We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 084

The football schedule ahead and Minnesota's historic matchup with Wisconsin.

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In Review: Minnesota 38-22 Northwestern

In front of a crowd wearing a lot of maroon and gold, the Gophers bounced back from their first loss of the year with a commanding win at Northwestern. The defense was shaky at times against one of the nation's worst offenses, and the Gophers' special teams unit had some more problems, but the negatives were overshadowed by another offensive romp. Though it wasn't an immaculate game, it was one Minnesota controlled from the start.

We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 083

The Vikings' comeback win over the Broncos, the Gophers' loss in Iowa City, and what to expect against Northwestern.

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In Review: Minnesota 19-23 Iowa

Minnesota's losing streak against Iowa stretched to five games after the program's ninth straight loss at Kinnick Stadium, but it wasn't because the Gophers didn't put themselves in position to win. The Gophers' offense reached at least the Iowa 33-yard line on seven of their nine drives. After initial problems, their defense allowed 3 points in the second half. They gave themselves the opportunity.

But they left Iowa City 8-1 rather than 9-0 because they could not stop getting in their own way. Missed tackles, dropped passes, penalties, and conservative coaching cost the Gophers dearly. Against a good team in one of college football's toughest environments, they put in their most inconsistent performance of the season.

We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 082

Minnesota's win over Penn State, this week's Playoff rankings, and previewing Iowa.

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In Review: Penn State 26-31 Minnesota

1. The "same old Gophers" are dead.

When it comes to sports, Minnesotans are skeptics and pessimists. When their teams do well, they only celebrate for so long before reminding everyone around them that their happiness won't last. Why would it? It's never lasted before.

Even as the Gophers led late against one of the nation's best teams, in the program's biggest game in decades, the smallest mistake gave fans ammunition to complain about "Classic Gopher Football."

Usually, they say something slightly different, but it has the same meaning: "Same old Gophers."

The same old Gophers who rose from the destitution of five straight post-Murray Warmath coaching eras to lead Michigan 28-7 after three quarters... and then lost by 3. The same old Gophers who set a new record for blowing a lead in a bowl game. The same old Gophers who led Wisconsin 17-13 at halftime with the division on the line but lost 24-34 — and then threw away a bigger, later lead in Madison two years later.

The same old Gophers who could never change. Who could never become relevant, and if they did, they'd surely blow it when the first real test came.

Previewing Penn State

After two weeks to prepare, this Saturday, Minnesota plays the hardest opponent on the schedule in the program's biggest game in decades.

Though College GameDay will be in Tuscaloosa, the Gophers will have the spotlight to themselves in the biggest game of the 11:00 window. It's a matchup between two unbeatens — a Playoff contender and perennial power against a rebuilt program at 8-0 for the first time since before the Pearl Harbor attack — who can boost their chances of a New Year's Six bowl with a win.

Though the Gophers will still lead the Big Ten West if they lose, beating the Nittany Lions would give their undefeated start some legitimacy and maybe even get fatalistic Minnesotans to believe in them. An upset could dramatically shift the public perception of the program. In a sport where perception affects reality, the result of this game is potentially monumental.

We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 081

The Vikings, P.J. Fleck's contract extension, and Penn State.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.