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US women's hockey gold medalist says it's 'sad' men's team had to apologize for Olympics controversy

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:51:26 -0500

Olympic gold medalist and University of Minnesota hockey star Abbey Murphy dismissed the narrative that the men’s Olympic hockey team disrespected them by laughing at a remark President Donald Trump made after their win over Canada on Sunday, saying that the two groups share a mutual respect for one another.

Speaking about some of her fondest memories at Milan Cortina, Murphy said during an appearance on Barstool’s "Spittin’ Chiclets" podcast that her favorite memory came the night of the men’s gold medal game when the two groups met in the dining hall.

"The first two guys that we saw were Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck and Charlie McAvoy. Charlie McAvoy had his goggles on his head, I mean biggest smile on his face and he welcomed every single girl [with] a big old hug, a squeeze that we were all laughing about, good memories. And he was just super happy for us as we were for them."

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Murphy, who won gold with her two goals and five assists throughout the tournament, said the two teams sat together for 2.5 hours before the men’s team had to depart around 3 a.m.

"We sat around the table with laughs and jokes. Jack Eichel was leading a lot of cheers that we were following along on. I was sitting next to Tage Thompson, who had a lot to share. He was a really funny guy. But, you know, it’s just stuff like that we’re going to remember forever.

"To be there with them and experience all those things was some of the best moments I’ll remember," she added. "Obviously, a huge honor to represent the country with them. So, glad to make as many memories as possible."

Murphy went on to explain that despite the media storm that followed the men’s team after they were heard laughing in response to Trump saying he would "have" to also invite the women’s team to the State of the Union address, she thought it was "sad" that the players needed to apologize.

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"We never felt anything bad from them. It’s sad that they even have to apologize for anything. It really is."

"They’re a special group of boys and we’re honored to kind of be in that journey with them and share it. But we know how much they respect us and we respect them. It definitely goes two ways."

A debate surrounding the men’s team attending the State of the Union address and meeting with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday led to many of the players facing questions about the incident upon their return to the NHL.

U.S. women’s hockey star Hillary Knight addressed the controversy on ESPN, calling the joke "distasteful," but defended the men’s players.

"I think there's a genuine level of support there and respect," she said. "I think that's being overshadowed by a quick lapse. I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it's a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on."

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The women’s hockey team declined an invitation to the State of the Union address, but USA Hockey said in a later statement that the team would "soon" visit the White House to celebrate their gold medal success "based on their schedules once their seasons conclude."

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Minnesota wide receiver makes incredible diving catch to win bowl game

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:41:16 -0500

Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Jalen Smith made an incredible diving touchdown catch to help the team to a Rate Bowl win over the New Mexico Lobos on Friday night.

Minnesota trailed by three points in overtime and needed a field goal to extend the period or a touchdown to win the game.

On third down, Drake Lindsey found Smith between three Lobos defenders. Smith dove and made the wild catch to give Minnesota the 20-17 win.

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The Golden Gophers led 14-6 after Darius Taylor scored a touchdown. But on the ensuing kickoff, Damon Bankston returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown. New Mexico’s trick play two-point conversion tied the game.

The bowl victory marked Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck’s seventh since he became the Golden Gophers' head coach. Minnesota hasn’t lost a bowl game under Fleck and hasn’t lost a bowl game since the 2014 season, when Jerry Kill was the head coach.

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Lindsey was 18 of 28 with two touchdown passes, both to Smith.

The Lobos went viral during the game for their turquoise uniforms, but they didn’t do enough to distract Minnesota’s defense.

New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne was 14-for-25 with an interception.

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Minnesota finishes the season with an 8-5 record. New Mexico fell to 9-4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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College football fans go wild for New Mexico's bowl game uniforms

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:58:15 -0500

College football fans demand a lot out of a bowl game that doesn’t include high stakes, like vying for the national championship.

But the New Mexico Lobos were thrust into the spotlight Friday night as they took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Rate Bowl.

Fans went wild over the team's turquoise jerseys.

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They made it known before and during the game.

New Mexico announced its United in Turquoise campaign before the start of the 2025 season. The team wore the unique jerseys for a game against Utah State in October.

The school said in August that the color was added to the school’s official color palette in the 1970s and used it on their jerseys until 1980, when they returned to cherry and silver. The alternate turquoise colors returned in 2013 and 2022.

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"Every uniform reveal has a storytelling component. None have the importance of our United in Turquoise. The importance of turquoise to the state of New Mexico cannot be understated, and it is why we will wear the color with pride," the school said in August.

"For the past we honor. For the state we live in. For New Mexico."

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It was a massive hit when the Lobos announced the colors in the summer, and they were a massive hit again at the Rate Bowl.

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Former Vikings captain speaks out after Minnesota misses Trump admin's deadline to protect girls' sports

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:07:43 -0400

Former Minnesota Vikings captain Jack Brewer says he feels his family, figuratively, is being "held hostage" by the North Star State's Democratic policymakers who continue to enable transgender athletes in girls' sports.

The state did not comply with the Trump administration's Friday deadline to ban trans athletes from girls' sports. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison cited the current government shutdown in a letter to the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, saying he has no "substantive response" to the Title IX deadline.

Brewer, who also served as captain for the University of Minnesota's football team, has family and young relatives living in the state, and called its trans athlete policies "dark and demonic."

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"I still have plenty of family in Minnesota — nieces, nephews, cousins — and family members who coach high school sports there," Brewer told Fox News Digital. "My family is being held hostage to these dark and demonic laws. I feel for my little nieces who have dreams of being athletes, for my young cousins playing high school sports, and for my former teammates who are now coaches and athletic directors across the state. These are my people — that’s why I speak out. I say things they can’t. It’s a sad reality that they’re being forced to raise their children around this sickness."

The Trump administration determined at the end of September that Minnesota policies violated Title IX, citing a controversy from the spring that saw a transgender softball pitcher lead a girls' high school team to a state title.

The findings also cited instances of trans athletes competing in girls' Alpine and Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, and volleyball in Minnesota.

The U.S. Department of Justice has already filed lawsuits against educational agencies in Maine and California for similar violations. A DOJ referral for Minnesota is now likely when the government re-opens.

"President Trump is absolutely right to demand that men stay out of women’s sports," Brewer said. "When Congress is back in session, he should cut all federal funding to states that continue this insanity. Minnesota has become the laughingstock of America — the embarrassment of our nation."

Ellison's response to the ultimatum comes despite the hundreds of Minnesota school board members who penned an open letter urging the state to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order and change its policies to keep males out of girls' sports. As of Tuesday afternoon, 280 school board members across 113 school districts in the state have signed the letter, citing concerns for girls' privacy and safety, as well as potential federal funding cuts in response to the state's noncompliance.

Brewer called out Ellison and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for not adhering to the wishes of those school board members.

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"You have hundreds of school board members who have stood against this, yet a governor and an attorney general with that much control are forcing their leftist, satanic ideals on people who want nothing to do with it," Brewer said. "The world is watching as Minnesota has become the epicenter of this darkness — the devil’s den. Something needs to change, and the people of Minnesota need to wake up."

Brewer also cited his Christian beliefs for his stance on the issue.

"The Bible talks about this — Jesus said it’s better to have a millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the sea than to harm one of His little ones," he said. "Our nation was founded as a Christian nation — not one that appeases or promotes sexual immorality. We are destroying the souls of our children."

Ellison has responded to school board members urging the state to keep biological males out of girls' sports by saying the issue "doesn't harm anyone."

"Letting the very small number of transgender students in Minnesota play on their school sports teams doesn't harm anyone, but segregating them does," part of Ellison's statement read.

"I too am concerned about the Trump Administration’s threats to cut education funding for kids across Minnesota, but this matter is before the court right now. The federal government's threats violate the U.S. Constitution, Minnesota law, and Title IX itself. I’m fighting to prevent these harmful cuts, stop the Administration's bullying of transgender kids who just want to live their lives in peace, and protect the rights and freedoms of all our students in Minnesota."

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Ellison has already filed his own lawsuit against Trump and the DOJ for trying to enforce its policies to protect girls' sports in Minnesota. He has also bragged about "suing them first" over the issue.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Ellison and Walz's office for a response to Brewer's comments.

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Former Minnesota, NFL receiver discusses alma mater's challenges in new NIL era amid homecoming weekend

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 09:45:18 -0400

Eric Decker will be back in Minneapolis on Saturday night for his Minnesota Golden Gophers' homecoming game, reliving the glory days.

The former NFL receiver starred for Minnesota, playing three years at the Metrodome before spending his senior season at the outdoor Huntington Bank Stadium.

"Just to be around that energy, reliving the memories, I love P.J. [Fleck], he's done a great job with the program and has gotten the best out of his guys. Fun to be back, especially in the fall, that's the best time of year anywhere. But football season on campus, a lot of great memories I've built through my career now," Decker said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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Decker will be in the building on behalf of Duke Cannon, which will have its "Big A-- Keg of Soap" to keep fans clean throughout the long day ahead of the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

"All the fans are welcome to come, take a little shower, get a little refresh after a long day of tailgating and smell fresh walking into the stadium…" Decker said. "The keg is relative to the college lifestyle, so it’s a fun activation, completely different than anything I’ve seen. Really excited for them to do it on campus during homecoming."

It's been well over a decade since Decker donned the gold and maroon, and he's seen the change in college athletics from the outside.

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Decker knows that Minnesota does not have the same pull as the school's longtime Big Ten rivals like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State — or even the new ones like Oregon, Washington and USC.

"We do get good athletes in, the problem is keeping them," Decker said.

So, how do they do that? It's simple.

"I also look at the opportunity, and this is a challenge: Minneapolis has the most Fortune 500 companies in the area. How we can’t align to create a fund where Ohio State gets $25 million outside of their allotment that the Big Ten gives each team, we should be doing that in order to, in a sense, buy wins," Decker said. "We just don’t have that. That’s an opportunity I know P.J. knows about, but the philosophy with the school and their vision, these corporations, there’s gotta be kind of marriage or merging of it. I hope we can bring some big players in, because financially, we can.

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"Overall, I don’t know if there’s much to be done if it’s not financially rewarding."

Minnesota is aiming for its fourth win on Saturday against Purdue.

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Ex-Vikings player rips Minnesota AG as state sues Trump to keep trans athletes in girls sports

Fri, 16 May 2025 17:33:59 -0400

Former Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer shared a grievance with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

The AG is waging a legal battle against President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice to ensure transgender athletes can continue participating in girls sports in the state. The state's ongoing defiance of Trump's executive order to keep girls sports female has resulted in a controversy involving a transgender pitcher who has dominated a girls softball season.

"Clearly, Keith Ellison, the attorney general of Minnesota, has never played any major sports," Brewer told Fox News Digital.

"It’s like he’s never stepped foot in a real locker room, especially not one where the sport demanded true athleticism, grit and toughness. It’s embarrassing to watch a Black man stand before the nation and promote boys competing against girls."

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The White House has responded to the lawsuit, condemning Ellison for taking legal action to enable trans inclusion.

"Why would a grown man sue the Trump administration to allow other biological males to participate in women’s sports? This is creepy and anti-woman," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital.

Brewer played four seasons for the Golden Gophers from 1998-2001, then started his NFL career with the Vikings in 2002. He also raised his children in the state.

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"The state has veered so far off course that it’s doing the exact opposite of what it once stood for. It used to be a national leader on Title IX and women’s rights. Now, it’s destroying women’s sports, degrading women and promoting situations where men are physically dominating women," Brewer said.

"It’s heartbreaking for any former Gopher, any former Viking, any professional athlete who’s lived in that great city. It’s embarrassing. It’s shocking. And, to be honest, it’s just devastating."

Reports of a trans softball pitcher winning 14 straight games heading into the playoffs and earning first-team All-State honors rocked the state in recent weeks.

For Brewer, it is a difficult situation to witness as a Minnesota resident and former pro athlete.

"In any sport — especially something like softball — people can get seriously hurt. A man hits the ball harder. A man throws the ball faster. So, the idea of allowing men to compete in women’s softball — especially now, when that sport has grown in visibility and opportunity — is insane," Brewer said.

"Women’s softball is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. If every high school varsity baseball player decided to go play Division I women’s softball, there would be no women left on the field. Anyone who supports that agenda is either ignorant or pushing politics over people.

"And that’s exactly what Keith Ellison is doing. They don’t care about the girls. They care about fundraising and staying in power, and they’re doing it at the expense of young athletes all across America.

"President Trump understands exactly what’s happening. He said it best. If you put a bunch of MLB players on a women’s softball team, they’d win the championship."

Ellison made the announcement of the lawsuit at a press conference after months of the state defying Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. Ellison claimed he received notice from the Department of Justice threatening legal action if the state did not follow the executive order.

"I'm not going to sit around waiting for the Trump administration to sue Minnesota. Today, Minnesota is suing him and his administration because we will not participate in this shameful bullying," Ellison said. "We will not let a small group of vulnerable children who are only trying be healthy and live their lives be demonized."

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Ellison's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, argues the Trump administration does not have the authority to set states' athletic gender eligibility policies through an executive order.

Minnesota is the first state to sue the Department of Justice over threats of funding cuts for allowing trans athletes to play in girls sports and the second state to sue the Trump administration over the issue.

Maine filed a lawsuit against Trump after the Department of Agriculture cut funding to the state April 2, and a federal judge has already ruled the USDA must release the funding to Maine.

After Trump's executive order, the Minnesota State High School League announced it would defy federal law by allowing transgender athletes to continue playing in women's sports.

Ellison's office said "based on the plain language of the statute, educational institutions and the Minnesota State High School League would violate the MHRA by prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in extracurricular activities consistent with their gender identity."

Minnesota's state legislature failed to pass the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act in early March, which would have stated that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls."

A New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports.

Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democratic, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.

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Kansas baseball team ties NCAA record with 5 straight home runs in 29-1 victory over Minnesota

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:44:25 -0400

Wednesday just wasn't the day for the Minnesota Golden Gophers' pitching staff.

The University of Minnesota welcomed Kansas to U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings, this week, and the Jayhawks offense wound up looking like the Vikings offense.

Kansas won by four touchdowns, defeating the Golden Gophers, 29-1, and made history while doing so.

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In the third inning, off two different pitchers, the Jayhawks hit five straight home runs, tying the NCAA record set in 1992 and pulling off a feat that has never been done in the major leagues.

It all started with Chase Diggins' three-run blast with no outs, but Max Soliz Jr. followed up with a solo shot of his own.

Minnesota went to the bullpen, but that didn't stop the home run barrage as Brady Counsell, Brady Ballinger and Jackson Hauge followed with homers. Counsell is the son of former big leaguer and current Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell.

The game was called after seven innings due to the mercy rule.

"I’ve never been a part of anything like that," Counsell said. "I think kind of in the moment I didn’t really realize that we had three, and after (Brady) Ballinger went deep that was four. We were kind of like, ‘Oh my gosh. What is happening?’"

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After Hauge went deep, "It was, Wow! That’s crazy!'" Counsell added.

The first college team to hit five consecutive homers was Centenary, which did it against Stephen F. Austin in the first inning of a game in 1992. Eastern Illinois matched the feat in the fifth inning against Morehead State in 1998, and before Wednesday, it was most recently accomplished by South Carolina against Georgia in 2006.

"I actually didn’t know we had four when I went up to the plate because they made a pitching change," said Hauge, who actually had two homers in the game. "It was Diggins, Soliz and then a pitching change. I was just going up there thinking, ‘This would be awesome to go back-to-back-to-back.’ When I got back in the dugout, they yelled, ‘Five!’ So it was pretty cool."

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Kansas also set a record for margin of victory against a Division I opponent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Olympic gold medalist, wrestler Gable Steveson to return to Minnesota following short-lived retirement

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:43:23 -0500

Wrestler Gable Steveson is ready to get back in the game. The Olympic gold medalist will return to competition at the University of Minnesota as he puts his retirement on pause.

Steveson plans to exercise his fifth and final season of college wrestling eligibility. The COVID-19 pandemic granted NCAA athletics an additional year of eligibility.

Steveson won his second national title at Minnesota in 2022 before announcing his retirement. The 24-year-old will look to extend his 52-match win streak when he resumes competitive wrestling in the collegiate ranks.

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"Minnesota has given me everything, and now it’s my turn to give it right back to them: to put my feet back on the wrestling mat, to be the champ, one more time," Steveson said in a video posted to social media.

Minnesota said he is expected to make his season debut on Nov. 24. "Gable has the burning desire to compete for the Maroon and Gold one last time," Minnesota wrestling head coach Brandon Eggum said.

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"We are thankful he has chosen the opportunity to add to his historic legacy with our program. He is one of the best to ever compete in the sport of wrestling, and we are grateful for the impact has had at our program."

Steveson had a stint with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). During his time with the professional wrestling promotion, Steveson competed at the NXT level — the organization's developmental brand.

The Buffalo Bills signed Steveson in May, despite his lack of experience with football. He was projected to be a defensive lineman. However, Steveson's first attempt at organized football ended in August when he was released by the Bills.

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He has continued to train with Eggum, and considered making a run at qualifying for the Paris Olympics before ultimately deciding against it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Fans boo Tim Walz as he leaves Michigan-Minnesota game: 'Get out of here!'

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 19:40:06 -0400

A rough afternoon for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz got even tougher.

Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate attended Saturday's game between Minnesota and Michigan in Ann Arbor, taking in the action from a suite along with former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

The Golden Gophers trailed by as many as 17 points early, but they staged a late comeback by scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

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However, it was too little too late, and the 12th-ranked defending champions came away with a 27-24 victory.

When it came time for Walz to exit the Big House, fans waited outside and gave him a harsh farewell.

Several in attendance booed him, with another fan even yelling "Get out of here."

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Minnesota cut it to a three-point game with 1:36 to go, and it recovered an onside kick, but a special teamer was ruled offside, negating the play, and the Wolverines ran out the clock.

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Before the game, Walz was tailgating with fans outside the Big House.

"A little rain can't keep us from the big Michigan-Minnesota game! And it's not gonna stop these students from making sure that everyone on their campus is registered to vote," Walz posted on X.

When asked by the Michigan College Democrats on X whether he was "excited for Michigan to beat Minnesota today," he let out a laugh, perhaps knowing it was unlikely.

"I'm excited to be at the Big House. I'm excited to watch this incredible game. I'm more excited to see young people being excited about their future," he responded.

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When he was done tailgating, Walz and his wife took the field to greet Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck.

The Wolverines are 5-1 and have won four straight since their loss to Texas, which is now ranked No. 1 in the country. The Gophers are 2-3, losing both of their conference games.

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Minnesota falls to No. 12 Michigan to go under .500 with Gov Tim Walz in attendance

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:51:15 -0400

The pregame went much better for Tim Walz than his state's college football program.

The University of Minnesota headed to Ann Arbor for a Big Ten matchup with No. 12 Michigan, and the reigning champs dominated early.

The Golden Gophers fought back late, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone, but it wasn't enough.

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In all, the governor of Minnesota, in a suite with Beto O'Rourke, saw the Golden Gophers fall to the Wolverines, 27-24.

Minnesota cut it to a three-point game with 1:36 to go, and they actually recovered an onside kick, but a special teamer was ruled offsides, negating the play, and the Wolverines were able to run out the rest of the clock.

Before the game, Walz was tailgating with fans outside the Big House.

"A little rain can't keep us from the big Michigan-Minnesota game! And it's not gonna stop these students from making sure that everyone on their campus is registered to vote," Walz posted on X.

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When asked by Michigan College Democrats on X whether he was "excited for Michigan to beat Minnesota today," he let out a laughter, knowing it was unlikely.

"I'm excited to be at the Big House, I'm excited to watch this incredible game. I'm more excited to see see young people being excited about their future," he responded.

After he got done tailgating, Walz and his wife took the field to greet Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck.

Michigan running back Kalel Mullings continued his dominance on the ground, finding the end zone twice.

The Wolverines are now 5-1 and have won four straight since their loss to Texas, who are now ranked No. 1 in the country. The Gophers are now 2-3 on the season, losing both of their conference games.

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Michigan plays its first road game next week in a national championship rematch against Washington, while Minnesota will host No. 13 USC.

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North Carolina QB Max Johnson exits game after brutal injury, out for the season

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:58:41 -0400

Max Johnson's first season under center for the North Carolina Tar Heels came to an abrupt end Thursday.

The senior quarterback grabbed his leg as he lay on the turf for several minutes in the third quarter of UNC's season opener against Minnesota. Johnson would eventually need the assistance of a cart to exit the field. He was then taken to a hospital.

On Friday, UNC confirmed Johnson had undergone a medical procedure in Minneapolis. The school also noted he would travel back to North Carolina in the coming days.

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While Johnson is expected to make a full recovery, the injury will sideline him for the rest of the 2024 season, ESPN reported.

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Conner Harrell, who played for the Tar Heels in last season’s bowl game after Drake Maye declared for the draft, led the team the rest of the way in the 19-17 win at Minnesota and is positioned to take over the starting job for a Sept. 7 home game against Charlotte.

Johnson, the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, had transferred from Texas A&M and won the starting job over Harrell to replace Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall NFL draft pick.

But Johnson was hurt when his leg bent awkwardly as he was taken to the ground on a blitz by Justin Walley in the second half.

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown addressed Johnson's injury after the game.

"I hate that Max got hurt for him and for us. Conner [has] got to come on," Brown said.

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Johnson, a fifth-year quarterback who started his career with two years at LSU, finished 12-for-19 for 71 yards with one interception while also running for a score. The team awarded Johnson a game ball afterward.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Minnesota's PJ Fleck misses out on bowl-victory bonus for bizarre reason

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:33:46 -0500

The Minnesota Golden Gophers won the Quick Lane Bowl on Wednesday night thanks to Darius Taylor rushing for 208 yards in his return from a leg injury.

The Gophers were not automatically bowl-eligible, as they only went 5-7 in the regular season. Teams must win six games.

However, they were selected for a bowl game, as they had the best Academic Progress Rate among five-win teams.

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Tuesday's victory was their seventh consecutive bowl victory since 2015 (they did not play in a bowl in 2017), and their fifth-straight with P.J. Fleck.

However, although the record is on Fleck's career record, it is not reflected in his net worth.

According to USA Today, Fleck will not receive an extra payday for the victory, because his team had not automatically qualified for the bowl.

There is apparently a clause in his contract that states he is not due a bowl-participation bonus because they were 5-7 in the regular season.

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Fleck joined the Gophers in 2017, when that team also went 5-7 but did not play in a bowl game. The Gophers have played in, and won, a bowl game in each season since.

It was somewhat of a full-circle moment, as Fleck's first bowl victory with the Golden Gophers was also in the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl, a 34-10 win over Georgia Tech.

This seven-bowl game win streak also began at the Quick Lane Bowl back in 2015, as Minnesota beat Central Michigan, 21-14.

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Their last loss in a bowl game came in the Citrus Bowl of the 2014 season, when they lost to Missouri, 33-17.

Minnesota lost their final four games of the regular season but ended 2023 on a high note.

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Controversial punt return leaves Iowa baffled in brutal loss to Minnesota

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:19:15 -0400

The Minnesota Golden Gophers won a low-scoring bout to Iowa, 12-10, on Saturday night. But the result looked to be a Hawkeyes victory late in the game until referees called back a controversial punt return.

Iowa’s Cooper DeJean was set to receive a punt from Minnesota, which was deep in their own zone with 2:06 left to play in the game. The Hawkeyes’ defense forced a three-and-out, giving their offense an opportunity to go down the field with good position to win the game.

When the punt was away, DeJean immediately noticed that the ball was going to be short, so he pointed at where the ball would land for his teammates to recognize its spot. In doing so, DeJean was also waving his left hand, though it didn’t look to be a clear fair catch signal.

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The ball bounced, and instead of just letting it go out of bounds, DeJean decided to scoop it up and attempt a return. For some reason, no Golden Gopher on the punt coverage team decided to push DeJean out of bounds close to the sideline, which he took full advantage of.

DeJean raced down the field and wound up in the end zone to the joy of the Iowa crowd. They were elated that DeJean was able to score on what looked to be a simple change of possession, giving Iowa a 16-12 lead with less than two minutes to play.

MINNESOTA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH P.J. FLECK DEFENDS PROGRAM, CALLS MISTREATMENT CLAIMS ‘BASELESS’

It ended up being that change of possession, though, when referees ruled that DeJean was signaling for a fair catch after review.

During the NBC broadcast, rules analyst Reggie Smith explained why this was the right call to make in the situation.

"Initially, the punt returner points at the ball, which is something that’s allowed. However, with his left hand. He begins giving the getaway signal, as you can see him waving here. This constitutes an invalid fair catch signal. It’s not a penalty, but it causes the ball to become dead at the spot of the recovery. Proper ruling."

Iowa was still able to acquire great field position with enough time left to at least kick a field goal for the victory. But the possession ended with an interception by the Golden Gophers to secure the win.

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The loss for the Hawkeyes pushed them to 6-2 on the year, and 3-2 in Big 10 conference play. Minnesota, on the other hand, improved to 4-3 for the season.

Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck defends program, calls mistreatment claims 'baseless'

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 18:41:25 -0400

Minnesota Golden Gophers head football coach P.J. Fleck responded to recent claims of mistreatment from former players and others, calling them "baseless allegations."

Fleck said, via ESPN, that a report from Front Office Sports had "been looked into multiple times since 2017," and there was nothing to confirm any wrongdoing.

The report includes claims from former players of Fleck saying the coach overlooked positive drug tests and other rules for players who accumulated "enough goodwill through a points system called the Fleck Bank."

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The Fleck Bank would track community service by the players, which included visiting to the University of Minnesota Medical Center alongside the head coach and tracking study habits.

Fleck allegedly also had punishments that included excessive workouts, and the term "cult" was brought up by the former players when characterizing Fleck’s program.

MINNESOTA FOOTBALL ‘CAMPAIGNS’ FOR STANDOUT PLAYER IN FUNNY ELECTION DAY VIDEO

Fleck’s "Row The Boat" culture, which is a philosophy he discussed in a 2021 book with the same name, is what the former players compared to a "cult."

"Our program culture is proven to work on and off the field, and it’s always done in a first-class manner," Fleck said, via ESPN. "There are tons of testimonials from past, current and future Gophers."

Fleck noted that Minnesota has six different channels through which players can report mistreatment, which includes Mark Coyle, the school’s athletic director. Coyle told Front Office Sports no claims ever came across his desk regarding the football program.

As for the Fleck Bank, the six-year Minnesota head coach said it was an analogy he used during his first two seasons with the program in 2017 and 2018. It was to show player investment in the team on and off the field.

NORTHWESTERN INTERIM HEAD COACH DAVID BRAUN FORCED TO TREAD MURKY WATERS AT BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS AMID SCANDAL

"There was no currency ever exchanged," Fleck explained. "There was no coins that ever existed. It was an analogy simply to explain investment for life, a life lesson of investment, simply that. No one ever got out of any type of punishment for that.

"You are who you are, and you're running a very, very open, transparent program. Our university knows that, our athletic department, our athletic director know that, and they experience it every single day."

Fleck believes the claims against Minnesota come from a former staffer who "clearly has a personal vendetta against myself and our football program."

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With the Northwestern University hazing scandal front and center in college football, claims like these are not being taken lightly be schools across the country.

College baseball fan takes heat for racing kid to foul ball, failing to give souvenir away

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:42:18 -0400

A college baseball fan caught flak from social media during a game on Saturday between West Virginia and Minnesota.

The incident in question came in the bottom of the eighth inning when West Virginia third baseman Braden Berry fouled off a pitch from Minnesota pitcher Connor Wietgrefe. The ball landed on the concourse of Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark in Morgantown, West Virginia.

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Two people ran toward the ball to try and take home a souvenir. The adult fan beat out a child for the foul ball and did not give it to the child, who it would likely mean more to. The young fan ran back to his party smiling, and the adult went back to the railing to watch the rest of the at-bat.

The move did not go over well on social media. The man was labeled a "jerk" for not giving the baseball to the kid.

COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAM PILES 35 RUNS ONTO OPPONENT AFTER UMPIRE CONTROVERSY LEADS TO SUSPENSION

Regardless of the situation, West Virginia won the game 7-2 behind a home run from Caleb McNeely and two RBI from Sam White. Dayne Leonard and J.J. Wetherholt had RBIs as well.

West Virginia would complete the three-game sweep of the Golden Gophers on Sunday with a 7-4 victory. The Mountaineers ended the weekend improving their record to 10-4 overall while Minnesota fell to 2-14 on the season.

The Mountaineers have a two-game series on the road this week against Appalachian State and stay on the road later in the weekend for a three-game set against UNC Greensboro.

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Minnesota heads back home to U.S. Bank Stadium for a two-game set against Gonzaga and then will host Houston for three games over the weekend.

Minnesota football 'campaigns' for standout player in funny Election Day video

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 18:58:31 -0500

It’s Election Day across the U.S., but it is also award season in college football. So the Minnesota Golden Gophers decided to play on today’s elections to deliver their own "campaign video" for a certain football player.

Center John Michael Schmitz Jr., a captain with the Golden Gophers, is considered one of the best in his position in the Big Ten Conference.

Schmitz will likely be considered for the All-Big Ten roster as well as the Dave Rimington Trophy for the best center in college football.

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Minnesota believes Schmitz is the "right center for the job."

"He’s not too far left and he’s not too far right. In fact, he lines up right in the center," a narrator said. "This college football award season, you deserve a center who can do it all. One that can pass protect, one who can run block, and one who can actually enjoy serving up pancakes on a Saturday morning.

"You deserve John Michael Schmitz."

AP TOP 25 POLL: GEORGIA STAYS AT NO. 1 AFTER WIN OVER TENNESSEE, TCU MOVES TO NO. 4

Schmitz even had the customary, "I approve this message," at the end.

While being a bruiser on the field, earning himself spots on the All-Big Ten second team roster in 2021, Schmitz was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree for the past four seasons.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CAMPUS HAS MULTIPLE EVACUATION NOTICES DUE TO GAS LEAKS

Playing in the Big Ten West, the Golden Gophers own a 6-3 record, including an even 3-3 in conference games. They have won their last two games with Schmitz leading the offensive line with stellar center play.

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There’s still a good amount of time left before awards are given out for college football players, but campaigns are never too early to start. We’ll see if the voters choose Schmitz on their Election Day.

University of Minnesota campus has multiple evacuation notices due to gas leaks

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 15:57:49 -0400

A number of buildings on the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus were evacuated Tuesday because of a gas leak, fire officials said.

A tweet from the university says the Minneapolis Fire Department ordered the evacuation of Williams Arena, Huntington Bank Stadium, McNamara Alumni Center, the Aquatics Center, Recreation Center, Mariucci arena and the Maturi Sports Pavilion.

Fire officials advised people to stay away from the area on the East Bank campus.

RESCUE CAT SAVES FAMILY BY SNIFFING OUT GAS LEAK IN THEIR HOME

Crews responded to a hazardous materials call from contractors working on sewer tunnels in the area after "gas monitors alarmed, high petroleum smell and a visual of petroleum" in the sewer tunnel, authorities said.

NYC GAS EXPLOSION LEVELS 3 HOMES, DISPLACES 2 FAMILIES AFTER FIRE SPREADS FROM VACANT BUILDING

This is the second gas leak to impact the U of M campus in recent weeks. On June 30, there was a fire and gas spill in a nearby sewer line, which blew manhole covers out of the street along University Avenue.

No. 5 Indiana ends game on 14-0 run to beat Minnesota

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 07:07:18 -0500

Aleksa Gulbe scored a career-high 28 points and No. 5 Indiana closed the game on a 14-0 run to complete an 80-70 comeback victory over Minnesota on Thursday night.

Gulbe was 4 for 4 from 3-point range, Grace Berger had 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Nicole Cardaño-Hillary added 14 for the Hoosiers (15-3).

"We’re still a team that’s trying to create some momentum for ourselves," Indiana coach Teri Moren said. "We’re playing a lot of different pieces. We’re playing different than we’re used to."

Gulbe surpassed her previous high of 22 points, set against Norfolk State on Nov. 16.

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"We rely on her on the defensive end, but really on the offensive end too," Berger said. "She’s been huge for us, especially these last few games."

Sara Scalia scored 26 points for the Gophers (10-13), including shooting 7 for 12 from 3-point range, but couldn’t hit two late 3-pointers to bring her team back as Indiana’s final run closed out the last 4:26 of the game.

Berger said she was able to take charge late in the game because of Moren’s trust in her. Berger scored 11 of her points in the second half, adding five rebounds and five assists in the fourth quarter.

"Everything about Grace gives me confidence that she can take over a game whenever Grace decides to do that," Moren said. "From her work ethic to how competitive she is to her skillset, this kid is a pro."

Both teams shot around 50% from the field, with Indiana shooting 51% and 7 for 14 from beyond the arc and Minnesota 45% (11 for 21).

The Hoosiers got late contributions from their reserves with Grace Waggoner giving Indiana a 71-70 lead. The layup was just her second field goal of the season.

Minnesota took a 37-36 lead into halftime after Indiana missed six of its last seven shots.

SHOWING UP

Due to snowy weather conditions, the game was played without fans at Assembly Hall, But roughly 20 Indiana students came to cheer on the team from behind the basket, adorned in banana costumes and candy stripes.

"I’m not really sure how they got in, I didn’t think they were allowed," Berger said. "It was definitely a pleasant little surprise when we walked out."

BIG PICTURE

Minnesota: The Gophers couldn’t finish their second straight Big Ten victory after beating Wisconsin to end a four game losing streak.

Indiana: The Hoosiers bounced back after losing to No. 6 Michigan on Monday. The loss was Indiana’s first in conference play since Jan. 28, 2021, when it lost 78-70 to Ohio State.

UP NEXT

Minnesota: Returns home to play Michigan State on Sunday. Michigan State beat Minnesota 74-71 on Jan. 23.

Indiana: Welcomes Purdue to Bloomington. The in-state rivals met on Jan. 16, with Indiana winning 73-68 in overtime.

No. 4 Purdue beats Minnesota for 4th straight victory

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:18:55 -0500

Jaden Ivey scored 21 points and Zach Edey added a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, leading No. 4 Purdue to an 88-73 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night.

Senior guard Eric Hunter Jr. added a career-high 20 points and the Boilermakers got double-figure scoring from four players. Hunter entered the contest averaging 4.3 points.

Purdue (19-3, 8-3 Big Ten) has won four straight and seven of its last eight games.

While the Boilermakers excelled near the rim, scoring 40 points in the paint, Purdue also hit 12 of 24 shots from 3-point range in handling the Gophers.

"Like any other game, we're going to try to establish our size," Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. "Just the balance of getting deep post-ups, getting ready to shoot, seeing how they're going to handle those post-ups, and then just executing our sets."

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Payton Willis scored 24 points and Jamsion Battle added 21 for Minnesota (11-8, 2-8), which lost its third straight.

Purdue followed up its dramatic last-second win over Ohio State with a comfortable road victory. The Gophers briefly made things interesting in the second half before running out of steam.

Edey scored nine of his points in the first four minutes, and the Boilermakers started 8 of 8 from the floor.

"It really comes from setting the tone right from the beginning on my first shift, just from the tipoff," Edey said. "It creates a gravity almost towards me where, for the rest of the game, I can kick out to other people. Other people were getting wide-open layups because they didn't want to help off me."

As Minnesota began to double-team Edey, he found teammates as Purdue's inside-out game thrived. Edey had three assists and also drew eight fouls.

Hunter was 4 of 6 from 3-point range to lead all Boilermakers from deep. He has scored in double figures in three of Purdue's last four games.

"It's always good to get career highs, especially on the road when usually you don't play your best on the road on the offensive side," Hunter said.

Minnesota cut Purdue’s 15-point halftime lead to seven after five straight points by Treyton Thompson that made it 63-56. The Gophers couldn’t get any closer as Purdue began making stops on defense.

"We're never going to look at the score and be like, ‘Oh, we’re out of this game,'" Battle said. "We saw we were down 18 today. We fought back and we tried to make it a game, and I thought we did make it a game."

Minnesota threatened one last time, with four minutes remaining. Battle hit a 3-pointer from the corner to make it a 10-point game, but Purdue’s Trevion Williams found a cutting Ivey for an easy dunk to answer.

The Boilermakers used their size to dominate on the glass. Purdue outrebounded Minnesota 39-23.

"They're a good team, talented team," Willis said of Purdue. "They've obviously got some huge guys inside and got some wings that can shoot the ball really well."

Minnesota limited Williams. The Boilermakers’ third-leading scorer didn’t have a point until a free throw early in the second half. He finished with five points and three fouls in 13 minutes.

Minnesota’s Eric Curry came off the bench in his second game back from an ankle injury. He struggled from the floor with 1-for-7 shooting.

BIG PICTURE

Purdue: The Boilermakers continued to show the depth that has led to a top-5 ranking. Three players were in double-figures at halftime in Purdue's road win.

Minnesota: The Gophers fell to 0-5 this season against ranked teams, including losses against ranked opponents in their last three games. Wednesday’s game was the most lopsided of the five.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

After moving into the top five this week, Purdue will look to stay there when it faces Michigan on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Purdue: Hosts Michigan on Saturday.

Minnesota: At Iowa on Sunday.

Caitlin Clark sets triple-double record, No. 25 Iowa routs Minnesota

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:49:23 -0500

Iowa's Caitlin Clark posted her second straight 30-point triple-double, setting a Division I basketball record for men or women, and the No. 25 Hawkeyes rolled to a 105-49 victory over Minnesota on Thursday night.

Clark had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, helping the Hawkeyes (11-4, 5-1 Big Ten) to their biggest win (56 points) against a conference opponent. The sophomore from Des Moines, Iowa, finished 14 of 21 from the field, draining 4 of 6 3-pointers.

Clark leads Division I women’s basketball in scoring at 26.2 points per game and has five career triple-doubles, including four this season.

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Sabrina Ionescu, who finished at Oregon in 2020, is the overall NCAA record holder with eight triple-doubles in a season and 26 in a career.

Monika Czinano had 23 points and seven rebounds as Iowa dominated the boards 51-23. Gabbie Marshall added 16 points of 6-of-7 shooting. The Hawkeyes were 9 of 17 from 3-point range (53%) and shot 59% overall.

Sara Scalia scored 15 points for Minnesota (9-10, 2-5), which was 4 of 19 from 3-point range and shot 33% overall.

Clark had 15 points in the second quarter, helping Iowa take a 47-34 lead at the half against the Minnesota team coach by former WNBA star Lindsay Whalen. Clark was among three Hawkeyes with 10 points in the third quarter when they outscored Minnesota 37-12. The Gophers only managed 3 points in the fourth quarter.

In setting the record for consecutive triple-doubles while scoring 30 or more points, Clark tied her rebounding career high with 13 boards, all on the defensive end.

No. 10 Michigan State beats Minnesota on Joey Hauser's shot

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:02:19 -0500

Joey Hauser made a low-post shot with a tenth of a second left, lifting No. 10 Michigan State to a 71-69 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night for a ninth straight win.

The Spartans (14-2, 5-0 Big Ten) had the ball with 18.1 seconds left, and A.J. Hoggard drove into the lane in the final seconds to set up the much-maligned Hauser for the final basket.

"I was happy for Joey, and the players were happy for Joey," coach Tom Izzo said. "I appreciate all the fans that chanted his name."

Michigan State freshman Max Christie had 16 points, Gabe Brown scored 13 points and Tyson Walker added 10 points.

The Golden Gophers (10-4, 1-4) were very competitive throughout the game and had opportunities to pull off the upset.

Minnesota's chances to win were hurt when Eric Curry injured his left ankle with a minute left, putting him on the bench with 19 points.

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"EC got the ankle pretty good," coach Ben Johnson said. "I don’t know the extent of it.

"If Eric can go, Eric’s going to go. He’s a grown man. He’s kind of the leader of our team and he did a great job of showing that."

Eylijah Stephens scored 18 points, Payton Willis had 15 and Jamison Battle added 13 points for the Gophers. Stephens made four free throws late, putting the teams in a 69-all tie.

The Spartans started strong, but couldn't sustain success against a scrappy team.

The Spartans led 27-17 late in the first half, but they got sloppy and Minnesota took advantage to cut its deficit to three at halftime.

The Gophers scored seven straight points, five off turnovers, to take a 52-51 lead midway through the second half. Michigan State went ahead by six points a couple times, but could not put Minnesota away.

"I don’t think I’ve been in a game where you shoot 52% from field and 43% from the 3 and almost 85% from the line and could’ve lost," Izzo said.

In the conference opener for both teams last month, Michigan State beat Minnesota 75-67 in Minneapolis.

"They were introduced to Big Ten basketball," Johnson said. "That was the first game like, `Welcome to the show.’ I didn’t feel like we responded well.

"We’ve slowly figured out how to play in this league to give yourself a chance with physicality and mental toughness. We’re in a growing process with a lot of guys who have never been here. That’s the fun part of this group because you can see it develop."

PIVOTAL PLAY

Minnesota guard Luke Loewe was called for a flagrant foul for tripping Brown when Michigan State was leading 42-40 with 15:18 left. Brown made two free throws and Walker had a layup, making it a four-point swing.

BIG PICTURE

Minnesota: Johnson was disappointed his team didn't win, but was proud of how hard and well his team played against a top-10 opponent on the road.

"If you play like that with that type of intensity, aggressiveness and connectivity we’re going to have a fun second half," Johnson said.

Michigan State: Izzo's team has taken care of a relatively easy schedule, beating the Gophers twice, Penn State, Northwestern and Nebraska.

"I know what’s coming up," Izzo said. "I know we’ve got to get better."

FACE IN THE CROWD

Hall of Famer Roy Williams and his wife, Wanda, had courtside seats across from Michigan State's bench and was with the Spartans in the locker room after the game.

"He had to remind me that we're 14-2," Izzo said.

Williams retired last April after winning more than 900 games and three national titles at North Carolina and Kansas. He watched the ninth-ranked Jayhawks beat No. 15 Iowa State 62-61 on Tuesday night.

"He called me a couple weeks ago and said he wanted to go to six or seven places," Izzo said.

LETDOWN

Michigan State's previous game against rival Michigan last Saturday was postponed because the Wolverines had fewer than seven scholarship players, who cleared COVID-19 protocols to play. That might have led to the Spartans lacking energy at times against Minnesota.

"We’re coming off a disappointing no-play, and it’s no excuse," Izzo said.

UP NEXT

Minnesota: Hosts Iowa on Sunday.

Michigan State: Hosts Northwestern on Saturday.

Minnesota beats West Virginia 18-6 in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 10:15:47 -0500

While watching "Breaking Bad" for the first time last year, a particular scene caught P.J. Fleck's attention.

The Minnesota coach had used television shows and movies — "Elf," "Full House" and "Family Matters" among them — as motivation in the past and this one seemed a perfect fit for his defense.

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In it, Walter White rises in anger during a discussion with his wife, Skyler, explaining no one was going to come knocking on their door and shoot them.

"I'm the one who knocks!" he shouts.

So does Minnesota's defense.

Ky Thomas ran for 144 yards and a touchdown, Mar'Kiese Irving added 129 yards rushing and Minnesota shut down West Virginia to win the Guaranteed Rate Bowl 18-6 on Tuesday night.

"We wanted to be the defense that knocks and I thought we did that," Fleck said. "It was just kind of a theme our guys rallied around."

Thomas and Irving became the Gophers' 1-2 punch after Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts sustained season-ending injuries. The two running backs carried most of the load offensively against West Virginia (6-7), accounting for 273 of Minnesota's 358 total yards.

They were good, but Minnesota's defense was flat-out dominating.

Controlling the line of scrimmage, the Gophers (9-4) overwhelmed the Mountaineers, holding them to 206 total yards to win their fifth straight bowl game, third under Fleck.

"They kind of grinded out a win and a credit to them — that's how they did it all year," West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. "We just weren't good enough today."

It wasn't much of a surprise. Minnesota finished fourth nationally in total defense, allowing 284.8 yards per game, and was ninth against the pass and run.

West Virginia played without leading rusher Leddie Brown, who opted to skip the bowl game to prepare for the NFL, and struggled to find much of an offensive rhythm early against the swarming Gophers.

The Mountaineers finally clicked a little in the second quarter, moving 75 yards in 12 plays. Jarret Doege capped the drive by diving for the pylon on 4th-and-goal from the 1. They were moving the ball again later in the second quarter before Doege threw an interception at Minnesota's 14-yard line.

West Virginia couldn't get anything going against Minnesota's defense in the second half, crossing midfield only once while being held to 79 yards.

"Everything that we've been doing all year, we wanted to up the emphasis," Gophers defensive back Tyler Nubin said. "We've been playing great defense and we wanted to do that one more time."

Minnesota's offense did a little pounding of its own.

The Gophers got in their own way after getting good field position on their first two drives, missing a 33-yard field goal and losing a fumble by Thomas at West Virginia's 6-yard line.

Then they turned to someone who could move everyone out of his way: Daniel Faalele.

The 6-foot-9, 380-pound offensive lineman lined up at fullback, took the handoff and bulled his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. Minnesota threw in a fake extra point for good measure, going up 8-0 after converting the 2-point conversion.

"He's 400 pounds," Fleck said. "Once that thing gets moving forward, it’s hard to stop that thing."

Thomas put the Gophers up 15-6 at halftime, scoring on a 5-yard run two plays after bursting up the middle for a 50-yard gain.

Minnesota reached West Virginia's 3-yard line in the final minutes, but opted to kneel out the clock instead of trying to score.

"Their offense is mainly run," said West Virginia's Charles Woods, who had an interception in the third quarter. "They depend on the run."

And their defense.

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NO SCREENS HERE

West Virginia had a successful screen game most of the season. Minnesota took that away, particularly early, changing the way the Mountaineers ran their offense the rest of the night.

"They played a lot of cover 2 and really took away your easy-access throws," Brown said. "They mixed it up well, kept us off balance."

THE TAKEAWAY

West Virginia could have used Brown to perhaps spark its offense. Then again, the way Minnesota swarmed to the ball, it may not have mattered.

Minnesota's defense dominated most of the year and capped it with a smothering performance to finally win the Guaranteed Rate — previously Insight — Bowl for the first time in four tries.

UP NEXT

West Virginia will get Doege back and its two-deep offense is filled with underclassmen, though Brown will not be back. The defense also has plenty of players coming back, but will lose LB Josh Chandler-Semedo, S Sean Mahones and DT Dante Stills.

Minnesota has several key players returning for a sixth season, including Morgan, Ibrahim, WR Chris Autman-Bell and C John Michael Schmitz.

No. 19 Mich. St. outlasts Minnesota 75-67 in Big 10 opener

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:57:05 -0500

Michigan State is playing tough defense again, and the arrival of Tyson Walker is not a coincidence.

Gabe Brown, Malik Hall and Walker scored 15 points apiece for 19th-ranked Michigan State in a 75-67 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night in the first Big Ten opener for Gophers coach Ben Johnson and the 27th for Spartans coach Tom Izzo.

Brown had three 3-pointers as the Spartans went 10 for 21 from long range against a Gophers team that entered the game with the best 3-point defense in the nation at 23.1% allowed. Walker hit both of his tries from deep.

They won it on the other end, though. Hall (nine) and Brown (eight) fueled a 44-29 rebounding advantage by the Spartans (8-2, 1-0), who were humiliated at Williams Arena a year ago in an 81-56 defeat that Izzo and his staff made sure to remind them of this week.

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Walker, the transfer from Northeastern who was the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year last season, held Minnesota’s Payton Willis to nine points on 3-for-13 shooting after he scored 24 points in a win at Mississippi State on Sunday.

"Tyson’s the head honcho of the group, so we just follow his lead," Brown said.

Said Izzo: "The more he gets after people and talks to them on the floor and runs my team, the better we’re going to be."

Sixth-year senior Eric Curry had a career-high 18 points and Jamison Battle scored 17 points for the Gophers (7-1, 0-1), whose feel-good start in Johnson’s debut was hit with a reality check from the stronger and deeper Spartans. Minnesota was one of only 12 remaining undefeated NCAA Division 1 teams when the day began.

Minnesota made a game of it by holding the Spartans to one basket over the final 4 1/2 minutes, a 3-pointer by Brown after the Gophers got within 64-55 at the last media timeout on a steal-dunk sequence by Sean Sutherlin.

The Gophers missed 13 of their first 16 shots, and not without hustle or creativity. The Spartans simply clamped down on the driving lanes and were there to grab the rebounds when the 3-pointers rimmed out. E.J. Stephens found an open hoop off of a crisp pick-and-roll, only to have his finger roll swatted into the seats by Brown.

"It was all about stopping dribble-drives and closing out on shooters, because they can really shoot. We did a great job of not letting them get in the paint and kick out," Walker said.

Hauser had 10 points, seven rebounds and tight defense on Battle — the sixth-leading scorer in the Big Ten entering the game. The sophomore's first basket came with 8:59 left before halftime, a 3-pointer from the top of the key that cut Michigan State's lead to 17-15. The Spartans snapped right back with a 25-9 spurt that stretched into the second half. Hauser hit a 3-pointer to give the Spartans their largest lead, 58-39, with 11:26 to go.

"When you’ve got to put all the energy into getting back into the game, it’s hard," Johnson said. "They don’t make many mistakes.

PEER SUPPORT

Izzo and Johnson first met 25 years ago, when Johnson was a sophomore point guard at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis and Izzo started recruiting him for Michigan State. Johnson ultimately picked Northwestern, where he played two seasons before transferring to Minnesota.

Izzo quickly extended congratulations and advice when Johnson was hired this spring. He said this week that Johnson would be his early choice for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

"They got the right guy here," Izzo said. "He's going to do a hell of a job."

BIG PICTURE

Michigan State: Games like this are exactly why Izzo loads up his early slate with national powers. The Spartans have the strongest schedule among all major conference teams, according to NCAA calculations. Losses to No. 8 Kansas and No. 2 Baylor might have hurt their record, but they helped their cause in a Big Ten road game after starting 0-3 in league play last season.

Minnesota: The Gophers will have to play near-perfect games to beat the Spartans in the rematch next month, as well as a few other teams in the Big Ten's top tier, but they've got the experience, confidence and chemistry to be competitive in conference play even with five transfers in their seven-man rotation who came from mid or low major programs.

"It’s tough, but we proved tonight that we’re not going to back down from anyone," Battle said.

UP NEXT

Michigan State hosts Penn State on Saturday. The Spartans are 25-2 all-time at home against the Nittany Lions.

Minnesota plays at Michigan on Saturday. The Gophers have lost seven straight games in Ann Arbor, last winning there in 2011.

Minnesota chops down No. 18 Wisconsin 23-13 to take back Axe

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 09:12:51 -0500

Minnesota's fans gleefully converged on the field as Paul Bunyan's Axe was slowly paraded through the crowd, eager for a peek at this long-sought trophy that has gone so often to Wisconsin.

The Gophers' defense swarmed the field like that all afternoon.

Tanner Morgan overcame an interception that was returned for a first-half touchdown, leading three scoring drives after halftime to take down the 18th-ranked Badgers in a 23-13 victory that regained the Axe and gave Iowa the Big Ten West Division title Saturday.

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"We all put a ton into it. I’m just so proud that they have a big reward for it," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said.

The Badgers had only 160 total yards over the final three quarters and three points after halftime. They turned the ball over on downs on their last two possessions, and the Gophers got to sprint to the end zone to hoist the 73-year-old trophy on their home field for the first time since 2003. The rap song "Jump Around" played over the speakers in a taunt of Wisconsin’s home-game anthem.

"Nobody wants to be the team that loses the Axe, so it’s truly disappointing," Badgers outside linebacker Noah Burks said.

Collin Larsh made two field goals for Wisconsin, but he had a 48-yard try — four yards beyond his career long — bounce off the crossbar early in the fourth quarter. Minnesota went the other way for Matthew Trickett’s third field goal of the game to put the stamp on it.

Morgan went 11 for 16 for 199 yards and a third-quarter touchdown pass to Chris Autman-Bell, but the defense stole the show. The Gophers (8-4, 6-3) delivered the kind of stifling performance by their defense the Badgers (8-4, 6-3, No. 14 CFP) were so used to demoralizing their opponents with.

Freshman standout Braelon Allen was limited to 47 yards on 17 rushes. He topped the 100-yard mark in each of the last seven games, all wins for Wisconsin. The Badgers had 62 rushing yards, after averaging 269 yards on the ground during their winning streak.

"We hit them low. We swarmed. There wasn’t many broken tackles, and if guys got a hand on them, they held on for dear life and everybody rallied around him," Fleck said.

Over the last 23:05 of game time, Allen had just two carries for minus-2 yards. Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi sent a flurry of early down blitzes that caught the Badgers off guard.

"They showed a lot of stuff that we hadn’t seen all year as a offense and a lot of stuff that wasn’t on tape," Allen said.

Wisconsin went 4 for 14 on third down conversions — and 1 for 8 on third-and-4-plus-yards.

"The biggest thing was just not getting in a rhythm. They’re a good defense, but we've all got to execute together and truly move the ball one first down at a time," quarterback Graham Mertz said.

BOUNCING BACK

Scott Nelson returned a tipped-ball interception 25 yards for a touchdown for the Badgers early in the second quarter to give them a 10-3 lead.

"My teammates had my back the whole time," said Morgan, who moved into second place on the program's all-time list with 56 career touchdown passes.

Justin Walley, who had two pass interference penalties while covering Kendric Pryor, wrestled away a catch by Pryor for his first career interception at the Wisconsin 28 early in the third quarter.

Morgan hit tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford for 26 yards to the 2 on the next play. Then Ky Thomas ran it in for a 13-10 lead with eight offensive linemen blocking on the play. The Gophers had five scoring drives of 50-plus yards.

Even by settling for a field goal, the Gophers served notice on their first possession they weren’t going to go quietly. Wisconsin also lost safety Collin Wilder, who had two interceptions against Nebraska last week, after the first snap because of an automatic-ejection targeting foul for leading with his helmet on Autman-Bell.

"We didn’t play to our potential and what we could have done. I think we left a lot of meat on the bone as the term goes," Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Wisconsin: Mertz went 21 for 38 for 171 yards and an interception. The sophomore smoothed out his season with some stellar performances down the stretch after his turnovers were a major factor in the 1-3 start. On this rare day when the rushing attack was nearly nonexistent, Mertz showed he's got a long way to go.

Minnesota: For all that the Gophers have done well in five seasons under Fleck, they've lacked these fire-up-the-fan-base wins over border-state rivals Iowa and Wisconsin. This was the second time in four years they've beaten the Badgers, following 14 straight losses. Had Iowa lost Friday to Nebraska, the Gophers would've won the West for the first time.

"There wasn’t one person last night sad about what happened with Iowa and Nebraska. Would we have liked it to be different? Sure. But we had plenty of time to control that," Fleck said.

UP NEXT

Wisconsin: The Badgers will get their bowl game invitation Dec. 5. The Las Vegas or Music City bowls (both Dec. 30) are strong possibilities, with a Jan. 1 game not out of the question.

Minnesota: The Gophers are essentially in the mix for the same as the same postseason games as the Badgers. They've won four straight bowls.

Late stops let No. 19 Iowa beat Minnesota 27-22, keep Floyd

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 21:10:58 -0500

Alex Padilla threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his first career start, and No. 19 Iowa withstood three fourth-quarter comeback attempts to beat Minnesota 27-22 on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) led 24-16 before Minnesota's Tanner Morgan threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Chris Autman-Bell with 5:28 to play. The Gophers (6-4, 4-3) went for the two-point conversion, but Morgan’s pass was tipped by Iowa safety Dane Belton and fell incomplete.

The Gophers got the ball back at their own 10-yard line with 3:08 left. Morgan was sacked for a 7-yard loss on second down, and his fourth-down pass was broken up by Iowa’s Matt Hankins.

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Caleb Shudak’s 29-yard field goal provided the final margin, and then the Hawkeyes' defense bowed up one more time when Minnesota drove to the Iowa 39. The game ended with Joe Evans sacking Morgan.

Padilla’s 1-yard touchdown dive in the second quarter put Iowa up 10-3. He threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Jones early in the third quarter to give the Hawkeyes a 17-13 lead.

"Going out there in the first half, seeing the entire crowd in Kinnick for my first start, (I was) just super excited," Padilla said. "Couldn’t imagine being in this position when I was a kid, but it was something I have always dreamed of."

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said among the players and coaches, there wasn't much talk about Padilla getting the start.

"We just acted like it was his turn, his time. He is the starter this week," Ferentz said. "He's an even-keeled guy, as you've seen. I thought he did a good job."

Jones was impressed with the pass Padilla threw him for the touchdown.

"First of all, that was a great play for us, and a perfect time for it," Jones said. "We knew that the defender was going to be playing outside of me, and it was just a double move route, where you fake the out and go to the post. Alex threw a great ball, right where I could get it and I had a lot of space."

Minnesota had a chance to take the lead down 17-16 to start the fourth quarter, but Dragan Kesich’s 53-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Logan Lee. Five plays later, Keagan Johnson took a short pass from Padilla and turned it into a 27-yard touchdown.

Padilla, who took over for injured quarterback Spencer Petras in last week’s 17-12 win at Northwestern, completed 11 of 24 passes for 206 yards.

"They have their differences but they both work very hard," Jones said of Padilla and Petras. "Alex is a young guy and he has done a really good job stepping up while Spence is hurt. Everyone around Alex is helping and encouraging him as much as they can, so he is doing a great job."

The Gophers, who had the ball for 40 minutes, had 189 rushing yards. That was the most this season against the Hawkeyes, who came into the game ranked eighth nationally in rushing defense at 98.6 yards per game. Ky Thomas rushed for 126 yards to lead the Gophers, who haven't won in Iowa City since 1999.

"They had a really good plan and it took us time to adjust to that," Ferentz said.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said the offense wanted to spread the field against what he called one of the best front sevens in college football.

Matthew Trickett had three field goals for the Gophers. Minnesota’s other touchdown came in the second quarter on backup quarterback Cole Kramer’s 37-yard pass to tight end Ko Kieft.

"You always want touchdowns, I want to make sure I'm clear on that," Fleck said. "Everybody wants touchdowns. If you could never kick a field goal, great. But you do everything you can to gain as many points as you can to get to the fourth quarter and see where you're at. You never know how it's going to go."

HAWKEYES KEEP FLOYD

The Hawkeyes kept Floyd of Rosedale, the bronze pig trophy awarded to the winner in the rivalry each season. The tradition began in 1935, and the Hawkeyes have a 43-42-2 edge in the series since then.

The Hawkeyes won their seventh consecutive game over the Gophers. It was Minnesota’s 10th consecutive loss on the road in the series.

"Since I've been here, I don't think we've played Iowa like that," Fleck said. "There's no moral victories. Who cares? But I care."

Fleck, who hasn't beaten Iowa in five tries as Minnesota's head coach, paused when he was asked what it would take to beat the Hawkeyes.

"A better performance than what we had tonight," Fleck said.

BIG PICTURE

The Hawkeyes are tied with Wisconsin for first in the Big Ten West, but the Badgers own the tiebreaker because of their 27-7 win over the Hawkeyes on Oct. 30. The Gophers dropped out of what was a four-way tie at the start of the day.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Hawkeyes might move up a spot or two, but no big move is in store after they needed to hold on late against the Gophers.

UP NEXT

Minnesota: At Indiana next Saturday.

Iowa: Hosts Illinois next Saturday.