These days, it seems there’s no party like a Gopher postgame party.
After Minnesota beat Penn State 24-10 for their fourth straight conference win, a streak they hadn’t achieved in 40 years, everyone was in good spirits, knowing they’ve managed to accomplish so much more than was anticipated in a year full of ups and downs.
That group feeling rightfully chipper Saturday included head coach Jerry Kill, who once again watched the Gophers win from the press box, but made sure to get to the locker room just in time to participate in the festivities.
This time around, that included some rather impressive dancing, especially from a man still working his way back from an indefinite leave of absence.
Kill’s fighting spirit and ability to enjoy himself while working his way through his epileptic condition continues to be an inspiration to the young men on the team, as well as acting head coach Tracy Claeys. Saturday’s postgame display may be the most representative show yet of the things that have kept this team going.
Going where you ask? With each passing day, the answer appears to be towards more significant national attention. While Minnesota doesn’t appear in either the BCS standings or the AP Top 25 poll, they have cracked the USA Today Coaches’ poll, sitting at No. 25.
A representative from the Outback Bowl, a January 1 showdown between SEC No. 3 and Big Ten No. 3, was at TCF Bank Stadium Saturday, “scouting” the Gophers.
The rest of the road isn’t easy, with games against No. 22 Wisconsin (home) and No. 16 Michigan State (road) to finish the regular season, but should Minnesota be able to take care of both and get a little help from other Legends division teams, Minnesota would have a spot in the Big Ten title game on their hands.
So that would be fun.
