2023 Week Five Review: Gophers Beat Louisiana, New RB, Special Teams, West is Winnable

Burnsie, Chip and Gaardsy recap the Gophers Homecoming win over Louisiana: We had a Zach Evans sighting! The defense rebounded well after a slow start and special teams was...also something we had to talk about. The guys spend some time on the Big Ten West looking so winnable and surmise that the Northwestern loss may come back to haunt the Gophers. Michigan is coming to town on Saturday and the guys give a preview of the rock-solid Wolverines.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Glenn Mason said a long time agoat the University of Minnesota, you need
a Pair and a Spare. Thankyou, PJ. It his time for
another edition of the Pair and aSpare podcast were brought to you proudly by
Jack's Cafe Jaxcafe dot Com at MinneapolisInstitution. Will get Chips review of the
crem Brewla a little bit later inthe show, I'm justin guard from the
fan. We've got Chipskoggins from theStar Tribune and Ryan Burns from Gopher Illustrated

(00:21):
dot Com. As the Minnesota Gopherswent one to o in the Louisiana Raging
Cajun Championship season. They're now threeand two and have the Michigan Wolverines coming
to Huntington Banks Stadium. Burnsy,we'll just talk to you about the game.
Because Chip had more important things todo than come check out the stripe
out at homecoming, so we'll justlet him sit over here. And you
got because of Chip's absence, yougot one of the nine Star Tribune spots

(00:42):
in the fifteen Pioneer Press spots becausethere was only one from each one of
the institutions there. How dare theydisrespect your sun Belt teams like that chipper,
do you set my seat? Ikept a warm for you. Here's
my question. I have to sanitizethat thing. Did this sar you want
to get there? Did the GopherSports Athletic Communications Department? Do they not

(01:03):
get the memo? That not?That many people write for either of those
papers? Now, like how manyI saw it? Because usually I'm like,
there's five spots for each other.That's absurd. That is absurd.
I like to spread out. Well, that's fine if you want some space.
You know, Lavell if he's there, probably want some space. Randy
probably wants some space. I've seenJoe Christensen pop bye once every every once
in a while. That's a lotof people. That's a lot of spots.
Keeps me down in the first row. I'm not worthy unless the entire

(01:26):
star tribute. I don't make theI don't make the decisions. Take it
for granted, and don't even showup like one side for all my papers.
This side for Chargers, Yeah,coke snacks and I need elbow room
in a type you know you don'ttype. You know what I did in

(01:48):
your honor there is I used mypointer fingers. But the amount of vigor
that only people can imagine loud Ifpeople don't know, isn't it interesting?
Yeah? Go ahead? What youchip? You don't type? You slam
the keyboard. You were just tellingus in the pre production meeting. How
many keys have you broken? Which? I've have you ever broken a key
at any point? Not typing?Like sometimes something will get stuck underneath it,

(02:09):
or don't wear out. No,they don't wear I've had it for
two years. I think maybe you'vebroken multiple keys too, two in two
years. Yeah, that's not bad, isn't it. I think it is.
Well, let's we'll take it tothe audience, so let us know
how many how many keyboard keys inyour daily lives? Now, fairness to
you, you're a writer, you'reusing it more than most people. But

(02:29):
that seems like a lot. Iremember you only type with your pointer fingers,
and it's not typing, it's slamming. Of the guys. I never
took typing. Typing, No,it wasn't mandatory our school. But it
is amazing how fast you can typewith two fingers when you have to.
Yeah, it's true. But allyou guys, because Dan and all you

(02:50):
old newspaper guys, none of youtook typing. No, and it's all
index or middle Yeah, and it'sa thousand. It's it's as loud as
possible it can be because I thinkit's you learned on a typewriter or something.
I'm assuming all those Cassio radio chefdeels that you had to get because
all of them. If you watchlike I've watched Dan, you know,
at events we've been at when hewas writing still or when he would write

(03:10):
for Camfean dot com. He's hunchedover and he's got the thing and it's
just two fires. Meanwhile, Igot my pinky working and I'm doing that
thanks to Conquered Elementary Elementary School birds, govaers all over this keyboard. Whatever
you need. But how do weget here? Oh? Because you took
a spot because nobody was there.Nobody was there. It was just Randy
Andy myself in house up the hardscores that the people cover the team.

(03:34):
Yeah, Chipper, how many spotsdoes go for Illustrated get too? We
get to or do you get likeone and a half and you gotta find
we like, where does RJ sit? RJ comes? He's there quite a
bit. He the tailgating line Yeah, having a little bit of fun for
football game. He enjoys it.Yeah, he enjoys himself. All right,
Well, the Gophers win kind ofhow we thought the game would go.
I think it was just kind ofa nondescript you know, some belt

(03:57):
team that makes it interesting for aminute. Then the Gophers asserted themselves with
a pretty nice decisive second half,even though you weren't their chip. We'll
start with you. What did yousee in the rewatch? I like the
way Zach Evan's righting the ball.I like the way the defense responded after
a not a very good first half. Ian call me the quote from PJ
to me at halftime, which iswhy I appreciate working with PJ. We

(04:19):
are not playing good defense. Yeah, that's as simple as it is.
Essentially, we're not playing good defense. Which I appreciate that that he that
he's honest about it. Again,too many exposive plays, too many big
plays, too many guys in thewrong spot, and so they shorted up.
I get some young guys. Myguy in the second half came and

(04:42):
showed himself, which you've been waitingon. Uh, So you said it
went about the way I thought itwould. I didn't really know how it
would go because I wasn't sure howthey would respond to such a bad loss
to Northwestern. To Northwestern, Yeah, and I I sort of as I
watched that first half, I sortof felt like there was a little bit
of carry over there. But totheir credit, they pulled themselves together and

(05:06):
did what they're supposed to do inthe second It was just a game where
I mean, they could have gonepair shaped early where you give up that
touchdown on the opening drive where yourstar safety just turns the wrong way inexplicably.
That was very strange, like thatshould have been an interception, should
have been in a Kyler Newban shouldhave had about four interceptions in that game.
I think he was going for him. I think that was the problem.
Yeah, I think he was peakinga little bit that the guy cherry

(05:29):
picking in basketball. Yeah, Imean the eyes a little too much.
Correct, But they give up thetouchdown in the opening drive, seventeen points
in the first half. That isa Sunbelt team where I'll give him a
little bit more credit. I thinkthey'll have a shot to potentially win the
Sun Belt even with that backup quarterbackwho I thought looked pretty good at times.
I mean, that's an offense thathadn't scored more or less than thirty
one points in any game, andyou could see how explosive the quarterback was

(05:53):
with his legs. But I meanjust defensively, they just got too many
things where there's guys in positions tomake plays. They're in the right spot
like schematically and everything, and it'sjust they're not making plays consistently. Now
they've figured it out a little bitmore in the second half where I thought
Anthony Smith chips guy, Yeah,really started a flash there. I think

(06:14):
that was his best thirty minutes ofball in his college career. Forced an
interception at a couple other key plays. But it's just trying to figure out.
I think it must be frustrating forRosci because again, like at the
first touchdown of the game, Imean, Tyler Nuban, your star safety
is right there and he just turnsthe wrong way. If he turns the
right way, he gets an easypick and you get a touch back.

(06:34):
And it is what it is.But make the plays. It's funny as
at halftime, you know, Iwas, I watched it back and I'm
like, Nuban's having a tough coupleof weeks. Here he is and then
he you know, he gets theinterception or he makes a nice play on
that one. But it was likethings that are just uncharacteristic for him.
It is it does seem I thinkyou talked about this on GGR. Aren't

(06:54):
they kind of doing a lot ofstuff with him? Is that what you
guys were talking about, Like they'realmost allowing him. I don't know if
it's a Harrison Smith type deal.It's like a he's doing a lot of
different things correct like Antoine Winfield didin that nineteen season. He's playing a
ton of center field. They're doinga lot of things that allow him to
try and just go read the eyesof the quarterback. Now he's got three
interceptions and in five games he's beensuccessful in that. But he's also been

(07:15):
burning that a little bit. Butthey're trying to figure out ways with him
to be creating plays that are gamechanging, trying to create turnovers, trying
to do different things like that.Now it's burned them a couple of times.
He's made the plays a couple oftimes, but I mean, even
offensively, it's they finally let ZachEvans out of the Melk carton after that

(07:36):
was that was a funny quote fromFleck yesterday. I missed you there at
the presser. Chip, Yeah,working, working, he's got a project.
Just don't be like a what you'redoing here? And we all have
fun with the Saturday thing and theyhave nine they have nine spots. Because
I wasn't at the presser either,I had some things going on yesterday.
Don't be like a Twins press boxguy. Okay, don't be a major

(07:56):
league baseball ball guy. You knowwhat I'm talking about. I have no
idea what you're talking about. Wellyou should, because I've told you every
time I show up at a pressconference and to go, huh to what
do we owe the honor? Lookat this guy? Just stop being a
jackass. We've all got a lotof jobs, We've all got a lot
of places to be. I thinkyou're projecting. No, but this always,
and this is part of the readthis it's about. I don't go
to Twins games very often because there'sno there's no more uppity media than baseball

(08:22):
media. Then when you walk intothe press box and there's just this ooh,
someone's different in our precious little baseballecosystem here. He hasn't been hanging
out at the cage, you know, talking to Guardy. You're talking to
TK. What's this radio guy doing? Just shut up, all right?
And I don't like when you doit. And now you're doing it at
Chipper. Wow. Now now you'redoing it to Chip. Is this Twins
City's marathon related? No? Areyou sure you might get to that.

(08:43):
I don't want Gopher sports media tobe like baseball media. I want it
to be an inclusive will be inplace in twenty twenty three. Where someone
walks into classroom what oo? Whyare we even talking about all this?
If someone walks into classroom one Ofive and athletes village, all you old
guards say, welcome in, It'sgreat to see you. How's the face?

(09:05):
Where can I can I help youfind the malt box for your plug?
What can I help you with?Anything? You want to know about
the team? Don't you got toget him past Grim? Because anytime I
walk into one O five, nowGrim tells me about the flights out of
Duluth. And now I don't knowenough both miss that one that was that
was last week in the Prescottage.I don't want to we'll get to that.
I don't want to get in mytangent's already taken up and up this

(09:26):
time. But so Zach Evans,Gopher media is going to be an inclusive
place. Bernsy, Okay, we'rewelcoming everyone. If you're here. It's
great that you're here because Chips acolumnists, he's got a lot going on.
Should have been there. Saturday Mondaysare tough. I will say my
Mondays are tough. Mondays can betough. Is it tough? I haven't
gone historically to the Mondays at tenfootball Cross Minnesota doesn't fall out of the

(09:48):
sky. That's someone's got to writeit, especially with a broken keyboard.
All right, Berns, when you'rebreaking multiple keys, Sorry everybody, I'm
not gonna let you get a passfrom Yeah, where's he been? Play?
Well? You finally play him andnow you've got your fourth consecutive week
with a Gopher running back. Isthe freshman of the week in the Big
Ten. By the way, fifteencarries eighty five yards. Rough week for

(10:09):
freshmen in the Big Ten. I'mhappy for Zach Evans. That's great.
He clearly should have been playing upuntil this point. But tough one for
the freshman I think this week,but congrat Zach, Yeah, go ahead.
Well, now you got to includehim every week going forward, because
he didn't know how he was goingto perform on Saturdays. Fleck talked about
on Monday how just a couple ofweeks ago they were having him fix and
correct some of the issues a consistencyin Sunday Night football, which is when

(10:31):
they have the freshman play. Goahead? Was the ball security? Was
it not known assignments? What Imean because you watch him run, you
like, I think it was moresifted. Yeah, I think it was
more assignments based trying to make surehe had it all down. Now he
gets his first test and he passesit with flying colors. He ate everything
on his plate, and now youadd a little bit more. Yeah.

(10:52):
So that's where if and when DariusTaylor is healthy, which that was one
of the things that Fleck talked aboutcoming after the game. He allegedly didn't
practice all week. So me havinga hard time of all the dnps to
then playing against Michigan, especially witha bye week after Michigan, I'm having
a little bit of a hard timeseeing a path for Darius Taylor. Are
you really, I would think theopposite. I would think, if he's

(11:15):
somewhat healthy, you put him outthere knowing that you have the bye week,
Well, the question would be,why do you think he's somewhat healthy
if we're believing PJ. Fleck onan injury update, which is a very
big assumption, right, if he'dnever practiced at any point last week,
which is what Fleck said after thegame, Going from all dnps to them
playing against Michigan seems like a littlebit of a stretch to me. I

(11:37):
would probably say more like what you'resaying, no, if you haven't practiced
for a week to come back andhave But if you know midweek last week
that you're not going to play andyou're just not like we're going to bring
it back to practice next Tuesday,could be that. But I would not
put a freshman who is if yousaid, somewhat healthy against Michigan, that

(11:58):
would not be the ideal team tothrow it out. I mean, I
mean, you got player, he'syour best running back, all right,
you got to play to win thegame. But I'm not saying playing hurt.
I'm just saying it wouldn't stun meif it wouldn't I wouldn't be shocked.
Well, we have no idea.I've also seen how conservative the Gopher
training staff has been with injuries suchas like Cody Lennenberg. Yeah, so

(12:18):
if the if it is truly fiftyto fifty for game time, I'm gonna
imagine it comes up tails and hedoesn't play. Get him healthy for that
Iowa game in a couple of weeks, But even against Michigan, you have
to. When Darius is healthy,your one two combo has got to now
be Darius Taylor and and Zach evansY. Yeah. I mean, it's

(12:39):
just it's clear that you watch allthree of those running backs and it was
nice to see Sean Tyler come offhis own milk carton. Yeah, he
played okay, But but those twoare your two best run and I think
they compliment each other. I mean, Zach isn't as fast as Sean Tyler.
A different running style though, Andthat's where again, if you can
give Darius twenty twenty three carries agame, and then you can give Zach

(13:01):
another ten to twelve, that's whatthe recipe is going forward. And even
that's probably the one of the morebigger talking points of that game, three
different tailbacks with ten or more carries. All it took was Darius Taylor to
go down on carry thirty one theprevious game. Do you think that's a
mirage or do you think that's atrend? Zach Evans. No, that

(13:22):
Minnesota is going to give running backstwo different running backs say going forward?
Multiple depends Darius Taylor. If it'stwo yeah, three, no, well
yeah, but if quarterback through itfourteen times? Yeah, right right.
There's the reason why that happens becausehe only the only threw fourteen passes now
eighth then had ten carries. Howmany of those were sacks or uh?

(13:46):
Push or yeah, that's that's whata brotherly shove whenever you want to call
it? Yep, which is?Which is? That was a nice new
wrinkle. Something to do, Yeah, something to try. I mean he
converted four different third downs with thatplay, plus that fourth and one at
the two yard line into the endzone. I mean, how do you
stop it? We've seen it inthe NFL, now that American it's way
into college football. Eighth, thenyou mentioned Chip fourteen passes twelve or fourteen?

(14:09):
Like I always said, I neverwanted to be with Athan's arm town
at twelve or fourteen, But likethey're not bothering me as much as the
old ones. Score yeah five pointyeah. Well, and he's making good
I mean his average pass is tenpoint four yards of carry. That's good.
I mean that's a good number.Like he had a couple of touchdowns.
Like when they throw it, it'sjust like it's not like so laborious
to throw the ball. So I'mnot as offended as maybe I thought I

(14:31):
would have been. I want tosee more accuracy on the deep shots.
I mean, obviously the one atthe end of the first half was bad.
He fed the poor throw. ButI but you know, the fourth
down to Jackson, that's a niceplay call. And I love that they
went for it there. They didn't. I'm stunned that he went for it
there. I'm not not really reallyafter what happened the week before. You

(14:52):
can't be so. But they wereup ten or eleven? What were they
up? Because that made it thirtyfive seventeen. I feel, yes,
they're up eleven. So they wereup eleven, so you have a shot
to put the game away, yeah, which they do. But that is
the moment where you say get outsideyour comfort zone. Yeah, well that's
why I think I was surprised becauseI just thought I'm just gonna punt it
and make them score twice on usand that's it. But credit to him

(15:16):
that he didn't and that was agreat play. Yeah, and everything feels
different now you're up thirty five seventeen. It's is a great dagger. And
granted you're gonna face better competition goingforward, but if you have a history
of going for those and you havethe plays that you want and you give
guys confidence in those situations, that'swhere you work on those things. Yep.
Where you're getting that situation against Iowaor whoever, Wisconsin, you have
more faith and those guys have confidenceto do it. Ethan was tremendous hot

(15:39):
play action. I think it waseight to eight. Both of his touchdowns
came on it. But to Chip'spoint, if you're going to have a
shot at against Michigan this weekend,Athan's gonna have to throw the ball thirty
times because there is not a shotyou're gonna be able to run the ball
against one. And I think thisMichigan team, you could arguably say is
the most talented team Fleck has evercoached against. And I certainly think we

(16:02):
were going back through this at thepress conference yesterday, trying to figure out
this is the most talented team sincewent I think twenty eighteen Ohio State.
I mean that twenty fifteen team wellrounded. Yeah, just theyre offense,
defense, special teams. That's justthey are. And I understand for the
Gopher fan it's, well, whohave they played? They haven't played anyone.

(16:23):
They're best. The best team they'veplayed as Rutgers, I get it
right. They've also killed every singleteam. Yeah, did you watch any
of that Nebraska game. I watchedsome of that Nebraska game this morning,
and it was what's tough about Michiganis like they're not I got to figure
out how to phrase this. They'renot what you would think like a top
two team is with all this talent, Like they just line it up and

(16:45):
just go like they're so methodical.Like even against Rutgers was just like,
all right, we're gonna run ithere, Okay, second and six,
Okay, they're super physical, yes, okay, here we go, and
then oh, by the way,our quarterback's really good. Their quarterback was
twelve to sixteen. J. J. McCart one hundred and fifth six yards,
two touchdowns, and I watched likeand one of them the catch was
ridiculous. Roman Wilson literally grabbed itover a guy in the end zone.

(17:07):
Yep, they're not just They're notlike just out talenting you. That's why
I think it's depressing because they arevery talented, but they're also very physical,
and so they just suck the gameand march. I mean it was
over in a minute and a halfinto the second quarter. It was twenty
one nothing. I'm all right aboutthis, lad? How many how many
times have we heard PJ since summersay, in terms of testing immeasurables,

(17:27):
this team is lifted more, right, faster, all these things than any
team he's ever had. Well,this is where it's gonna have to show
up because this is going to bea incredibly physical team that they're facing.
And that's where it's going to beone can you match it or can you
can you you know, hold upagainst on both sides of the ball in
the trenches and within that, Well, you're talking about a Michigan offensive line

(17:48):
that has won the Joe More Awardthe last two seasons, which for those
people who don't know that the bestunit offensive linet in college football. Now
they returned three starters from that.I don't think they've been as good,
but they've still obviously been really goodupfront. But for Minnesota's offense, the
only shot Minnesota has in this gamenow there I think a twenty twenty one
point underdog at home, which Ithink kind of screams how good Michigan has

(18:11):
been and how inconsistent Minnesota has been. But they're gonna have to be so
reckless on offense with just abandoning allyour principles because look, you can't run
it. I have such a hardtime believe we've said that before though,
like against Iowa, like you can'trun the ball against Siowa, and then
they run the ball against Iowa likethey've If they out physical Michigan's front seven,

(18:37):
I'll be gobsmacked. Yea, Iknow what you mean. But Athen's
gonna They're gonna have to do it. I mean, Athan is your most
gifted player on offense. If DariusTaylor's not on the field, and you're
gonna have to put him in spots, And to me, it goes back
to the North Carolina game. Youhad opportunities to score points. Yeah,
copious amounts against North Carolina. Thatdefense isn't as good and Athan didn't hit

(18:57):
his shots and he wasn't accurate.Well, what has he learned after having
in his last two games he's completingseventy nine percent of his passes. I
think he's got four touchdowns, oneinterception. I mean it's going to be
on him and Harbow to figure outhow can we get all I mean just
all the trick play. Yeah,you know, it's crazy. He's like,

(19:18):
I don't care who you play.They've given up thirty points total.
They have a Michigan Yeah, threeseven, six, seven, seven,
and the seven against Nebraska was late. Yeah, they they were up either
fourteen zero or twenty one zero.Nebraska went for it fourth and one deep
in the red zone, didn't getit. Yeah, there's no push.
They just basically pushed him back andthat was it. Yeah, that's yeah.

(19:41):
That's I saw somebody out of MichiganState, and I have a hard
time because their schedule Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Produe, Penn State,
Maryland, Ohio State. I mean, you look at that schedule for
the next month, like who's goingto score more than ten. Yeah,
between now and Penn State. That'stough. That's tough. I mean there.
I mean, they've been to theplayoffs two straight years. I mean,
they're a legit national championship contender.In the return a bunch of starters.

(20:03):
I think they had the most interms of the Senior Bowl and the
most guys on the watch list ofanyone. I mean, they could potentially
have double digit guys drafted in April. But I'll just keep coming back to
if you're gonna have a shot,it's going to because of Athan, Because
Michigan's gonna put up points. BecauseMcCarthy has taken a step forward, especially
on his deep ball. He's agood player. Yeah, I mean they
got they got one. They hadthe best running back tandem in the Big

(20:27):
ten and Donovan Edwards and Blake Korum, Which the funniest part about Michigan's offense
is Blake Korm Heisman contender last year. I think we all voted for him
at some point. He has fourcarries in the fourth quarter this year because
they have been just obliterating everyone.That's the thing against this They're going to
score. Can he keep pace andyou're not gonna keep pace running the ball

(20:48):
well, and they're going to maximizetheir possessions like that because they they're efficient.
They'll go ten plays and they'll finishit. Yeah, one way or
the other. Well, why isMinnesota scored threety four and thirty five points
the last couple of weeks finishing Theyare seven for their last seven in the
red zone in regulation anyway, interms of converting red zone position red zone

(21:10):
two touchdowns. So I mean Minnesota'sgot to do the same. It's about
it just maximizing those opportunities. I'mcurious to see because I think it's funny.
I think the defensive line's played goodthis year. I agree, Yeah,
like that's been this definite strength ondefense. Yeah, and now you
see the Smith kind of come up. You see their depth more than we've

(21:33):
seen in the past. So I'mcurious to see how they match up.
And if you know, I'm scaredabout these linebackers without Cody Linnenberg though they
have not played well the last coupleof weeks, and I think Michigan is
going to do a lot of misdirectiontrying to get their eyes going one way,
the play comes back the other way, and I'm hoping it doesn't look
like twenty twenty Michigan in that regardwhere Minnesota's linebackers were just a lot of
sorts. Well, on that note, let's pause, and when we come

(21:56):
back, we'll talk about something evenmore uplifting, Ryan Burns World and something
that will probably be important on SaturdayNight special teams. That's coming up.
All right, let's pause here andChip, the floor is yours because you
are the most recent attendee of ourtitle sponsor one of our favorite places to
eat. I was within an eyelashof going to Jack's Cafe on Sunday night

(22:18):
with the family after the marathon thatmy wife ran as a rogue runner.
Because it was shut down. Ithought maybe we could go to Jack's.
Kids were a little dicey. I'mlike, I'm not going to ruin people
Sunday evening and having a wonderful dinnerat Jack's Cafe. But you were there,
Chip, and you've got a veryspecific thing you need to review.
Well, I did go. Mysister came in town to run the ten

(22:41):
miler with my wife, which theydid not do, but we went.
It was canceled. It was canceledyeah, but we did. We went
Thursday night and I got the flay, which was outstanding, and I can't
remember what everybody. I think myson had the flay too. Let's call
him right now. Let's call himright now and get the orders, but
get him out of class. Whateverthey had, it was one. I
know. My sister had the poppie, which she loved. But then

(23:03):
we were like, should we getdessert? And I don't know, but
we got the crimberl a. Look, I'm a crimberly kind of sewer.
That's what you said. I lovethat's what you told us. I would
eat a trough of that. Itwas the best crimer It was like it
was one of those things you getdone eat and you're like, I wonder

(23:26):
cold we get another like five moreof those. Yeah, it was out
the best Crimberley I've ever had.And I don't say that lightly. The
nice little toper to the meals.So the next time we go there,
all right, next time we doapparent of spare event burns eat your rum
run would be a part of it. But then they're gonna have to make
a trough of kremble ay and everybodycan just go over and just scoop it

(23:47):
out as we can't wait to seethat good so good. And service was
great. Obviously, we had agreat, great time. It's fun my
sister. They get the match books, you know. And and Bill said,
he texted me before he try,I put your sister's name on it.
She got the biggest kick out ofthat. She loved it. It's
the greatest touch ever, attention todetail. That's why we love it there.
It's the little things. Jack's Cafein Minneapolis, ninety years of great

(24:10):
meals like the one Chip just describeda lunch, brunch, dinner, date
night. Don't forget about holiday dining. It is October, by the way,
so holiday dining right around the corner. They've got room for you.
They've got special holiday menus. It'san amazing place. We absolutely love it.
Jack's Cafe Jaxcafe dot com. Thanksagain to Bill for a parent a
spare listener, going to Homecoming withthe with the Jacks Cafe tickets on Saturday,

(24:32):
and great parking and everything and supportthose that support us. And nobody
supports us more than Jack's Cafe.And I would say when you make your
reservation and it has notes put inthere that you heard about it in parent
spare because somebody did that. Billtold us and that he enjoys that.
We enjoy that, and we appreciateyou. I love it, good nugget
Jack's Cafe, Jaxcafe dot com.So Louisiana goes right down the field,

(24:56):
scores to make it seven zero,and you wonder, Okay, how is
this Minnesota team going to respond theword of the program. How is this
team going to respond? Do theyhave poise? Do they have poise?
Will they get the ball in decentfield position? Maybe they pop a return
for the first time since Illinois lastyear, I think if I remember correctly,

(25:17):
Or maybe they just fair catch itand get the ball to twenty five,
or maybe it just sails into theend zone and they get the ball
to twenty five. None of thosethings happened. Ryan, Why didn't you
explain to everybody that may have missedit exactly what happened and how you feel
about it, felt about it then, and feel about it now. Here's
what I want to be. You'rereally gyrating here. You are physically there's
a physical aversion here. Look,because I continue to be told that people

(25:41):
think I'm just blowing this issue outof proportions. I don't believe that people
actually say that to you. Iget that constantly. They must be trolling
you. Well, okay, soI'm trying to get you going. So
you so we all all right?Let me collect my thoughts here. He's
at the Twins press spots. Sowe agree that special teams is an issue.

(26:03):
Yeah, other than Dragon Kassis correct. Yes, he's been outstanding.
He is saving special teams. He'sgiving them a positive talking point in which
otherwise I think is not good.Quentin read and kick returns in five games
Chip have lost them sixty one six' one yards of field position compared to
fair catching everything. Does he haveany notes Chip in front of him?

(26:26):
That is a man, that specialtyhe is. That's twelve There are no
notes in front of him. That'stwelve yards of field position per game that
the offense is getting pushed back bybecause the young man is getting another opportunity.
Here's my question. You're so madyou can't even talk. I'm so

(26:47):
mad. How why is it thatSean Tyler gets put on a mel Carton
for two weeks yet here we areYeah, I just it's unexplainable. He
has more coins in the fleck bank. Yeah, that's the only thing I
can come up with, because Iagree with you. I just it's not
even it's not even quitting. Reading'sfault, like we'll just what's going on

(27:08):
here, Like it's just it's justa continuation where it's like it's just never
clean and easy, like there's justalways something. He talks about the punting
and all Mark Crawford, great story. He's one hundred years old from Australia.
His parents were here the whole monthof September. It's like, just
flip the field once. That's allwe're asking to do. Flip the field
once, and when you do havesomeone down there to catch it, and
then all of this is a lotmore fun. Two punts and opportunities to

(27:30):
flip the field. Minnesota punts fromwithin their own twenty. They get a
thirty eight yarder and a forty oneyarder and then for the third straight time,
trying to pin them deep punting frommidfield, bounces into the end zone.
A nice little thirty two yard netpunt. Here we are just I
thought the best dragging cast. Ithink you're over blowing it a little bit.

(27:51):
Yeah, that's what I get toldI don't know, Tea, it's
not an issue, coach, justinit's not an issue. That's what I
keep being told. I'm blowing itout of proportion. I don't know who's
telling you that. Rational people.Apparently we please copy those when that happens,
or send those out to tweet those. It's just mind boggling. The
most conservative coach, and again it'son him at this point, just continues

(28:14):
to let this thing happen. Theirreturn game is an absolute joke. Their
punk game hasn't been good, Imean forever, and again I don't want
to pick on the guy, butthose were two of the most egregious you
know, Yeah, I mean catchingit by catching it by the sideline like
that is absurd. Yeah, Likethat's just not being ready. I mean
that's not being ready. That's that'snot being coached, right, I mean

(28:37):
that's all of it. Yeah,Like, that's just not being ready to
go. And I get it.People make mistakes. That happens. It's
football, as everybody says, that'sfootball. But at some point you just
got to go what, as youwould say, what are we even doing
here? And it's never clean andeasy, it's never you always phrase it.
You know, did special teams helpor which which team? And you

(29:00):
always praise at they help you orhurt you. That's the same question I
always ask myself. It's always toooften they hurt you, and it matter
because you won by eleven, Butimagine if they didn't kill you. Well,
I was thinking of the twenty nineteenseason because that was the underneath undercurrent,
like it wasn't great that year,like they were winning in spite,
Like a team like Minnesota can't winat the highest of high levels for them

(29:22):
if they're not getting if they're notwinning special teams every week, especially against
a team like Michigan or Ohio Stateor any of these teams that they're playing.
When you want to play trestle ball, you better be great on offense,
defense and special team. Yeah,and you and I know there's some
analytics historically where apparently they are,but I Almoso like, but are you
maximizing what you could be like forexample, the University of Iowa, Yeah,
which we'll talk about in a second, which I know you'll also really

(29:45):
you can't wait to talk about that, But anything else you want to talk
about here. Dravn Kessich is he'sa stud. He's probably going to end
up being the best kicker they've hadsince I'm m Carpenter. I would imagine,
Yeah, i'mn't won the kicker ofthe year back then when he did.
Yeah, yeah, in sixteen.I mean he's nine of ten,
only misses from fifty. I meanhe's a stud. He's really good.
He's a stud. And I meanjust even that kick we talked about it

(30:07):
last week, the Northwestern kick,it was just an absolute rocket. Yeah,
it was good from like sixty five. And the touchback thing is great,
like you never have to worry likeon that side. We don't even
know if the Gophers are good kickoffreturners. You don't need to be.
I know which way I'm leaning,But because they kick it out of the
end zone every time, it doesn'tmatter. Which is outstanding. Have you

(30:29):
guys tried Duck Duck beer yet?I have not. I think it's pretty
good. My recycling did I textyou guys that, No, my recycling
would indicate it is an extremely drinkablebeer. Yeah, it is an extremely
drinkable beer. Dinky Town athletes gotthe got the beverage partner Great Duck Spirits

(30:51):
and there's a million different ways youcan contribute, but duck duck beer would
be the easiest one for you andme. Chipper, It's like what say,
it's like an amber ale. It'slike a light beer is what they
call it. And it's I mean, I had a couple on Saturday.
I had a couple on Sunday.It's tremendous. I'll try it. But
we should bring that up because thatwas what I was going to get to
it. Oh sorry, yeah,Burns, he got there. But go
PJ with you was that was obviouslyas forceful. Yes, we've heard him

(31:15):
yea as much as any coaches we'veyou know that we've seen come out and
say we're gonna lose players if notbecause of this. To catch people up
Coaches Show last week we were talkingabout Darius Taylor and PJ unprovoked said,
everybody like watching Darius Taylor play.I'm paraphrasing when we got to go to
Dickey Town athletes dot com. Otherwise, guys like him market to be here

(31:37):
that much longer, and like,like we had a guy a couple of
years ago. We don't have himanymore because we couldn't pay him. Dinky
Town athletes dot com, Dinky TownAthletes dot Com. Triple A ball Club,
Triple A ball Club is what hesaid, and he's right in fairness
to PJ. Like people don't liketo hear it, or they don't maybe
don't anything timey coming off the Northwestern. Yeah, but get over it.
Yeah, but that's why I thinkpeople are really northwestern. Yeah, this

(32:00):
is the time. But I don't. I do wonder if is there something
he's hearing or is it just becauseTaylor won Freshman the Year three times.
I don't think it was Darius paranoiamore than Taylor specific. But I think
here's how I'll say this. Ithink word has gotten back to him and

(32:23):
some other collectives and he just wantsto make sure everybody's aware that we still
need help. Word has gotten backto PJ on what other collectives that we're
doing well, we're doing fine.We had a good week because PJ went
nuclear. But there's more room togrow in the collective space, and I
don't think PJ wants people to forgetabout it. And I'm guessing every coach

(32:45):
probably feels the same way that PJsaid. Maybe he's not going to articulate
it, and it costs triple Aor whatever. But this is the world
now. Yeah, Unfortunately, whetheryou like it or not, this is
the world of college sports. Whichis why Duck Duck beer is a great
way to do it because it's twentypercent of the proceeds that goes right back

(33:05):
to dinkytown athletes. They've also gota great deal. I have it in
my car. It's like a jugof vodka. I'll never be able to
drink this much vodka in my life. Great. Yes, have people donate
money without knowing their donating money,yeah, or doing something they are already
going to do, which is tailgate, which is have beers, which is
have burgers at the game. They'veI think they've done a really good job
of maximizing all They need. Acoffee. We got to work on a

(33:28):
coffee I was thinking about that burnshere my people. Yeah, we'll get
you. Got to get a coffeedeal going, because then I can help
them in the morning, and Ican help them in the afternoon. I
can help them at lunch time witha parlor burger. But it's it's a
great way to help out. Andif as I understand that, if you
want it at your liquor store.Just ask if they don't have it.
This should be pretty much everywhere.But they've got good distribution. Yeah,
distribution is going out this week.They started at Top ten, which is

(33:51):
right there across the street from thecomplex. Gray Duck is obviously very prominent
in the state of Minnesota, whichis distribution. The beer is getting out
there. But if you go toyour local liquor store and it's not there,
ask for it. It's Great DuckBrewing. There'll get it there.
But I think that even within thattoo. You mentioned the vodka the way
I understand it. Anytime you buyjust to say a leader of Grey Duck

(34:13):
vodka instead of saying Tito's. Yep, every part there's a well there's part
of that sale that goes to DinkyTown. Ass it's twenty five percent.
They've got like a little tag onthe bottle. Yes, and there you
go. So instead of buying Tito's, if you are a vodka connoisseur,
which I'm a big vodka guy,big screwdriver guy, there you go.
That's how I got through college andcould. Yeah, that's that's a whole

(34:35):
different podcast. But if instead ofTito's, if you just go to the
when you go to the liquor store, that they're gonna have Gray Duck there.
Yes, And I love the hashtagdrink for Darius. Hashtags already come
out and it's so good. Yeah, but it's a perfect I mean,
it really is a good tailgate beer, like straight up, like I'm getting
nothing out of this. I'm nota dinky Ton athlete. I'm just telling

(34:55):
you. If you're a Gopher fanand you want to help, the questions
of how how can we he?What's the simplest way. Well, if
you're already going to drink light beer, yes, just when you go to
the liquor sport liquor store by DuckDuck beer. If you're already going to
drink vodka, I can assure youthey already have Gray Duck vodcas sitting right
there within the same price point.And again to Justin's point, I think
twenty five percent of proceeds from thatgo to the town. One of the

(35:17):
vodka is twenty five from the beer. I think it's twenty But either way,
so how can you help? Ifyou're going to consume an alcoholic drinage
anyway, might as well go withthe gray Duck brand hashtag drinks for Darius.
I love it. It's so good. All right, we mentioned anything
else we need to talk about Gopherrelated I don't think so. The parent
of spare group text is not forsix thirty pm. Baby, that's right.

(35:37):
Another night game? You mad aboutthis one night game? Are you
mad about this one too? Areyou mad? I mean it should be
a great atmosphere. I would think, Yeah, it's gonna be fun,
NBC. It'll be fun. It'sthe Gopher's first game at NBC since the
nineteen sixty two Rose Bowl, whichis an interesting Wow. Yeah, it's
Noe's in front of you for thatone. Now, fairness like that was

(35:57):
like the only Big ten game foryears and years that NBC. But it's
still interesting. Yeah, I meanit's still interesting that the nineteen sixty two
Rose Bowl was the last time wegot to see the Peacock here. So
they're coming here. They've got likefive sets that they've got to come in.
I mean, it's NBC. Isn'thalf stepping into this college football thing.
No, they're gonna be. They'regoing to be rolling in here.
But on this past Saturday night atNBC, we were all watching Iowa Michigan

(36:20):
State. I fell asleep before thebest part. I guess too many duck
duck beers. They've just woke upto a text luckiest bleeping team ever and
I had to imagine. I guessIowa beat Michigan State. And they did.
And it wasn't because of anything thatthe offense did. They lost their
quarterback, Cade McNamara. I thinkprobably for the year, right, the

(36:40):
year year. Yeah, that's toobad. Yeah, that's really too bad.
Speaking of collectives, because the swarmcollective ended up for him. Yeah,
they did. So, Iowa outlastMichigan State, but mostly because of
a fourth quarter punt return that hadKinnick Burnsey a rocking man. LaVar Woods
is think he's LaVar Woods. Let'sjust Cooper Degene's a stud, yes,

(37:02):
now smart enough to put the guyback out there that's going to house it
as opposed to the guy where heis half the time. Yeah, but
Cooper Degen go ahead from the toprope, sweet Giblets in Juniperson All right,
Yeah, Cooper Degene is able tohouse one. Puts I think puts
them up to seven. There.I think it was tied. Yeah,
I was two scoring drives outside ofthat in the fourth quarter, when I

(37:23):
believe thirty three yards and eleven playsboth were touched on our field goals.
Excuse me. They had a negativefield goal drive again, which is very
Iowa, but after Michigan State wentfor it for no good reason. It
boggles my mind that a team can'tcontinue to win like that over and over.

(37:45):
But here's but here's the problem.Everyone else obliges, like Michigan State
going they were ahead. Now youthink of it two ways, like,
well, their offense isn't going tohurt us, so we're only giving up
three. Let's just keep the ball, which is one way to look at
it, but it's all as theiroffense isn't going to hurt you at all.
Just kick it and then you don'tscore the three because their defense is

(38:06):
still going to be pretty good,even though I don't think it's the same
defense that it's been. Like Iwas watching the same thing Burnsley and going
Michigan State is no good. They'rein complete turmoil, and yet they're allowing
Iowa to stay in here because oftheir own stupid decisions, including going for
it on their own side fourth andone and not getting it it's the Kinnic
at night. I just I've acceptedthat stadium has a magic and a power

(38:30):
over other opposing teams like we've seensince Minnesota hasn't won there since what was
it ninety nine? Yeah, yeah, but you saw it again in effect.
And that's where that offense for Iowa. Even with mcnamarry, he wasn't
playing well to begin with, andnow unfortunate now that he's going to be
out for the year, and nowthey got Wisconsin's former third string quarterback from
last year as their starter. He'sa big boy. He's got a little

(38:52):
Jared Lorenzo. He's a big kid. You know, let's see how he
if you know, was you're notjust throwing into a game. Yeah,
well that's a nice thing. Iguess if you're Minnesota is number when you
get a bye week to prepare forIowa, while Iowa that same week next
week has to travel the Madison andtake on Wisconsin, and so you'll have
a few game tapes of them.But even with mcmaar, they couldn't run

(39:15):
the ball. That's their biggest problem. I can't find receivers that can consistently
catch the ball. Their best tightend and Luke Cliches out for the year.
Now now you also have Kid McNamara'sjust Iowa at Night. It's just
what happens there, just always yearafter year after year. Yeah, you're
right, because it's it's you know, the formula, right, and they

(39:37):
still they still win it. Butagain, you know who didn't oblige last
year? Nebraska. Yeah, Nebraska. So we don't give a bleep about
any of this crap. You're aboutto win the Big Ten West. No,
we're gonna beat you because we havebetter players, we're more talented,
we're not scared of your defense.We're certainly not scared of your offense.
We're gonna go win the game.Like Iowa, to me is the new
what Northwestern used to be. Yeah, everybody tricks themselves into thinking you've got

(39:59):
to play perfect, and I justdon't think you do. I don't think
you have to, especially with howmuch they struggle offensively. Like, take
some chances, take some chances againsttheir defense, go down the field,
go do these things because at worst, you're probably only going to be you
know, the offense is only goingto score a couple of touchdowns. It
can only be on the opening drive. Because I will go to my grave
saying Brian Farren's opening game script forwhatever reason, is always tremendous, and

(40:24):
then it just stinks the last fiftyminutes of the game. If you play
them not to make a mistake,that's what they want. That's exactly what
they want. And guess what they'regoing to make a special teams play.
You're you're gonna make one mistake andthat's going to be the difference, right
like most fumble a year yeah,or a couple of years ago. Ahead
it was Tony durb you know,missing a tackle and he houses it.

(40:45):
That was gonna backup quarterback too,wasn't it, Alex one, You're Alex
Padilla backup quarterbacks? I couldn't playfor Mike Grim's favorite game to talk about
the Alex Padia was that nineteen Yeahexactly. I mean that's that cost him
the rose Ball theoretically lose in thatgame, but anyway, because they took
a bunch of shots. So nowwith Kid McNamara out, we thought going

(41:07):
into last week, the West Coastro Iowa now that Deacon Hill is going
to likely be the start of therest of the season, but the West
goes through who wins next week atthe moment, I would think and by
that next week you're Wisconsin and Iowa. Correct, Because you have to look
at the schedules. I don't thinkeither team's any good. I don't either.
I don't think any team in thegood which is why the Northwestern game

(41:27):
is going to haunt. Northwestern losswill haunt. And I wrote that down
about seven fifty five Central Standard timeafter US I did after my I can
see the text after my second duckduck beer because they were so drinkable,
and I mean, I don't needto check it, but I said it.
But because I look at the like, what team in the West,

(41:47):
Like we obviously know Michigan, OhioState are going to be tough for Minnesota.
Here coming's press the schedule and youlook and you go, what game
cannot can't they win? Illinois isjust there isn't a team in the West
that has falling below expectations more thanIllinois. There's a lot of finger pointing
going around over there. I don'tthink the Purdue is necessarily any good.
No, No, And then yougot Wisconsin and Iowa. They're fine,

(42:09):
They're not world beaters like they wereten years ago. Just watch that game.
I have a feeling is everyone's goingto be like eight and four,
nine and three somewhere in there,and that fifteen minutes in the last year
of the West is potentially going tohaunt them. Now if they sweep the
rest of it after but even then, I mean, if they sweep Iowa

(42:29):
in Wisconsin, and if they sweepall the West teams and lose to Ohio
State in Michigan, you're in there. You think you're in the West,
you think you win the West.What would you be then? Nine and
three? What's their record right now? No, you'd be eight and four
because he lost to North Carolina.Now you'd have the ten record. It
would be six and three. Ihad have a hard time believing if you
go five and what would it befive and one against the West then with

(42:50):
your only loss being to Northwestern,think about it that you don't have a
tie break over somebody. Yeah,you'd be six and three in conference play
there, you'd need a little help. If you swept every you need a
little help from I think Michigan Statewould have been the team to help you,
but they they didn't last like everyother team that Cannick Yeah, like
we of this year. Oh boy, oh boy, I've been there.

(43:13):
Was there nineteen, was there intwenty one? Was there in seventeen?
Seventeen was the Cody Polk game wherehe just gets bear hugged on a long
touchdown and there's no holding call?Remember that, Man, You've had a
tough run down there. Everyone has. Yeah, there's been some good games
been since ninety nine. Yeah,I think I was at the ninety nine
game. I feel like I feellike I was down there. But to

(43:36):
your point about Illinois, here's onepoint I was thinking about too, because
like Illinois struggling, Indiana struggling,like our guy Matt Campbell, Iowa State
struggling, right, Like, Iknow everybody's mad about the Northwestern deal and
we've been mad about the Bowling Greendeal. We'll see what this year ends
up. But like, there hasn'tbeen like like I think, what what
I see at least is like,Illinois, what is it? You're three

(43:58):
with Bila mine. There's not likea cataclysmic bottom is dropping out set like
because I feel I just wanted toget that on the record because we always
get that around here, especially it'slike, oh, what's going on?
This thing is never going anywhere.Blah blah blah. It's like, yeah,
but it's not like falling off thetable like some of these other Like
two years ago, everybody Tom Allen, what contract did he signed some ridiculous

(44:21):
contract. They loved him, itwas a great Their team sucks. Yeah,
they won the COVID season. Ye, they're terrible. Yeah, but
like it's hard to sustain at someof these places. So as frustrated as
you can be by Northwestern, Iget it. I was there, very
strange, had weird losses before.Like, let's see where it all ends
up at the end of the yearand then kind of compare it to where
they're at relative to where they've been. That's all. I don't want you

(44:42):
to run them out like you did, Mace Chip. That's what I'm saying.
Yeah, well now you are acouple of flatbreads and meals later.
But anyway, what else do wewant to talk about? Anything else we
want to get to? What wouldyou want to get to with the Indiana
didn't they just fire their offensive coordinator? Yeah, well, just that they
suck now because two years ago,well I got a bet that Allen's gone
by hot and to Halloween, buteverybody was like, Matt Campbell could have

(45:02):
gotten any job you wanted a coupleof years ago, any job any of
them. And now it's like,man, what's going on in Iowa State?
Their players are betting, the underthe gambling like they're doing all these
things. Like I just think weneed to have a global view of where
the program the Gophers are as I'mmostly doing it to talk about the Gophers
of all these teams, Beilama yearthree, like they should be better than

(45:23):
this mm hm theoretically, but it'shard. It's difficult, not that easy
when your team hasn't been very goodto just roll in and go, hey
we're here, we're good. Andeven last year they melted down. They
should have won the West and everybodyloved them. And I love Beilama.
I don't know why I'm talking aboutthis, but I just wanted. I
want to. I want to getoff your chest. Well when you're not
Ohio State and Michigan, like,it's hard to do what it's hard to

(45:45):
do with these schools are trying todo and just be consistent and be good
every single year. So that's whyI do wonder with these divisions going away.
I mean these teams that are strugglingjust to stay media or at a
certain level, what becomes of them? You do wonder if the if,

(46:05):
the if the if the league bosseswill say, you know what, we
need divisions in some former fashion,we need pods. Yeah, I think
they will. I do too.I just think to organize it, you
have to have that and you haveto give people a reason to do.
You're playing for something, yeah,a spot in the semi finals on semi
final Saturday. As bad as theWest is right now, at least these
teams we're sitting here talking about whatwould it take to you know, at

(46:28):
least you're playing for something good,Because if you're with Ohio State in Michigan
and Penn State, you're you're notplaying for anything other than the fun of
you know, you're not playing fora division a good Saturday. Speaking of
tradition, does it bother you guysthat the Little Brown jug wasn't one of
those protected games because it was aquestion that was brought up yesterday at the
Prescott You know, not really,not really. It'd be fun. But

(46:51):
if I'm Minnesota, I would sayno, because you're gonna have Iowa Wisconsin
and you don't want to you know, yeah, probably don't want to make
that is guaranteed every year. It'dbe cool for fans and cool for us,
you know, to watch, andmaybe cool for players. But it
doesn't. Now. If they'd havedone that one instead of one of the
other two, then I would say, you know what, that's right now,

(47:14):
some of the ones you gotta protectto be because as long as you
have those two, you're fine.Yeah. I don't consider Michigan arrival.
They've won the Joke Trophy twice inmy lifetime. I think, like,
that's not a rivalry, it's acool trophy. It's a good story.
Yeah that's about it. Yeah,I agree. So, no, it
does not bother me. Yeah,same here. I like going to the
Big House. I'm not religious aboutthe Big House. It's not like I
need a Big House trip every otheryear for any of these deals. So

(47:36):
yet, like, if you saidthey're not playing them every year, I
wouldn't be bothered. If you saidthey're not playing Iowa or Wisconsin every year,
I'd be really bothered. Yes,exactly, that's a good way to
frame it. Speaking of Minnesota,Michigan, Chip and I just stumbled upon
the fact Burnsley that it was twentyyears ago, the infamous Friday night Michigan
game where it looks like Glenn Masonand everybody were rolling to the Rose Bowl.
Gophers are up big going into thefourth quarter. John Navar's screen past

(48:02):
side of dual colleague scored too quicklyon that two yards. I was at
that game. We all were invarious spots. Was it I was?
That's my first Gopher memory was.I was at that game of my father,
and you kept coming back after that. I remember people driving off the
road listening to this your first Gophermemory was? I remember that side of

(48:23):
dual Collique run very right right upthe middle for fifty yards. What I
remember. There's a million things aboutthat. I had just started working here
at the fan, and I rememberhaving to call go for athletic communications.
Doogie had me do this because Iwas interning. We were trying to figure
out the last time that Minnesota andMichigan had ever played, where Minnesota was

(48:44):
ranked higher, because at that point, Michigan hadn't fallen off, you know,
like they ended up with Rich Roder. I don't remember what, but
I remember calling over there and theywere they were looking it up for us
and all of that. But likethe other thing, I remember Friday night
because the Twins were in the playoffs. Much like that now, the Metro
Dome wasn't available on Saturday. They'renot playing on Friday, so they had
to move it to Friday night,which was cool. Yep. And I'd

(49:07):
been to the Dome a lot asa kid, and i'd seen it full.
I'd never seen it full in justmaroon and gold like it was that
day. That night. It wasunbelievable. And it's crazy that it's been
twenty years. Chip, Yeah,what could have been How it could have
been different had they won that game? Yeah, And I always say,
you know, that was my firstyear on the beat and the town that

(49:29):
week was on fire for it wasit was in a way that I really
haven't people and I wasn't you know, didn't cover them up to the point,
but people said they haven't felt this. The tailgate lots on Washington and
for people that don't even remember,like where's all these condos and the a
lot so far that used to besurface lots where you tailgated for Vikings games.
You never tailgated for golfer games thereexcept that night, and those lots

(49:51):
were slammed. And I maybe it'stoo dramatic, but I don't know that
it is that that lost chain.It's the trajectory of the program, I
would say it. I mean,they had good seasons after that, but
it altered what could have been.People don't remember this. They played Michigan
State at home the next week.Back then I could get the h the

(50:15):
actual turnstile count, not just toannounce which ticket stole, but actual people
that came through the door. Andit was and Gophers were still ranked,
yeah, top twenty five, theywere twenty something. Michigan State was ranked
twenty four thousand fewer people in oneweek. Yeah, because it just took
the air out. I mean,because that's that's again kind of what I

(50:36):
was talking about a minute ago,the challenge of this place. You get
a finite window if you're not oneof the thing, if you're not the
Vikings, basically like the Twins.Right now, you can go. You
can walk into target Field for fourbucks today game one of the wild card
seats. Really yeah, go tostub Hub. You can. I mean,
I don't know if you could.You could have yesterday. Maybe those
are gone, but you don't havea great way. It's like in Apollo

(50:59):
thirteen when they had to re enterthe use atmosphere. If you go to
this, you go to shell,you're gonna skim right off and go back
into space. If you go toodeep, you're burning up, Like you
gotta hit it perfect, And thattwo week microcosm, I think speaks volumes
about everything, like you have tohit it perfect when it's your time in
college football number one, but alsoin Minneapolis in a pro market, Yes,

(51:22):
to capture people's attentions, and witha program that had gone through this
decades of malaise where people weren't caringand then all of a sudden they were,
and then to have that still justutter heartbreak. I mean people still
talk about Outherrie. Michigan comes upall the time because who knows what happens

(51:45):
the next week against Michigan State.I mean everybody's thinking Rose Bowl. And
back then it was even more attainablebecause like not, there wasn't like a
dominant that it wasn't a championship gamefor one, right, and so it
was scheduled dependent. Yeah, itwas I remember very very well. I
remember the whole thing very very well, and you were just a little burnsy.
I was ten eleven years old.Yeah, man, side of dual

(52:07):
Calik run. I'll remember for therest of my life. You've never seen
a quarterback sneak like that before.At well you scored too quickly, yeah,
because their defense was just absolutely outof gas. It was you think.
I typed loud imagine the rewrite thetype and I had that night in
the press box. One scoring inthe fourth quarter going into the fourth?
Was it thirty five fourteen, thirtyfive to fourteen going into fourth or thirty

(52:29):
or no, twenty eight seven thirtyfive or something like that. I think
they're up twenty eight going in tofourth. They ran for almost five hundred
yards or almost four hundred for overfour hundred ye, I think it's four
to twenty four. Yeah, Imean almost that year. I always say
that year I covered two games inwhich they ran for four hundred yards and
lost both of them. That wentin Wisconsin. That's hard to do.

(52:50):
Hard to do, man, fourhundred yards and lost twice. Well,
on that note, Christmas Michigan twentypoint underdog going in So if what are
your expectations for Minnesota to meet thisweekend. You know, I want to
see them be competitive. I wantto see them cut it loose. I

(53:13):
want to see them say, youknow what, we have one chance right
to hang with this team, onechance, and let's do it. Because
I think you can get confidence outof this game if you play, if
you play it right. Yeah,I mean Rutgers, I think probably felt
pretty good about how they played.They lost thirty one seven, and they
hung with them for like an entirehalf, and some weird a pick six
had to happen for them to breakaway. Like Michigan isn't a team.

(53:36):
I mean Michigan, They're going to, like we said earlier're going to try
to constrict you until you slowly die. Yeah, you just got to make
sure you handle that for the firstquarter, first half, whatever it is.
And I'm sure Minnesota has reached outto Minnesota East in Rutgers where their
offensive coordinator Kirk Roka, what wentwell? What didn't? Joe Harris Simeak,
the former defensive coordinator here Ross he'scalling him saying, what what went

(53:59):
well? What didn't? But toyour guys's point, just be competitive into
the second half. Yeah, AndI know a lot of people aren't gonna
want to hear that that are listeningto that right now, they're gonna be
saying it's year seven, Minnesota shouldbe. I truly think people underestimate how
talented and how well this Michigan teamis currently Well, year seven was PJ.
It's year nine for Harbaugh or whateverit is. Yeah, and he's

(54:20):
building off a couple of so yeah, I don't know the year. The
years of coaches is irrelevant to me, but anyway, but offensively, it's
just I said it, play withsome reckless abandon yeah, because you're gonna
have to get weird in a gamelike this to be able to score twenty
something points, which is what you'regonna need to be able to somehow pull
off an upset here. But youjust got to figure it out offensively,

(54:42):
and let Ethan put him in spotsto make the throws, and if he
makes him, you're gonna be inthe game in the second half, and
if he doesn't, it's gonna bemore like North Carolina. Last reminder,
we haven't done this in a coupleof weeks. And I want to remind
people that I saw one of thesewere you with me, I don't remember.
I saw a couple of these onSaturday on O Street. The start
Your Day one hundred percent shirts areavailable, are available. It's nice to

(55:04):
see them. The parents Apparel shopstill at the top of the Parents bear
pod Twitter account. Right, yeah, and I told you guys that my
wife while we were at well,we were all in Chicago or maybe it
was North Carolina. She wore thatshirt to a like a garden center.
That's right, okay. She worethe start Your da at one hundred percent
one and somebody came up and waslike, oh my god, I love

(55:24):
that podcast. And I was like, okay, well did you did you
tell them? Like, hey,say thank you? Yeah, thank you,
Like tell a friend you're my wife, like that's why you're wearing She's
like, absolutely not. I'm nevergoing to tell anybody. It's disappointed.
I was disappointing. Missus burn We'reall on the same team together. We
grab an or missus burns. Wegotta row, Yeah, we gotta row.

(55:45):
We gotta roll in the same directionhere. But if you want to
buy one of the shirts start YourDay one hundred percent or they got molk
shirts, it's they're still available.To there and they're awesome and it was
fun to see those on Saturday.It's always fun to see him on the
road. I wore mine out inNorth Carolina, I think on the plane,
and why wouldn't I. We're allthe Parent of s Bear family,
so we don't talk about the shirtsenough. But if you want to jump

(56:05):
in there and buy some of themerch, we will jump to you.
We have you there at the apparentof s Bear pod Twitter handle. Thanks
again to Jack'scafe and Jackscafe dot comfor their great partnership. Like Chip said,
make your reservation at Jackscafe dot Comjaxcafedot com mentioned in the notes that
the Parent of Spaar sent you.Whether it's for brunch, whether it's for
lunch, holiday dining, happy hour, whatever it is, you'll never go
wrong with Jack's Cafe. Thanks everybodyfor listening. Tell a Gopher fanfriend in

(56:29):
your life. We're here. We'lltalk to you next week on the Parent
of Spaar podcast