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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Opposing Viewpoint - MTSU
8/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Each week during the football season, GopherSports.com will bring you the opposing viewpoint by talking to a member of the media who covers Minnesota's opponent for that week. This week, we're joined by Middle Tennessee State beat writer Adam Sparks of the Murfreesboro Daily Journal and the Tennesseean.
GopherSports.com: Let's just start things with the elephant in the room. What does the loss of Dwight Dasher do to MTSU?Adam Sparks: Less running by the quarterback, of course. Dasher rushed for over 1,100 yards last season. He broke Vince Young's FBS bowl record for rushing by a QB with 201 yards in the New Orleans Bowl. His replacement, sophomore Logan Kilgore, can pass the ball, but he's not going to run for a 70-yard game-winner, like Dasher did at least once last season. Plus, Kilgore lacks experience. This will be his first Division I game, while Dasher was 14-4 as a starter since getting into the lineup his true freshman season. Kilgore has as a quality supporting cast, but the offense's star is missing with Dasher off the field.
GopherSports.com: Talk about Kilgore, what more do you know about him?
Adam Sparks: He was a mid-term signee who went the JuCo route to improve his recruiting status. It worked, as MTSU is excited about Kilgore being the 2011 starter. But getting him ready to play in a year is quite different from getting him ready to play in a few days. Kilgore was supposed to redshirt this season, so he could be the starter for three years after Dasher graduated. Needless to say, those plans have changed.
GopherSports.com: Let's pretend the Dasher situation didn't happen. Other than that, what's the biggest story coming out of MTSU camp?
Adam Sparks: The battle at running back. Fifth-year senior Phillip Tanner sat out last season with a knee injury and his replacement, D.D. Kyles, broke out with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. But with Tanner back and sophomore Ben Cunningham impressing in the offseason and fall camp, Kyles has slipped to third on the depth chart. Tanner and Cunningham are similar. Physical backs with good speed. They are accomplished pass blockers and good around the goal line. They'll need to show up with Dasher out.
GopherSports.com: How big is this game to Middle Tennessee State fans, to have a Big Ten team visiting their stadium?
Adam Sparks: It's big because a Big Ten team has never come to MTSU and especially because it's the opener after arguably the best season in school history. Last season, MTSU earned 10 victories (most ever by a Sun Belt team) and picked up its first-ever bowl win in the New Orleans Bowl. Dasher's absence takes a little away from it, but it's still a very big game to fans. MTSU has had at least one major conference foe come to Floyd Stadium each year, and it's always a highlight on the schedule. MTSU beat Maryland here, lost to Virginia on a last-minute field goal and lost to Mississippi State - with all three games at home.
GopherSports.com: Who or what has MTSU's attention for this game?
Adam Sparks: Minnesota's huge offensive line. MTSU prides itself on team speed, and its defense is intentionally small and fast. But sometimes that lack of size hurts against powerful running teams. Maryland was big and powerful, but it couldn't compensate for MTSU's pursuit and speed to the football. On the other hand, teams like Mississippi State and Louisville outlasted MTSU up front in recent meetings.
GopherSports.com: What does MTSU need to do to win this game?
Adam Sparks: Not turn the ball over, stop the run and get an early lead. Sounds a little cliché, I guess. But that's those are keys to a win. Kilgore must protect the ball. Dasher sometimes turned it over, but he had enough dynamic impact to make up for it quickly. MTSU can't matchup size-wise up front, so it must find creative ways to keep Minnesota's ground game from gaining momentum. And if MTSU can get an early lead, it will give Kilgore confidence, feed off the home crowd's energy and perhaps force Minnesota to test MTSU's veteran secondary with the pass.
GopherSports.com: What does Minnesota need to do to win the game?
Adam Sparks: Run the ball with power and patience and take MTSU out of its offensive rhythm. MTSU may try to mask Kilgore's inexperience at QB with an up-tempo attack where he can make easy, quick decisions and get into a rhythm. Sacks, pressure and incomplete passes will push MTSU's offense off balance.
Our thanks to Adam Sparks for taking some time to discuss the game with us here on GopherSports.com.
-Andy Seeley, Associate Director of Athletic Communications
