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University of Minnesota Athletics
Game 7: Purdue at Minnesota
10/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Minnesota (5-1, 2-0) vs. Purdue (3-4, 1-2) | |
| Date | Saturday, October 18 |
| Time | 11 a.m. Central |
| Tickets | Game Day Central |
| Location | TCF Bank Stadium |
| Parking | Game Day Central |
| Metro Transit | Get to the Game |
| Television | BTN / BTN2Go |
| Radio | KFAN 100.3 / Gopher Radio Network |
| Internet | Listen Live / I Heart Radio App |
| Live Blog | Gophersports.com |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Purdue |
| Social Media | @GopherFootball | Facebook |
Five Things You Need To Know
1. Minnesota welcomes Purdue to TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday for an 11 a.m. game (Gophers are 6-1 in their last seven 11 a.m. games, including a win last week against Northwestern). Minnesota leads the series 34-32-3, which includes a 44-28 home win in 2012, which was the most recent meeting between the two schools. The Gophers hold a 29-12-3 record against Purdue at home, which also includes a 35-20 win in 2009. The Boilermakers last win in Minneapolis, was a 45-31 victory on Sept. 22, 2007, at the Metrodome.
2. Coach Kill is 22-22 at Minnesota. The Gophers were 9-16 after his first two seasons, but are 13-6, since giving him a .500 record leading the Maroon and Gold. Kill's record through his first 44 games is the best for a Gopher head coach since Murray Warmath went 21-21-2 (includes games from 1954 through the first eight games of the 1958 season) in his first 44 games leading the Gophers. Both Glen Mason and Cal Stoll were 21-23 after 44 games. The legendary Bernie Bierman was 35-5-4 after his first 44 games, which translates to a .841 winning percentage. The 1934-36 national championship seasons (Minnesota is the last team to win three straight national titles) are included in Bierman's first 44 games and the Gophers were 23-1 during that three-year stretch.
3. The Gophers are 6-2 in their last eight Big Ten games (Oct. 19, 2013 - Oct. 11, 2014), as they have posted home wins against Northwestern (2014) Nebraska (2013) and Penn State (2013) and road wins at Michigan (2014), Northwestern (2013) and Indiana (2013). Minnesota's two defeats came at home to No. 16 Wisconsin (20-7 in 2013) and on the road to No. 11 Michigan State (14-3 in 2013). The 6-2 mark is the best record for Minnesota in an eight-game conference stretch since it also went 6-2 from Nov. 6, 1999 - Oct. 21, 2000. Minnesota beat Penn State (twice), Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State, while it lost to Purdue and Indiana.
4. Minnesota is 6-2 in its last eight Big Ten regular-season games. The 6-2 record ties the Gophers for third with Iowa and Wisconsin among Big Ten teams during that stretch. Michigan State and Ohio State are both 8-0 in their last eight regular-season Big Ten games (Michigan State beat Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game).
5. A win on Saturday would give Minnesota a 6-1 record to start the season and it would also make it bowl eligible. The last time the Gophers started the season 6-1 was 2008 (also last time they were bowl eligible after seven games), when they began the year 7-1. More importantly a win would give the Gophers a 3-0 record in Big Ten play. The last time the Gophers started 3-0 in the Big Ten was 1990. That year, Minnesota beat Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana to start league play. Prior to 1990, Minnesota's best Big Ten start came in 1967, when the Gophers topped Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan and Iowa en route to a 4-0 record in the league. Purdue handed the Gophers their first and only Big Ten loss (finished year 6-1 in B1G) in 1967 (41-12 home win).
Forever Gold: 100 Years of Minnesota Homecoming
The Gophers' matchup with Purdue will help mark the 100th anniversary of Minnesota's homecoming, as the school first celebrated the tradition in 1914. See this year's homecoming schedule and learn more about the history here.
After the game, bring your football ticket to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium for free admission to Gopher soccer's 7 p.m. Border Battle game against Wisconsin. A free shuttle from Bierman Field Athletic Building to the field will run every 15 minutes starting at 6 p.m. Students attending the soccer match will receive free scarves.
