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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Back On The Road This Week at Purdue
10/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Game Notes - at Purdue
GOLDEN GOPHERS BACK ON THE ROAD AT PURDUE SATURDAY
The University of Minnesota football team will take to the road for a second straight week Saturday, looking to snap a five-game losing streak.
The University of Minnesota faces Purdue Saturday. The Gophers have won each of the last two games in the series.
Minnesota leads the overall series by a 33-30-3 count. Minnesota’s average margin of victory in the past two meetings has been 13 points.
ESPN2 will air the game with Dave Pasch calling the action. Father-son combination Bob and Brian Griese will serve as the game analysts. This will be the first time the Grieses will have worked a game together. This week’s game will also air on XM/Sirius satellite radio (198/113).
QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota is 33-30-3 in its history vs. Purdue and has won the last two meetings.
> Minnesota is in its 127th season of college football in 2010. Only three other schools -- Rutgers (141), Michigan (131) and Navy (130) will have played more at the end of this season.
> Minnesota is No. 21 in the nation in turnover margin. The Gophers have an average turnover margin of +0.67 per game.
> The Gophers are No. 28 in the nation in passing efficiency (151.30).
> Minnesota is only allowing 1.17 sacks per game, ranking No. 28 in the nation.
> Despite losing the possession time battle last week, the Gophers are still No. 1 in the Big Ten in average time of possession (33:06).
LAST TIME VS. PURDUE
Big plays from defense and special teams carried Minnesota to a 35-20 Homecoming victory. The Gophers forced three turnovers and converted two into short touchdown drives, while also getting a 47-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown.
Despite Minnesota’s comfortable victory margin, the Gophers were outgained 402-281 as Minnesota’s defense and special teams gave the Gophers outstanding field position throughout the game. Minnesota also had a balanced rushing attack with eight players carrying the ball.
Purdue led 10-0 early in the contest. But the Gophers outscored the Boilermakers 35-3 to grab control of the game, before Purdue added a late score to account for the final margin.
PAPER OR PLASTIC?
This week’s matchup will see one of each team’s strengths highlighted against one another. Featured will be Purdue’s pass rush vs. Minnesota’s offensive line.
Purdue ranks No. 4 in the nation in sacks per game, wrapping up the quarterback in the backfield an average of 8.0 times per game. Meanwhile, the Gopher offensive line has only allowed 1.17 sacks per game to rank No. 28 in the nation.
WORLD WIDE WEB-ER
Gopher quarterback Adam Weber entered the 2010 season as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the nation. He is now the most experienced signal-caller in the country. Houston’s Case Keenum has started 43 games. However, Keenum was lost for the season to a knee injury. Weber overtook him with his 44th start last week. The Minnesota signal-caller has been under center to start the game for every game in his Gopher career. Weber also ranks in the top three among active quarterbacks in career pass attempts (1,397 - 3rd), career completions (806 - 3rd) and career yards (9,686 - 3rd).
GT-OH!
Junior linebacker Gary Tinsley has now reached double digits in tackles three times in six games this season. He tallied 14 tackles at Wisconsin last week for a new career-best mark. It was his fourth career double-digit-tackle game. The first time he cracked the double-digit barrier in tackles was in the 2009 regular-season finale at Iowa.
-UM-
