The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Minnesota – INSIDE SLANT
The Gophers are headed to their first bowl game since 2009, but momentum isn’t on their side.
Minnesota ended the regular season with a 26-10 home loss to Michigan State that ended a week filled with distractions. A day after a 38-14 defeat to Nebraska, wide receiver A.J. Barker, who leads the team in receptions, quit the team claiming he was mistreated by coach Jerry Kill. Barker was upset about criticism he got from Kill over an ankle injury that sidelined the receiver since he hurt it against Purdue on Oct. 27.
Kill denied Barker’s claim and said he was surprised the receiver decided to leave the team. Kill said during the week he wanted to move on from the incident, but the Gophers were dominated by Michigan State. The loss dropped Minnesota to 6-6 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten.
Kill wasn’t on the sidelines for the second half against the Spartans after suffering a seizure at halftime. He was treated in the locker room during the second half and went home following the game. Kill, who has epilepsy, also suffered a seizure following the Northwestern game on Oct. 13. He had a seizure on the sidelines during a game against New Mexico State last season.
Minnesota managed only 96 total yards in losing to Michigan State. The Gophers’ only touchdown came on linebacker Aaron Hill’s return of an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter. Jordan Wettstein’s 48-yard field goal in the third quarter accounted for the other points. Minnesota was dominated at the line of scrimmage. The Gophers gained four yards rushing and allowed 278 yards on the ground, including 266 by tailback Le’Veon Bell.
Minnesota’s players said they weren’t affected by Kill’s absence in the second half.
“I didn’t even think about it, because when things hit you, you have to keep on moving forward,” said defensive tackle D.L. Wilhite. “We had a game to play and that’s how our guys saw it, myself included. Whether Coach Kill is out there or not, our jobs don’t change, the calls don’t change and the team we are playing doesn’t change. We tried to attack it like nothing even happened.”
“We all love Coach Kill,” said cornerback Michael Carter. “I love Coach Kill and he has love for me. Of course, we worry, but at the same time we know what he wants and he wants a win.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Minnesota – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: Taking some time off is probably the best thing for the Gophers. Minnesota was out-scored 62-24 in losing its final two games of the regular season to Nebraska and Michigan State. The Gophers are expected to play a Big 12 opponent in the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 28 in Houston.
–Senior MarQueis Gray started his final home game at quarterback, the position he began the season before being moved to wide receiver after spraining his ankle. He threw one incomplete pass and gained four yards on five carries. Gray also played wide receiver, but didn’t catch a pass.
–Junior linebacker Aaron Hill scored Minnesota’s only touchdown when he returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was his second interception of the season and in his career.
–Senior Jordan Wettstein kicked a season-long 48-yard field goal in the third quarter against Michigan State. His career long, a 51-yarder, came in the final game of last season against Illinois.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Minnesota entered the Michigan State game short-handed at wide receiver. A.J. Barker quit the team after a widely publicized falling out with coach Jerry Kill and Marcus Jones missed the game with a knee injury. Freshman Andre McDonald caught three passes for a career-high 36 yards while junior Derrick Engel caught a career-best three passes for 35 yards. McDonald and Engel will likely see more playing time in Minnesota’s bowl game.
LOOKING GOOD: The Gophers recorded two sacks against Michigan State, giving them 25 for the season. Defensive tackle D.L. Wilhite had a sack the final home game of his career. He has a team-high total of 8.5 sacks for the season. His total ranks seventh on Minnesota’s all-time single-season list, and is the most in a season since Willie VanDeSteeg recorded 10.5 in 2008.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The coaching staff will have about a month to come up with something to get the offense going. Minnesota was also held without an offensive touchdown for the first time this season against Michigan State. The Gophers were held to 96 yards of total offense and managed only seven first downs. Freshman quarterback Philip Nelson was 10-of-23 for 61 yards and threw three interceptions. The running game, which gained four net yards, was no better.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “The coach’s job is to coach. The players are the ones who are supposed to go to war for four downs and execute the game plan. We didn’t do that.” — Minnesota receiver MarQueis Gray in the St. Paul-Pioneer Press, after the Gophers’ 26-10 loss to Michigan State.
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NCAAF Team Report – Minnesota – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–S Derrick Wells recorded a team-high 12 tackles against Michigan State. He also tied his career-highs with seven solo tackles and one tackle for a loss of yardage.
–LB Keanon Cooper, playing in his final home game, tied his career-high by recording 2.5 tackles for a loss of yardage. He also had eight tackles, including six solo stops, which ties his career best.
–P Christian Eldred continued his solid season against Michigan State. He punted six times for a 44.3 yard average, with a long punt of 52 yards. Eldred had three kicks inside the 20-yard line.
ROSTER REPORT
–OL Zach Mottla broke his leg against Illinois and will miss the rest of the season.
–C Jon Christenson has missed the last two games after sustaining a sprained left ankle in the first half against Illinois.
–OT Ed Olson started on the left side against Michigan State after leaving the Nebraska game with an ankle injury.
–OL Marek Lenkiewicz sustained a knee injury in the Nebraska game, but played against Michigan State .
–DL Roland Johnson tore an ACL in the walk-through before the Nebraska game and is out for the season.
–TE Drew Goodger injured his shoulder against Nebraska and didn’t play in the Michigan State game.
–WR Marcus Jones missed the Michigan State game because of a knee injury.
–LB Brendan Beal, who has battled knee injuries throughout his career, didn’t play against Michigan State. He suffered a leg injury in the fourth quarter against Nebraska.
–WR Jamel Harbison tore the ACL in his right knee against UNLV and is out for the season.
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