The hot hand

The Gophers use a backfield rotation of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, but it was Smith who put up the big number — 257 all-purpose yards — against Rutgers last Saturday. A look at Smith's growth in his sophomore season:

OpponentAtt.-Yds.TDsAPY*

Sept. 1, Oregon State, W 30-2325-1252127

Sept. 10, Indiana State, W 58-2817-74188

Sept. 24, Colorado State, W 31-2417-992114

Oct. 1, at Penn State, L, 29-26 (OT)23-1040143

Oct. 8, Iowa, L, 14-711-440105

Oct. 15, at Maryland, W, 31-1018-1442167

Oct. 22 Rutgers, W 34-3222-1112257

Totals133-70191,001

*All-purpose yards