.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers, Huskies Clash in Primetime Saturday
9/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Game Notes - vs. Northern Illinois
HUSKIES, GOPHERS TO CLASH IN PRIMETIME SATURDAY NIGHT
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and Northern Illinois Huskies will each be looking to even their records at 2-2 Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium.
The Gophers are 1-2 opening the season with a victory at Middle Tennessee State, before falling to South Dakota and Southern California. Northern Illinois has sandwiched losses to Iowa State and Illinois around a victory over North Dakota.
This is just the third meeting between Northern Illinois and Minnesota. But its the second meeting in the last three years. Both of the previous matchups took place at the Metrodome.
The Big Ten Network will air the game with Tom Hart calling the action and Anthony Herron serving as the color analyst. Lisa Byington will report from the sideline. It will also air on Sirius satellite radio (Channel 129).
QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota is 2-0 in its history vs. Northern Illinois. The first meeting was in 1988, with 20 years between the first and second. Only two years have passed since the meeting in 2008.
> 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.
> With five interceptions in the first three games, Minnesota is tied for No. 9 in the nation in picks. In contrast, the Gophers ranked 50th and had just 12 INTs in 13 games last year.
> Despite having less time of possession than its opponent for the first time this season last week, Minnesota still ranks No. 2 in the nation in ball control, averaging 35:12 per game.
> Minnesota has come from behind in each of its last seven victories.
LAST TIME
(August 30, 2008 - Minneapolis, Minn.) -- Duane Bennett plunged in from the one-yard line with 22 seconds left as Minnesota opened the 2008 season by rallying for a 31-27 victory over Northern Illinois at the Metrodome.
Bennett picked up a fourth-and-1 on the Huskies’ 3-yard line on the preceding play and then plunged in for the score. Minnesota then survived a final threat from the Huskies, who drove to the 30-yard line with eight seconds left before wide receiver Eric Decker, playing in the secondary, batted away two consecutive passes in the end zone.
Bennett rushed for 92 yards and two scores, including a 61-yard third-quarter scamper.
AYE, CAPTAIN!
The Golden Gophers elected four captains prior to the 2010 season. One of those captains -- senior quarterback Adam Weber -- made history with his selection. Weber became the only three-time captain in the history of the Gopher program.
He’s one of a select group in FBS football to have earned recognition as a captain three times. Our research shows only 11 other players in the history of NCAA Division I (FBS) who have been so honored.
The Gophers’ other three captains are junior DT Brandon Kirksey, senior S Kim Royston and senior FB Jon Hoese.
SHADES OF GRAY
Sophomore quarterback MarQueis Gray is seeing extensive time at wide receiver in the 2010 season, due to his athletic, play-making ability. The 6-4, 230-pounder has responded to greater playing time with career-best marks for receptions and receiving yards the past two weeks. Gray hauled in a career-best nine passes for 91 yards against South Dakota. Last week vs. USC, he recorded just four catches, but they went for a career-best 98 yards. Gray has a touchdown reception in each of the last two games.
TINSLEY'S TEN
Junior linebacker Gary Tinsley reached double digits in tackles for the second time in his career last week vs. USC. The Jacksonville, Fla. native tallied 10 tackles against the Trojans, equaling a career-best mark. The first time he cracked the double-digit barrier in tackles was in the 2009 regular-season finale at Iowa. Tinsley’s seven solo tackles vs. Southern California were also a career-best mark.
-UM-
