While Gophers fans celebrated during a balmy Southern California evening, P.J. Fleck answered questions in a small room beneath the Rose Bowl bleachers. After beating UCLA 21-17 with a last-minute touchdown, his Gophers football team coach appeared relieved yet successful.
We require a break, you know. He said he had never encountered a goodbye at an inappropriate time. We are exhausted. We are stuck together with tape, bubble gum and straw.”
Fleck and his Gophers have one of their two byes this week, with the other one scheduled for Nov. 16. During this time, they have an opportunity to rest, regroup, and strengthen their team. They head into the break with a 4-3 overall record and a 2-2 Big Ten record, which was improved by defeating both California teams. Both the outcome on Saturday and the victory against the then-No. 24 team with a score of 24-17. On October 5th, the 11 USC mandated fourth-quarter rallies. The outcome of both games could have gone differently, potentially leading to a disappointing season, but the team managed to pull through against the Trojans and Bruins, sparking renewed enthusiasm from fans with makeshift repairs.
The direction the Gophers take next will mostly depend on the three-week period between the two bye weeks. Beginning with the home game against Maryland on Oct. 26 and followed by visits to Illinois on Nov. 2 and Rutgers on Nov. 9, the Gophers will compete against three teams of similar strength.
The Terrapins (3-3, 0-3) have lost two in a row and are host to USC on Saturday. The Fighting Illini (5-1, 2-1) are ranked No. 22 in the AP poll but play No. 24 Michigan and No. 2 Oregon over the next two weeks and just gave up 49 points to lowly Purdue. The Scarlet Knights (4-2, 1-2) mustered only one touchdown each game in back-to-back losses to Nebraska and Wisconsin.
That’s not to say those contests are gimmes for the Gophers, who’ve had four of their five games against FBS opponents decided by seven points or fewer. Minnesota’s road back from a 2-3 start to bowl eligibility will require two more wins, and the team has shown that it can both hang with defending national champion Michigan in the Big House and also dig itself a 10-0 hole against 1-5 UCLA.
What’s trending well for the Gophers as of late is what happens when a graduate transfer senior and a true freshman phenom get the football in their hands.
Quarterback Max Brosmer engineered the comeback wins over USC and UCLA and nearly led the Gophers back from a three-TD deficit in a 27-24 loss at Michigan. He’s been at his best in the fourth quarter, leading six touchdown drives in those three games.
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