Minnesota and Iowa play in the Metrodome on Saturday in the 100^th football game between the two schools.  Through the years the rivalry has sometimes been bitter.  Nothing symbolizes the emotions of the Gopher-Hawkeye rivalry like Floyd of Rosedale, the famed bronze statue of a pig that goes to the winner of the Minnesota-Iowa game each year. 

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz recalled that back in 1981 he was a young assistant coach with the Hawkeyes and not that familiar with the rivalry.  Ferentz’s roots had been out east, playing football at Connecticut and coaching as an assistant at his alma mater and at Pittsburgh.  In his first season at Iowa, 1981, Ferentz watched the Gophers defeat the Hawkeyes and saw the Minnesota players come charging across the field to claim Floyd. 

“I figured out real quick how important that (rivalry) was,” Ferentz said. “Then the other thing that really jumped out, and not quite so much now, but back in the 80’s there seemed to be almost a bitter rivalry between the states just in general.  There were a lot of Minnesota jokes about Iowa, and Iowa jokes about Minnesota.  That type of thing.  …” 

The 1981 Gophers were coached by Smokey Joe Salem who had a dismal career record at Minnesota, 19-35-1, but was 3-2 against Iowa.  As a player, Salem had helped quarterback the No. 3 ranked Gophers to a 27-10 win over No. 1 rated Iowa in 1960, a game that moved Minnesota toward the national championship.  As Gopher coach, Salem always wanted badly to beat the Hawkeyes and those around him said during Iowa week he had a different look in his eyes. 

As a kid, I recall my parents telling stories about Gopher games in Iowa City during the 1930s when fans threw whiskey bottles at the Minnesota players.  In 1935 both the Gophers and Hawkeyes were undefeated going into their game in Iowa City.  The year before, according to the Gopher media guide, the Gophers had “roughed up” Iowa star Ozzie Simmons so badly he had to leave the game.  As a prelude to the 1935 game, Iowa governor Clyde Herring said, “If the officials stand for any rough tactics like Minnesota used last year, I’m sure the crowd won’t.” 

Minnesota governor Floyd Olson was alarmed and responded, “Minnesota folks are excited over your statement about Iowa crowds lynching the Minnesota football team.  I have assured them you are law abiding gentlemen and are only trying to get our goat. …I will bet you a Minnesota prize hog against an Iowa prize hog that Minnesota wins.” 

The bet eased tensions and the Gophers won 13-6 in a game without major incidents.  The Gophers’ prize was a real pig, provided by Rosedale Farms near Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Later Olson commissioned the creation of the bronze pig, Floyd of Rosedale.

During the last 35 years or so the Minnesota-Iowa rivalry has become much more one-sided in passion and interest among Hawkeye fans.  The Gophers have long been one of the most mediocre football programs in the Big Ten Conference while Iowa has won championships and played in major bowl games.  Iowa has won the last five meetings between the two schools.  The all-time series is in Minnesota’s favor: 38-31-2.

Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, reminisced about Iowa’s 2002 visit to the Metrodome when Hawkeye fans stormed the field in celebration and tore down part of a goal post with the intent of taking it home as a souvenir.  He recalled with humor a quote he made that annoyed Iowa fans.  “I told a reporter you have to be from Iowa to think you can get an 18 foot upright from a goal post through a revolving door (out of the dome),” Lester said.

He became the target of “scathing and comical” e-mails from Iowans including a long communication that provoked more teasing from Lester.  He noted the length of the e-mail and replied, “Doesn’t anyone have a job down there?” 

The 2002 game allowed Iowa to clinch its first conference title under Ferentz.  Iowa had not won the conference championship since 1990 and later went on to play in the Orange Bowl.  That game in the Metrodome sent some of the more zealous Iowans into a frenzy that included taunting Gopher fans and added to a reputation for poor sportsmanship.  (A Big Ten football player told me that around the conference his team is accustomed to abuse but normally it comes from students.  In Iowa City it often comes from the adults, he said.)  

Through the years there’s been a lot of good football, great players and exemplary sportsmanship among all concerned including fans in this historic college football rivalry.  Let’s hope Saturday adds to that legacy.

The Timberwolves play in Cleveland tomorrow night (Friday) and then don’t see the Cavs again until April 3 when LeBron James and teammates come to Minneapolis.  For Trenton Hassell and the rest of the Wolves that may well be soon enough to see “King” James, the 21-year-old man-child deemed by many as the successor to Michael Jordan’s throne. 

James finished third in the NBA in scoring last season at 31.4 points per game.  He also finished second in minutes played at 42.5, meaning the Wolves figure to see plenty of him on the court Friday night.  As the team’s designated stopper, Hassell was asked about James earlier this week. “If I can hold him under 40% shooting from the field I did a good job, and keep him from the free throw line as much as possible,” Hassell said. 

Hassell is 6-foot-5, about 200 pounds.  James is “6-9, 6-10, 260,” and strong, Hassell said.  Oh, yes, athletic, too.  And, yup, versatile, including a relatively new added skill of making three point shots. “He’s improved that big time,” Hassell said.  “He’s nailing threes down like his lay ups, so he’s got the total package.  You just got a put a hand in his face, rely on help, maybe trap him (with another player) a couple of times, whatever you can do to make it hard for him.” 

Asked how James is as a defensive player, Hassell said he didn’t know.  Then he indicated his limited role in the Wolves’ offense doesn’t test James or other players defensively.  “I just sit in the corner and wait until it (the ball) swings over there,” Hassell said.  “I am not really involved in the offense that much. …”