Hartman: Gophers' preparation plays big role in rout of Hawkeyes

For the first time since 1967, the Gophers football team has possession of both the Little Brown Jug and Floyd of Rosedale thanks to one of the best coaching jobs in University of Minnesota football history by Jerry Kill and his staff.

No one visualized such a decisive 51-14 victory over Iowa after the Gophers were upset at Illinois in their previous game, while the Hawkeyes dominated Northwestern 48-7 last week.

So now the Gophers lead the Big Ten West Division with a 4-1 record, meaning they are still in contention for a championship. Had they lost, it could have sent them plummeting down the conference bowl hierarchy.

First, Kill and Co. found a way to stop Mark Weisman, who a year ago rushed 24 times for 150 yards in a 23-7 Iowa victory over the Gophers. This time, Weisman was limited to 14 carries for 23 yards. The Gophers also held Iowa to 121 yards on 13-for-26 passing, along with one touchdown in the closing seconds of the game. A year ago, Iowa ran up 464 yards to the Gophers' 165.

Then the Gophers offense, which had been stumbling a good part of the season, ran up 429 yards against an Iowa defense that ranked in the top half of the Big Ten.

Quarterback Mitch Leidner not only led the Gophers in rushing with 11 carries for 77 yards, but he also completed 10 of 13 passes for 138 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those went to Maxx Williams, who is proving to be one of the top tight ends in the nation.

The coaching staff had to do a great job of psychologically lifting the spirits of the Gophers after the Illinois game, as well as a their thorough scouting of the Hawkeyes during a bye week that certainly came at the right time.

You don't win big games without top-notch quarterback play, and until Saturday, Leidner had not shown that he could fill that role as both a rusher and passer.

But Saturday, Kill sang Leidner's praises and described it as the best game the Lakeville South product has played in his two seasons with the Gophers.

"Absolutely, no doubt that this is Mitch's best game," Kill said. "He's getting more confident throwing the deep ball, being on target with the deep ball. … That kid works hard. Our quarterbacks, both of those kids [Leidner and Chris Streveler], spend a ton of time in the film room and trying to get better.

"So they've done a good job of staying in that bubble and just concentrating on what we can control and not worry about what everybody else thinks or says. That's a credit to the kids, but you're going to deal with that your whole life, so you better get used to it."

Kill was asked what he was thinking when Iowa took the opening kickoff and marched right down for a touchdown.

''The big thing for us on the defensive side of the ball, you go the last three years they have run it up our tail end. We did a great job defending the run, and that's because our guys played in the gap, they did their job. The linebackers were where they were needed, safeties were, we played very disciplined defense.

''I think after the first series, kids settled down and we just went and played."

Williams made some of the best catches of his career but also did a good job of blocking.

"They had a big defensive line, and Iowa is always known to have a big defensive line," he said. "We knew going into it that we were going to have to hit them hard. We knew it was going to be a physical game, and that it was about who's going to dominate the line of scrimmage. Knowing that they still are a big defensive line, you get that motivation and say, 'Hey, let's prove we're better.' You just go into the game and hit them as hard as you can and keep rolling with it."

How about a season-high 51 points?

Williams also talked about his mentality when it comes to making big receptions.

"Those kind of plays, you just have to kind of feel," he said. "Mitch threw the ball and I had to make a play and it happens so quick — you just try to get your feet down and go with it."

• With so much at stake and Iowa having a history of the best fan following in the Big Ten, it's hard to understand how Saturday's game at TCF Bank Stadium didn't come close to selling out; the announced attendance was 49,860. Next weekend's game is against No. 13 Ohio State, and it will be interesting to see how many Gophers fans turn out.

• Former Twins World Series hero Jack Morris said he would entertain the idea of being Twins pitching coach if asked. "It's obviously up to Paul [Molitor] and Terry [Ryan] to make that determination," Morris said. "There's a lot of other elements involved, but I certainly believe I could do the job. I know what Paul is about. I've known him my whole life, and I buy into what he's trying to do. I think there could be a fit."

• Taylor Grant, the son of Eden Prairie football coach Mike and grandson of former Vikings coach Bud, is a tight end for undefeated Minnesota Duluth. Taylor Grant, a senior, has 13 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.

• Former Timberwolves player and executive Fred Hoiberg's Iowa State men's basketball team is ranked 14th in the Associated Press preseason poll, and the Cyclones handled the Gophers without many problems in a preseason scrimmage in Ames last weekend.