Kill says Gophers and Badgers need to discuss protocol for future Axe celebrations

After a tense standoff Saturday during Wisconsin's post-game celebration with Paul Bunyan's Axe, Gophers coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday that the two sides need to talk about how best to handle those celebrations in the future.

Wisconsin won the Axe for the 10th consecutive year and pretended to chop down the west goal post at TCF Bank Stadium. The Badgers waited until the Gophers players finished singing "Hail! Minnesota" with the band, and then moved in on the east goal post.

But the Gophers wouldn't let them get to it. This led to a standoff, and security had to help separate the teams. Kill was asked Tuesday, during the Big Ten teleconference, if the teams need to establish an understanding for future celebrations.

"I don't point fingers at anything," Kill said. "There are some traditions when somebody wins the Axe and so forth. I've only been here [three] years, and Coach [Gary Andersen] has been there only one year.

"Whether we go around the field, or they go around the field, and our team needs to get off, or we sing the song and get off -- the administrations know we need to handle it in a different way on both sides. So we'll let them work it out, and I'm sure they'll get it right, and then they'll pass it along to both coaches."

GOOD NEWS ON INJURY FRONT

The Gophers knew these last two regular season games against Wisconsin and Michigan State would be physical.

Aside from some bumps and bruises, the Gophers appeared to emerge from Saturday's 20-7 loss to Wisconsin pretty healthy. Eric Murray, Cedric Thompson and Maxx Williams all were shaken up during the game but returned to play.

"For a physical football game, and the coldest football game here in a long time -- the turf was pretty much frozen -- we came out of it pretty good, really," Kill said. "... You're going to be bruised and battered, but I think we'll be alright this weekend."