In the grand scheme of things, Saturday's spring game was less of a real contest and more of a culmination of what the Gophers football team -- coaches and players -- have learned during the past several weeks of practice.
Teammates became opponents, and the Maroon team officially claimed a 3-0 victory over the Gold team before an announced crowd of 3,512 on an overcast day at TCF Bank Stadium. It was mostly a chance for players to make one final early impression, for jittery youngsters to get their feet wet and for coaches to evaluate depth.
"We got a chance to see everyone on the field, and we got out of it healthy," head coach Jerry Kill said. "So that's the biggest thing."
Winning was nice, to be sure. But the biggest thing at stake, wide receiver Brandon Green said, might have been steak.
Green, who had a game-high 59 yards receiving for the victorious Maroon team, was asked if one Chris Hawthorne field goal was really enough for bragging rights.
"The other team would probably say it's not, but we're eating steak tonight, and they're eating beans," Green said, referring to the postgame meal arrangement for the winners and losers. "That's true. Steak or pork chops. That was the deal."
That led to some good-natured trash talk in the midst of a sometimes-sloppy game that nonetheless showcased areas in which the Gophers have made strides since a 3-9 season in 2011.
Incumbent starter MarQueis Gray was the sharpest of four quarterbacks who saw official action, completing four of eight passes for 62 yards -- including a 35-yard strike over the middle to Green after the receiver made a nice double move to get open.