Minnesota Gophers beat MTSU 24-17 in emotional season opener

The Minnesota Gophers beat up on the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders last night, winning their season opener 24-17. The biggest elements of success: Gophers fullback Jon Hoese’s three touchdowns, and Gophers running back Duane Bennett rushing for 187 yards.

It wasn’t an easy win for the Minnesota Gophers – the MTSU Blue Raiders tied up the game at halftime at 14-14 (after two missed field goal attempts by shaky Gophers kicker Eric Ellestad) with two consecutive touchdowns.

Then, in the first part of the third quarter, the MTSU Blue Raiders took a 17-14 lead (their kicker can make field goals, you see). But Jon Hoese’s third and final touchdown locked in the win for the Gophers as they clinched their season opener.

The biggest difference this season, at least so far? The Gophers running game – we actually have one! New offensive coordinator Jeff Horton promised that quarterback Adam Weber would have some support from the Gophers running game this year.

That promise comes on the heels of last year’s ranking for the Gophers rushing offense: the worst in the Big Ten. So far this season, with good blocking from the offensive line, Horton has made good on his promise.

Of course, it helps that running back Duane Bennett is healthy again. Bennett rushed for a career-best 187 yards on 30 carries in last night’s Gophers season opener. But just two years ago, Bennett had major knee surgery, and he’s been recovering and rehabbing ever since.

And now, it’s all going to pay off, if last night’s victory is any indication. Duane Bennett is the first Gopher running back to rush for over 100 yards in 19 games. That goes back to 2008.

With his father in critical condition after suffering a stroke late last week, Jon Hoese and his family made the emotional decision to have him play in the game against MTSU. The Gophers are certainly glad the fullback elected to play – Hoese’s career-best three touchdowns secured the victory in the Gophers season opener.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Blue Devils fumbled the kick-off return following Hoese’s third touchdown, and the Gophers fullback was the one to recover the fumble.

More than even that, Hoese’s courage and mere presence inspired his fellow Gophers teammates. Fittingly, the Gophers presented Hoese with the game ball in the emotional locker room after the victory.

After all, as several Gophers teammates told the media, the Gophers played last night’s game for Jon Hoese.

Gophers catch a break with MTSU quarterback suspension

The Minnesota Gophers open their season tonight south of the Mason-Dixon line against Middle Tennessee State University’s Blue Raiders. And the Gophers have caught a break: talented MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher was suspended and won’t play tonight. That leaves inexperienced sophomore quarterback Logan Kilgore to take on one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football: Gophers quarterback Adam Weber.

I’ve already said that I think Weber will have an outstanding season this year. We’ll get a little taste tonight, and we’ll also see if the Gophers offensive line really is better, and if the Gophers running game really has improved.

What are blue raiders, by the way? I imagine smurfs in armor. Just kidding, MTSU. It’s not like I have a lot to crow about – my team is called the Gophers, after all.

Don’t count MTSU out, though – they may not be Big Ten, but MTSU won the New Orleans Bowl last year and finished with a 10-3 record. The Minnesota Gophers are the first Big Ten team to visit MTSU at home, and record crowds are expected at Floyd Stadium.

What we won’t see? A real test of the Minnesota Gophers defense. You can’t call it a true test when you’re playing against a quarterback who has never seen Division1 action. Not to bring the kid down, but Logan Kilgore just isn’t the opponent that Dwight Dasher would have been. And Tim Brewster sought out this difficult schedule to try and make the Gophers a better team.

In tonight’s case, I think that quarterback Adam Weber and the Minnesota Gophers have the advantage over the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders.

Whatever those are, anyway.

Minnesota Gophers QB Adam Weber poised for great season

University of Minnesota Gophers veteran quarterback Adam Weber is ready to have a terrific season this year, and I think that he will. After all the bad media blood that’s been spilled over him, we have to remember that Adam Weber is the top-producing quarterback who has ever played for the Minnesota Gophers.

And Weber’s had to deal with a revolving door at the coaching position of offensive coordinator. Don’t underestimate the influence of that position on the quarterback – including rotating coordinators in and out, which isn’t a good thing.

So, let’s instead place blame for last year’s dreadful season where it’s mostly due: former Minnesota Gophers offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, who made some bonehead moves for the Gophers last year – including messing around with Adam Weber’s release.

And the Minnesota Gophers quarterback suffered for it, giving us a dismal season last year.

My reason for optimism? First of all, Adam Weber is fully healthy this year, and that goes a long way towards a player’s production – whether it’s football or baseball, college or pro. In addition, Fisch is gone this season, replaced by new Gophers offensive coordinator Jeff Horton, with whom Weber reportedly feels much more comfortable.

Imagine that.

The Minnesota Gophers won’t go back to the spread-style offense that worked so well for Adam Weber in his first two years as Gophers quarterback, but Horton will utilize much more manageable pro offense plays than Fisch’s last year. The Gophers also have, by all accounts, a much stronger offensive line this season.

It will also help Weber to have a revamped (and according to reports, much better) running game this season. In order to win games, every good quarterback needs a solid running game.

But in the end, it’s all up to Adam Weber. While very vocal about his support of Weber this season, head coach Tim Brewster has also said that Weber will lose the starting job to sophomore up-and-comer MarQueis Gray if Weber gets hurt or plays poorly.

I think that Adam Weber will have a fantastic senior year as the Minnesota Gophers quarterback. We’ll get our first taste tonight as the Gophers take on Middle Tennessee State University in their season opener. So, until we know better, let’s show Adam Weber a little love.

Welcome to Gopher Bites, the new Minnesota Gophers Blog

Welcome to Gopher Bites, the Minnesota Gophers Blog dedicated to all things maroon and gold. The University of Minnesota is my alma mater, and I’m thrilled to be writing about the Golden Gophers.

That is, until I realized how stinky the Gophers football team is probably going to be this year. Yikes. I guess I’ll have my hands full – at least until hockey season.

This fall 2010 is the season, they say, that will make or break Gophers head coach Tim Brewster. Tomorrow night, the Gophers will take the field against Middle Tennessee State University in their first game of maybe the hardest schedule in all of college football.

And in true Minnesota form, tomorrow’s Gophers game won’t happen without a couple of setbacks. Two, to be specific, in the form of suspensions. Minnesota Gophers safety Kyle Theret and offensive lineman Dom Alford have been suspended from the opening game.

We don’t know what these Gophers players did to warrant suspension. We also don’t know how long the Gophers will be without senior veteran Theret or Alford. Suffice to say, the young, fresh-faced Gophers defense could have used Theret’s guidance.

Or maybe not, depending on what Theret did to warrant suspension.

At any rate, coach Tim Brewster has his hands full with the most difficult schedule in college football. What Brewster doesn’t need to worry about is superseding expectations for the Minnesota Gophers by their fans and critics alike – those expectations are in the toilet.

Here’s to hoping that the Minnesota Gophers will pull themselves together this year and show everybody a thing or two.