2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Insight Bowl, L 42-21 vs. Kansas
Conference	Big Ten Conference
2008 record	7–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	Tim Brewster
Offensive coordinator	Mike Dunbar
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Ted Roof
Base defense	4-3
Home stadium	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Capacity: 64,172)

2008 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
#8 Penn State $+		7	–	1					11	–	2
#9 Ohio State %+		7	–	1					10	–	3
#24 Michigan State		6	–	2					9	–	4
Northwestern		5	–	3					9	–	4
#20 Iowa		5	–	3					9	–	4
Wisconsin		3	–	5					7	–	6
Minnesota		3	–	5					7	–	6
Illinois		3	–	5					5	–	7
Purdue		2	–	6					4	–	8
Michigan		2	–	6					3	–	9
Indiana		1	–	7					3	–	9
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative + – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the second under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on August 30, 2008 at home against Northern Illinois from the Mid-American Conference, and finished the regular season against Iowa, on November 22. It was the Golden Gophers' final season in the Metrodome, as they moved into TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. The Gophers accepted a bid to the Insight Bowl and played Kansas on December 31 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Preseason

On February 21, 2008, it was announced that Ted Roof, the previous head coach of Duke, would replace Everett Withers as the Gophers new defensive coordinator. Withers had previously announced that he was taking the defensive coordinator job at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:00 PM[2]	Northern Illinois*		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN	BTN[2]	W 31–27	44,059
September 6	6:30 PM[3]	at Bowling Green*		Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH	ESPNU[3]	W 42–17	23,184
September 13	11:00 AM[2]	Montana State*		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN	BTN[2]	W 35–23	43,929
September 20	11:00 AM[2]	Florida Atlantic*		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN	BTN[2]	W 37–3	41,003
September 27	11:00 AM	at #14 Ohio State		Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	BTN	L 21–34	105,175
October 4	11:00 AM	Indiana		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN	BTN	W 16–7	40,511
October 11	11:00 AM[4]	at Illinois		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	ESPN[5]	W 27–20	62,870
October 25	11:00 AM[6]	at Purdue	#25	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN	ESPNC[7]	W 17–6	54,215
November 1	11:00 AM[8]	Northwestern	#20	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN	ESPN2[9]	L 17–24	54,122
November 8	11:00 AM[9]	Michigan		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)	ESPN[9]	L 6–29	55,040
November 15	2:30 PM	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI (Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe)	ABC	L 32–35	81,228
November 22	6:00 PM[10]	Iowa		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN (Battle for the Floyd of Rosedale)	BTN[10]	L 0–55	64,071
December 31[11]	5:00 PM[11]	vs. Kansas*		Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ (Insight Bowl)	NFLN[11]	L 21–42	49,103
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Roster

(as of September 2, 2008)
Quarterbacks 8 Adam Weber - Sophomore 9 David Pittman - Junior 13 John Nance - Freshman 17 Tony Mortenson - Senior 19 Mike Maciejowski - Senior Running Backs 6 Kevin Whaley - Freshman 12 Damola Ogundipe - Sophomore 18 R.J. Buckner - Sophomore 20 Jay Thomas - Sophomore 22 Duane Bennett - Sophomore 23 DeLeon Eskridge - Freshman 29 Shady Salamon - Freshman 34 Tyler Johnson - Junior 34 Andre Tate' - Freshman 46 Jake Ferris - Freshman Wide Receivers 1 Brodrick Smith - Freshman 2 Brandon Green - Freshman 7 Eric Decker - Junior 16 Ben Kuznia - Junior 80 Xzavian Brandon - Freshman 81 Ralph Spry - Sophomore 82 Johnny Johnson - Freshman 83 Da'Jon McKnight - Freshman 84 Jimmy Thompson - Freshman 87 Kyle Moore - Freshman 89 Brandon Randolph - Freshman Tight Ends 15 Jack Simmons - Senior 48 Nick Tow-Arnett - Junior 85 Eric Lair - Freshman 88 Collin McGarry - Sophomore 96 Curtis Hughes - Sophomore		Centers 52 Jeff Tow-Arnett - Junior 61 Trey Davis - Freshman Offensive Guards 53 D.J. Burris - Sophomore 66 Nedward Tavale - Junior 67 Nick Weber - Senior 68 Chris Bunders - Freshman 78 Ryan Orton - Freshman Offensive Tackles 60 Ryan Wynn - Freshman 63 Andy Brinkhaus - Sophomore 73 Jason Meinke - Junior 74 Ryan Ruckdashel - Junior 76 Dominic Alford - Sophomore 79 Matt Stommes - Junior Offensive Line 62 Curtis James - Freshman 64 Austin Hahn - Freshman 69 Jacob Glickstein - Freshman 71 Chris Mensen - Junior 75 Tyler Brasch - Freshman 77 Matt Carufel - Junior Defensive Tackles 51 Eric Small - Junior 57 Tony Strouth - Freshman 68 Jewhan Edwards - Freshman 89 Barrett Moen - Junior 99 Garrett Brown - Junior		Defensive Ends 31 Terrell Combs - Freshman 55 Cedric McKinley - Junior 90 Raymond Henderson - Junior 91 William VanDeSteeg - Senior 92 William Brody - Senior 93 Derrick Onwuachi - Junior 96 Brandon Kirksey - Freshman 97 Anthony Jacobs - Freshman 98 D.L. Wilhite - Freshman Linebackers 9 Gary Tinsley - Freshman 17 Sam Maresh - Freshman 21 Simoni Lawrence - Junior 26 Mike Rallis - Freshman 28 Kevin Mannion - Senior 30 Lee Campbell - Junior 32 Nathan Triplett - Junior 33 Rex Sharpe - Junior 35 Jon Hoese - Sophomore 42 Logan U'u - Junior 43 Ryan Grant - Freshman 44 Deon Hightower - Senior 45 Thomas Hennessey - Junior 50 Patrick Sveum - Junior 56 Steve Davis - Senior 59 Steve Moore - Senior 94 Michael Plath - Freshman		Cornerbacks 2 Ryan Collado - Sophomore 11 Troy Stoudermire - Freshman 13 Michael McKelton - Junior 15 Traye Simmons - Junior 24 Marcus Sherels - Junior Strong Safeties 27 Kyle Theret - Sophomore Free Safeties 1 Tramaine Brock - Junior 4 Keanon Cooper - Freshman 49 Scott Jilek - Sophomore Defensive Backs 3 Kim Royston - Junior 19 Andrew Allison - Junior 25 Tim Dandridge - Freshman 37 Tim Horton - Freshman 38 Marcus Singletary - Junior 39 Nicholas Stommes - Junior 40 Nathan Tow-Arnett - Freshman 48 Bryan Klitzke - Freshman Kickers 36 Joel Monroe - Senior 37 Eric Ellestad - Sophomore 38 David Schwerman - Freshman Punters 38 Blake Haudan - Junior 41 Justin Kucek - Senior Long Snappers 47 Ryan Coleman - Sophomore

Game notes

Northern Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	0	10	10	7	27
Golden Gophers	7	3	14	7	31

The Golden Gophers opened the 2008 season hosting a Saturday night game against Northern Illinois. After receiving the opening kickoff, Minnesota compiled a 16-play, 90-yard drive that chewed 8:50 off the clock and ended with an 8-yard TD pass from Adam Weber to Eric Decker. Northern Illinois responded early in the 2nd quarter with a 2-yard TD run from Justin Anderson, and a pair of field goals knotted the halftime score at 10–10. Two big plays by the Golden Gophers set the tone through the 3rd quarter — a 53-yard TD catch by Jack Simmons and 61-yard TD run by Duane Bennett that staked Minnesota to a 24–13 lead. The Huskies answered with two long TD bombs of 91 and 52 yards from Chandler Harnish to Nathan Palmer. As Minnesota began their final drive of the game on their own 26 yard line with 5:25 on the clock, they trailed NIU 27–24. Weber led a methodical drive down the field, completing all 5 of his pass attempts until the Gopher offense stalled in the red zone, bringing up 4th and 1 from the NIU 3. Rather than electing to kick the field goal and send the game into overtime, coach Brewster put the offense back out on the field, and they rewarded his aggressiveness. Bennett converted the 1st down on a short run, and the Gophers immediately ran the same play for a 1-yd TD. After putting the ensuing kickoff out of bounds and giving the Huskies the ball on their own 40, the Minnesota defense batted away a Hail Mary pass into the endzone as time expired to preserve the 31–27 victory.

Bowling Green

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	7	7	7	21	42
Falcons	0	10	7	0	17

Bowling Green hosted a Big Ten opponent for the first time ever as Minnesota traveled to Doyt L. Perry Stadium for a Saturday night game. Bowling Green was confident after coming off a 27–17 upset at #25 Pittsburgh the previous week. Despite being road underdogs, Minnesota showed no sign of nerves as they once again scored a TD on their first drive and never relinquished the lead, cruising to an easy 42–17 victory over the home Falcons. The story of this game was turnovers. After a relatively uneventful first half that ended with a Gophers lead of 14–10, Bowling Green's Roger Williams fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. Starting the drive at the BGSU 23, Minnesota promptly marched in for the score. After a Falcon touchdown made it 21–17, BGSU turned the ball over on each of their next three possessions, each turnover ultimately resulting in a touchdown for the Golden Gophers. The 28 points off turnovers proved to be the difference, as Minnesota won consecutive games for the first time since November 2006. This was also the first road victory for the Gophers under coach Tim Brewster.

Montana State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bobcats	6	7	3	7	23
Golden Gophers	0	21	14	0	35

Montana State traveled to Minneapolis to take on the Gophers for each team's 3rd game of the season. Despite being heavily favored over an FCS opponent, Minnesota played in a lackluster fashion from the get-go, and actually trailed 6–0 at the end of the first quarter. The Golden Gophers' offense woke up in the 2nd quarter, and put 14 points on the board on consecutive drives. Just when it appeared that Minnesota may have begun to put the game out of reach, Montana State's Demetrius Crawford returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD. Minnesota was able to answer with another touchdown to make the halftime score 21–13 in their favor.

In the second half, the Gophers returned to their power running game of old, and their offense consisted mostly of true freshman DeLeon Eskridge toting the rock, and adding two more scores to his one from the first half. He finished the game with 114 yards and 3 TDs, proving himself a capable replacement for previous starter Duane Bennett, who was lost for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury during the Bowling Green game. Despite their less-than-spectacular performance, the Gophers managed to hold on for a 35–23 victory, and began a season 3–0 for the first time since 2005.

Florida Atlantic

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	3	0	0	3
Golden Gophers	10	6	7	14	37

The Gophers hosted the Owls for a Saturday morning game in Minneapolis. Minnesota looked to be the better team almost from the beginning, and finished with a 37–3 rout of Florida Atlantic. The defense continued to show its vast improvement over the 2007 version, holding FAU to a mere 3 points, the lowest total by a Minnesota opponent since a 62–0 rout of Temple in 2006. The Golden Gophers forced 4 interceptions by Owl QB Rusty Smith, widely considered to be a potential pro prospect. The offense was formidable as well, gaining a season-high 441 total yards. QB Adam Weber continued his solid, steady play, but did tally his first interception of the season on an ill-advised throw into triple coverage in an attempt to force the ball to WR Eric Decker in the end zone. The Gophers entered Big Ten play with a 4–0 record for the first time since 2005.

Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	3	0	3	15	21
Buckeyes	7	13	7	7	34

Minnesota traveled to Columbus, Ohio for a Saturday morning showdown with the #13 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Gophers had not defeated OSU since a 29–17 upset victory in 2000, and this contest would end no differently. Preseason Heisman hopeful Chris Wells and freshman phenom Terrelle Pryor started in the backfield for the first time ever, as Wells returned from a foot injury. The two combined for 203 yards rushing, and Ohio State led wire-to-wire for a 34–21 victory. After coming off the worst season in school history, the Gophers could at least take solace in the fact that they were competitive with the Buckeyes, and that their loss in the Big Ten season opener put them at a much-improved 4–1 record.

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hoosiers	0	7	0	0	7
Golden Gophers	0	7	6	3	16

Eric Decker continued his outstanding junior campaign, catching a school-record 13 receptions for 190 yards, leading host Minnesota to a 16–7 victory over the visiting Indiana Hoosiers. The Saturday morning tilt started slow, as neither team scored until the 2nd quarter, with the halftime score being knotted at 7–7. Minnesota's defense was stalwart the entire game, not allowing a first down until just before the half, with their only lapse being a 77-yard TD pass to RB Marcus Thigpen on a blown coverage play. It turned out to be a rather nondescript affair overall, with K Joel Monroe's three second-half field goals staking the Gophers out to a 9-point lead, which ended up being the final margin of victory. This was the first Big Ten win of Tim Brewster's career, and put Minnesota at 1–1 in conference play. Indiana fell to 0–2 against conference foes.

Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	7	0	7	13	27
Fighting Illini	0	3	3	14	20

Minnesota traveled to Champaign, Illinois for an 11 am contest with the Fighting Illini. Though they were double-digit underdogs entering the game, the Gophers showed they were not intimidated, and led 7–3 at halftime. Once again, the Minnesota defense was the story of the game. Despite allowing 462 passing yards to standout QB Juice Williams, the swarming Gopher defense sacked him five times, forcing three turnovers and returning a Williams fumble for a touchdown. Minnesota held Illinois out of the endzone on a memorable goal line stand in the 3rd quarter. The referee initially signaled a touchdown on a scramble by Williams, but the call was overturned on a challenge, and firmly shifted the momentum in the Gophers' favor. DE Willie VanDeSteeg was named Walter Camp national player of the week after his 3 sack, 5 tackle performance. He was also named Big Ten defensive player of the week. Coming off their horrible 1–11 performance the previous year, Minnesota became bowl-eligible with a 6–1 (2–1) record, while Illinois fell to 3–3 (1–2). Minnesota held a winning conference record for the first time since 2005. Later in the weekend, both AP and coaches voters put the Gophers in the top 25, also for the first time since 2005.

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	7	3	0	7	17
Boilermakers	6	0	0	0	6

Minnesota, ranked #24 in the initial 2008 BCS rankings and #25 AP/Coaches, traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana for a Saturday morning game against the Purdue Boilermakers. Sophomore QB Adam Weber led the way for the Gopher offense, throwing for one TD and adding one on the ground as he accumulated 212 yards passing and 60 yards rushing. The Minnesota defense forced four Purdue turnovers and held the Boilermaker offense to just 226 total yards as they lost their homecoming game in coach Joe Tiller's final season. Purdue (2–6, 0–4) lost for the 18th consecutive time to a ranked opponent, while the Gophers (7–1, 3–1) won at Ross–Ade Stadium for the first time since 1990.

Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	10	7	0	7	24
Golden Gophers	0	17	0	0	17

Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolverines	6	10	6	7	29
Golden Gophers	0	0	3	3	6

The Michigan Wolverines, under first-year had coach Rich Rodriguez, entered the game already guaranteed of missing their first bowl game in 35 seasons. They were able to come out strong against the Gophers, prevailing 29–6 in the 91st battle for the Little Brown Jug. With the loss and the Gophers' move to the new TCF Stadium for the 2009 season, the Michigan Wolverines closed the Metrodome-era of the series having never lost in the stadium in 12 tries.^[12]

The 91st battle for the Little Brown Jug

Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	0	21	3	8	32
Badgers	7	0	10	18	35

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawkeyes	3	24	14	14	55
Golden Gophers	0	0	0	0	0

In their final game at the Metrodome, the Gophers were embarrassed by the rival Iowa Hawkeyes, 55–0, in front of 64,071 in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale. It was the fifth-worst loss in school history, the second-worst at home, and the worst ever in conference play.^[13]

Kansas

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	14	0	0	7	21
Jayhawks	14	14	7	7	42

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV	NR	NR	RV	25	20	RV	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Coaches'	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	NR	RV	RV	25	20	RV	RV	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Harris	Not released						RV	RV	25	20	RV	RV	RV	NR	NR	NR	Not released
BCS	Not released								24	17	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	Not released

References

1. U hires new defensive coordinator
2. "Kick times set for Montana State, Florida Atlantic games". University of Minnesota Department of Athletics. July 2, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
3. "Home Opener vs. Minnesota Slated for ESPNU Broadcast". Bowling Green State University Department of Athletics. June 4, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
4. "Illinois Homecoming Game Time Set". University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana Department of Athletics. May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
5. "Minnesota-Illinois Will Air on ESPN". University of Minnesota Department of Athletics. September 30, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
6. "High-Noon Homecoming". Purdue University Department of Athletics. May 12, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
7. "Minnesota-Prdue To Air On ESPN Classic". University of Minnesota Department of Athletics. October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
8. "Big Ten Announces Start Times for 2008 Homecoming Games". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. May 12, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
9. "2008 Schedule". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
10. "Iowa-Minnesota Football Game Time Set". HawkeyeSports.com. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
11. "Insight Bowl". Fiesta Bowl. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
12. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283130135
13. Youngblood, Kent (November 23, 2008). "Hawkeyes Turn Out the Lights on Gophers in Dome Finale". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved November 23, 2008.