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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Wildcats for Homecoming Saturday
9/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Game Notes - vs. Northwestern
GOPHERS HOST WILDCATS FOR HOMECOMING SATURDAY
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and Northwestern University Wildcats will square off Saturday morning at TCF Bank Stadium in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.
The Gophers are 1-3 after opening the season with a victory at Middle Tennessee State, but falling to South Dakota, Southern California and Northern Illinois. Northwestern has rattled off victories against Vanderbilt, Illinois State, Rice and Central Michigan.
This is the 86th meeting between Northwestern and Minnesota. The Gophers own a 50-30-5 advantage in the all-time series. This week’s game will also cap off Homecoming festivities at the Minnesota.
ESPN will air the game with Bob Wishusen calling the action and Brian Griese serving as the color analyst. The game will also air on XM/Sirius (Channels 90/196).
QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota is 50-30-3 in its history vs. Northwestern, which is the most success the Gophers have had against any Big Ten school.
> 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.
> Both teams in this week’s game have ball-hawking defenses. Northwestern ranks No. 5 in the nation with eight interceptions, while Minnesota is No. 24 with five picks.
> For the third time this season, the Gophers had the advantage in time of possession. Minnesota ranks No. 2 in the nation in ball control, averaging 35:35 per game.
> Minnesota has come from behind in each of its last seven victories.
MAMA, I'M COMING HOME
This week’s game is part of the Homecoming festivities at the University of Minnesota. The Gophers are 54-33-3 on Homecoming.
Northwestern is the Gophers’ most-played Homecoming opponent, being on the schedule for the event a total of 16 times. Minnesota is 8-6-2 vs. the Wildcats on Homecoming. The last Homecoming meeting with Northwestern resulted in a 24-17 Wildcat win in 2008. The most recent Minnesota victory over Northwestern on Homecoming was a 45-42 shootout in 2002.
GRAY'S ANATOMY
Sophomore quarterback/wide receiver 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/or receiving yards in each of the past three weeks. Gray hauled in a career-best nine passes for 91 yards against South Dakota. He recorded just four catches vs. USC two weeks ago, but they went for a then-career-best 98 yards. Last week, Gray hauled in eight balls for 117 yards to give him his first 100-yard receiving game.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Junior defensive tackle Jewhan Edwards ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten and is tied for No. 55 in the nation in tackles for loss. Edwards has 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, for an average of 1.38 per game, to lead Minnesota. He recorded three solo tackles vs. Northern Illinois last week, including a tackle-for-loss.
COOL COLLADO
Senior defensive back Ryan Collado had never returned a kickoff in a collegiate game. But with Troy Stoudermire’s suspension, Collado took over the kickoff return job last week vs. Northern Illinois. On his second shot at returning a kick, he nearly took one to the house. His 57-yard return was a season-long for Minnesota and set up a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter.
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