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Sid Hartman: Mason will have U well prepared
Sid Hartman, Star Tribune
November 11, 2004 SIDH1111
The Gophers football team might not beat Iowa this Saturday at the Metrodome, but coach Glen Mason is going to make sure his team is well-prepared.
After the team got back from Madison, where it lost 38-14, on Saturday night, the coaches didn't go home. They went directly to their offices where they went over videotape of the game time and time again to find out what happened.
Then on Monday, Mason visited one-on-one with some 20 players trying to find out if there are problems he should know about.
Yes, all of the critics know all the answers. But Mason only wishes he had some idea what happened to a team that was on the verge of winning the biggest game in 30 years at Michigan, and then collapsed after that, except for a one-sided victory over Illinois.
There is no doubt that some of the players on this team have lost their confidence after what has happened. But the one thing in favor of this group is they have played well at home.
If the Gophers beat Iowa on Saturday, they will be the first team since 1967 to win all of their home games.
Iowa is beatable. They do not have a great running game and this should help the Gophers do a better job on rushing the passer and on pass defense. Iowa, in beating Purdue 23-21, rushed 34 times for only 43 yards.
However, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate, who completed 24 for 45 passes for 270 yards against Purdue, might be the best combination passer and scrambler that Minnesota has faced all year. If he has the same success that Wisconsin's John Stocco had last weekend, the Gophers will go down to another defeat.
Iowa blocked two field-goal attempts against Purdue. This should be a concern to the Gophers, who had kicks blocked early in the season.
Among the capacity crowd on Saturday will be 40 recruits, including some of the best in Minnesota. Representatives from the Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl, Alamo Bowl and Sun Bowl also will be there.
It would be a good time for the Gophers to end their losing ways.
Moss injury serious
While Vikings coach Mike Tice on Wednesday praised the pain tolerance of receiver Randy Moss, local doctors who are familiar with hamstring tears say Moss won't play for at least two weeks and might be out longer.
After the Vikings lost on Monday night 31-28 in Indianapolis, Colts coach Tony Dungy said that without a doubt, preparing a defense is a lot simpler with Moss out of the lineup.
Former Gophers tight end Ben Utecht, who is on the Colts' physically unable to perform list, is making progress healing the stomach muscle pull problem he had. According to Dungy, Utecht might play this year.
A month ago the Packers were 1-4 after losing four consecutive games. On Sunday they are favored to beat the Vikings and tie for the division lead with a 5-4 record.
The Vikings have nine players on the injured reserved list. Only the Giants, with 11, and Carolina, Cincinnati and Cleveland, with 10, have more.
The Vikings have only three key players who will be free agents after this season -- defensive tackle Chris Hovan, quarterback Gus Frerotte and guard Dave Dixon. It's doubtful they will getting into a bidding contest for Hovan, who despite all the criticism he has taken here is ranked high by a number of teams. Dixon is enjoying his best season. As for Frerotte, the Vikings aren't going to find a better quarterback in the free agent market.
Sid Hartman, Star Tribune
November 11, 2004 SIDH1111
The Gophers football team might not beat Iowa this Saturday at the Metrodome, but coach Glen Mason is going to make sure his team is well-prepared.
After the team got back from Madison, where it lost 38-14, on Saturday night, the coaches didn't go home. They went directly to their offices where they went over videotape of the game time and time again to find out what happened.
Then on Monday, Mason visited one-on-one with some 20 players trying to find out if there are problems he should know about.
Yes, all of the critics know all the answers. But Mason only wishes he had some idea what happened to a team that was on the verge of winning the biggest game in 30 years at Michigan, and then collapsed after that, except for a one-sided victory over Illinois.
There is no doubt that some of the players on this team have lost their confidence after what has happened. But the one thing in favor of this group is they have played well at home.
If the Gophers beat Iowa on Saturday, they will be the first team since 1967 to win all of their home games.
Iowa is beatable. They do not have a great running game and this should help the Gophers do a better job on rushing the passer and on pass defense. Iowa, in beating Purdue 23-21, rushed 34 times for only 43 yards.
However, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate, who completed 24 for 45 passes for 270 yards against Purdue, might be the best combination passer and scrambler that Minnesota has faced all year. If he has the same success that Wisconsin's John Stocco had last weekend, the Gophers will go down to another defeat.
Iowa blocked two field-goal attempts against Purdue. This should be a concern to the Gophers, who had kicks blocked early in the season.
Among the capacity crowd on Saturday will be 40 recruits, including some of the best in Minnesota. Representatives from the Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl, Alamo Bowl and Sun Bowl also will be there.
It would be a good time for the Gophers to end their losing ways.
Moss injury serious
While Vikings coach Mike Tice on Wednesday praised the pain tolerance of receiver Randy Moss, local doctors who are familiar with hamstring tears say Moss won't play for at least two weeks and might be out longer.
After the Vikings lost on Monday night 31-28 in Indianapolis, Colts coach Tony Dungy said that without a doubt, preparing a defense is a lot simpler with Moss out of the lineup.
Former Gophers tight end Ben Utecht, who is on the Colts' physically unable to perform list, is making progress healing the stomach muscle pull problem he had. According to Dungy, Utecht might play this year.
A month ago the Packers were 1-4 after losing four consecutive games. On Sunday they are favored to beat the Vikings and tie for the division lead with a 5-4 record.
The Vikings have nine players on the injured reserved list. Only the Giants, with 11, and Carolina, Cincinnati and Cleveland, with 10, have more.
The Vikings have only three key players who will be free agents after this season -- defensive tackle Chris Hovan, quarterback Gus Frerotte and guard Dave Dixon. It's doubtful they will getting into a bidding contest for Hovan, who despite all the criticism he has taken here is ranked high by a number of teams. Dixon is enjoying his best season. As for Frerotte, the Vikings aren't going to find a better quarterback in the free agent market.