No doubt the Gophers football team would love a mulligan for last Saturday’s disappointing showing against New Mexico State. Minnesota was a three touchdown favorite against the Aggies, a program with no bowl appearances since 1960 and a combined 5-20 record during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
The Gophers lost 28-21 in a game that looked like it could be the easiest on the 12 game schedule. Maybe the Aggies will turn out to be one of the surprise teams in college football but for now 1-1 New Mexico State has plenty to prove, just like Minnesota. Tomorrow the Gophers will be favored to win again but this time by only about a field goal playing against Miami (Ohio), a team that ranks with the favorites in the MAC to win the championship.
The Gophers didn’t look motivated against the Aggies and Minnesota defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said players can be affected by what the outside world thinks about opponents. Did the Gophers not take the Aggies as seriously as they should have?
“I think it’s a struggle every week in college football now,” Claeys said. “With all the media and everything, I think kids compare scores. I think they try to make up their mind before the game is played. I believe that.
“So we harp all the time: It’s not who you play, it’s how you play. You got to go through that process every week. Everybody has scholarships so everybody has some decent players. You can’t blow anybody off.
“We’ve been in that situation, playing underdog on the road. The longer that game goes, the more confidence you get out of it. I don’t think there’s any question, that’s a part of learning how to win. You got to go through that process to prepare yourself no matter who you play or what the score was last week.
“So that’s all part of changing the culture (at Minnesota) and learning how to win. But, yeah, I think there’s a good possibility that’s what happened.”
Gophers’ linebacker Mike Rallis, though, said he and his teammates didn’t take the Aggies “lightly” or fail to prepare, but acknowledged Minnesota needs to play better. “We knew they were very capable of coming in and beating us. But we need to come out and play up to our abilities right from the start,” Rallis said.
The Gophers bandwagon hit a big pothole in the road last Saturday. A hope-filled offseason led by new coach Jerry Kill and the promise stirred by only a 19-17 loss to nationally ranked USC in the opener had almost everyone in town convinced the Gophers would win big against the Aggies.
Instead it looks like hold your breath mode tomorrow against a RedHawks team that was impressive in its opening game two weeks ago, losing 17-6 at Missouri. Miami hasn’t played since and the extra time to prepare for a game is a positive not found every month on a team’s college football schedule.
The RedHawks, like other teams in the MAC, have a roster filled with players that were passed over by Big Ten schools. It’s not a new motivation, but the RedHawks wouldn’t mind proving tomorrow that they can beat a Big Ten team.
Looking at the New Mexico State-Minnesota film all week won’t hurt the RedHawks confidence.