Boat Inspection: Minnesota Gophers football after Week
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STATUS: Tested faith
LAST WEEK: L, 33-10 at Michigan
It's not time to abandon ship. It never has been. But Saturday's loss was rough. Michigan's defense is one of the best in the country, and Gophers' fans found that out quickly. Totaling just 164 yards of offense, the defense was put in some tough situations. Demry Croft had another rough outing, and is now 14-for-41 in the last two games. Like I've been saying though, have patience. If you can't bear to watch the struggle, then wait until next year. Minnesota's not going to flip a switch and become this dominant team, but have faith that they will turn things around eventually. You may be pleasantly surprised.
UP NEXT: vs. Nebraska
Here's on reason to have faith: Nebraska. They already lost their athletic director, and many think their head coach is on the way out. With Scott Frost's success down at Central Florida, the pressure to win keeps mounting for Mike Riley. This is a great opportunity for Minnesota to pull within one game of bowl eligibility.
Nebraska and Minnesota have the same records, but the Cornhuskers are 3-3 in the Big Ten and the Gophers are 1-5. Having this game at home is perfect, and might be just what this team needs to start a mini run to end the season. Running the ball should also be something that the Gophers offense should get excited about on Saturday. The defense they're facing is below average in stopping the run, and it might be just Rodney Smith who does it. Kobe McCrary and Shannon Brooks are dealing with injuries, so Smith might get a chance to find some rhythm in the game. Croft's woes would benefit from a strong performance by Smith, and he should bounce back himself against Nebraska.
Simply put, this is a winnable game. Bowl eligibility is going to be tough to attain already, but a win this Saturday would give this team a glimpse of the postseason. Our faith is being tested, but the reward in the future will be great if we can navigate this tough season.
