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Outplayed and inadequate, Gophers fall to 1-5
Allowing 30 points or more for the seventh game in a row was a historic first for the program and another blow to rebuilding efforts.
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Share on DiggINDIANA 40, GOPHERS 20 Up next: 11 a.m. Saturday at Northwestern • Big Ten Network, 830-AM
DEFENSELESS The Gophers set a school record on Saturday by giving up 30 or more points for the seventh consecutive game. During that streak they have given up 38.3 points and 520.4 yards per game: 2006: L vs. Texas Tech, 44-41 (OT)*, 548 yards allowed 2007: L vs. Bowling Green, 32-31 (OT), 512 yards allowed 2007: W vs. Miami (Ohio), 41-35 (3OT), 577 yards allowed 2007: L at Florida Atlantic, 42-39, 580 yards allowed 2007: L vs. Purdue, 45-31, 504 yards allowed 2007: L vs. Ohio State, 30-7, 459 yards allowed 2007: L at Indiana, 40-20, 463 yards allowed *-Bowl gameRelated Content
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BLOOMINGTON, IND. - It was bad enough the Gophers football team was a double-digit underdog Saturday to a team it hung 63 points on in a 37-point victory last season.
But if there was any doubt about how dire things truly are this season, it became obvious in an embarrassing 40-20 loss to Indiana that left the Gophers equally dejected and frustrated before a sun-baked crowd of 32,009 at Memorial Stadium.
"It's embarrassing going out here and losing like we have been," redshirt quarterback Adam Weber said.
The Gophers were so badly outplayed in all phases that the final score could have and should have been even more lopsided. The loss gave the Gophers (1-5, 0-3 Big Ten) their worst start since 1992 and dropped their overall record here to 6-17-2.
They also made dubious history in the process. Minnesota has now given up 30 points in seven consecutive games, including the Insight Bowl last season. That is the longest such stretch in program history, which dates to 1882.
Things are that bad right now, which was apparent in the postgame mood.
"It's obviously disappointing," senior center Tony Brinkhaus said. "Any way you look at it we got outplayed."
Even first-year coach Tim Brewster had his eternal optimism tested.
"You know I'm an extremely positive and optimistic kind of guy, but I have to wait and see the tape before I can find some optimism," Brewster said.
Despite their rough start, the Gophers talked this week about the importance of this game because they had turned their season around in 2006 by defeating the Hoosiers. But that was last season, and Saturday's performance showed just how far they have fallen.
"Coming into this week we talked about this being a huge game for us," receiver Eric Decker said. "It could make or break our season."
And now?
"It makes the season a little bit harder, a little bit longer," Weber said.
Indiana (5-1, 2-1) made sure of that. The Hoosiers scored points on their first seven possessions (not counting a kneel-down right before halftime), got two sacks and two interceptions from their defense and a big play from special teams and really had no problem avenging last season's 63-26 drubbing.
The Hoosiers finished with 463 total yards (228 rushing, 235 passing) and got four field goals from Austin Starr, moving a step closer to becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1993.
One play in particular seemed to crystallize the day for both teams. On third-and-9 late in the third quarter, Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis dropped back to pass and looked as if he might get sacked. Instead, Lewis made six Gophers defenders miss in a cartoonlike 44-yard run.
"We didn't tackle Kellen Lewis, and we didn't tackle a lot of guys on defense," Brewster said.
The same old issues were evident again for the Gophers. Their tackling was dismal, the running game was mostly quiet (112 yards rushing) and Weber had another roller-coaster performance (24-for-44 passing for 280 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions).
The stadium's scoreboard keeps a running tab of total yards, and that thing looked like an arcade pinball machine in the first half. The Gophers gave up 199 yards in the first quarter, 274 in the first half and trailed 27-14 at halftime. And they were fortunate the score wasn't worse.
The Hoosiers dropped one pass in the end zone and another at the 3-yard line and had to settle for field goals on both drives.
Trailing 20-14, the Gophers gave up a 71-yard punt return by Tracy Porter late in the first half, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Bryan Payton.
Indiana wasn't nearly as sharp in the second half, but it didn't matter. Lewis completed 24 of 36 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown with one interception. He also rushed for 75 yards on 10 carries.
"I don't know if it's a step backwards," Brewster said. "I'm going to be positive. But we all understand it's about winning. We're not looking for moral victories or anything but W's. We came in here expecting to win."
Instead, the Gophers flew home still stuck on one victory after losing by 20 points to a team they hammered by 37 less than a year ago.
"We've just got to step up and have that confidence that we can win," Decker said. "I think that's not there right now."
Chip Scoggins • ascoggins@startribune.com
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