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Home | Sports | Gophers

Gophers vs. Badgers: Rivals will line up and bang heads

Marlin Levison, Marlin Levison*mlevison@startrib

The Badgers celebrated last year’s victory over the Gophers by chopping at a Metrodome goalpost with Paul Bunyan’s Axe. That could add to the animosity in the increasingly bitter border rivalry.

The Gophers defense must shake off a couple of lackluster performances if it hopes to stifle Wisconsin's running game.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 15, 2008 - 10:33 AM

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GOPHERS AT WISCONSIN

2:30 p.m. today • Camp Randall Stadium TV: Ch. 5 (830-AM)

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Lee Campbell was raised in Florida, but he grew up watching Big Ten football -- the Power-I, tight ends and fullbacks, big offensive linemen and downhill running. He wanted to be part of it, but by the time he got to Minnesota the conference had gone crazy for the spread.

Not today, when the Gophers travel to Wisconsin. This one will be old school. The Badgers are big. And they like to run.

That will put Campbell in the middle of the mayhem. Watch him talk about it, and his eyes gleam.

"I love it and I can't wait," said Campbell, a linebacker who leads the Gophers in tackles and the Big Ten in fumble recoveries. "I love it when they send those fullbacks at me. It's just my style."

The Badgers' recent improvement can be traced directly to the running game. In a heartbreaking loss at Michigan State on Nov. 1, Wisconsin ran for 281 yards. While pasting Indiana last week, three Badgers rushed for more than 100 yards and the Badgers gained 441, the sixth-highest total in school history.

The Badgers usually go with 260-pound fullback Chris Pressley leading the way for either P.J. Hill (5-11, 236) or John Clay (6-2, 237).

"They use what we call a gap scheme," Gophers defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. "Everybody blocks down, then there is a fullback kicking out with a guard wrapping around for the linebacker. Sometimes they line a tight end up in the backfield, too. They just get a bunch of big bodies at the point of attack."

And just when you start keying on that play, the Badgers will bring David Gilreath -- the speedy wide receiver from Armstrong High School -- around on a sweep.

It's no surprise that Wisconsin ranks first in the Big Ten and 10th in the country in rushing at 224.8 yards per game. And it's no secret what the Gophers have to do to stop it. Success means a possible upset.

"I'm looking forward to it," Gophers linebacker Steve Davis said. "Getting a lot more pad action, you know?"

The Gophers have struggled against the run in their past two games, both losses at home. Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka ran for 217 yards Nov. 1. Last week, Michigan averaged 5.5 yards per rush while totaling 232 yards on the ground.

In both cases, most of the big plays came after the Gophers missed a tackle near the line of scrimmage when the runner cut back against the overpursuing defense.

Today, the challenge will be a little different. Linebackers who have been operating in space the last month will have to shed blockers to get to the running back. Gap control by the defensive linemen will be important. The Gophers defensive backs -- particularly safeties Tramaine Brock and Kyle Theret -- will have to be effective in run support.

"Two teams will line up, and we'll see who's tougher," Campbell said.

Fitting, really, for a rivalry that has heated up since Gophers coach Tim Brewster came to town. He and Badgers coach Bret Bielema have clashed on the recruiting trail and traded veiled jabs this week. A few Badgers players have talked about how much they hate the Gophers.

"It will be fun, it will be hostile," said Gophers defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, who wouldn't take the hate bait. "I don't say that, just because I'm a spiritual guy. I don't believe in hate. But there is dislike between the two teams, we'll put it that way."

In last year's game in the Metrodome, which Wisconsin won 41-34, there were hard knocks, allegations of cheap shots, jawing between players, the briefest of postgame handshakes between coaches, and a declaration that the rivalry was on by Bielema.

Wisconsin ran the ball 48 times for 325 yards that day.

"Our job this week is to stuff the run," VanDeSteeg said. "They run right at you. You either stop it or you don't. Nothing better than lining up man-to-man knowing you have to beat him to win."

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