In case you missed it, the Gophers dropped their final game of the season and final game ever in the dome in memorable fashion.

Box Score 55-0
BTN Highlights

When listening to Kirk Ferentz post game I think he accurately described the Gopher's season while talking about his own.

“I think in football typically you get what you deserve.  We didn’t deserve to win those four games.  We turned the ball over, we didn’t make the play or whatever it may be." 

"That is your resume, that’s our resume, we finished up with eight (ed: seven for the Gophers) and that’s the best we could do.”

He was obviously referrering to Iowa's four close losses earlier in the season, but it is appropriate for the Gopher's final four losses.  In their final 16 quarters they played one well enough to win.  The 55-0 loss was just the exclamation point. 

The things Brewster said in his press conference were all true on some level.  We are better than a year ago, we have to be able to run the ball, we are not physical enough and we have a long way yet to go.  But what he was not willing to admit to is that this team has plateaued while the rest of the conference is getting better as they go. 

It is really tricky to give the defense a pass when they gave up 55 48 points and 483 yards, but once again the offense didn't do their job putting the defense in tough situations early and often.  Weber played mediocre and the running game was beyond awful.  The defense fared well through the first quarter giving up only three points and putting Iowa in third down situations often.  In that same quarter the offense mustered just over 20 yards and three punts on three possessions.  The defense can only bend so far and when they were on the field for 2/3 of the first half eventually the Iowa offense got into a rythm that we couldn't stop.

I'm not going to spend the bulk of this bashing the offense then bashing the defense nor am I going to find whatever silver lining I can possibly fine (Troy Stoudermire), this game was about our lack of competitiveness and preparedness from the very beginning.

It was clear that this team, particularly the offense, did not improve as the season went along.  The offensive line lived on their excuse of being young all season but never got better.  We found out today that OL coach, Phil Meyers has left the coaching staff and will of course be a scapegoat for this cog in the offensive let down.

There was incredible improvement from 2007 to 2008 on the defensive side of the ball and they played as well as we had hoped.  But the offense regressed.  It is easy to point out that we had fewer yards and fewer points but we regressed in other key areas as well.  By my unofficial records we had exactly the same amount of possessions but had more three and outs, fewer offensive touchdowns and more punts (likely due to fewer turnovers). 

Despite greatly reducing turnovers we still managed to give the ball back to the opponent more often.  The final three home games got progressively worse culminating in a 55-0 embarrassment.  

I am not in to overreacting.  You'll hear/read a lot of fire Dunbar, Weber is terrible, etc.  I don't believe any of that to be true.  But this offense cannot rely on youthfulness as an excuse next year and it will have to be better.  Weber reduced turnovers, has shown a lot of toughness and leadership but he'll have to get better.  Dunbar at times had some very good gameplans but his playbook will have to be more creative and a running game must be discovered.  Consistency and improvement are a must for next year and from Dunbar on down to the players people will have to be held reponsible. 

There are reasons to be optimistic about 2009, but just relying on improvement because these guys will be 12 months older isn't going to be enough.  The list of improvements needed is for another post, but the Gophers could get things going in the right direction by taking steps toward improvement in their bowl game, wherever that may be.

The Battle for Floyd is here.

Can the Gophers get a win to end the season, improve our bowl possibilities and erase the last three weeks?

GN is supposed to be at the game. I'll try to check in on occasion.

Go Gophers!

The Hate Bowl was fun to do, albeit off the usual course of TDG content.  But now it is back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Floyd of Rosedale is back up for grabs.

Stat comparison

This will likely be a very quick preview as for me it comes down to two things...

When Iowa has the ball...

Stop Shonn Greene.  Iowa is very similar to Wisconsin statistically on offense and defense.  Both are very good at running the ball, but the huge difference is that the Wisconsin rushing attack was very north/south.  The middle of our defense did a great job of slowing down their bruising rushing style.

But Shonn Greene is a very different story.  Greene, the Big Ten's leading rusher, will cut b

ack on this defense and find open holes on the backside if our linebackers and safeties do not remain disciplined and stay home.   When Iowa has the ball this is the biggest thing to watch for. 

Specifically keep an eye on Steve Davis and Deon Hightower.  These guys have a history of overpursuing plays, biting on misdirection and abandoning their run gaps.  When the runningback then cuts back the holes are mack truck sized and we give up massive yardage. 

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi took over the starting job shortly before the midpoint of the season.  His numbers are not oustanding but all he has to do it not throw interceptions and hand off to Greene (not in that order).  The Sophomore has seven interceptions on the season and is averaging just 141 yards per game.  Even more than Wisconsin I think we can sell out on the run and force them to pass.  On the year th

e Hawkeyes have 24 touchdowns on the ground and just 12 through the air.

We aren't going to be the first team to say, "make Stanzi beat you" so it is obviously easier said than done.  We aren't going to hold Greene to 75 yards so expect yards from him, but we absolutely have to make him work for it.  He cannot get 6 or 7 yard runs on first down because of undisciplined play by our linebackers.  Stay at home, shed blocks, make the tackle! 

 
When Minnesota has the ball...

Iowa is a very good defense, maybe the best we have seen since Ohio State.  But I think we'll be able to move the ball better than we have in recent weeks.  Why you ask?  Because I think we'll be able to give Weber more time in the pocket tomorrow than we have in a very long time.

Iowa's defense is good, but getting pressure on the QB is not their greatest strength.  We will not be able to run the ball, but they are last in the Big Ten in sacks which indicates to me that we might be able to give Weber enough time to find Decker, Green, Simmons, Smith or Kuznia.  This will be a the best we have moved the ball through the air since Northwestern. 

Predictions

GN - My middle name is Floyd, Gopher Floyd Nation to be exact, and I think that will be more than enough to overcome the Gopher Nation pressbox curse.  We move the ball through the air, slow down Greene just enough and pull out the tight win.

Iowa - 27
Minnesota - 28

PJS - is a firm believer in the GopherNation (TDG) curse. He says that if I am in attendance we lose 34-35 on a late touchdown + two point conversion by the Hawkeyes.  I am get sick and do not make it to the game we win.

Iowa - 27
Minnesota - 34

Unbeknownst to most readers, the real Iowa-Minnesota football game won't be at the Metrodome this weekend; it has already been played. After an agreement by Governors Chet Culver and Tim Pawlenty, the two states agreed to take part in an epic gridiron battle. Unlike its NCAA counterpart, this game pits the entire two states against each other; anyone who is even tangentially related to either state is eligible to play for it, whether they be current or former athletes, celebrities, politicians, or even fictional characters. It is THE HATE BOWL.

First Quarter summary can be found here.

Iowa - 15
Minnesota - 0

15:00 - The Gophers begin the quarter with a couple of key offensive subsitutions.  Offensive line play has plagued the Gophers all season and this game has been no exception.  Head coach Hayden Fox benches former Gopher great  LT-Matt Anderle as he was being dominated on nearly every play by Iowa's RE-Rosanne Barr.  This move proved prudent as new LT-Jim Shikenjanski showed far more toughness and tenacity in neutralizing Barr and finally allowed the Gopher offense to move the ball.

Defensive coordinator, Tony Dungy also gets into the offensive action as he leaves the coaches box, puts on a helmet and starts the quarter at QB.

14:40 - The changes pay immediate dividends.  On the first play of the quarter the Gophers line up the Hanson brothers trips left and Randy Moss wide right.  Dungy fakes the dive to Adrian Peterson getting LB- Chad Greenway to bite, fakes the end around to Moss which consumes Bob Sanders, the Hanson brothers take out the rest of the Hawkeye defense and Dungy hits TE-Betty Crocker who goes the distance and puts the Gophers on the board.

14:40 - Special Teams coach, Jim Wacker is no fool.  It only took him a quarter to figure out that Rhys Lloyd is kicking for both teams so he decides to go for two.  The Gophers bring KG over to the offensive side of the ball.  He runs a fade to the corner of the endzone and Iowa corner, Corp. "Radar" O'Reilly stood no chance agianst the 7' Garnett.  The score is 8-15.

12:20 - A quick three and out by the Hawkeyes gives the Gophers ball back inside their own 20. 

11:07 - Even with a deep pool of talent to choose from the Gophers are having trouble getting enough players on the field.  Gopher recruiting coordinator, Glen Mason continues to ignore players from Minnesota but comes through for the Gophers going back to his roots and grabbing former Ohio State running back Robert Smith. 

7:43 - after a long methodical drive the Gophers score again.  On 4th and goal from the one the Gophers lineup Kirby Pucket at FB.  He clears a huge hole for Smith and the Gophers get their second TD of the quarter.  After the extra point was converted by Dan Nystrom the game is now tied.

7:35 - Iowa brings in Kurt Warner to try and ignite the offense.  Warner is effective getting a couple first downs but has to yeild to Reggie Roby who pins the Gophers deep once again.  The Hawkeye's are really dominating special teams.

7:30 - Minnesota comes out to start this drive with their famous Lipstick Formation.  Split wide left is Jessica Biel and Kelly Carlson.  In the backfield is Winona Ryder and Rachel Leigh Cook.  Gopher fans know this but the Hawkeye defense seems unprepared for this formation of distraction.  They drive down the field scoring on a 27 yard reception.  Jessical Biel beats Iowa corner Kate Austin on a post and the Gophers take a 22-15 lead (ed note: I am really good at editing photos!).

7:30 - On the ensuing kickoff Iowa's return man Ronnie Harmon fumbles the ball, Minnesota recovers.

5:49 - Minnesota appears headed for another TD when Paul Krause picks off a pass in the endzone giving Iowa the ball back.

5:33 - On the first play, Iowa RB-Ronnie Harmon fumbles again giving the ball right back to the Gophers. 

3:12 - Struggling to move the ball the Gophers decide to use a little razzle dazzle.  Billy Cockerham (two time victor over Iowa) drops back to pass, looks for Judy Garland over the rainbow middle...WAIT its the Statue of Liberty play.  Cockerham hands off to the Pillsbury Dough Boy who rolls over Nile Kinnick on his way to the end zone.  The extra point is once again a little shakey for the Gophers.  Jessica Biel holds for Cockerham, juggles the ball but Cockerham rams it through the uprights.  That is 29 unanswered points for Minnesota and the score as we near halftime is 29-15.

3:03 - Iowa starts their final drive the half trying to regain some momentum before half time.

2:40 - Ronnie Harmon fumbes (again) but the Hawkeyes recover.  Is Harmon throwing the game?

1:55 - 2nd and 2 Iowa hands the ball off to Capt. Kirk.  He is met in the backfield by former Viking (and Hawkeye) LB-Wally Hilgenberg  in what would appear to be a 4 yard loss.  But Capt. Kirk disappears and then reappears 7 yards downfield for a first down.  No flags on the play but the officials warn coach Reagan that beaming up will no longer be allowed.

0:09 - 4th and 4 from the Minnesota 43.  Iowa runs one final play before halftime. 

0:08 - The cameras take us away from the game and focus on Kurt Warner's wife.

0:00 - that's the end of the first half with the score 29-22.  I have no idea how Iowa scored as the camera remained on Mrs. Warner so we could see her reaction the last second touchdown.

A real back and forth barn burner.  The battle for Floyd of Rosedale has never been so fascinating. 

29-22 Minnesota leads, be sure to check out Black Heart, Gold Pants for the start of the second half.

We hate Iowa!  It's not so much that they are so hated, it just kind of rolls off the tongue. Usually this is the forgotten trophy around here.  The Jug means something cause it is Michigan.  The Axe means something because we all hate Wisconsin.  But since we don't have either of those, lets get the one trophy that has spent more time in Minnesota than the rival's trophy case.

To get you all ready for this weekend's showdown for Floyd of Rosedale, I thought we should have a quick history lesson to get us up to speed on some of the finer moments in recent Hawkeye sports history...

(Note: I'd love to string this out into more than one post, but we have real teams outside of football to talk about here.)

2006

Started promising for the always overrated Hawkeyes.  The 5-1 start climaxed with a #13 ranking in the AP poll before a trip to Indiana brought the mediocre Hawkeyes back to reality.  Drew Tate led the Hawkeyes to a brilliant 2-6 Big Ten record over the final eight games of his senior season.  Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, Northern Illinois was mixed into the schedule late to avoid seven game losing streak to end the season.  Minnesota handed Iowa one of those losses in a game where Brian Cupito was just too much to handle.  Floyd spent the year at home, in Minnesota.

This was the year of stunning collapses from overrated Hawkeye teams as this gem preceded the football collapse...

They have been able to achieve mediocrity in football, but their basketball has always been terrible.

2007

If 2006 was spectacular, 2007 must have been better right?  How about

Iowa State-15
Iowa-13

This win for Iowa State, who must have been really good, launched them to a 3-9 record.  A classic battle of the titans which was met with a collective yawn from the sports world. 

And if a Hawkeye fan starts making fun of the Gophers for losing to a MAC team last year, remind them of this.

Western Michigan - 28
Iowa - 19

Yes, we lost to Bowling Green, but at least they won their conference and went to a Bowl.

On the plus side for Iowa they were able to beat Minnesota during our worst season in school history.  And they were able to rack up almost 300 yards and 21 whole points against the worst defense in all of college football (that allowed 500 yds and nearly 30 points per game).  The 2007 Gopher team is worthy of making fun of and we were dominated by many teams, Iowa was not one of them.

The facts are often lost on delusional Hawkeye fans

• We have a higher win% over Iowa than every other Big Ten team (except Northwestern, but who doesn't).
• Floyd of Rosedale started as ours, has usually been ours and will be ours.
• Iowa is the most boring state ever.  Well, except for Des Moines, they have an terrific nightlife down there.
  
• Time to choose sides...
  

  

  

Vs.

This game means a little something for us here at TDG.  A bet has been made with the fine folks soon to be dejected folks at Blackheart, Gold Pants.  It is important for all of us that we win this game/bet or you may be forced to look at some gay porn on this upstanding site for 24 hours.  (I'm not kidding, they love gay porn).