ufot100109

On the homepage

Sunday's paper

Olympic moms get all-around gold

Out There

Homegirls

The politics of green

Gardens

Her garden became his inspiration

Home | Sports | Gophers

Rivalry matches talented QBs

Marlin Levison, Star Tribune

Gophers quarterback Adam Weber was praised by Badgers coach Bret Bielema for his accuracy and decision-making ability.

The Gophers' Adam Weber and the Badgers' Scott Tolzien know how to run an efficient offense.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: September 30, 2009 - 11:42 PM

Print this story

Follow Myron on Twitter

GOPHERS VS. WISCONSIN

11 a.m. Saturday • TCF Bank Stadium • TV: ESPN (830-AM)

More from Gophers

When the Gophers and Badgers tunnel into TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, both squads will depend on a pair of 6-3 pocket passers -- Minnesota's Adam Weber and Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien -- in the latest version of the Border Battle.

The emotion of such a rivalry hasn't generated any taunting in the head coaches. Instead, they uttered mostly praise for the starting quarterback they don't see every day, as well as for their own.

"I would compare [Tolzien] a lot to Mr. Weber: a guy who handles the game and makes the right throws, makes the right decisions," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "And it's going to be exciting to see those two guys on the field."

Gophers coach Tim Brewster, like Bielema, said the two athletes have comparable leadership abilities.

"What I've seen of the quarterback at Wisconsin, he's a good player," he said. "I think you see some similarities there [to Weber]. They both look very poised. They're accurate with the football."

The quarterbacks also are similar in their effectiveness. Tolzien earned Big Ten offensive player of the week honors after completing 19 of 31 passes and throwing for a career-high 243 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-30 victory over Michigan State last weekend. Weber threw for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Gophers' 35-24 victory at Northwestern on Saturday.

"Obviously, you guys all know I like our guy," Brewster said. "I think our guy is a really good football player. And I've been very impressed with Wisconsin's quarterback."

Weber and Tolzien command the conference's top two red-zone offenses. Both players led their teams to victory with strong fourth quarters in their conference openers Saturday. And both threw for more than 4,000 yards in high school, yet attracted very few major college scholarship offers.

But they're different in many ways, too.

Tolzien, the league's most efficient quarterback (164.3 rating) after completing 66.7 percent of his passes and throwing only two interceptions in his first four games, earned the starting job in training camp. On third downs this season, he's gone 26 of 35 for 295 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.

But Weber, No. 9 on the Big Ten's passing efficiency chart (120.4), has the edge in experience -- he's a third-year starter.

Weber and Tolzien have observed each other from a distance and as a result, they have each developed more respect for each other's talent.

"I've played the last two years when we've played him; I realize he's one heck of a quarterback," Tolzien said. "He not only makes plays with his arms, but he also makes plays with his feet. And you can see that he's a leader on the field. Definitely, a really good quarterback."

Weber said Tolzien's proven himself by becoming one of the Big Ten's most consistent quarterbacks in his first year as a starter.

"He's having a great year," Weber said. "Obviously, coming in and playing with consistency. Moving the ball and putting up points for Wisconsin. That's kind of the name of the game for a quarterback."

But mutual admiration aside, Weber also knows only one of the starting quarterbacks will be able to touch Paul Bunyan's Axe by Saturday afternoon.

"We're looking at our team and we're thinking we have a lot of great players on offense and defense," Weber said. "Just can't wait to get out there and play for the Axe."

Recent Gophers stories

Macklin, Parsons each score 20 as Florida beat Mississippi State 69-62 in SEC play - September 30, 2009

Macklin, Parsons each score 20 as Florida beat Mississippi State 69-62 in SEC play - Vernon Macklin and Chandler Parsons each scored 20 points to lead Florida to a 69-62 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday. More