Price keeps going up for willing foes

Teams find visiting Minnesota profitable in more ways than one.

September 11, 2011 at 5:02AM
"It's a 180-degree turnaround," said Gophers junior safety Brock Vereen (right) of the team's attitude. "There's a new vibe around here, just a new atmosphere."
New Mexico State's Kenny Turner was hit by the Gophers' Brock Vereen before Turner hit the open field in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

It's not easy for a school with only 50,000 seats in its stadium to find opponents like New Mexico State that will agree to travel twice for a nonconference game without demanding a home game in return. That's why the Gophers sent the Aggies home with an $800,000 tip Saturday, the largest visiting-team guarantee the Gophers have ever paid.

But the Gophers also offer another benefit, one they wish they didn't.

"To be honest, teams think they can come in here and win," Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said before the game. "Hopefully, we'll change that."

Those words proved prophetic when the Aggies beat the Gophers 28-21.

Nothing will change the economics of playing seven home games every season, however. It's necessary to find willing partners, and the price keeps going up.

"It's become an arms race," Maturi said. "Look what happened to Purdue -- 10 months ago, they had Kent State on their schedule. Then Kent State paid the buyout and went to Alabama, because Alabama paid them more than a million dollars."

The Gophers guaranteed the Aggies $1.6 million for a pair of games -- New Mexico State visits again in 2016 -- but had to agree to a game at Miami (Ohio) in 2014 in order to get the RedHawks to visit twice, in 2007 and next Saturday.

That deal cut the price of Miami's guarantee to $300,000 next week, but it makes future scheduling more difficult.

"Without question, it's harder," Maturi said. "[Associate athletics director] Marc Ryan has worked real hard, worked with our coaching staff, to try to get the right balance of a competitive schedule, one with recognizable names, and one that still guarantees us seven home games."

It also means dipping into the FCS ranks once a year. North Dakota State comes to TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 24 and will be paid $375,000 on a one-game contract.

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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