The Gophers gathered for a quick team meeting Saturday at 8:15 a.m. Then, new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson handed the quarterbacks a quiz.
"It's three pages long," senior Mitch Leidner said. "We go around the room and say the answer for each question. And then if you're wrong, you get exposed. It really forces you to master the game."
By 9:30, the full team was on the indoor practice field for the midpoint of spring practice, session No. 8 out of 15, which culminates with the April 9 spring game.
This practice was open to the public, and hundreds of fans packed one side of the field. Several recruits were there, too, including Blaise Andries, an offensive lineman from Marshall, Minn., who has offers from all over the country.
Coach Tracy Claeys said the charged atmosphere helps his players practice hard, but he's seen their intensity in closed sessions, too.
"If they don't bite when they're a puppy, they won't bite," Claeys said. "And we've been biting each other now. At the same time, they're taking care of each other. We haven't had a lot of cheap shots and stuff like that, so we're working well together."
The day's first big highlight came when running back Rodney Smith broke free for a 70-yard touchdown. The redshirt sophomore from Georgia later said it was his longest run — practice or game — since arriving at Minnesota.
"It's something that I've been waiting to do since I've gotten here," he said. "I congratulated the line. They did a good job."