VIDEO: Coach Kill's pregame speech from Saturday night. The team listened (YouTube)

Gophers do well in BTN's 2012 All-Big Ten non-con teams (BTN.com)

Minnesota is the ESPN's Big Ten Team of the Week (ESPN.com)

Gophers ahead of schedule? (Pioneer Press)

Kill was happy about another win last Saturday as well (Star Tribune)

Gray not likely to play at Iowa (Pioneer Press)

Nice words for Coach Kill (Metro News)

Undefeated Gophers have a new mentality (1500 ESPN)

By Michael Molde, Athletic Communications

It's said that a sound running game creates opportunities for a passing game to flourish. In the past two weeks, quarterback Max Shortell has established new career-bests for passing yards, combining to throw for 419 yards and three TDs since taking over for the injured MarQueis Gray in the second quarter of last week's win versus Western Michigan.

But the guy who has handled the bulk of the rushing duties for the undefeated Gophers is redshirt sophomore running back Donnell Kirkwood.

The 5-foot-10, 219-pounder from Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS) just missed having back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, as he carried the ball a career-high 28 times for 99 net yards and both of Minnesota's touchdowns in the 17-10 victory against Syracuse (1-3). In last week's win over WMU, he had rushed 23 times for a career-high 110 yards.

"I like to run power football," Kirkwood said of tonight's performance. "It felt good. I knew I was doing something positive tonight."

The two touchdowns Kirkwood scored matched the pair he tallied in last year's loss to North Dakota State. He said he took a can't-be-stopped mentality when scoring on runs of two yards in the first quarter and one yard in the third quarter, which allowed the Gophers to stretch their winning streak to five games for the first time since week four of the 2005 season.

"We have a mentality down there that we will not be stopped when we run goal line," Kirkwood said. "The offensive line knows it. The quarterback knows it. The receivers know it. When we run goal line, we have a mentality that we will get in. That is how we think, and that is how we are going to think for the rest of the year."

Although Kirkwood has logged career-highs for rushing attempts in back-to-back weeks, and Shortell's passing is what gets the most attention, he said the guy the team calls "Big Country" can run the ball when he needs to.

"Max can run the ball. He is not a MarQueis, but he can run the ball," Kirkwood said. "It is just a game plan that you have to go with. I don't really know how many carries I am going to get before the game. I just go out there and do my assignment and do what I have to do."

What he's done is produce. In four games, Kirkwood has 81 rushing attempts for 361 net yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry. And his three touchdowns this season already equals the three he scored during 2011.

Shortell said that Kirkwood does more than just tote the ball for the Gophers. He helps keep the team loose with his personality.

"Me and Donnell have a great relationship," Shortell said. "We crack jokes in the huddle all the time and keep each other focused and just relaxed."

Whatever those jokes are, they've been working well, and Minnesota heads to Iowa City next weekend with an unblemished record in search of its third-straight victory against the Hawkeyes.

It just seems right that a guy named "Big Country" should keep watch over a pig named Floyd for another year. His friend Donnell will try to help him carry the load and keep the Gophers' successful streak going as they head into Big Ten play.

Many sportswriters and fans expected tonight's game between Minnesota and Syracuse to be an offensive shootout. But from the first play of the game, the defense stole the show.

Syracuse received the opening kickoff and ran a passing play to start its first drive. Orange quarterback Ryan Nassib targeted a receiver near the Gopher sideline. Troy Stoudermire was there when the pass arrived.  The ball deflected, and Cedric Thompson swooped in to catch it. After one snap, the Gophers took over possession.

"I think it was huge," defensive end Michael Amaefula said of the play. "When coach came out in his speech, he was like, 'Let's go get something big right now.' We came out with the interception. I think it just motivated us throughout the game."

Later in the quarter, a D.L. Wilhite sack on third down forced the Orange to punt. Minnesota scored to go up 7-0 on the ensuing drive. Wilhite entered the game with a Big Ten best 3.5 sacks. Now at 4.5 on the season, he has already surpassed last year's team-leading total of 4.0 by the late Gary Tinsley.

In the second quarter, Ra'Shede Hageman hit Nassib to force a fumble, which Michael Amaefula recovered. The Gophers did not scored off either of their first two turnovers, but both helped the Gophers limit Syracuse to three points in the first half.

	Aaron Hill, who wore No. 51 in Gary Tinsley's memory, came up with a big interception.

In the third quarter, with the Gophers ahead 14-3, Syracuse was close to cutting that lead. But on third and goal, the Minnesota defense came up with another big play. Nassib threw a pass, Brock Vereen delivered a hit, the ball popped into the air, and Aaron Hill made a diving catch to end the red zone threat.

The Gophers have had at least one interception in each game this season. They have seven overall. Minnesota increased its number of fumbles forced this season to three when Keanon Cooper forced one that Scott Ekpe recovered.

Minnesota also added two more sacks in the fourth quarter, by Roland Johnson and Amaefula. The Gophers have 11 sacks for 69 yards lost this season.

"We played physical, we played hard, and we ran to the football well," head coach Jerry Kill said. "When you put pressure on the quarterback and get him uncomfortable, you've got a chance."

Minnesota held Syracuse without a touchdown until late in the game and went on to win, 17-10. While the Gophers' sacks and forced turnovers excited the spectators in the stands, the Minnesota defensive players had no bigger fans tonight than their offensive counterparts.

"Our defense did a tremendous job creating turnovers and giving us great field position," quarterback Max Shortell said. "Hats off to the defense. They played amazing."

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Mike Rallis has gridiron in the blood (GopherSports) and talked to ESPN.com

A look at tonight's game (Daily Gopher)

A look at the Orange from a SU beat writer (GopherSports)

Saturday night lights generate excitement on campus (Minnesota Daily)

Red Rocket ready to go (Pioneer Press)

Kid linebacker to college QB (Star Tribune)

Shortell takes over (AP) and he is past the growing pains (Pioneer Press)

Syracuse's Keon Lyn: "I'm ready to get to Minnesota and handle business" (Syracuse.com)

Nate Sandell picks against the Gophers (1500 ESPN)

	Mike Rallis is on this weekend's game program.

He is impossible to miss.

His long brown hair flowing out from under his helmet bouncing with every stride as he pursues an opposing running back. His hulking 245-pound frame comes crashing down as he stops the opposition for no gain.

He is Mike Rallis and he is a football player. He has not always looked like this, but he has always been a football player.

"We are football junkies in the Rallis' house," said the fifth-year senior who patrols the field as the starting middle linebacker for the Gophers. "We enjoy every part of the game. The history of it. The physical part of it. And the mental part of it."
Rallis, his older brother Matt and younger brother Nick grew up in the nearby Minneapolis suburb of Edina. And if you were to go to his house, it would not take long to discover that they really are a football family.

"You cannot go over to their house and not have a game on or something going on that relates to football," said Bill Miller, who is the assistant head coach and linebacker coach for Minnesota. "They are into it."

It has always been that way too. Growing up the three boys would play football - tackle football - inside the house or outside.

"Matt and I used to get into it quite a bit because we are a little bit closer in age," said Rallis of his older brother who played quarterback at Edina. "We used to battle on the football field. He would get the best of me and then I would get the best of him. It would get pretty competitive, but at the end of the day we always shook it off."

One thing that never shook off was that internal desire to work hard and lead. That intangible compulsion to embrace pain and welcome it into his body.  It is that thing that makes coach Kill say, "He has some insides to him."

When Rallis was deciding where to go to college he shunned scholarship offers from smaller schools like UNLV, Wyoming and New Mexico. He turned aside his childhood dream and an opportunity to walk-on for the Miami Hurricanes and decided to stay close to home and attend college only a few miles where he grew up.

"I came in as a walk-on," he said. "The first summer I started off at linebacker, but moved to safety pretty quickly. I was real quiet. I put my head down and went to work and tried to earn a scholarship as soon as I could."
He earned that scholarship during preseason camp of his freshman year.

"I played a little bit my freshman year," said Rallis who was 35 pounds lighter than he is today and sported almost no hair at all. "Then during my sophomore season I broke my leg."

He used his medical redshirt year to get bigger and stronger. He also made a position switch moving from safety to linebacker. As he put it, he "would do whatever I need to do to help the team."

Coach Kill, who would take over the Gophers at the end of the 20120 season, said "He made himself into a ballplayer."

When Rallis returned to the lineup at the start of the 2010 season, he immediately began helping the team. In his first game back, he led the Gophers with seven tackles and had an interception. He finished his sophomore season with three interceptions and led Minnesota in tackles in three of the nine games he played in.

Nick Rallis, who is a freshman linebacker with the Gophers this year, has always known his older brother to be a leader. "It is in his blood," says Nick.

In high school, Mike Rallis was the vocal leader for the Hornets. He knew he wanted to be that guy for the Gophers as well, but also knew that leaders can only lead if there are others who want to follow them.

So before he became one of the strongest voices on the team, he went back to what he did during his freshman year. He put his head down and went to work.

"I think I tried to lead by example as much as I could early on," said Rallis. "I wanted to get it done on the field before I started leading vocally. What I have tried to be is a guy who is doing what he is always supposed to be doing. Then the other guys can look to that and say, 'There's Rallis always doing what he is supposed to be doing.' Then when you talk your words mean something."

This year, during his senior season, he has become that rare leader who not only paves the way by example, but also has a voice that resonates. Coach Miller says Rallis is always in the film room trying to get better.

"He studies the game really hard," said Miller, who been in the college coaching ranks for more than 35 years. "He has a great understanding of the concepts that we are trying to teach."

Before, during or after a game - or practice for that matter - it is almost impossible not to see No. 26 talking to a teammate or to the group as a whole.

After the triple-overtime win at UNLV to begin the year, Rallis was the player who broke down the team in the locker room after the game. Prior to the New Hampshire game, he was in the middle of the team on the sideline getting everyone ready to play.

"He has stepped up this year," said Kill. "I used to have to do all that stuff, but I have kind of taken a step back and have let the kids jump out there and see who wants to take a chance on some things. Mike has."

"He has really accepted that role," said Miller, who calls Rallis a coaches' dream. "The real good ones are always that way."

"He has always been like that and it was time for him to step up," said younger brother Nick. "It just came natural to him."

Like most seniors, Rallis knows his college career is coming to a close with each passing day. And like most seniors, he admits it went by way faster than he could have imagined. After today, he will play only eight more regular-season games. And before long, he will be pulling off that Minnesota jersey for the final time.

"The main thing I am trying to do right now is not look ahead to anything," he said. "I want to take it one day at a time and just enjoy every day and every practice. Even the stuff that people think is boring, just enjoy it."

His perspective may be sharper than most. One that has helped been formed by the tragic and sudden loss of former teammate Gary Tinsley last April.

"That had a great effect on me," he said. "It makes you realize how precious life is. Gary was the type of guy who lived every day to the fullest and was always having fun. That is something I try to emulate. I looked up to Gary and I just try to take advantage of every single day."

After five years at Minnesota, Rallis has changed physically and matured into a natural leader. But at his core, he is still just a football player who enjoys that intangible compulsion to embrace pain and welcome it into his body.

"If you get done with a game and you are not sore, then you feel like you did not do enough," he said. "That is definitely something I like, that feeling after a game being battered and bruised a little bit."

So among the on-filed carnage, look for No. 26 stopping that running back for no gain. With that hair he is impossible to miss. But before kickoff and in between plays, keep your ears open as well because these days Rallis' voice is just about everywhere too.

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There may not be a better school in the nation for upcoming journalists than Syracuse. So we tracked down Michael Cohen, who is a Syracuse beat writer for the Daily Orange to learn all about Minnesota's opponent this weekend. You can read the Daily Orange online and follow Michael on Twitter at @Michael_Cohen13.

GopherSports: Michael, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Can you give us a brief scouting report on Syracuse?

Michael Cohen: Syracuse unveiled a new offense for the 2012 season, and the results so far -- in terms of points scored -- are certainly positive. Riding the right arm of Ryan Nassib, Syracuse has opened up the playbook and operated almost extensively out of the shotgun formation to put up more than 25 points in all three games this season. 

In contrast, though, the defense has struggled in portions of all three games. The Orange trailed by 22 points in the second half against Northwestern, and the defense fell apart in the fourth quarter of what was a close game with then-No. 2 Southern California for the better part of 45 minutes. And last week Syracuse was picked apart in the first half by Stony Brook's running attack before tightening up in the second half.

So in summary, Syracuse is still a bit of an enigma in 2012. It's unclear what team will take the field each week, as the Orange continues searching for a sense of consistency.

GS: Syracuse is 1-2, but is that kind of a deceptive record? That Northwestern game was a one-point contest and USC is one of the best teams in the nation. Are they better than that 1-2 record indicates?

MC: I think at this point in time Syracuse is more like the team that gave USC a run for its money than the team that was outplayed by Stony Brook for large portions of the game last weekend. Syracuse is certainly one of the more dangerous 1-2 teams in the country, but the lack of consistency from week to week -- even quarter to quarter -- is something that makes the Orange completely unpredictable and frustrating for fans to watch at times.

GS:  The Orange has a superstar in quarterback Ryan Nassib, as he throws for nearly 400 yards a game. What is the key to slowing him and his receivers down?

MC: The key to slowing down Ryan Nassib, in my opinion, is getting pressure from the edges that begin to collapse the pocket. He seems to get nervous when his protective bubble closes down, and he has made poor decisions when forced to step up in the pocket. See his first interception against USC that was thrown right into the stomach of Trojans linebacker Dion Bailey for proof. If Minnesota can pressure Nassib and force him to move around before throwing, the Gophers should be able to limit his production.

GS: Max Shortell will start at quarterback for Minnesota. How do you think that will change the Syracuse defensive game plan?

MC: Syracuse has struggled with mobile quarterbacks recently, as evidenced by last year's losses to Cincinnati and South Florida. So it would make sense to believe, then, that the Orange was a bit relieved that MarQueis Gray is unlikely to play this weekend. However, Syracuse defensive quarterback Scott Shafer pointed out that Max Shortell has experience starting football games in the past and cannot be taken lightly. He is making his first start in 2012, though, so I wouldn't be surprised if Syracuse brought pressure early to try and rattle him on the first few plays.

GS: Who is an under-the-radar player Gopher fans should keep an eye on?

MC: On the offensive side the ball, freshman running back Ashton Broyld is the player to keep an eye on. Broyld was a high school quarterback that made the switch to running back in preseason camp. He is an explosive player that is continuing to learn the offense, but he scored his first collegiate touchdown last week in a game in which he was much more involved than in Syracuse's first two games. I expect his role to continue to expand as the season progresses.

On defense, safety Shamarko Thomas is an exciting player to watch. Thomas is one of the bigger hitters for Syracuse, and he very much fits the definition of a ball-hawking safety. Look for him to be up around the line of scrimmage to help against the run as well as defending against the pass. He is the leader of the Syracuse secondary.

GS: Answer the following question. Syracuse will win if...

MC: ...it can avoid a fourth consecutive slow start on offense.

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Coach Kill Cancer Fund wristbands to be distributed on Saturday (GopherSports)

All of the Lights...Under the Lights (YouTube)

Depth chart, injury report for Saturday (GopherSports)

The man behind the muscle (FSN)

Strength vs Strength (Minnesota Daily)

Pros, cons of playing Nelson (Pioneer Press)

Wells has proved them wrong (Star Tribune and FSN)

Q&A with Wells (BTN.com)

Tag-team effort to revamp U offense (Daily Orange)

Minnesota Depth Chart For Sept. 22

Left Tackle
58 - Ed Olson    6-7    312    R-Jr.
74 - Marek Lenkiewicz    6-5    281    R-So.

Left Guard
53 - Tommy Olson    6-4    298    So.
63 - Jon Christenson    6-4    288    R-Fr.

Center
52 - Zac Epping    6-2    306    R-So.
62 - Zach Mottla    6-2    287    R-Jr.

Right Guard
64 - Caleb Bak    6-3    294    R-So.
79 - Jonah Pirsig    6-9    295    Fr.

Right Tackle
65 - Josh Campion    6-5    309    R-Fr.
77 - Foster Bush    6-5    303    R-Fr.

Quarterback
11 - Max Shortell     6-6    237    So.
9 - Philip Nelson    6-2    222    Fr.
OR
5 - MarQueis Gray    6-4    250    Sr.

Tailback
20 - Donnell Kirkwood    5-10    219    R-So.
OR
21 - James Gillum     5-11    204    Jr.
25 - Devon Wright    6-0    191    R-So.
OR
4 - KJ Maye    5-10    190    Fr.

H-Back/Fullback
81 - John Rabe    6-4    258    Sr.
30 - Mike Henry    6-1    238    R-Jr.

Y
83 - Drew Goodger    6-5    255    So.
47 - Alex Bisch    6-6    249    R-So.

Z
1 - Brandon Green    6-0    189    R-Sr.
OR
14 - Isaac Fruechte     6-3    205    So.

X
80 - Devin Crawford-Tufts    6-2    194    So.
12 - Andre McDonald    6-2    200    Fr.

H
15 - Marcus Jones    5-8    172    So.
18 - Derrick Engel    6-2    182    R-Jr.

Kicker
39 - Jordan Wettstein    5-11    180    Sr.
OR
36 - Chris Hawthorne    6-6    198    Jr.

Punter
38 - Christian Eldred    6-3    190    So.

Long Snapper
48 - Jake Filkins    6-2    236    Jr.
96 - Dave Ramlet    6-2    237    R-So.

End
98 - Michael Amaefula    6-2    242    So.
93 - Ben Perry    6-5    243    R-So.

Tackle
46 - Cameron Botticelli    6-5    284    R-So.
92 - Roland Johnson    6-1    295    Jr.

Nose
99 - Ra'Shede Hageman    6-6    301    R-Jr.
97 - Scott Ekpe    6-4    286    Fr.

End
95 - D.L. Wilhite    6-3    244    Sr.
55 - Thieren Cockran    6-6    237    R-Fr.

Strongside Linebacker
57 - Aaron Hill    6-2    228    R-Jr.
OR
32 - Lamonte Edwards    6-2    212    R-So.
8 - Spencer Reeves    6-2    234    Sr.

Middle Linebacker
26 - Mike Rallis    6-2    245    R-Sr.
1 - Brendan Beal    6-3    249    R-Jr.

Weakside Linebacker
4 - Keanon Cooper    6-0    220    R-Sr.
9 - James Manuel     6-2    210    Jr.

Cornerback
2 - Troy Stoudermire    5-10    195    Sr.
22 - Jeremy Baltazar    6-0    196    Jr.

Safety
13 - Derrick Wells    6-0    198    So.
7 - Damarius Travis    6-2    205    Fr.

Safety
27 - Cedric Thompson    5-10    199    So.
OR
21 - Brock Vereen    6-0    201    Jr.
6 - Grayson Levine    5-11    202    So.

Cornerback
23 - Michael Carter    5-11    189    Sr.
22 - Jeremy Baltazar    6-0    196    Jr.

Injury Report

MarQueis Gray, questionable for Saturday
Joe Bjorklund, questionable for Saturday
Zach Mottla, questionable for Saturday
Lamonte Edwards, questionable for Saturday
Andre McDonald, questionable for Saturday
Martez Shabazz, out for Saturday
Jamel Harbison, out for the 2012 season

	A total of 7,500 Coach Kill Cancer Fund wristbands will be distributed on Saturday.

Learn More About Coach Kill's Cancer Fund

Cancer.

It has affected everyone in the world one way or another and it is something that hits extra close to home for Gopher head coach Jerry Kill, as he himself is a cancer survivor.

On Saturday, when the Gophers host Syracuse, there will be 7,500 wristbands distributed to benefit the Coach Kill Cancer Fund. Donations (a $2 donation for each wristband would be appreciated, but any donation will help) will be accepted for the Maroon wristbands, which say "Tackle The Tough Times" in Gold. There is also a Gold Block M on the wristband and the acronym CKCF, which stands for Coach Kill Cancer Fund.

Wristbands will be available at Block G before the game and will also be available at the Benton county entrance before and during the game. They will also be available at gates A, B, D and E when the doors open at 5 p.m.

Donations will be accepted in Gopher-branded boxes at tables at the distribution locations. Those distributing the wristbands will be easily identified as they will be wearing Coach Kill Cancer Fund t-shirts. 

Shortell is the starter (Star Tribune)

In coach Kill's world it is "Next man up" (KFAN)

New QB. Same system? (Syracuse.com and Pioneer Press)

Shortell brings a big arm (1500 ESPN)

Goodger on Shortell: "He's got a little swagger to him." (FSN)

Shortell's nickname? Red Rocket (Minnesota Daily)

Gray's status unknown (Minnesota Daily)

Gophers preview Syracuse (GopherSports)

AUDIO: Shortell talks (Audioboo) and so does his offensive coordinator (Audioboo)

Barker has been a winning target (AP) and his stock is rising (ESPN.com)

How good is Syracuse's offense? Maybe the best the U will see this year (Daily Gopher)