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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Bid Farewell to Dome, Host Iowa Saturday
11/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Game Notes - vs. Iowa
GOPHERS, HAWKEYES BID FAREWELL TO METRODOME SATURDAY
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are will play their final game at the Metrodome Saturday evening. Minnesota will play host to Iowa in a 6:03 p.m. kickoff. The Gophers and Hawkeyes will be battling for Floyd of Rosedale, a trophy that has been in existence since 1935.
Minnesota dropped a 35-32 decision at Wisconsin last weekend. The Gophers led the Badgers 21-7 at halftime, but were outscored 28-11 in the second half, losing the second of three straight trophy games to end the regular season. Iowa defeated Purdue 22-17 last week in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes opened the season with three straight wins, followed by three losses. They have now won their last two and four of their last five, including a 24-23 upset of then-No. 2 Penn State.
This week’s game will be televised by the Big Ten Network. Wayne Larrivee and Chris Martin will be in the booth, while Anthony Herron will report from the sidelines.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota is now 7-4 on the season and 3-4 in the Big Ten after falling to Wisconsin 35-32 last week. The Gophers have lost three straight, after opening the season 7-1 and climbing as high as No. 20 in the national rankings.
Adam Weber has taken nearly every snap for Minnesota at quarterback and has thrown 348 of the Gophers’ 350 passes this season. He has passed for 2,458 yards and 14 TDs through 11 games. Weber matched a season-high with three touchdown passes last week at Wisconsin. Eric Decker has been the main beneficiary of Weber’s aerials. Decker ranks No. 8 in the nation with 7.4 catches per game and No. 22 with 89.2 receiving yards per game. Decker has caught six TD passes this season. Leading the way on the ground is true freshman DeLeon Eskridge. Despite limited carries in the first two games, Eskridge has rushed for 646 yards on 165 attempts.
Defensively, junior middle linebacker Lee Campbell is the team’s top tackler with 71 stops. Safeties Tramaine Brock and Kyle Theret have 65 and 63 tackles, respectively. Junior transfer cornerback Traye Simmons is No. 3 in the nation in passes defended, averaging 1.55 per game. Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg has 18.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, ranking No. 5 and No. 15 in the nation, respectively.
SCOUTING IOWA
With Saturday’s win over Purdue, Iowa has won four of its last five. The Hawkeyes’ only loss in that stretch was a 27-24 setback at Illinois.
Offensively, Iowa is led by running back Shon Greene. He has rushed for 1,585 yards and averages 6.2 yards per carry. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi has started nine games. He is 122-of-207 with 10 TDs and 7 seven INTs, while throwing for 1,554 yards. Andy Brodell has 502 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Darrell Johnson-Koulianos leads the team with 36 receptions.
Defensively, Pat Angerer leads Iowa with 92 total tackles and five interceptions. Mitch King has 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks to lead the defensive line. Bradley Fletcher is another top secondary man for the Hawkeyes. He has eight pass breakups and a pair of interceptions.
QUICK HITTERS
> The Golden Gophers are the No. 4 team in the nation in turnover margin. The Gophers have an average turnover margin of +1.36.
> Minnesota lost for the first time this season (7-1) when leading after the third quarter last week. The Gophers were on top 24-17 heading into the fourth quarter at Wisconsin.
> Minnesota ranks 32nd in the NCAA in scoring defense (20.5 points allowed per game).
> The Gophers are No. 18 in the NCAA in tackles for loss (7.00 TFL per game).
> Gopher WR Eric Decker is tied for No. 8 in the nation in receptions per game.
> Decker has broken his own school record for single-season receptions (currently 74).
> Minnesota CB Traye Simmons is No. 3 in the nation in passes defended.
BOWLING FOR GOPHERS
Back on August 15, head coach Tim Brewster brought his Golden Gophers out to Rod Wallace Field for the second of a two-a-day practice. What his team didn’t know, however, was that they were about to get out of practice and go bowling as a reward for their hard work to that point in camp.
Now, as a reward for their hard work to this point in the season, Minnesota has virtually assured itself of a bowl berth later this season. The Gophers are 7-4 overall (3-4 in the Big Ten) after last week’s 35-32 loss at Wisconsin.
Back on August 15, the team went to Memory Lanes. Now the Gopher squad is hoping to make some more memories, as every potential victory from now through the end of November could improve their destination when bowl season rolls around.
BAKING TURNOVERS
Minnesota defenders have been busier than pastry chefs this season. The Gopher defense has baked up 30 turnovers so far this season, which is No. 1 in the nation. Meanwhile, Minnesota has been pretty good at maintaining possession of the ball. The Gophers have coughed it up 15 times. All that leads to an average turnover margin of +1.36 per game, which is No. 4 in the nation.
Of Minnesota’s 30 takeaways, the Gophers have converted 18 into points, for a success rate of 60 percent. Thirteen of those scores have been touchdowns. Minnesota scored 41 points off just 14 turnovers during the entire 2007 campaign. The Gophers have 106 points off takeaways in 11 games this season.
WEBER HEATS UP AGAIN
Sophomore quarterback Adam Weber accounted for all four of Minnesota’s touchdowns last week at Wisconsin. He passed for three scores and rushed for another. His three passing TDs matched a season-best mark. Weber’s .638 completion percentage is No. 2 in the Big Ten and is much better than his .545 mark from 2007. Weber is No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 36 in the nation in pass efficiency (132.95). He also ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 31 in the nation in total offense per game (241.6). Weber completed a school-record 14 straight pass attempts earlier this season at Bowling Green. He has 38 career TD passes, ranking fourth in Gopher history.
WILLIE WOWS 'EM
Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg tallied two sacks and three tackles for loss last week at Wisconsin. With his three tackles for loss, VanDeSteeg took over the top spot on Minnesota’s career tackle-for-loss chart. He now has a total of 43.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage topping John Schlecht (1998-2000), who had 43 in his career.
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