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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Postgame Notes
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Series Notes
- Minnesota is now 37-25-3 all-time against Indiana and has won six of the last 10 meetings between the two schools.
- The Gophers have won five of the last six contests against the Hoosiers at the Metrodome.
Team Notes
- Minnesota’s victory was the first Big Ten win for coach Tim Brewster and snapped the Gophers’ nine-game Big Ten losing streak since a 34-24 win over Iowa in the 2006 regular season finale.
- The seven points allowed was the fewest the Gophers have given up in a Big Ten game since a 45-0 win over Illinois on Oct. 23, 2004.
- The Gophers’ 16 points were their fewest in a Big Ten victory since a 16-7 win over Penn State on Oct. 2, 2004.
- Indiana did not have a first down until Marcus Thigpen’s 77-yard touchdown catch from Ben Chappell with 2:29 left in the first half. The Hoosiers had 13 total yards and one pass completion prior to Thigpen’s touchdown.
- Minnesota’s game-opening drive lasted nine minutes, 12 seconds, which was the Gophers’ longest drive of the season by time. The Gophers went 68 yards in 16 plays, but missed a 28-yard field goal. Minnesota also had a drive of seven minutes, 21 seconds on its final possession that resulted in a field goal with 22 seconds left.
- The Gophers held the ball for 37:41, which was their most time of possession in a game since maintaining possession for 37:54 against Alabama in the 2004 Music City Bowl.
- It was the first time Minnesota kicked three field goals in a game since Nov. 8, 2003 in a 37-34 win over Wisconsin.
- Indiana totaled 293 yards and 49 yards rushing. The Hoosiers had 463 total yards and 228 yards rushing in last year’s 40-20 win over Minnesota. Indiana gained 47 of its yards on a pass on the final play of the game.
- Minnesota’s defense forced three turnovers and has forced turnovers in every game this season. Both of the Gophers’ third quarter field goals came following fumble recoveries as they have now scored 75 points off turnovers this season.
- Minnesota’s defense entered the game ranked third in the country in turnover margin at plus-1.8 per game. The Gophers finished plus-one on Saturday, forcing three and giving up two in the victory.
Individual Notes
- Junior receiver Eric Decker established career highs with 13 receptions for 190 yards. The 13 catches tied a single-game school record held by Aaron Osterman against Michigan on Nov. 12, 1994. He has at least five catches in seven straight games, dating to last season.
- Decker’s 190 receiving yards marked the third-highest single-game total in school history. Ryan Thelwell had 228 against Ball State in 1996 and Omar Douglas had 193 against Penn State in 1993.
- Sophomore quarterback Adam Weber completed his first 11 passes of the game. He was nine-for-nine for 71 yards in the first quarter. Weber had a streak snapped of eight straight games with a touchdown pass and failed to throw for a score for just the second time in his career.
- Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg had two sacks in a game for the first time since 2006 against Michigan State.
- Junior kicker Joel Monroe kicked three field goals in a game for the first time in his career. His 43-yard field goal in the third quarter was his longest of the season.
- Freshman defensive back Troy Stoudermire caught a pass for 11 yards on his first offensive play of the season for the Gophers. The pass came on a second-and-8 play and went for a first down.
- Junior defensive lineman Eric Small also made his offensive debut, throwing a lead block for Shady Salamon’s one-yard touchdown run
- Junior tight end Nick Tow-Arnett’s 40-yard catch from Adam Weber that set up the Gophers’ second quarter touchdown was the second-longest reception of his career.
- Junior linebacker Lee Campbell had an interception and a fumble recovery, matching his number of takeaways from his first 27 career games played.
