There was less than seven minutes to play in the game last fall and Wisconsin scored against the Gophers, pushing their lead to a more than safe 25 points. Badgers coach Bret Bielema called for a two-point conversion, trying to increase the score to 43-16.
The conversion attempt failed and to Gophers fans so did Bielema’s post-game explanation that his play card called for a two-point conversion rather than kicking the extra point. Minnesotans, already aware of the testy relationship between Bielema and Gophers coach Tim Brewster, saw the drama as an attempt to run up the score, even if only by a couple more points.
The incident is remembered by the Gophers who tomorrow play Wisconsin at TCF Bank Stadium. “It did sting,” sophomore cornerback Brock Vereen said. “The game as a whole stung the most, but that added to it a little bit. I know that guys on the team are going to use that to bring with them Saturday.”
The 2-7 Gophers will not lack for motivation against the 7-2 nationally ranked Badgers. Wisconsin-Minnesota is the most played rivalry in the FBS, with the series dating back to 1890. The Gophers have lost seven consecutive games to Wisconsin and would like to regain Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
Wisconsin is more than a 25 point favorite to win but predictions the Gophers will lose is nothing new to a team that is 1-4 in the Big Ten and has mostly been an underdog all season. “I think going into every game we’ve seen ourselves as underdogs and that’s helped us,” Vereen said. “We always play with nothing to lose and that helps us play loose, and helps us play fast.”
With three games remaining on their schedule the Gophers can’t qualify for the necessary six wins to be bowl eligible. A win over the Badgers would take some pain out of a season that includes a 58-0 loss to Michigan and 45-17 loss to a mediocre Purdue team.
“It would be huge (a win tomorrow),” Vereen said. “This is the biggest rivalry in college football. This is a game that is always circled on our schedule. The city is going to be going wild and I am sure they’re (the Badgers) going to bring a lot of their people with them. It’s just a moment that you want to relish and you can’t wait to get to it.”