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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. Iowa
11/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
It's game night at the Metrodome ... for the last time. The Gophers and Hawkeyes are about to battle for Floyd of Rosedale on Senior Night for Minnesota. We at GopherSports.com will attempt to give you some insight into the Minnesota-Iowa rivalry gmae, 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 them to aseeley@umn.edu.
9:20 p.m.
Iowa kneels down the ball twice to finish out the game, and the Golden Gophers era at the Metrodome. The final score Iowa 55, Minnesota 0.
9:01 p.m.
Both teams are substituting liberally here late in the ballgame. In case anyone's wondering, the last time Minnesota was shut out in the Metrodome was a 1989 loss to Nebraska by a count of 48-0.
8:48 p.m.
Minnesota just had another interception returned deep into its own territory. Minnesota had driven inside Iowa territory, but nothing is going right for the Gophers. In fact, Jewel Hampton just ran for a Hawkeye touchdown. With 11:13 remaining, Iowa 55 - Minnesota 0.
8:38 p.m.
The statistics show this game to be just as one-sided as the scoreboard. Iowa has 435 yards on 63 total plays. Minnesota has run 34 plays and mustered 89 yards of offense. As I'm writing this, Iowa just saw Stanzi hit TE Tony Moeaki for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The point-after-touchdown makes it 48-0 just six seconds into the fourth quarter. Stanzi has now thrown three TD passes today.
8:36 p.m.
We head to the fourth quarter. Minnesota trails 41-0. The top moment in Metrodome history was just announced as Rhys Lloyd's game-winning field goal against Wisconsin in 2003, bringing Paul Bunyan's Axe back to Minneapolis. In addition between quarters, the Gophers presented members of the Minnesota Sports Commission, which operates the Dome, with Gopher jerseys.
8:31 p.m.
You can't blame the Gophers for going for it on fourth down inside the Iowa 40-yard line. But on fourth-and-1, the Gophers couldn't convert. A long Shonn Greene rush and Iowa is at the Minnesota 25-yard line with a first-and-10.
8:27 p.m.
In the marketing campaign for TCF Bank Stadium, one of the billboards around town reads "Home Field Advantage Works Way Better At Home." The Dome certainly hasn't proved a home-field advantage for the Gopher offense this season. Someone in the press box just passed along this note. Minnesota has scored two offensive TDs in this facility in Big Ten play this season. Barring a minor miracle, the outcome of this one is probably already decided. But let's hope the Gopher offense can do something to feel good about itself going into practices for a bowl game.
8:23 p.m.
Iowa just marched downfield for another touchdown. The big blow in the drive was a 50-yard pass completion from Stanzi to Johnson-Koulianos. Following that play, Hawkeye RB Shonn Greene spun out of a tackle in the backfield and rolled unmolested into the end zone for a 15-yard score. The TD run put Greene over 100 yards for the day. He has now rushed for 100-plus in each game this season and has broken numerous Iowa single-season records.
With 4:58 remaining in the third quarter, Iowa 41 - Minnesota 0.
8:08 p.m.
When it rains it pours. The Gopher defense played well after the muffed punt. On third-and-10, Iowa WR Darrell Johnson-Koulianos was running down the Minnesota sideline. Step for step with him was Minnesota CB Traye Simmons. But Johnson-Koulianos created a bit of separation with his left hand as Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi lofted a pass toward him, which was caught for a 29-yard score. 9:21 remaining in the third quarter, Iowa 34 - Minnesota 0.
8:04 p.m.
The Minnesota defense just picked up a stop on a sack by Garrett Brown and Simoni Lawrence. But as I type that, Marcus Sherels is calling for a fair catch on a punt. But Johnny Johnson was blocked into Sherels, the ball hit Johnson and was recovered by Iowa at the Minnesota 29-yard line. Nothing is going right for the Gophers tonight.
7:54 p.m.
We're under way in the second half. First-and-10 for the Gophers at their own 29-yard line. The offense needs to get something going. On first down, what looked like a broken play resulted in a one-yard rush for QB Adam Weber. Second down was a short completion to Jack Simmons and third down was an incompletion. Minnesota is now 1-of-6 on third down.
7:46 p.m.
The blog went dark for a little while there and we apologize. A number of factors combined for us to go down for a while. But if you're a Minnesota fan, you're almost better off not knowing what has happened since the last post.
Iowa ripped off a 12-play, 91-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. Stanzi capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Brandon Myers. That TD came with 1:13 remaining in the first half and made it 20-0. The Gophers quickly picked up a first down on a 10-yard completion to Jack Simmons. But Adam Weber's next aerial was intercepted by Iowa's Amari Spievey, who returned it 57 yards for a score. In a span of 27 seconds, Iowa upped its lead from 13-0 to 27-0.
That's where we stand as the band just finished its halftime show. Back in a few minutes when the second half gets under way.
7:14 p.m.
Another three-and-out. Minnesota penalties even pushed the Gophers back inside their own territory for a play on that possession. Kucek's punt went out of bounds at the Iowa 9-yard line. With 8:09 remaining in the first half, the Gopher defense is headed back onto the field.
7:09 p.m.
Maybe that will get the Gopher offense going. Troy Stoudermire just ripped off a 58-yard kickoff return to give Minnesota the ball at the Iowa 41-yard line.
7:07 p.m.
Three plays and 73 yards in just more than one minute is all it took for Iowa to go on top 13-0 with 9:57 remaining in the first half. It's hard to blame the Gopher defense. They've been on the field for 72 percent of the game so far. Shonn Greene capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. If ever the Minnesota offense needed to show up and put together an impressive drive, this is the time. 9:57 remaining in the second quarter, Iowa 13 - Minnesota 0.
7:05 p.m.
Three-and-out for the Minnesota offense. Iowa takes over with 11 minutes left in teh first half and what has to be a tired Gopher defense out there. As I write this entry, Shonn Greene ripped off a big run and Ricky Stanzi just hurled a 48-yard pass completion. First-and-goal for the Hawkeyes.
6:55 p.m.
Iowa reached the Minnesota 12-yard line. But once again, the Gopher defense held them to a field-goal attempt. Murray's 29-yarder was good. But with 12:50 remaining in the second quarter, the Gopher defense has kept the offense in the game. It was a 16-play drive. Nearly seven minutes came off the clock on the drive. This is looking a little like the beginning of the Michigan game. So far, Iowa has run 28 offensive plays. Minnesota has just 9.
The Minnesota offense needs to get something going on this drive to give their defense a break and keep it from looking even more like the loss to the Wolverines.
6:49 p.m.
A six-yard Shonn Greene rush for Iowa, taking the ball to the Minnesota 23-yard line, is the final play of the first quarter. Twice in this series for Iowa, Minnesota saw Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi escape what looked like sacks. Willie VanDeSteeg and Steve Davis both looked like they had Stanzi wrapped up for sacks (both on third-down plays). But Stanzi escaped and threw for one first down and rushed for another. As the second quarter begins, Iowa will have a second-and-4 at the Gophers' 23-yard line.
6:40 p.m.
Another bad snap derails a promising Minnesota drive. The Gophers completed a big pass to Ben Kuznia inside Hawkeye territory. But a bad snap drove them back seven yards and a sack on third down forced a punt. Just over four minutes left in the first quarter.
6:30 p.m.
Following another Iowa time out (they are out for the remainder of the first half), the Hawkeyes' drive stalled at the 17-yard line. A 35-yard field goal is good by Daniel Murray. With 7:10 remaining in the first quarter ... Iowa 3 - Minnesota 0.
6:25 p.m.
Just 7:03 into the first quarter, Iowa has already burned its second time out. The Hawkeyes have reached the Minnesota 17-yard line.
6:15 p.m.
The Gopher defense held, following a five-yard illegal formation penalty against Iowa. The Hawkeyes punted and Minnesota has it at their own 8-yard line. On the Gophers' first snap, the ball was snapped to Weber early, who had to recover it at his own 2-yard line. The Gophers eventually had to punt and Iowa has the first field-position advantage of the game with a first-and-10 at Minnesota's 40-yard line.
6:10 p.m.
Minnesota nearly had a three-and-out on Iowa's first possession, but Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi scrambled for 5 yards on third-and-5. Now, it is third-and-1 at Iowa's 44-yard line. The Hawkeyes were forced to burn a time out, however.
The 1982 Gopher football team -- the first to play in the Metrodome -- was just honored on the field. We'll try to keep up with the specail mentions of the Metrodome, etc. throughout the night
6:00 p.m.
Iowa has won the toss and will receive.
5:57 p.m.
The aforementioned Gopher seniors are being introduced to the crowd as this entry is being typed. The two senior captains Steve Davis and Willie VanDeSteeg are being introduced last. Davis and VanDeSteeg receive very nice ovations.
Here come the rest of the Gophers ... we're just minutes away from kickoff!
5:45 p.m.
It's elation for those rooting for Cal Poly and that elation quickly turned to deflation. The Mustangs (how many of you knew they were the Mustangs?) scored on the first play of overtime, but missed their third PAT of the game. Wisconsin ran up the middle three or four times for a TD and booted the extra point right down the middle. Badgers 36, Cal Poly 35 - Final in OT.
Now, those of us in the press box can focus squarely on the Gopher-Hawkeye game. The Pride of Minnesota - the Golden Gopher Marching Band - is on the field for their pregame show. We'll have Senior Night introductions coming up before too long. That could be an emotional time for many players, family members, coaches, fans and others.
5:35 p.m.
Everyone in the press box is glued to the Big Ten Network right now. Wisconsin and Cal Poly (an FCS team ... ranked No. 3 in FCS, mind you) are headed to overtime. Cal Poly has led the entire game. Wisconsin tied it up at 29-29 with less than two minutes left. Cal Poly drove into Wisconsin territory and attempted a long field goal, which was well short.
It looks like Wisconsin had a bit of a letdown early in the game, after an all-out, hard-hitting, physical game against the Gophers last week. Any guesses as to who the Gopher faithful are rooting for in that one?
5:15 p.m.
With just about 45 minutes to go before kickoff, there is already a bit more electricity in the Dome than we've experienced for a while. Former Gophers from throughout the Dome era are on the field during pre-game warmups, as I'm writing this entry.
The good-sized Iowa crowd has been making some noise for the Hawkeyes as they make their way out to the field for warmups. The Minnesota crowd has been a bit boisterous as well here in the early moments of pre-game. The Gophers are in their maroon-over-maroon uniform combination.
There are numerous bowl representatives here in the press box tonight. Reps from the Outback, Champs Sports Bowl, Capital One Bowl, Alamo and Insight Bowls are all going to viewing this contest up close and personal.
Tonight is Senior Night for the Gophers. Thirteen Minnesota football players will be seeing action in their final home game. Here's a look at the list of those seniors: Jack Simmons, Tony Mortensen, Mike Maciejowski, Kevin Mannion, Joel Monroe, Justin Kucek, Deon Hightower, Steve Davis, Steve Moore, Nick Weber, Chris Mensen, Willie VanDeSteeg and William Brody.
