Sid Hartman: Let's face facts: Gophers weren't the better team
Yes, I was wrong when I predicted that the Gophers would beat North Dakota State 40-0.
Sid Hartman, Star Tribune Last update: October 22, 2006 ? 12:52 AM
Yes, I was wrong when I predicted that the Gophers would beat North Dakota State 40-0.
Forty? The Gophers were very lucky to win the game 10-9 when a potential winning field goal was blocked as the clock ran out. No doubt the better team on this day was the loser.
Gophers coach
Glen Mason told his team after the game, "We got outcoached and outplayed."
The Gophers offensively were outgained in total offense 380 yards to 249 by a Division I-AA team.
They showed very little emotion on the field. They appeared to still have a hangover from their decisive defeat at the hands of Wisconsin last week.
A team that showed great improvement in competing with a great Michigan team on Sept. 30 and got robbed of a victory against Penn State the following week has really gone downhill the past two weeks.
Had the Gophers lost to North Dakota State -- and they didn't deserve to win the game -- they would have not had much to play for the rest of the season except for pride.
A loss at the Metrodome on Saturday would have meant the Gophers would have had to upset No. 1 Ohio State next week in Columbus just to have a chance at a bowl game. They would have had to win all their remaining games.
Actually, the Bison beat themselves with a missed chip-shot field goal, an interception and a penalty for tripping that resulted in a North Dakota State touchdown being called back.
Then there was the blocked field goal at the end, against North Dakota State freshman kicker
Shawn Bibeau of White Bear Lake. The Gophers were helped by a not-so-good snap.
All last week, I heard Mason sing the praises of Bison quarterback
Steve Walker, whom he ranked with the best QBs he had seen this year. After Walker had completed 22 of 37 passes for 237 yards, Mason who sought out the quarterback the minute the game was over to compliment Walker on his great job.
"I think that their quarterback -- a young man from Illinois -- is an exceptional quarterback, really at any level. I mean, the way that he runs that offense, and I think they utilize abilities, and how accurate he is at passing, has really been impressive," Mason said leading up to the game. Well, regardless, it was a victory, and the Gophers have a chance to win three of the next four and are still in the running for a bowl game even with the way they have played the past two weeks.
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