Chip Scoggins: Victory over Michigan showcases Gophers' growth

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – This wasn't a fluke or an upset, even if the betting line noted otherwise. Nor should anyone attach an asterisk to it.

What we witnessed from the Gophers football team on Saturday represented a tangible sign of progress. Progress as a program, as an offense, as a defense, as a coaching staff.

Yes, the Michigan Wolverines are not very good this season. Actually, they're a complete mess and probably will be in the market for a new coach at some point soon. No amount of free tickets and Coke promotions will fix this embarrassment.

But the Gophers shouldn't have to apologize for someone else's calamity. Have you seen the ledger in the Little Brown Jug rivalry?

The Gophers finally got to touch, hug and kiss that 111-year-old trophy again with a 30-14 thrashing of the free-falling Wolverines in front of a hostile Big House crowd that erupted in boos and derogatory chants as the game turned lopsided.

"We knew we had to come in and hit them in the mouth early," receiver KJ Maye said. "Playing these teams like this, once you come out strong, fast, get on top of them, they'll kind of lay down a little bit."

Not since 2005 have the Gophers had the fortune to parade the jug around the field and celebrate with it in their locker room. They claimed the trophy on a last-second field goal that day. This one became a laugher in the second half.

Their performance stands as an acknowledgment of the work that Jerry Kill, his staff and his players have put forth in fixing a broken program.

The Gophers lost 58-0 in this same stadium three years ago, Kill's first season in charge of the program. Kill's team lost 42-13 here last season.

On Saturday, they overwhelmed the Wolverines.

That's progress, no matter how miserable Michigan looks at present.

"I'm so happy for our kids," Kill said. "They've been through a lot."

None more than their coach. Kill managed to contain his emotions after emerging from the locker room, but this victory meant something dear to him, maybe as much as any of his career. An epileptic seizure forced him to miss the Michigan game last season. That hurt him.

So, yeah, his victorious walk off the field felt especially rewarding.

"It means a lot that I got to hug my wife and my mom is out there," Kill said. "I didn't participate last year. I let a lot of people down. … It's a great moment, but to be honest, I'm more happy for the state of Minnesota. I'm happy for you all because I know there's been a lot of tough moments through the years."

They made this moment look surprisingly easy. David Cobb ran with determination and finished with more yards rushing (183) than Michigan compiled as a team (171).

Mitch Leidner, back from injury, made just enough plays with his arm to keep Michigan's defense guessing. The Gophers defense smothered the Wolverines and forced two turnovers, including a pick-six by De'Vondre Campbell.

"I think we felt all along that we had a good football team," Kill said. "We just needed to put it all together."

The offense earned its moment in the sun after becoming a target of jokes and ridicule last week. Everyone had fun at the Gophers expense after they completed only one pass against San Jose State.

Saturday, they deserved a tip of the cap.

Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover brought an excellent game plan that kept Michigan off balance by reintroducing the forward pass. At one point, Limegrover called four consecutive pass plays. Yep, four in a row, which felt like 40, given how mundane the game plan looked last week.

The design of those pass plays gave Leidner a chance to be successful. Screens, dump-offs, bootlegs. Quick-hitting stuff. Nothing fancy.

But that approach allowed Leidner to establish a rhythm and gain confidence against one of the Big Ten's top defenses. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown.

This is how the Gophers offense should work: power running game and high-percentage passes. That can be a winning formula in the Big Ten when combined with a defense that is fast, physical and creates turnovers.

"There was the magic period of time where every player and coach felt like we were in zone," Limegrover said.

That's how the entire team played. In a zone. Confident. However you want to describe it.

And the result proved to be both stunning and deserving. The Gophers beat Michigan in the Big House so thoroughly that fans streamed for the exits before the fourth quarter.

Strange times, indeed.

Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com