarters, the Gophers have held the Hoosiers to 12 plays for just 12 total yards. On a down now, junior cornerback and punt return man Marcus Sherels was injured on an offensive pass interference call during IU's last drive. Troy Stoudimire replaced him as the punt returner but was unable to handle a low line drive punt and coughed up the ball. The Gophers recovered but fumbled the ball away on their ensuing possession.
11:47 a.m.
Three consecutive three-and-out stands for the Minnesota defense to start the game. Gopher defensive coordinator Ted Roof has got to be pleased about that.
11:26 a.m.
Minnesota is on the board. Shady Salamon just capped a six-play, 72-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The big play in the drive was a 40-yard Weber-to-tight end Nick Tow-Arnett pass play. Weber escaped a heavy rush, rolled to the right and found Tow-Arnett deep in Hoosier territory. The big tight end almost tight-roped into the end zone along the far sideline, but was ruled down at the 1-yard line. Salamon finished the drive one play later. 12:23 remaining in the first half, Minnesota 7, Indiana 0.
11:35 a.m.
That's the end of the first quarter. Another three-and-out for the Minnesota defense was capped by a Willie VanDeSteeg sack. That gives VanDeSteeg 13.5 sacks for his career, which ranks him No. 6 in Minnesota history. On the final play of the first quarter, Adam Weber hooked up with Eric Decker for a 20-yard pass to give the Gophers a first-and-10 at their own 48-yard line.
One area Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster talked about a lot this week is what he calls explosive plays. Those are defined as a run of 12 yards or more or a pass of 18 yards or more. Through one quarter, the Gophers had two explosive plays, while Indiana has had none.
11:26 a.m.
Three-and-out for Minnesota as well. Two sacks already for Indiana. Still no score, with 1:52 remaining in the first quarter.
11:21 a.m.
The Gopher defense gets a three-and-out on its first time on the field today. Minnesota will get the ball at its own 28-yard line after an Indiana punt. It looks like Weber will be back on the field at the controls of the offense.
11:15 a.m.
Minnesota has an impressive opening drive end up in zero points. Indiana picked up a sack on third-and-goal, forcing a 28-yard field goal attempt for Joel Monroe. A less-than-perfect snap looked like it threw Monroe's timing off and he knocked the kick off the left upright. The drive was 16 plays and took 9:12 off the clock. Quarterback Adam Weber, who was helped off the field after the sack, was 7-of-7 passing on the drive. Weber is being looked at by the athletic training staff on the sideline, but it doesn't look too serious at this point.
11:10 a.m.
Freshman cornerback/kick returner Troy Stoudermire just got into the game on offense and made an impact on the first offensive play of his career. He took a short pass from QB Adam Weber in the flat, broke a tackle and went for a first down. Just two plays after that DeLeon Eskridge broke at least three tackles for a beautiful 13-yard run to give Minnesota a first down at the Indiana 21-yard line. Still driving ...
11:02 a.m.
The captains are on the field. Eric Decker, Steve Davis, Willie VanDeSteeg and Adam Weber are out for the Gophers at midfield. Here's the coin toss ... Minnesota has won the toss. The Gophers will get the ball to start the game.
11:00 a.m.
Anthony wrote in to disagree with me about the uniforms. His favorite is gold-on-gold. However, that's not a current uniform combination the Gophers have available to them. The Gophers wore all gold last season vs. Ohio State, but with the new uniforms this year, they don't have that combination.
10:55 a.m.
Some good reading material for you as you wait for kickoff. It is a short read, but really an interesting update on Gopher defensive tackle Garrett Brown, posted on the website of Fairfield College Prep, where he played his high school football.
Click here to read the article. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the story.
10:30 a.m.
One of our readers sent an e-mail looking for a game time and TV information. Today's game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Kickoff is slated for 11:03 a.m. here at the Metrodome.
Indiana comes into today's game at the Metrodome (their last visit to the Dome) looking for their first win in Minnesota in 15 years. The last Hoosier victory in the Dome came in 1993, a 23-19 decision.
Minnesota is 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten Conference entering the game. Indiana is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten.
This is the Hoosiers' first trip outside of Bloomington, Ind. this season. Indiana opened the season with relatively easy home victories over Western Kentucky and Murray State. The Hoosiers then dropped a home non-conference decision to Ball State by a count of 42-20. The Hoosiers opened Big Ten play last week, also in Bloomington, with a 42-29 loss to Michigan State.
9:58 a.m.
Good morning, Gopher Nation!
We have uniform news ... Some of the Gophers have made their way out on the field. It looks as though today's game will be the first time we've seen a maroon jersey over maroon pants. This is my favorite uniform combination the Gophers have to choose from with their new combinations. That is followed closely by the white-on-white combo they wore on the road last week at Ohio State.
We're a little more than one hour away from game time. Stay with us ... we'll have a few notes on the game between now and kickoff.
