Gophers football’s 2021 loss to Bowling Green stung, but defeat to Illinois was bigger blow

INDIANAPOLIS — Two phrases — “Bowling Inexperienced” — will stay in infamy for the Gophers soccer program and its followers after Minnesota entered final September’s sport in opposition to the struggling Mid-American Convention program as a 31-point favourite and exited with a 14-10 defeat.

That was dangerous. However maybe worse was the Gopher’s efficiency in November in opposition to an Illinois staff that entered the sport 3-6. A 14-point favourite, Minnesota misplaced 14-6 on its dwelling area. With Minnesota ending one win behind Large Ten West Division champion Iowa final season and lacking out on the convention title sport, the loss to Illinois had a lot bigger ramifications.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck credited how Illinois performs resembled first-year head coach Bret Bielema’s character.

“Powerful,” Fleck mentioned Tuesday at Large Ten Media Days. “They grind it out. They play with excessive power. They suppose they will beat anyone, anytime, anyplace. That’s a credit score to Bret. It’s good to have him again within the league, however they’re a extremely robust soccer staff. They acquired us final yr. (They) had a fantastic scheme, nice plan for us. We’ve acquired to be higher.”

After Bielema was employed in December 2020, he began watching movie on Large Ten opponents. He mentioned one Minnesota offensive play stood out: a fumble alongside a sideline {that a} Gophers participant hit the ball out of bounds, figuring out that effort would imply U saved possession.

“What I noticed continuously out of Minnesota’s program is the soccer intelligence, which numerous youngsters don’t have,” Bielema mentioned Wednesday inside Lucas Oil Stadium. “They must be taught that. I actually respect the best way his staff performs. P.J. and I are utterly totally different folks, proper, however I knew and I instructed our guys all yr and within the week of preparation going into it, that is going to be a troublesome, bodily soccer staff.”

The Gophers protection had been permitting solely 93 speeding yards per sport coming to the Illinois sport however gave up 93 to Illinois within the first quarter alone. Illinois had success with its “barge” formation, utilizing further offensive linemen.

Minnesota averaged solely 2.5 yards per rush in opposition to Illinois. Quarterback Tanner Morgan had a move tipped and intercepted on the primary drive. He scored a speeding landing — the Gophers’ solely factors — with 5 minutes left within the sport and had a Hail Mary to Dylan Wright picked off on the final drive. The U was minus-two in turnover margin.

“We wanted to benefit from our alternatives,” Bielema mentioned. “That’s the method it performed out. These video games, you positively must earn your victory in opposition to Minnesota.”

Illinois completed 5-7 in Bielema’s first season final fall. They knocked off seventh-ranked Penn State after which misplaced at dwelling to Rutgers earlier than coming to Minnesota. Additionally they beat Charlotte, Nebraska within the season opener and Northwestern within the finale.

Bielema is 8-0 in opposition to the Gophers, together with 7-0 throughout his tenure at Wisconsin from 2006-12.