Minnesota Gophers

Terry Hawthorne returned an interception for a touchdown and Clay Nurse had four of Illinois' eight sacks to lead the Illini to a 35-32 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

Wisconsin was the third team picked in preseason polls to finish ahead of the U. Giving up a goal 24 seconds in didn't help.

Minnesota nearly overcame a 28-7 halftime deficit, before falling to Illinois 35-32 on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Join us at GopherSports.com to follow along on the Gopher Football In-Game Blog during today's game versus Illinois.

Another close matchup in the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry went the Badgers way this time in a 4-2 decision on Friday in Madison.

Colorado used to regularly attract a top player or two from Louisiana, but ties to bayou country have become a bit rusty in recent years. The Buffs welcome three teammates from one New Orleans area high school this weekend. Get inside for more

More junior year footage of Michigan's newest verbal commit, New Orleans Archbishop Rummel S Carvin Johnson (6-1, 190, 4.65). Part 2 of 2.

Junior year footage of Michigan's newest verbal commit, New Orleans Archbishop Rummel S Carvin Johnson (6-1, 190, 4.65). Part 1 of 2.

Down with Goldy is right. It was only an exhibition. It is entirely meaningless. It may have even been unfair. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t get a bit excited. In a game that wasn’t even really that (by definition a game involves competition, and I’m not sure what transpired can in any way be defined [...] Related posts:

1. And finally a positive distraction
2. Newcomers lead Gophers to impressive win
3. Gophers survive in a game that thankfully does not count

Golden Gophers vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs 7:00 pm (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Radio: WCCO 830 AM TV: Bigtennetwork.com (Streaming for $2.99) Tickets: Best available- Row 11, upper deck, center court It has been pointed out many times here and by many others elsewhere that Gopher basketball is the perfect distraction from the cold dark winters that embrace [...] Related posts:

1. Gophers run past, soar over Bulldogs
2. #19 Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Penn State: Another small opponent, and more big problems?
3. Gophers bounce back big over Buckeyes

So maybe he hasn’t grown up. Word leaked late this afternoon that Royce White was arrested in October for shop lifting and fifth degree assault. For non-legal scholars, fifth degree assault is defined here. Both crimes appear to be firmly on the idiotic side of the idiotic-harmful pendulum, and the indefinite suspension punishment appears appropriate [...] Related posts:

1. Royce White grew up, now can he live up to expectations?
2. Royce White has a blog?
3. Bad Hair Day for Royce White

1.  Obviously losing the first game isn't ideal, but I don't think anybody outside of the delusional and the wildly optimistic expected them to win this first game - not only due to the circumstances but also because of the pitching matchup.  The important thing in my opinion was that they made sure they didn't get blown out and let the Yankees know this is going to be a series, not a walk-over, and I think they accomplished that.  The score isn't as close as I would have liked at 7-2, but the team was able to get hits - actually outhitting the Yankees, and had plenty of opportunities to score, just couldn't get the big hits.  Even getting two runners on against Rivera is a bit of a mental win for the team.  I don't believe in moral victories, so this isn't one, but I do believe in moral losses - as in if the Twins got blown away here I could see them just rolling over and getting swept.  They now after to win three of the next four, which is going to be quite a chore, but game 1 gave me some hope, despite the loss.

2.  I am perplexed by Gardenhire's use of the DH.  Harris, really?  I understand why he was going Morales since he was swinging such a hot bat earlier this year, but now that he's looking overwhelmed (six pitches against Porcello, six swings-and-misses) why go with Harris?  Even the radio announcers were laughing at the Twins DH, saying they look like a national league team who doesn't have a DH and has to scramble to find one.  The move here is to play Gomez in center, shift Span to right, and move Kubel where he belongs which is no where near the field.  Gomez is a better CF than Span, and Span is immeasurably better than Kubel in right.  You gain far more in the field than you lose with Gomez's bat compared to Harris, if you actually lose anything at all there.  It's a no-brainer.  Which, of course, means Gardy will never, ever do it.

And speaking of my boy Kubes, I'm pretty sure he could face Sabathia 50 times without getting a hit.

Also, Rockies Guy - what happened?

I was going to write words but there are no words.  Try this.

This, simply put, is an amazing book.  Now, it's not the kind of book you are going to spend hours reading at a time and isn't exactly Joycian in it's prose, but that's isn't it's purpose.  What it is, is the kind of book you will get hours of entertainment out of simply by leaving it out on a coffee table and picking it up whenever you have the urge - and any guests will enjoy it as well.

A simply astonishing amount of entries, page after page of detailed sketches and information about players, coaches, rivalries, games, and anything else you could possibly looking for as a Gopher Football fan.  Starting with John William Adams, the inventor of the expression Ski-U-Mah and the team's center starting in 1881 all the way through Matt Spaeth and Tim Brewster, author (and illustrator) Al Papas Jr. gives every significant player and event just enough verbiage so you remember, learn, or recall the entry, and the black-and-white illustrations are outstandingly done.

Seriously, eveybody is here.  You know Tyrone Carter, Darrell Thompson, Bruce Smith, Tony Dungy, and Bronko Nagurski are going to have entries, but what about some lesser-remembered favorites?  Rickey Foggie?  Yep.  Tutu Atwell?  Yep.  Tellis Redman?  Check.  Marquel Fleetwood?  You know it.  Even Preston Gruening gets a page.    

Events?  Want to see drive charts from the U's 1999 win over #2 Penn State or the 2002 Music City Bowl win?  They're here, along with the 1908 win over Pop Warner, Jim Thorpe, and Carlisle College and a 1904 win over Grinnell by the score of 146-0.

Throw in hundreds of interesting little statistical facts (The Gophers beat Michigan in their first ever meeting - it's the only time they've led the series), a listing of every award any Gopher has ever won by year, all the way down to all-conference, and the schedules and results of every game from every season in Gopher football history, and this book will keep you entertained.  I don't like phrases like "must have", but if you are a Gopher football fanatic, you absolutely must own this book.

As an added bonus, Papas will be doing a book signing this Friday at the University of Minnesota Book Store in Coffman Union this Friday at 4pm.  So go get the book, go get it signed, and then come back the next day to watch the Gophers beat whoever it is that they are playing.  Seriously.