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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Rivals Meet for Final Time in Metrodome
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Just six days away from the final game played in the Metrodome. It's fitting that Iowa will be the final opponent. It was rare when the two rivals met in the Metrodome when something memorable didn’t happen. Many of Minnesota’s brightest moments under the Teflon roof have come at the expense of the Hawkeyes.
Just one season removed from finishing 0-9 in the Big Ten (capped off by a 61-10 loss in Iowa City), the Golden Gophers under first-year head coach Lou Holtz welcomed the bowl-bound Hawkeyes to the Metrodome. The game saw Adam Kelly (right) boot a school record 83-yard punt, only to watch it returned for a touchdown by Iowa's Bill Happel. Happel returned the favor late in the fourth quarter when he fumbled a punt at Iowa's 14 yard line. Gary Couch gave Minnesota a 20-17 lead with his 14-yard run with 4:17 to play.
What a way for the seniors to finish out their careers. As freshmen, they played their first and only season in Memorial Stadium and even beat No. 18 Ohio State. Two years later, they suffered through the 1983 season only to be a part of the resurgence of the football program in 1984.
Captain Mark VonderHaar summed it up best following the win over Iowa. “I can now look back on my college career and get a smile on my face.”
The Golden Gophers would play the role of spoiler as a new decade began. In 1990, Iowa needed a win at the Dome to claim the outright Big Ten title. Keswic Joiner scored two touchdowns, including one on a blocked punt, as Minnesota beat the Hawks, 31-24. Iowa fell into a four-way tie for the league title, but still earned the bid to the Rose Bowl.
Defensive end Ben Williams didn’t mince words following the 1990 victory. “If the Rose Bowl people were smart, they’d give us a call. The point is: Iowa is supposed to be the best, but if I’m not mistaken, we just beat em.”
On their return trip to the Metrodome in 1992, Iowa had to feel confident about its chances. The motivation of playing for a trip to the Copper Bowl and facing a Minnesota team that had one victory on the season made Iowa big favorites, but they must not have anticipated Rob St. Sauver. The sophomore backup quarterback entered the game in the first half for injured Marquel Fleetwood and then led Minnesota to 18 unanswered fourth-quarter points in a 28-13 win. The highlights were a pair of long hook-ups with Aaron Osterman.
Minnesota played the role of favorite in 1998 under second-year head coach Glen Mason. The Gophers bowl hopes were dashed the week prior in a one-point loss at Indiana, but there would be no time for sulking. Following a scoreless first quarter, Minnesota scored three times in the second quarter and added three more scores in the third to take a 42-0 lead. Antoine Henderson added a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Minnesota rolled to its biggest win (49-7) over the Hawkeyes since 1955 (pictured right). It would also mark the final game as head coach for the legendary Hayden Fry.
Two years later (pictured left), the Golden Gophers welcomed an improved Iowa team under current head coach Kirk Ferentz. This time it was Minnesota playing for a bowl bid with the Hawkeyes playing the role of spoiler. Trailing 24-12 in the fourth quarter with a trip to the Micronpc.com Bowl on the line, the Golden Gophers rallied for a 27-24 win. On fourth and 13 with 7:43 remaining, Ron Johnson out-leaped Hawkeye cornerback Benny Sapp in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. Following a Minnesota defensive stop, Jermaine Mays got behind the Iowa secondary for an 81-yard touchdown strike from Travis Cole to give Minnesota the lead for good. The Golden Gopher defense, which tied a school record with eight sacks, prevented Iowa from crossing midfield for the final six plus minutes of the game to seal the victory and the trip to Miami.
Another bowl game was on the line in the last meeting between the two rivals in 2006. The Golden Gophers beat Indiana and Michigan State, but still needed a win over the Hawkeyes to become bowl eligible. Minnesota forced five Iowa turnovers, while Ernie Wheelwright added a 64-yard touchdown reception as the Gophers earned a 34-24 win. Minnesota will look to repeat its memorable run to the Hawkeye sidelines to bring home Floyd this weekend.
Do you have memories of Minnesota’s 27 years in the Metrodome? We’d like to read them. Were you at the concession stand when Darrell Thompson raced 98 yards against Michigan? Did Tyrone Carter give you a high five as he celebrated his second fumble return for a touchdown against Syracuse? Submit your favorite moment or game or interesting story. We’ll post some of them later this week.
