In an interview earlier this week Adam Weber didn’t try to avoid questions about his feelings during a season that has at times seen criticism directed his way but also praise and recognition.
Gophers coach Tim Brewster said his quarterback was “lights out” in his superb performance against Michigan State, a 42-34 Minnesota win. Weber, who has been inconsistent in his passing this season, is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first Minnesota quarterback to surpass 400 passing yards in more than a decade, throwing for a career-best 416 yards and matching a career high with five touchdown passes.
“He played as well as a quarterback can play,” Brewster said.
Does Weber feel better about himself now than a week ago? “Yeah, definitely,” he answered. “You try not to get too down. You try to be a leader on the team and you don’t let your personal performances, or expectations, bring down…other people.”
Weber is a mature 22-year-old who has 34 career starts for the Gophers. The redshirt junior is the Gophers best offensive player, making plays with his arm, feet and head. He ranks sixth among Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yards per game at 205.9.
Weber is recognized by teammates and coaches as a leader and player vital to the team’s success but that, of course, doesn’t stop the less informed from criticizing him. Frequently this season the plays that didn’t turn out successfully were because team execution failed.
Weber was asked if he’s heard and feels the criticism. “Yeah, sure, definitely,” Weber said. “But I think what Bryan Cupito has taught me and a lot of people have taught me is you take things with a grain of salt.”
Cupito is the former Gopher quarterback who was Minnesota’s career passing leader for yardage. Weber broke his record last Saturday and now has 7,509 yards. Cupito proceeded Weber as the team’s starting quarterback.
Weber said he’s more concerned about his family’s reaction to criticism than he is for himself. “I feel more worried about my family and my mom,” he said. “I tell my mom all the time you can’t be reading any of that stuff, or you can’t be hearing any of that stuff.”
The win over Michigan State left the Gophers with a 5-4 record. On Saturday the Gophers play Illinois at home. “Illinois is another step for us to overcome to get to the best bowl game we can,” Weber said.
Often in the past the Gophers have stumbled the following week after a win against a quality team like Michigan State. The Gophers had an extraordinary week of practice last week and played well in the Michigan State game. Weber said that standard is much more important than past history.