2021 Minnesota Game Poster No. 9: Illinois

Click to enlarge.

Previous game posters:

Ohio State

Miami (OH)

Colorado

Bowling Green

Purdue

Nebraska

Maryland

Northwestern

My Gophers game poster this week is based on the title screen to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, one of the most beloved video games ever made. Instead of Hyrule Castle, though, the structure in the foreground is the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. The city's skyline is in the distance and reflected on the water instead of mountains. To reflect the transition into November, ice is beginning to form over the top of the Mississippi River, and the sky is a dreary grey. Meanwhile, Goldy's silhouetted face is in the clouds. The title itself, done in the style of the original font, features the state of Minnesota in place of the Triforce and an oar where Link's sword would be.

A friend to whom I showed this a few weeks early said this was my best poster. I'm not sure I agree, but I do feel good about it. My biggest regret is that Minnesota takes up too much space, obstructing the view of a skyline I tried to make look true to its inspiration. If you want a clear look at it, here you go.

I have nothing else to point out except that a month ago, when I finished this, I thought it would be colder in the Twin Cities by now. Certainly, I figured, it would have snowed once, right? Alas, that is not the case, and my poster looks a season ahead of schedule. It wasn't worth correcting at this point, both due to the time required during a busy week for me and because I like the way it looks just fine. At least my being wrong means that it will be nice at the game on Saturday.

Next week's poster is the one that started this whole project back in March, for the game against Iowa. Consider coming back here to see it.