Rising Down: Minnesota's Collapse Against Michigan

Nov. 11, 2016

Agony. Something Minnesota sports fans know all too well. From struggling franchises (Twins and Wolves) to underachieving teams (Wild) to heartbreakers (Vikings), this state has endured enough letdowns already this century. Oh, and we haven't even mentioned the Gophers yet, a team with its own history of roller coaster rides and hard times. When Glen Mason received the head coaching job, the Gophers hadn't experienced a winning season in seven years. Mason was able to turn things around, and it all peaked in 2003, as he provided Minnesota with its highest win total since 1905. The Gophers were off to a 6-0 start and jumped all the way up to 17th in the rankings, with a showdown against #20 Michigan at the Metrodome.

Now, Minnesota was hot, but Michigan was, well, still Michigan. With players like Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston and Chris Perry on the team, the Wolverines were a tough test on paper. Coming off of a 10-3 season, the Wolverines were looking to retain their position at the top of the Big Ten. Minnesota would not make it easy, as they pounded Michigan for the first three quarters, and headed to the fourth with a 28-7 lead. The atmosphere in the Metrodome was incredible, and the Gophers had all of the momentum. That is, until the quarter began. Wolverines QB John Navarre found Perry on a 10 yard pass to score, and the comeback was just beginning. On the following drive, Gophers QB Asas Abdul-Khaliq tried to get rid of the ball while falling, a decision that resulted in a pick-six for the Wolverines. A 21 point lead was cut down to 7 just a minute and a half into the final quarter, and the wind was taken out of the Gophers sail quickly. Khaliq would redeem himself later with a 52 yard touchdown run to put the Gophers up 35-21, but they would not score again after that. Michigan would score less than a minute left, and after a couple back and forth drives, would score again to tie the game at 35.

On the final Wovlerine drive of the game, there would be a heartbreaking moment within the game. Michigan had pulled within field goal range, and all signs pointed to conservative play calling. Minnesota would be trying to knock the ball loose, and the Wolverines would do everything they could to keep possession. Divine intervention would be the only thing that could help the Gophers, and it almost did. Gophers safety Eli Ward hammered Perry with a jarring hit to knock the ball loose, but the Gophers could not recover. Michigan kicker would kick the game winning field goal two plays later, and the Wolverines would escape with the win.

PRESENT DAY

Michigan: Lloyd Carr's team would go on to another 10-3 season that year, and eventually he would retire. His retirement led the Wolverines to a downward spiral in the Rich Rodriguez/Brady Hoke eras that many fans want to forget. Now, they have Jim Harbaugh, and Harbaugh and his quirky ways have the Wolverines in the playoff conversation. Their style hasn't changed much as the offense still looks the same as it did in '03 and its defense is as dominant as ever under new DC Don Brown (one of the best hires in college football). Now that Michigan has Harbaugh, it will be easier to forget the dreadful years that preceded him.

Minnesota: The Michigan game is easily one of the most memorable games in Gophers football history, but it's unfortunate we can't remember it in a better way. There are still similarities between that team and the teams of late. Mason's teams were known for having good rushers in his tenure with Maroney, Barber, and later Thomas Tapeh, but they never quite took the step to becoming a consistent contender in the Big Ten. Sound familiar? Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith have been solid all year, but we have yet to see if they can take the next step. Mason's teams were also known for heartbreaking losses, and sadly the last few years have been more of the same. Losses to Penn State and Iowa this year were difficult to stomach, and losses to Michigan and Iowa last year were also frustrating. Could it be that Minnesota can't get past the Michigan loss in 2003? It seems that when times are tough against quality competition, Minnesota folds and can't pull out a win. And I mean quality competition, not kicking a field goal to beat Rutgers this year or surviving Ohio last year. If you were at the 2003 game like I was, you understand how hard it is to lose those games. No one knows the impact a win would have made on the program, and maybe this story wouldn't even be written, but we will never know. If the Gophers want to be a contender in the Big Ten, they need to grab at any opportunity they have, not hope it goes their way. Either way, the 2003 loss still stings to this day.

GROUP OF 5 TOP 4

TPO TOP 4

GOPHERS UPDATE

RECORD: 7-2
LAST WEEK: W, 44-31 vs Purdue
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: Nebraska
OPPONENT RECORD: 7-2
SITE: Memorial Stadium--Lincoln, Nebraska
OUTLOOK: Coin flip. This team has been hot and cold with its performance on both sides of the ball. The offense has games where they are efficient in moving the ball and scoring, but they also have games where punting is their best play (think: Iowa at home). Defensively, things got off to a rocky start and then have been on a roller coaster since. Plenty of times, the defense has stifled offenses and shown it can win games for this team, but other times it's a unit that looks like a revolving door. UP next is a trip to Lincoln against a team that is coming off an embarrassing road trip. A 59 point loss to Ohio State leaves a bitter taste in the Huskers' mouths, and a bounce back game is expected. Tommy Armstrong went down Saturday with a scary head injury, and his status remains unclear. Armstrong makes this offense significantly better, and didn't look great when he was carted off against the Buckeyes. Yes, Minnesota is 7-2 with momentum playing a team that is also 7-2 and is reeling from two losses. But that doesn't mean anything is going to be given to them. What's consistent with contenders is they don't hope to win games, they make sure they do. There is going to be adversity in these next four games, but how the Gophers handle it will determine their fate. They did everything necessary to have a shot at the West crown, now they have to go grab it. With reference from the above story, forget the 21 point lead against, forget the 31 fourth quarter points allowed, forget the fumble, and forget anything that happened in the past for this team. 2016 is a new team and provides new opportunities, and a contender is going to beat Nebraska regardless of adversity.