Minnesota Game Notes - vs. Wisconsin

GOPHERS, BADGERS SQUARE OFF IN BORDER BATTLE SATURDAY
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will look to go 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2004 Saturday. The Gophers will play host to their Border Battle rivals to the east, the Wisconsin Badgers, at TCF Bank Stadium. The Minnesota-Wisconsin series is the most-played in NCAA FBS history.

Minnesota has lost its last five decisions to Wisconsin, including a 35-32 setback last season in Madison, Wis. The Gophers led last season’s matchup 21-7 at halftime, but saw the Badgers come back to win.

It’s the 119th meeting between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Golden Gophers lead the series by a 59-51-8 count.

ESPN will televise the game. Dave Pasch will call the play-by-play with Bob Griese and Chris Spielman serving as analysts in the booth.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota has opened the 2009 campaign with four straight hard-fought contests. The Gophers defeated Syracuse 23-20 in overtime, came from behind to defeat Air Force 20-13 and pulled away from Northwestern late in a 35-24 win last week. Minnesota’s loss was a 35-21 setback to nationally-ranked California in a game that was tied 21-21 midway through the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Adam Weber returns after taking nearly every snap for the past two-plus seasons. He set the Minnesota single-season records for passing yardage (2,895), TDs passing (24), completions (258) and attempts (449) in 2007. Earlier this season, he became the Gophers’ career completions leader and currently has a total of 588. Wide receiver Eric Decker set a Minnesota record for career receptions vs. Cal and currently has 212. He set a single-season receptions record last season for the second consecutive year, grabbing 84. Decker was a Biletnikoff Award finalist and an All-Big Ten selection in 2008.

Defensively, Minnesota is allowing 23 points per game. The Gophers rank No. 59 in the nation in scoring defense. The Gopher linebacking corps has had at least one double-digit tackler in each game this season. Nate Triplett, Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence are the starters at LB. Up front, Eric Small (12 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sacks) and Cedric McKinley (11 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 FR) lead the way. The secondary returns three starters -- CBs Marcus Sherels and Traye Simmons and safety Kyle Theret.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Wisconsin enters the Border Battle sporting an unblemished 4-0 mark. The Badgers aren’t untested, however. Three of their wins have come by a combined total of 19 points, including a double-overtime victory over Fresno State.

Wisconsin is coached by Bret Bielema, who is in his fourth season as the head coach in Madison. He is in his sixth season on the Wisconsin staff. Bielema has taken the Badgers to bowl games in each of his first three seasons at the helm of the program.

Offensively, Wisconsin is one of the more prolific teams in the Big Ten and the nation. The Badgers are No. 27 in the nation in total offense, No. 30 in rushing and No. 49 in passing. They are averaging 22 points per game, ranking No. 22. On the flip side, Wisconsin is 78th in total defense and 68th in scoring defense, allowing 23.75 points per game.

QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota hasn't started started 2-0 in Big Ten play since 2004.
> Minnesota ranks No. 10 in the nation in punt return average, going for 19.0 yards per return.
> The Gophers are No. 14 in the nation in net punting, averaging 40.25 yards of field position.
> The Gophers have performed in front of two straight sellout crowds of 50,805 in their first two games at TCF Bank Stadium.
> Minnesota’s 35 points last week were its most in 13 games, -- since scoring 37 vs. Florida Atlantic last season.
> The Gophers’ 166 yards rushing vs. Northwestern were also their most since going for 206 vs. Florida Atlantic in 2008.

RETURN TO SENDER
The return game was a definite strength for the Gophers in 2008. Minnesota was the No. 2 team in the Big Ten and ranked No. 15 in the nation in average kickoff return yards. The Gophers averaged 24.04 yards per kickoff return last season. The longest kickoff return last season was turned in by Troy Stoudermire, who went 60 yards at the Insight Bowl vs. Kansas.

The Gophers nearly doubled their punt-return average in 2008, averaging 9.94 yards per return. Minnesota ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 46 in the nation in punt returns.

So far in the 2009 season, the Gophers have continued to improve in the return game. Minnesota ranks No. 10 in the country and No. 1 in the Big Ten with an average punt return of 19.0 yards. Kickoff returner Troy Stoudermire’s first return of the season was a 54-yarder. As a team, the Gophers are averaging 26.5 yards per kickoff return, which ranks No. 25 in the nation and No. 3 in the conference.

STACKING THE DECK
Senior wide receiver Eric Decker became Minnesota’s career receptions leader two weeks ago when he hauled in a 12-yard TD pass from Adam Weber in the second quarter vs. Cal. He also recorded his fourth straight 100-yard receiving game (dating back to the 2008 Insight Bowl), which is also a school record. The 100-yard games streak came to an end last week at Northwestern. Decker was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver in 2008. For two straight seasons, Decker set the Minnesota single-season record for receptions. He hauled in 67 passes in 2007 and smashed that record with 84 receptions last season. Decker became just the fourth Gopher receiver ever to compile a 1,000-yard season in 2008, finishing with 1,074 yards to rank No. 2 on the school single-season chart.

NATE'S GREAT
Senior linebacker Nate Triplett has had back-to-back double-digit and team-high tackle numbers in his last three games. His 17 total tackles, a 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown and a PBU vs. Air Force made him Big Ten and National Player of the Week. Triplett registered a game-high 11 tackles last week at Northwestern. He leads the team, the Big Ten and the nation with 33 solo tackles.

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