0:00

Glenn Mason said a long time ago at the University of Minnesota, you need

0:02

a Pair and a Spare. Thank you, PJ. It his time for

0:06

another edition of the Pair and a Spare podcast were brought to you proudly by

0:09

Jack's Cafe Jaxcafe dot Com at Minneapolis Institution. Will get Chips review of the

0:14

crem Brewla a little bit later in the show, I'm justin guard from the

0:18

fan. We've got Chipskoggins from the Star Tribune and Ryan Burns from Gopher Illustrated

0:21

dot Com. As the Minnesota Gophers went one to o in the Louisiana Raging

0:25

Cajun Championship season. They're now three and two and have the Michigan Wolverines coming

0:29

to Huntington Banks Stadium. Burnsy, we'll just talk to you about the game.

0:32

Because Chip had more important things to do than come check out the stripe

0:35

out at homecoming, so we'll just let him sit over here. And you

0:39

got because of Chip's absence, you got one of the nine Star Tribune spots

0:42

in the fifteen Pioneer Press spots because there was only one from each one of

0:46

the institutions there. How dare they disrespect your sun Belt teams like that chipper,

0:51

do you set my seat? I kept a warm for you. Here's

0:56

my question. I have to sanitize that thing. Did this sar you want

0:59

to get there? Did the Gopher Sports Athletic Communications Department? Do they not

1:03

get the memo? That not? That many people write for either of those papers? Now, like how many I saw it? Because usually I'm like,

1:07

there's five spots for each other. That's absurd. That is absurd.

1:11

I like to spread out. Well, that's fine if you want some space.

1:15

You know, Lavell if he's there, probably want some space. Randy

1:17

probably wants some space. I've seen Joe Christensen pop bye once every every once

1:21

in a while. That's a lot of people. That's a lot of spots. Keeps me down in the first row. I'm not worthy unless the entire

1:26

star tribute. I don't make the I don't make the decisions. Take it

1:30

for granted, and don't even show up like one side for all my papers.

1:36

This side for Chargers, Yeah, coke snacks and I need elbow room

1:45

in a type you know you don't type. You know what I did in

1:48

your honor there is I used my pointer fingers. But the amount of vigor

1:51

that only people can imagine loud If people don't know, isn't it interesting?

1:55

Yeah? Go ahead? What you chip? You don't type? You slam

1:59

the keyboard. You were just telling us in the pre production meeting. How

2:01

many keys have you broken? Which? I've have you ever broken a key

2:06

at any point? Not typing? Like sometimes something will get stuck underneath it,

2:09

or don't wear out. No, they don't wear I've had it for

2:13

two years. I think maybe you've broken multiple keys too, two in two

2:16

years. Yeah, that's not bad, isn't it. I think it is.

2:20

Well, let's we'll take it to the audience, so let us know how many how many keyboard keys in your daily lives? Now, fairness to

2:24

you, you're a writer, you're using it more than most people. But

2:29

that seems like a lot. I remember you only type with your pointer fingers,

2:32

and it's not typing, it's slamming. Of the guys. I never

2:36

took typing. Typing, No, it wasn't mandatory our school. But it

2:40

is amazing how fast you can type with two fingers when you have to.

2:45

Yeah, it's true. But all you guys, because Dan and all you

2:50

old newspaper guys, none of you took typing. No, and it's all

2:54

index or middle Yeah, and it's a thousand. It's it's as loud as

2:59

possible it can be because I think it's you learned on a typewriter or something.

3:02

I'm assuming all those Cassio radio chef deels that you had to get because

3:07

all of them. If you watch like I've watched Dan, you know, at events we've been at when he was writing still or when he would write

3:10

for Camfean dot com. He's hunched over and he's got the thing and it's

3:14

just two fires. Meanwhile, I got my pinky working and I'm doing that

3:17

thanks to Conquered Elementary Elementary School birds, govaers all over this keyboard. Whatever

3:23

you need. But how do we get here? Oh? Because you took

3:25

a spot because nobody was there. Nobody was there. It was just Randy

3:30

Andy myself in house up the hard scores that the people cover the team.

3:34

Yeah, Chipper, how many spots does go for Illustrated get too? We

3:37

get to or do you get like one and a half and you gotta find we like, where does RJ sit? RJ comes? He's there quite a

3:44

bit. He the tailgating line Yeah, having a little bit of fun for

3:46

football game. He enjoys it. Yeah, he enjoys himself. All right,

3:50

Well, the Gophers win kind of how we thought the game would go.

3:53

I think it was just kind of a nondescript you know, some belt

3:57

team that makes it interesting for a minute. Then the Gophers asserted themselves with

4:00

a pretty nice decisive second half, even though you weren't their chip. We'll

4:02

start with you. What did you see in the rewatch? I like the

4:08

way Zach Evan's righting the ball. I like the way the defense responded after

4:12

a not a very good first half. Ian call me the quote from PJ

4:15

to me at halftime, which is why I appreciate working with PJ. We

4:19

are not playing good defense. Yeah, that's as simple as it is.

4:21

Essentially, we're not playing good defense. Which I appreciate that that he that

4:26

he's honest about it. Again, too many exposive plays, too many big

4:29

plays, too many guys in the wrong spot, and so they shorted up.

4:38

I get some young guys. My guy in the second half came and

4:42

showed himself, which you've been waiting on. Uh, So you said it

4:47

went about the way I thought it would. I didn't really know how it

4:49

would go because I wasn't sure how they would respond to such a bad loss

4:56

to Northwestern. To Northwestern, Yeah, and I I sort of as I

5:00

watched that first half, I sort of felt like there was a little bit of carry over there. But to their credit, they pulled themselves together and

5:06

did what they're supposed to do in the second It was just a game where

5:11

I mean, they could have gone pair shaped early where you give up that

5:14

touchdown on the opening drive where your star safety just turns the wrong way inexplicably.

5:17

That was very strange, like that should have been an interception, should

5:19

have been in a Kyler Newban should have had about four interceptions in that game.

5:23

I think he was going for him. I think that was the problem.

5:26

Yeah, I think he was peaking a little bit that the guy cherry

5:29

picking in basketball. Yeah, I mean the eyes a little too much.

5:32

Correct, But they give up the touchdown in the opening drive, seventeen points

5:36

in the first half. That is a Sunbelt team where I'll give him a

5:39

little bit more credit. I think they'll have a shot to potentially win the

5:42

Sun Belt even with that backup quarterback who I thought looked pretty good at times.

5:46

I mean, that's an offense that hadn't scored more or less than thirty

5:48

one points in any game, and you could see how explosive the quarterback was

5:53

with his legs. But I mean just defensively, they just got too many

5:58

things where there's guys in positions to make plays. They're in the right spot

6:01

like schematically and everything, and it's just they're not making plays consistently. Now

6:06

they've figured it out a little bit more in the second half where I thought

6:10

Anthony Smith chips guy, Yeah, really started a flash there. I think

6:14

that was his best thirty minutes of ball in his college career. Forced an

6:17

interception at a couple other key plays. But it's just trying to figure out.

6:23

I think it must be frustrating for Rosci because again, like at the

6:26

first touchdown of the game, I mean, Tyler Nuban, your star safety

6:30

is right there and he just turns the wrong way. If he turns the right way, he gets an easy pick and you get a touch back.

6:34

And it is what it is. But make the plays. It's funny as

6:38

at halftime, you know, I was, I watched it back and I'm

6:40

like, Nuban's having a tough couple of weeks. Here he is and then

6:43

he you know, he gets the interception or he makes a nice play on

6:45

that one. But it was like things that are just uncharacteristic for him.

6:48

It is it does seem I think you talked about this on GGR. Aren't

6:54

they kind of doing a lot of stuff with him? Is that what you

6:56

guys were talking about, Like they're almost allowing him. I don't know if

6:59

it's a Harrison Smith type deal. It's like a he's doing a lot of different things correct like Antoine Winfield did in that nineteen season. He's playing a

7:05

ton of center field. They're doing a lot of things that allow him to

7:09

try and just go read the eyes of the quarterback. Now he's got three

7:13

interceptions and in five games he's been successful in that. But he's also been

7:15

burning that a little bit. But they're trying to figure out ways with him

7:19

to be creating plays that are game changing, trying to create turnovers, trying

7:25

to do different things like that. Now it's burned them a couple of times.

7:28

He's made the plays a couple of times, but I mean, even

7:30

offensively, it's they finally let Zach Evans out of the Melk carton after that

7:36

was that was a funny quote from Fleck yesterday. I missed you there at

7:40

the presser. Chip, Yeah, working, working, he's got a project.

7:43

Just don't be like a what you're doing here? And we all have

7:46

fun with the Saturday thing and they have nine they have nine spots. Because

7:49

I wasn't at the presser either, I had some things going on yesterday.

7:54

Don't be like a Twins press box guy. Okay, don't be a major

7:56

league baseball ball guy. You know what I'm talking about. I have no

7:59

idea what you're talking about. Well you should, because I've told you every time I show up at a press conference and to go, huh to what

8:05

do we owe the honor? Look at this guy? Just stop being a

8:07

jackass. We've all got a lot of jobs, We've all got a lot of places to be. I think you're projecting. No, but this always,

8:13

and this is part of the read this it's about. I don't go to Twins games very often because there's no there's no more uppity media than baseball

8:22

media. Then when you walk into the press box and there's just this ooh,

8:24

someone's different in our precious little baseball ecosystem here. He hasn't been hanging

8:28

out at the cage, you know, talking to Guardy. You're talking to

8:31

TK. What's this radio guy doing? Just shut up, all right?

8:35

And I don't like when you do it. And now you're doing it at

8:37

Chipper. Wow. Now now you're doing it to Chip. Is this Twins

8:41

City's marathon related? No? Are you sure you might get to that. I don't want Gopher sports media to be like baseball media. I want it

8:48

to be an inclusive will be in place in twenty twenty three. Where someone

8:52

walks into classroom what oo? Why are we even talking about all this?

8:56

If someone walks into classroom one O five and athletes village, all you old

9:01

guards say, welcome in, It's great to see you. How's the face?

9:05

Where can I can I help you find the malt box for your plug?

9:09

What can I help you with? Anything? You want to know about

9:11

the team? Don't you got to get him past Grim? Because anytime I walk into one O five, now Grim tells me about the flights out of

9:16

Duluth. And now I don't know enough both miss that one that was that

9:20

was last week in the Prescottage. I don't want to we'll get to that.

9:24

I don't want to get in my tangent's already taken up and up this time. But so Zach Evans, Gopher media is going to be an inclusive

9:30

place. Bernsy, Okay, we're welcoming everyone. If you're here. It's

9:35

great that you're here because Chips a columnists, he's got a lot going on.

9:39

Should have been there. Saturday Mondays are tough. I will say my

9:41

Mondays are tough. Mondays can be tough. Is it tough? I haven't

9:45

gone historically to the Mondays at ten football Cross Minnesota doesn't fall out of the

9:48

sky. That's someone's got to write it, especially with a broken keyboard. All right, Berns, when you're breaking multiple keys, Sorry everybody, I'm

9:54

not gonna let you get a pass from Yeah, where's he been? Play?

10:00

Well? You finally play him and now you've got your fourth consecutive week

10:03

with a Gopher running back. Is the freshman of the week in the Big

10:05

Ten. By the way, fifteen carries eighty five yards. Rough week for

10:09

freshmen in the Big Ten. I'm happy for Zach Evans. That's great.

10:11

He clearly should have been playing up until this point. But tough one for

10:16

the freshman I think this week, but congrat Zach, Yeah, go ahead.

10:18

Well, now you got to include him every week going forward, because

10:22

he didn't know how he was going to perform on Saturdays. Fleck talked about

10:24

on Monday how just a couple of weeks ago they were having him fix and

10:28

correct some of the issues a consistency in Sunday Night football, which is when

10:31

they have the freshman play. Go ahead? Was the ball security? Was

10:35

it not known assignments? What I mean because you watch him run, you

10:39

like, I think it was more sifted. Yeah, I think it was more assignments based trying to make sure he had it all down. Now he

10:45

gets his first test and he passes it with flying colors. He ate everything

10:48

on his plate, and now you add a little bit more. Yeah.

10:52

So that's where if and when Darius Taylor is healthy, which that was one

10:56

of the things that Fleck talked about coming after the game. He allegedly didn't practice all week. So me having a hard time of all the dnps to

11:03

then playing against Michigan, especially with a bye week after Michigan, I'm having

11:09

a little bit of a hard time seeing a path for Darius Taylor. Are

11:11

you really, I would think the opposite. I would think, if he's

11:15

somewhat healthy, you put him out there knowing that you have the bye week,

11:18

Well, the question would be, why do you think he's somewhat healthy

11:20

if we're believing PJ. Fleck on an injury update, which is a very

11:22

big assumption, right, if he'd never practiced at any point last week,

11:26

which is what Fleck said after the game, Going from all dnps to them

11:31

playing against Michigan seems like a little bit of a stretch to me. I

11:37

would probably say more like what you're saying, no, if you haven't practiced

11:41

for a week to come back and have But if you know midweek last week

11:45

that you're not going to play and you're just not like we're going to bring

11:48

it back to practice next Tuesday, could be that. But I would not

11:52

put a freshman who is if you said, somewhat healthy against Michigan, that

11:58

would not be the ideal team to throw it out. I mean, I

12:01

mean, you got player, he's your best running back, all right,

12:03

you got to play to win the game. But I'm not saying playing hurt.

12:07

I'm just saying it wouldn't stun me if it wouldn't I wouldn't be shocked.

12:09

Well, we have no idea. I've also seen how conservative the Gopher

12:15

training staff has been with injuries such as like Cody Lennenberg. Yeah, so

12:18

if the if it is truly fifty to fifty for game time, I'm gonna

12:22

imagine it comes up tails and he doesn't play. Get him healthy for that

12:24

Iowa game in a couple of weeks, But even against Michigan, you have

12:30

to. When Darius is healthy, your one two combo has got to now

12:33

be Darius Taylor and and Zach evans Y. Yeah. I mean, it's

12:39

just it's clear that you watch all three of those running backs and it was

12:43

nice to see Sean Tyler come off his own milk carton. Yeah, he

12:46

played okay, But but those two are your two best run and I think

12:48

they compliment each other. I mean, Zach isn't as fast as Sean Tyler.

12:54

A different running style though, And that's where again, if you can

12:58

give Darius twenty twenty three carries a game, and then you can give Zach

13:01

another ten to twelve, that's what the recipe is going forward. And even

13:05

that's probably the one of the more bigger talking points of that game, three

13:09

different tailbacks with ten or more carries. All it took was Darius Taylor to

13:13

go down on carry thirty one the previous game. Do you think that's a

13:18

mirage or do you think that's a trend? Zach Evans. No, that

13:22

Minnesota is going to give running backs two different running backs say going forward?

13:26

Multiple depends Darius Taylor. If it's two yeah, three, no, well

13:31

yeah, but if quarterback through it fourteen times? Yeah, right right.

13:37

There's the reason why that happens because he only the only threw fourteen passes now

13:41

eighth then had ten carries. How many of those were sacks or uh?

13:46

Push or yeah, that's that's what a brotherly shove whenever you want to call

13:48

it? Yep, which is? Which is? That was a nice new

13:50

wrinkle. Something to do, Yeah, something to try. I mean he

13:54

converted four different third downs with that play, plus that fourth and one at

13:58

the two yard line into the end zone. I mean, how do you

14:01

stop it? We've seen it in the NFL, now that American it's way

14:05

into college football. Eighth, then you mentioned Chip fourteen passes twelve or fourteen?

14:09

Like I always said, I never wanted to be with Athan's arm town

14:11

at twelve or fourteen, But like they're not bothering me as much as the

14:15

old ones. Score yeah five point yeah. Well, and he's making good

14:18

I mean his average pass is ten point four yards of carry. That's good.

14:22

I mean that's a good number. Like he had a couple of touchdowns. Like when they throw it, it's just like it's not like so laborious

14:28

to throw the ball. So I'm not as offended as maybe I thought I

14:31

would have been. I want to see more accuracy on the deep shots.

14:35

I mean, obviously the one at the end of the first half was bad. He fed the poor throw. But I but you know, the fourth

14:41

down to Jackson, that's a nice play call. And I love that they

14:46

went for it there. They didn't. I'm stunned that he went for it

14:48

there. I'm not not really really after what happened the week before. You

14:52

can't be so. But they were up ten or eleven? What were they

14:56

up? Because that made it thirty five seventeen. I feel, yes,

15:00

they're up eleven. So they were up eleven, so you have a shot

15:03

to put the game away, yeah, which they do. But that is the moment where you say get outside your comfort zone. Yeah, well that's

15:09

why I think I was surprised because I just thought I'm just gonna punt it and make them score twice on us and that's it. But credit to him

15:16

that he didn't and that was a great play. Yeah, and everything feels different now you're up thirty five seventeen. It's is a great dagger. And

15:22

granted you're gonna face better competition going forward, but if you have a history

15:26

of going for those and you have the plays that you want and you give

15:28

guys confidence in those situations, that's where you work on those things. Yep.

15:31

Where you're getting that situation against Iowa or whoever, Wisconsin, you have

15:35

more faith and those guys have confidence to do it. Ethan was tremendous hot

15:39

play action. I think it was eight to eight. Both of his touchdowns

15:43

came on it. But to Chip's point, if you're going to have a

15:46

shot at against Michigan this weekend, Athan's gonna have to throw the ball thirty

15:50

times because there is not a shot you're gonna be able to run the ball against one. And I think this Michigan team, you could arguably say is

15:58

the most talented team Fleck has ever coached against. And I certainly think we

16:02

were going back through this at the press conference yesterday, trying to figure out

16:06

this is the most talented team since went I think twenty eighteen Ohio State.

16:11

I mean that twenty fifteen team well rounded. Yeah, just theyre offense,

16:15

defense, special teams. That's just they are. And I understand for the

16:19

Gopher fan it's, well, who have they played? They haven't played anyone.

16:23

They're best. The best team they've played as Rutgers, I get it

16:26

right. They've also killed every single team. Yeah, did you watch any

16:30

of that Nebraska game. I watched some of that Nebraska game this morning,

16:33

and it was what's tough about Michigan is like they're not I got to figure

16:38

out how to phrase this. They're not what you would think like a top

16:42

two team is with all this talent, Like they just line it up and

16:45

just go like they're so methodical. Like even against Rutgers was just like,

16:49

all right, we're gonna run it here, Okay, second and six,

16:52

Okay, they're super physical, yes, okay, here we go, and

16:55

then oh, by the way, our quarterback's really good. Their quarterback was

16:57

twelve to sixteen. J. J. McCart one hundred and fifth six yards,

17:00

two touchdowns, and I watched like and one of them the catch was

17:03

ridiculous. Roman Wilson literally grabbed it over a guy in the end zone.

17:07

Yep, they're not just They're not like just out talenting you. That's why I think it's depressing because they are very talented, but they're also very physical,

17:12

and so they just suck the game and march. I mean it was

17:17

over in a minute and a half into the second quarter. It was twenty

17:21

one nothing. I'm all right about this, lad? How many how many times have we heard PJ since summer say, in terms of testing immeasurables,

17:27

this team is lifted more, right, faster, all these things than any

17:32

team he's ever had. Well, this is where it's gonna have to show up because this is going to be a incredibly physical team that they're facing.

17:37

And that's where it's going to be one can you match it or can you

17:41

can you you know, hold up against on both sides of the ball in

17:45

the trenches and within that, Well, you're talking about a Michigan offensive line

17:48

that has won the Joe More Award the last two seasons, which for those

17:52

people who don't know that the best unit offensive linet in college football. Now

17:56

they returned three starters from that. I don't think they've been as good,

18:00

but they've still obviously been really good upfront. But for Minnesota's offense, the

18:03

only shot Minnesota has in this game now there I think a twenty twenty one

18:07

point underdog at home, which I think kind of screams how good Michigan has

18:11

been and how inconsistent Minnesota has been. But they're gonna have to be so

18:17

reckless on offense with just abandoning all your principles because look, you can't run

18:22

it. I have such a hard time believe we've said that before though,

18:27

like against Iowa, like you can't run the ball against Siowa, and then

18:30

they run the ball against Iowa like they've If they out physical Michigan's front seven,

18:37

I'll be gobsmacked. Yea, I know what you mean. But Athen's

18:41

gonna They're gonna have to do it. I mean, Athan is your most

18:44

gifted player on offense. If Darius Taylor's not on the field, and you're

18:47

gonna have to put him in spots, And to me, it goes back to the North Carolina game. You had opportunities to score points. Yeah,

18:53

copious amounts against North Carolina. That defense isn't as good and Athan didn't hit

18:57

his shots and he wasn't accurate. Well, what has he learned after having

19:02

in his last two games he's completing seventy nine percent of his passes. I

19:07

think he's got four touchdowns, one interception. I mean it's going to be

19:10

on him and Harbow to figure out how can we get all I mean just

19:15

all the trick play. Yeah, you know, it's crazy. He's like,

19:18

I don't care who you play. They've given up thirty points total.

19:22

They have a Michigan Yeah, three seven, six, seven, seven,

19:26

and the seven against Nebraska was late. Yeah, they they were up either

19:30

fourteen zero or twenty one zero. Nebraska went for it fourth and one deep

19:34

in the red zone, didn't get it. Yeah, there's no push.

19:37

They just basically pushed him back and that was it. Yeah, that's yeah.

19:41

That's I saw somebody out of Michigan State, and I have a hard time because their schedule Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Produe, Penn State,

19:45

Maryland, Ohio State. I mean, you look at that schedule for

19:48

the next month, like who's going to score more than ten. Yeah,

19:52

between now and Penn State. That's tough. That's tough. I mean there.

19:56

I mean, they've been to the playoffs two straight years. I mean,

20:00

they're a legit national championship contender. In the return a bunch of starters.

20:03

I think they had the most in terms of the Senior Bowl and the

20:07

most guys on the watch list of anyone. I mean, they could potentially

20:11

have double digit guys drafted in April. But I'll just keep coming back to

20:15

if you're gonna have a shot, it's going to because of Athan, Because

20:18

Michigan's gonna put up points. Because McCarthy has taken a step forward, especially

20:22

on his deep ball. He's a good player. Yeah, I mean they

20:23

got they got one. They had the best running back tandem in the Big

20:27

ten and Donovan Edwards and Blake Korum, Which the funniest part about Michigan's offense

20:33

is Blake Korm Heisman contender last year. I think we all voted for him

20:36

at some point. He has four carries in the fourth quarter this year because

20:38

they have been just obliterating everyone. That's the thing against this They're going to

20:44

score. Can he keep pace and you're not gonna keep pace running the ball

20:48

well, and they're going to maximize their possessions like that because they they're efficient.

20:53

They'll go ten plays and they'll finish it. Yeah, one way or

20:56

the other. Well, why is Minnesota scored threety four and thirty five points

21:00

the last couple of weeks finishing They are seven for their last seven in the

21:04

red zone in regulation anyway, in terms of converting red zone position red zone

21:10

two touchdowns. So I mean Minnesota's got to do the same. It's about

21:14

it just maximizing those opportunities. I'm curious to see because I think it's funny.

21:18

I think the defensive line's played good this year. I agree, Yeah,

21:22

like that's been this definite strength on defense. Yeah, and now you

21:29

see the Smith kind of come up. You see their depth more than we've

21:33

seen in the past. So I'm curious to see how they match up.

21:36

And if you know, I'm scared about these linebackers without Cody Linnenberg though they

21:40

have not played well the last couple of weeks, and I think Michigan is

21:44

going to do a lot of misdirection trying to get their eyes going one way,

21:47

the play comes back the other way, and I'm hoping it doesn't look

21:49

like twenty twenty Michigan in that regard where Minnesota's linebackers were just a lot of

21:53

sorts. Well, on that note, let's pause, and when we come

21:56

back, we'll talk about something even more uplifting, Ryan Burns World and something

22:00

that will probably be important on Saturday Night special teams. That's coming up.

22:07

All right, let's pause here and Chip, the floor is yours because you

22:10

are the most recent attendee of our title sponsor one of our favorite places to

22:15

eat. I was within an eyelash of going to Jack's Cafe on Sunday night

22:18

with the family after the marathon that my wife ran as a rogue runner.

22:22

Because it was shut down. I thought maybe we could go to Jack's.

22:26

Kids were a little dicey. I'm like, I'm not going to ruin people Sunday evening and having a wonderful dinner at Jack's Cafe. But you were there,

22:32

Chip, and you've got a very specific thing you need to review. Well, I did go. My sister came in town to run the ten

22:41

miler with my wife, which they did not do, but we went.

22:45

It was canceled. It was canceled yeah, but we did. We went

22:48

Thursday night and I got the flay, which was outstanding, and I can't

22:52

remember what everybody. I think my son had the flay too. Let's call

22:56

him right now. Let's call him right now and get the orders, but get him out of class. Whatever they had, it was one. I

23:00

know. My sister had the pop pie, which she loved. But then

23:03

we were like, should we get dessert? And I don't know, but

23:07

we got the crimberl a. Look, I'm a crimberly kind of sewer.

23:12

That's what you said. I love that's what you told us. I would

23:15

eat a trough of that. It was the best crimer It was like it

23:22

was one of those things you get done eat and you're like, I wonder

23:26

cold we get another like five more of those. Yeah, it was out

23:32

the best Crimberley I've ever had. And I don't say that lightly. The nice little toper to the meals. So the next time we go there,

23:37

all right, next time we do apparent of spare event burns eat your rum

23:41

run would be a part of it. But then they're gonna have to make

23:44

a trough of kremble ay and everybody can just go over and just scoop it

23:47

out as we can't wait to see that good so good. And service was

23:52

great. Obviously, we had a great, great time. It's fun my sister. They get the match books, you know. And and Bill said,

23:59

he texted me before he try, I put your sister's name on it. She got the biggest kick out of that. She loved it. It's

24:03

the greatest touch ever, attention to detail. That's why we love it there.

24:06

It's the little things. Jack's Cafe in Minneapolis, ninety years of great

24:10

meals like the one Chip just described a lunch, brunch, dinner, date

24:15

night. Don't forget about holiday dining. It is October, by the way,

24:18

so holiday dining right around the corner. They've got room for you. They've got special holiday menus. It's an amazing place. We absolutely love it.

24:23

Jack's Cafe Jaxcafe dot com. Thanks again to Bill for a parent a

24:27

spare listener, going to Homecoming with the with the Jacks Cafe tickets on Saturday,

24:32

and great parking and everything and support those that support us. And nobody

24:34

supports us more than Jack's Cafe. And I would say when you make your

24:38

reservation and it has notes put in there that you heard about it in parent

24:41

spare because somebody did that. Bill told us and that he enjoys that.

24:45

We enjoy that, and we appreciate you. I love it, good nugget

24:48

Jack's Cafe, Jaxcafe dot com. So Louisiana goes right down the field,

24:56

scores to make it seven zero, and you wonder, Okay, how is

25:00

this Minnesota team going to respond the word of the program. How is this

25:03

team going to respond? Do they have poise? Do they have poise?

25:07

Will they get the ball in decent field position? Maybe they pop a return

25:11

for the first time since Illinois last year, I think if I remember correctly,

25:17

Or maybe they just fair catch it and get the ball to twenty five, or maybe it just sails into the end zone and they get the ball

25:22

to twenty five. None of those things happened. Ryan, Why didn't you

25:26

explain to everybody that may have missed it exactly what happened and how you feel

25:30

about it, felt about it then, and feel about it now. Here's

25:34

what I want to be. You're really gyrating here. You are physically there's

25:37

a physical aversion here. Look, because I continue to be told that people

25:41

think I'm just blowing this issue out of proportions. I don't believe that people

25:45

actually say that to you. I get that constantly. They must be trolling

25:49

you. Well, okay, so I'm trying to get you going. So

25:52

you so we all all right? Let me collect my thoughts here. He's

25:57

at the Twins press spots. So we agree that special teams is an issue.

26:03

Yeah, other than Dragon Kassis correct. Yes, he's been outstanding.

26:06

He is saving special teams. He's giving them a positive talking point in which

26:11

otherwise I think is not good. Quentin read and kick returns in five games

26:17

Chip have lost them sixty one six' one yards of field position compared to

26:22

fair catching everything. Does he have any notes Chip in front of him?

26:26

That is a man, that specialty he is. That's twelve There are no

26:30

notes in front of him. That's twelve yards of field position per game that

26:33

the offense is getting pushed back by because the young man is getting another opportunity.

26:42

Here's my question. You're so mad you can't even talk. I'm so

26:47

mad. How why is it that Sean Tyler gets put on a mel Carton

26:49

for two weeks yet here we are Yeah, I just it's unexplainable. He

26:56

has more coins in the fleck bank. Yeah, that's the only thing I

27:00

can come up with, because I agree with you. I just it's not

27:03

even it's not even quitting. Reading's fault, like we'll just what's going on

27:08

here, Like it's just it's just a continuation where it's like it's just never

27:11

clean and easy, like there's just always something. He talks about the punting

27:17

and all Mark Crawford, great story. He's one hundred years old from Australia.

27:21

His parents were here the whole month of September. It's like, just flip the field once. That's all we're asking to do. Flip the field

27:26

once, and when you do have someone down there to catch it, and then all of this is a lot more fun. Two punts and opportunities to

27:30

flip the field. Minnesota punts from within their own twenty. They get a

27:33

thirty eight yarder and a forty one yarder and then for the third straight time,

27:38

trying to pin them deep punting from midfield, bounces into the end zone.

27:44

A nice little thirty two yard net punt. Here we are just I

27:48

thought the best dragging cast. I think you're over blowing it a little bit.

27:51

Yeah, that's what I get told I don't know, Tea, it's not an issue, coach, justin it's not an issue. That's what I

27:56

keep being told. I'm blowing it out of proportion. I don't know who's

28:00

telling you that. Rational people. Apparently we please copy those when that happens,

28:06

or send those out to tweet those. It's just mind boggling. The most conservative coach, and again it's on him at this point, just continues

28:14

to let this thing happen. Their return game is an absolute joke. Their

28:18

punk game hasn't been good, I mean forever, and again I don't want

28:21

to pick on the guy, but those were two of the most egregious you

28:26

know, Yeah, I mean catching it by catching it by the sideline like

28:30

that is absurd. Yeah, Like that's just not being ready. I mean

28:34

that's not being ready. That's that's not being coached, right, I mean

28:37

that's all of it. Yeah, Like, that's just not being ready to

28:41

go. And I get it. People make mistakes. That happens. It's

28:45

football, as everybody says, that's football. But at some point you just

28:48

got to go what, as you would say, what are we even doing

28:51

here? And it's never clean and easy, it's never you always phrase it.

28:56

You know, did special teams help or which which team? And you

29:00

always praise at they help you or hurt you. That's the same question I

29:03

always ask myself. It's always too often they hurt you, and it matter

29:07

because you won by eleven, But imagine if they didn't kill you. Well,

29:10

I was thinking of the twenty nineteen season because that was the underneath undercurrent,

29:14

like it wasn't great that year, like they were winning in spite, Like a team like Minnesota can't win at the highest of high levels for them

29:22

if they're not getting if they're not winning special teams every week, especially against

29:26

a team like Michigan or Ohio State or any of these teams that they're playing.

29:29

When you want to play trestle ball, you better be great on offense,

29:32

defense and special team. Yeah, and you and I know there's some analytics historically where apparently they are, but I Almoso like, but are you

29:37

maximizing what you could be like for example, the University of Iowa, Yeah,

29:42

which we'll talk about in a second, which I know you'll also really

29:45

you can't wait to talk about that, But anything else you want to talk

29:48

about here. Dravn Kessich is he's a stud. He's probably going to end

29:52

up being the best kicker they've had since I'm m Carpenter. I would imagine,

29:56

Yeah, i'mn't won the kicker of the year back then when he did. Yeah, yeah, in sixteen. I mean he's nine of ten,

30:00

only misses from fifty. I mean he's a stud. He's really good.

30:04

He's a stud. And I mean just even that kick we talked about it

30:07

last week, the Northwestern kick, it was just an absolute rocket. Yeah,

30:11

it was good from like sixty five. And the touchback thing is great,

30:15

like you never have to worry like on that side. We don't even

30:18

know if the Gophers are good kickoff returners. You don't need to be.

30:21

I know which way I'm leaning, But because they kick it out of the

30:23

end zone every time, it doesn't matter. Which is outstanding. Have you

30:29

guys tried Duck Duck beer yet? I have not. I think it's pretty

30:33

good. My recycling did I text you guys that, No, my recycling

30:41

would indicate it is an extremely drinkable beer. Yeah, it is an extremely

30:45

drinkable beer. Dinky Town athletes got the got the beverage partner Great Duck Spirits

30:51

and there's a million different ways you can contribute, but duck duck beer would

30:55

be the easiest one for you and me. Chipper, It's like what say,

31:00

it's like an amber ale. It's like a light beer is what they

31:02

call it. And it's I mean, I had a couple on Saturday. I had a couple on Sunday. It's tremendous. I'll try it. But

31:07

we should bring that up because that was what I was going to get to

31:10

it. Oh sorry, yeah, Burns, he got there. But go PJ with you was that was obviously as forceful. Yes, we've heard him

31:15

yea as much as any coaches we've you know that we've seen come out and

31:22

say we're gonna lose players if not because of this. To catch people up

31:26

Coaches Show last week we were talking about Darius Taylor and PJ unprovoked said,

31:30

everybody like watching Darius Taylor play. I'm paraphrasing when we got to go to

31:33

Dickey Town athletes dot com. Otherwise, guys like him market to be here

31:37

that much longer, and like, like we had a guy a couple of

31:40

years ago. We don't have him anymore because we couldn't pay him. Dinky Town athletes dot com, Dinky Town Athletes dot Com. Triple A ball Club,

31:45

Triple A ball Club is what he said, and he's right in fairness

31:49

to PJ. Like people don't like to hear it, or they don't maybe

31:52

don't anything timey coming off the Northwestern. Yeah, but get over it.

31:57

Yeah, but that's why I think people are really northwestern. Yeah, this

32:00

is the time. But I don't. I do wonder if is there something

32:08

he's hearing or is it just because Taylor won Freshman the Year three times.

32:13

I don't think it was Darius paranoia more than Taylor specific. But I think

32:20

here's how I'll say this. I think word has gotten back to him and

32:23

some other collectives and he just wants to make sure everybody's aware that we still

32:30

need help. Word has gotten back to PJ on what other collectives that we're

32:34

doing well, we're doing fine. We had a good week because PJ went

32:37

nuclear. But there's more room to grow in the collective space, and I

32:42

don't think PJ wants people to forget about it. And I'm guessing every coach

32:45

probably feels the same way that PJ said. Maybe he's not going to articulate

32:49

it, and it costs triple A or whatever. But this is the world

32:54

now. Yeah, Unfortunately, whether you like it or not, this is

32:58

the world of college sports. Which is why Duck Duck beer is a great

33:01

way to do it because it's twenty percent of the proceeds that goes right back

33:05

to dinkytown athletes. They've also got a great deal. I have it in my car. It's like a jug of vodka. I'll never be able to

33:10

drink this much vodka in my life. Great. Yes, have people donate

33:15

money without knowing their donating money, yeah, or doing something they are already

33:20

going to do, which is tailgate, which is have beers, which is have burgers at the game. They've I think they've done a really good job

33:25

of maximizing all They need. A coffee. We got to work on a

33:28

coffee I was thinking about that burns here my people. Yeah, we'll get

33:32

you. Got to get a coffee deal going, because then I can help

33:35

them in the morning, and I can help them in the afternoon. I can help them at lunch time with a parlor burger. But it's it's a

33:39

great way to help out. And if as I understand that, if you

33:43

want it at your liquor store. Just ask if they don't have it.

33:45

This should be pretty much everywhere. But they've got good distribution. Yeah, distribution is going out this week. They started at Top ten, which is

33:51

right there across the street from the complex. Gray Duck is obviously very prominent

33:54

in the state of Minnesota, which is distribution. The beer is getting out

33:59

there. But if you go to your local liquor store and it's not there, ask for it. It's Great Duck Brewing. There'll get it there.

34:04

But I think that even within that too. You mentioned the vodka the way

34:07

I understand it. Anytime you buy just to say a leader of Grey Duck

34:13

vodka instead of saying Tito's. Yep, every part there's a well there's part

34:17

of that sale that goes to Dinky Town. Ass it's twenty five percent.

34:20

They've got like a little tag on the bottle. Yes, and there you

34:23

go. So instead of buying Tito's, if you are a vodka connoisseur,

34:28

which I'm a big vodka guy, big screwdriver guy, there you go. That's how I got through college and could. Yeah, that's that's a whole

34:35

different podcast. But if instead of Tito's, if you just go to the

34:38

when you go to the liquor store, that they're gonna have Gray Duck there.

34:40

Yes, And I love the hashtag drink for Darius. Hashtags already come

34:46

out and it's so good. Yeah, but it's a perfect I mean,

34:49

it really is a good tailgate beer, like straight up, like I'm getting

34:52

nothing out of this. I'm not a dinky Ton athlete. I'm just telling

34:55

you. If you're a Gopher fan and you want to help, the questions

34:59

of how how can we he? What's the simplest way. Well, if you're already going to drink light beer, yes, just when you go to

35:04

the liquor sport liquor store by Duck Duck beer. If you're already going to

35:07

drink vodka, I can assure you they already have Gray Duck vodcas sitting right

35:10

there within the same price point. And again to Justin's point, I think

35:15

twenty five percent of proceeds from that go to the town. One of the

35:17

vodka is twenty five from the beer. I think it's twenty But either way,

35:21

so how can you help? If you're going to consume an alcoholic drinage

35:23

anyway, might as well go with the gray Duck brand hashtag drinks for Darius.

35:29

I love it. It's so good. All right, we mentioned anything else we need to talk about Gopher related I don't think so. The parent

35:34

of spare group text is not for six thirty pm. Baby, that's right.

35:37

Another night game? You mad about this one night game? Are you

35:39

mad about this one too? Are you mad? I mean it should be

35:44

a great atmosphere. I would think, Yeah, it's gonna be fun, NBC. It'll be fun. It's the Gopher's first game at NBC since the

35:50

nineteen sixty two Rose Bowl, which is an interesting Wow. Yeah, it's

35:53

Noe's in front of you for that one. Now, fairness like that was

35:57

like the only Big ten game for years and years that NBC. But it's

36:00

still interesting. Yeah, I mean it's still interesting that the nineteen sixty two

36:04

Rose Bowl was the last time we got to see the Peacock here. So

36:07

they're coming here. They've got like five sets that they've got to come in. I mean, it's NBC. Isn't half stepping into this college football thing.

36:13

No, they're gonna be. They're going to be rolling in here.

36:15

But on this past Saturday night at NBC, we were all watching Iowa Michigan

36:20

State. I fell asleep before the best part. I guess too many duck

36:23

duck beers. They've just woke up to a text luckiest bleeping team ever and

36:30

I had to imagine. I guess Iowa beat Michigan State. And they did.

36:34

And it wasn't because of anything that the offense did. They lost their

36:37

quarterback, Cade McNamara. I think probably for the year, right, the

36:40

year year. Yeah, that's too bad. Yeah, that's really too bad.

36:44

Speaking of collectives, because the swarm collective ended up for him. Yeah,

36:47

they did. So, Iowa outlast Michigan State, but mostly because of

36:52

a fourth quarter punt return that had Kinnick Burnsey a rocking man. LaVar Woods

36:58

is think he's LaVar Woods. Let's just Cooper Degene's a stud, yes,

37:02

now smart enough to put the guy back out there that's going to house it

37:06

as opposed to the guy where he is half the time. Yeah, but Cooper Degen go ahead from the top rope, sweet Giblets in Juniperson All right,

37:15

Yeah, Cooper Degene is able to house one. Puts I think puts

37:19

them up to seven. There. I think it was tied. Yeah,

37:21

I was two scoring drives outside of that in the fourth quarter, when I believe thirty three yards and eleven plays both were touched on our field goals.

37:29

Excuse me. They had a negative field goal drive again, which is very

37:31

Iowa, but after Michigan State went for it for no good reason. It

37:37

boggles my mind that a team can't continue to win like that over and over.

37:45

But here's but here's the problem. Everyone else obliges, like Michigan State

37:49

going they were ahead. Now you think of it two ways, like,

37:53

well, their offense isn't going to hurt us, so we're only giving up

37:57

three. Let's just keep the ball, which is one way to look at

37:59

it, but it's all as their offense isn't going to hurt you at all. Just kick it and then you don't score the three because their defense is

38:06

still going to be pretty good, even though I don't think it's the same defense that it's been. Like I was watching the same thing Burnsley and going

38:13

Michigan State is no good. They're in complete turmoil, and yet they're allowing

38:17

Iowa to stay in here because of their own stupid decisions, including going for

38:21

it on their own side fourth and one and not getting it it's the Kinnic

38:25

at night. I just I've accepted that stadium has a magic and a power

38:30

over other opposing teams like we've seen since Minnesota hasn't won there since what was

38:34

it ninety nine? Yeah, yeah, but you saw it again in effect.

38:37

And that's where that offense for Iowa. Even with mcnamarry, he wasn't

38:40

playing well to begin with, and now unfortunate now that he's going to be

38:44

out for the year, and now they got Wisconsin's former third string quarterback from

38:49

last year as their starter. He's a big boy. He's got a little

38:52

Jared Lorenzo. He's a big kid. You know, let's see how he

38:57

if you know, was you're not just throwing into a game. Yeah,

39:00

well that's a nice thing. I guess if you're Minnesota is number when you

39:04

get a bye week to prepare for Iowa, while Iowa that same week next

39:07

week has to travel the Madison and take on Wisconsin, and so you'll have

39:10

a few game tapes of them. But even with mcmaar, they couldn't run

39:15

the ball. That's their biggest problem. I can't find receivers that can consistently

39:20

catch the ball. Their best tight end and Luke Cliches out for the year. Now now you also have Kid McNamara's just Iowa at Night. It's just

39:30

what happens there, just always year after year after year. Yeah, you're

39:34

right, because it's it's you know, the formula, right, and they

39:37

still they still win it. But again, you know who didn't oblige last

39:42

year? Nebraska. Yeah, Nebraska. So we don't give a bleep about

39:45

any of this crap. You're about to win the Big Ten West. No, we're gonna beat you because we have better players, we're more talented,

39:50

we're not scared of your defense. We're certainly not scared of your offense. We're gonna go win the game. Like Iowa, to me is the new

39:54

what Northwestern used to be. Yeah, everybody tricks themselves into thinking you've got

39:59

to play perfect, and I just don't think you do. I don't think you have to, especially with how much they struggle offensively. Like, take

40:06

some chances, take some chances against their defense, go down the field,

40:08

go do these things because at worst, you're probably only going to be you

40:13

know, the offense is only going to score a couple of touchdowns. It can only be on the opening drive. Because I will go to my grave

40:19

saying Brian Farren's opening game script for whatever reason, is always tremendous, and

40:24

then it just stinks the last fifty minutes of the game. If you play

40:29

them not to make a mistake, that's what they want. That's exactly what

40:34

they want. And guess what they're going to make a special teams play.

40:36

You're you're gonna make one mistake and that's going to be the difference, right like most fumble a year yeah, or a couple of years ago. Ahead

40:43

it was Tony durb you know, missing a tackle and he houses it.

40:45

That was gonna backup quarterback too, wasn't it, Alex one, You're Alex

40:49

Padilla backup quarterbacks? I couldn't play for Mike Grim's favorite game to talk about

40:52

the Alex Padia was that nineteen Yeah exactly. I mean that's that cost him

40:58

the rose Ball theoretically lose in that game, but anyway, because they took

41:02

a bunch of shots. So now with Kid McNamara out, we thought going

41:07

into last week, the West Coast ro Iowa now that Deacon Hill is going

41:09

to likely be the start of the rest of the season, but the West

41:13

goes through who wins next week at the moment, I would think and by that next week you're Wisconsin and Iowa. Correct, Because you have to look

41:19

at the schedules. I don't think either team's any good. I don't either.

41:22

I don't think any team in the good which is why the Northwestern game

41:27

is going to haunt. Northwestern loss will haunt. And I wrote that down

41:31

about seven fifty five Central Standard time after US I did after my I can

41:37

see the text after my second duck duck beer because they were so drinkable,

41:43

and I mean, I don't need to check it, but I said it.

41:45

But because I look at the like, what team in the West,

41:47

Like we obviously know Michigan, Ohio State are going to be tough for Minnesota.

41:51

Here coming's press the schedule and you look and you go, what game

41:53

cannot can't they win? Illinois is just there isn't a team in the West

41:59

that has falling below expectations more than Illinois. There's a lot of finger pointing

42:04

going around over there. I don't think the Purdue is necessarily any good.

42:07

No, No, And then you got Wisconsin and Iowa. They're fine, They're not world beaters like they were ten years ago. Just watch that game.

42:13

I have a feeling is everyone's going to be like eight and four, nine and three somewhere in there, and that fifteen minutes in the last year

42:22

of the West is potentially going to haunt them. Now if they sweep the

42:25

rest of it after but even then, I mean, if they sweep Iowa

42:29

in Wisconsin, and if they sweep all the West teams and lose to Ohio State in Michigan, you're in there. You think you're in the West,

42:35

you think you win the West. What would you be then? Nine and three? What's their record right now? No, you'd be eight and four

42:39

because he lost to North Carolina. Now you'd have the ten record. It

42:43

would be six and three. I had have a hard time believing if you

42:46

go five and what would it be five and one against the West then with

42:50

your only loss being to Northwestern, think about it that you don't have a

42:53

tie break over somebody. Yeah, you'd be six and three in conference play

42:58

there, you'd need a little help. If you swept every you need a little help from I think Michigan State would have been the team to help you,

43:04

but they they didn't last like every other team that Cannick Yeah, like

43:08

we of this year. Oh boy, oh boy, I've been there.

43:13

Was there nineteen, was there in twenty one? Was there in seventeen?

43:15

Seventeen was the Cody Polk game where he just gets bear hugged on a long

43:21

touchdown and there's no holding call? Remember that, Man, You've had a

43:24

tough run down there. Everyone has. Yeah, there's been some good games

43:28

been since ninety nine. Yeah, I think I was at the ninety nine

43:31

game. I feel like I feel like I was down there. But to

43:36

your point about Illinois, here's one point I was thinking about too, because like Illinois struggling, Indiana struggling, like our guy Matt Campbell, Iowa State

43:44

struggling, right, Like, I know everybody's mad about the Northwestern deal and

43:49

we've been mad about the Bowling Green deal. We'll see what this year ends

43:52

up. But like, there hasn't been like like I think, what what

43:55

I see at least is like, Illinois, what is it? You're three

43:58

with Bila mine. There's not like a cataclysmic bottom is dropping out set like

44:05

because I feel I just wanted to get that on the record because we always get that around here, especially it's like, oh, what's going on?

44:10

This thing is never going anywhere. Blah blah blah. It's like, yeah,

44:14

but it's not like falling off the table like some of these other Like

44:16

two years ago, everybody Tom Allen, what contract did he signed some ridiculous

44:21

contract. They loved him, it was a great Their team sucks. Yeah, they won the COVID season. Ye, they're terrible. Yeah, but

44:25

like it's hard to sustain at some of these places. So as frustrated as

44:29

you can be by Northwestern, I get it. I was there, very strange, had weird losses before. Like, let's see where it all ends

44:36

up at the end of the year and then kind of compare it to where they're at relative to where they've been. That's all. I don't want you

44:42

to run them out like you did, Mace Chip. That's what I'm saying.

44:45

Yeah, well now you are a couple of flatbreads and meals later.

44:49

But anyway, what else do we want to talk about? Anything else we

44:52

want to get to? What would you want to get to with the Indiana didn't they just fire their offensive coordinator? Yeah, well, just that they

44:57

suck now because two years ago, well I got a bet that Allen's gone

45:00

by hot and to Halloween, but everybody was like, Matt Campbell could have gotten any job you wanted a couple of years ago, any job any of

45:07

them. And now it's like, man, what's going on in Iowa State?

45:09

Their players are betting, the under the gambling like they're doing all these

45:13

things. Like I just think we need to have a global view of where

45:16

the program the Gophers are as I'm mostly doing it to talk about the Gophers

45:21

of all these teams, Beilama year three, like they should be better than

45:23

this mm hm theoretically, but it's hard. It's difficult, not that easy

45:28

when your team hasn't been very good to just roll in and go, hey we're here, we're good. And even last year they melted down. They

45:32

should have won the West and everybody loved them. And I love Beilama.

45:37

I don't know why I'm talking about this, but I just wanted. I

45:39

want to. I want to get off your chest. Well when you're not

45:42

Ohio State and Michigan, like, it's hard to do what it's hard to

45:45

do with these schools are trying to do and just be consistent and be good

45:49

every single year. So that's why I do wonder with these divisions going away.

45:54

I mean these teams that are struggling just to stay media or at a

46:00

certain level, what becomes of them? You do wonder if the if,

46:05

the if the if the league bosses will say, you know what, we

46:10

need divisions in some former fashion, we need pods. Yeah, I think

46:15

they will. I do too. I just think to organize it, you have to have that and you have to give people a reason to do.

46:19

You're playing for something, yeah, a spot in the semi finals on semi

46:22

final Saturday. As bad as the West is right now, at least these

46:25

teams we're sitting here talking about what would it take to you know, at

46:28

least you're playing for something good, Because if you're with Ohio State in Michigan

46:31

and Penn State, you're you're not playing for anything other than the fun of

46:36

you know, you're not playing for a division a good Saturday. Speaking of

46:39

tradition, does it bother you guys that the Little Brown jug wasn't one of

46:43

those protected games because it was a question that was brought up yesterday at the

46:45

Prescott You know, not really, not really. It'd be fun. But

46:51

if I'm Minnesota, I would say no, because you're gonna have Iowa Wisconsin

46:54

and you don't want to you know, yeah, probably don't want to make

47:00

that is guaranteed every year. It'd be cool for fans and cool for us, you know, to watch, and maybe cool for players. But it

47:06

doesn't. Now. If they'd have done that one instead of one of the

47:09

other two, then I would say, you know what, that's right now,

47:14

some of the ones you gotta protect to be because as long as you have those two, you're fine. Yeah. I don't consider Michigan arrival.

47:19

They've won the Joke Trophy twice in my lifetime. I think, like,

47:22

that's not a rivalry, it's a cool trophy. It's a good story.

47:25

Yeah that's about it. Yeah, I agree. So, no, it

47:28

does not bother me. Yeah, same here. I like going to the

47:30

Big House. I'm not religious about the Big House. It's not like I need a Big House trip every other year for any of these deals. So

47:36

yet, like, if you said they're not playing them every year, I wouldn't be bothered. If you said they're not playing Iowa or Wisconsin every year,

47:42

I'd be really bothered. Yes, exactly, that's a good way to

47:44

frame it. Speaking of Minnesota, Michigan, Chip and I just stumbled upon the fact Burnsley that it was twenty years ago, the infamous Friday night Michigan

47:52

game where it looks like Glenn Mason and everybody were rolling to the Rose Bowl.

47:54

Gophers are up big going into the fourth quarter. John Navar's screen past

48:02

side of dual colleague scored too quickly on that two yards. I was at

48:08

that game. We all were in various spots. Was it I was?

48:13

That's my first Gopher memory was. I was at that game of my father,

48:15

and you kept coming back after that. I remember people driving off the

48:20

road listening to this your first Gopher memory was? I remember that side of

48:23

dual Collique run very right right up the middle for fifty yards. What I

48:29

remember. There's a million things about that. I had just started working here

48:31

at the fan, and I remember having to call go for athletic communications.

48:36

Doogie had me do this because I was interning. We were trying to figure out the last time that Minnesota and Michigan had ever played, where Minnesota was

48:44

ranked higher, because at that point, Michigan hadn't fallen off, you know,

48:47

like they ended up with Rich Roder. I don't remember what, but

48:52

I remember calling over there and they were they were looking it up for us and all of that. But like the other thing, I remember Friday night

48:57

because the Twins were in the playoffs. Much like that now, the Metro

49:00

Dome wasn't available on Saturday. They're not playing on Friday, so they had to move it to Friday night, which was cool. Yep. And I'd

49:07

been to the Dome a lot as a kid, and i'd seen it full.

49:10

I'd never seen it full in just maroon and gold like it was that

49:15

day. That night. It was unbelievable. And it's crazy that it's been

49:20

twenty years. Chip, Yeah, what could have been How it could have been different had they won that game? Yeah, And I always say,

49:24

you know, that was my first year on the beat and the town that

49:29

week was on fire for it was it was in a way that I really

49:32

haven't people and I wasn't you know, didn't cover them up to the point,

49:36

but people said they haven't felt this. The tailgate lots on Washington and for people that don't even remember, like where's all these condos and the a

49:42

lot so far that used to be surface lots where you tailgated for Vikings games.

49:46

You never tailgated for golfer games there except that night, and those lots

49:51

were slammed. And I maybe it's too dramatic, but I don't know that

49:58

it is that that lost chain. It's the trajectory of the program, I

50:01

would say it. I mean, they had good seasons after that, but

50:06

it altered what could have been. People don't remember this. They played Michigan

50:09

State at home the next week. Back then I could get the h the

50:15

actual turnstile count, not just to announce which ticket stole, but actual people

50:20

that came through the door. And it was and Gophers were still ranked,

50:24

yeah, top twenty five, they were twenty something. Michigan State was ranked

50:28

twenty four thousand fewer people in one week. Yeah, because it just took

50:32

the air out. I mean, because that's that's again kind of what I

50:36

was talking about a minute ago, the challenge of this place. You get

50:39

a finite window if you're not one of the thing, if you're not the

50:43

Vikings, basically like the Twins. Right now, you can go. You

50:45

can walk into target Field for four bucks today game one of the wild card

50:49

seats. Really yeah, go to stub Hub. You can. I mean,

50:51

I don't know if you could. You could have yesterday. Maybe those are gone, but you don't have a great way. It's like in Apollo

50:59

thirteen when they had to re enter the use atmosphere. If you go to

51:01

this, you go to shell, you're gonna skim right off and go back

51:05

into space. If you go too deep, you're burning up, Like you gotta hit it perfect, And that two week microcosm, I think speaks volumes

51:13

about everything, like you have to hit it perfect when it's your time in

51:17

college football number one, but also in Minneapolis in a pro market, Yes,

51:22

to capture people's attentions, and with a program that had gone through this

51:28

decades of malaise where people weren't caring and then all of a sudden they were,

51:35

and then to have that still just utter heartbreak. I mean people still

51:38

talk about Outherrie. Michigan comes up all the time because who knows what happens

51:45

the next week against Michigan State. I mean everybody's thinking Rose Bowl. And

51:49

back then it was even more attainable because like not, there wasn't like a

51:52

dominant that it wasn't a championship game for one, right, and so it

51:55

was scheduled dependent. Yeah, it was I remember very very well. I

52:00

remember the whole thing very very well, and you were just a little burnsy. I was ten eleven years old. Yeah, man, side of dual

52:07

Calik run. I'll remember for the rest of my life. You've never seen

52:09

a quarterback sneak like that before. At well you scored too quickly, yeah,

52:14

because their defense was just absolutely out of gas. It was you think. I typed loud imagine the rewrite the type and I had that night in

52:21

the press box. One scoring in the fourth quarter going into the fourth?

52:24

Was it thirty five fourteen, thirty five to fourteen going into fourth or thirty

52:29

or no, twenty eight seven thirty five or something like that. I think

52:32

they're up twenty eight going in to fourth. They ran for almost five hundred

52:36

yards or almost four hundred for over four hundred ye, I think it's four to twenty four. Yeah, I mean almost that year. I always say

52:43

that year I covered two games in which they ran for four hundred yards and

52:46

lost both of them. That went in Wisconsin. That's hard to do.

52:50

Hard to do, man, four hundred yards and lost twice. Well,

52:55

on that note, Christmas Michigan twenty point underdog going in So if what are

53:04

your expectations for Minnesota to meet this weekend. You know, I want to

53:08

see them be competitive. I want to see them cut it loose. I

53:13

want to see them say, you know what, we have one chance right

53:15

to hang with this team, one chance, and let's do it. Because

53:20

I think you can get confidence out of this game if you play, if

53:22

you play it right. Yeah, I mean Rutgers, I think probably felt pretty good about how they played. They lost thirty one seven, and they

53:28

hung with them for like an entire half, and some weird a pick six

53:31

had to happen for them to break away. Like Michigan isn't a team.

53:36

I mean Michigan, They're going to, like we said earlier're going to try to constrict you until you slowly die. Yeah, you just got to make

53:40

sure you handle that for the first quarter, first half, whatever it is.

53:45

And I'm sure Minnesota has reached out to Minnesota East in Rutgers where their

53:50

offensive coordinator Kirk Roka, what went well? What didn't? Joe Harris Simeak,

53:53

the former defensive coordinator here Ross he's calling him saying, what what went

53:59

well? What didn't? But to your guys's point, just be competitive into

54:02

the second half. Yeah, And I know a lot of people aren't gonna

54:06

want to hear that that are listening to that right now, they're gonna be saying it's year seven, Minnesota should be. I truly think people underestimate how

54:13

talented and how well this Michigan team is currently Well, year seven was PJ.

54:16

It's year nine for Harbaugh or whatever it is. Yeah, and he's

54:20

building off a couple of so yeah, I don't know the year. The

54:22

years of coaches is irrelevant to me, but anyway, but offensively, it's

54:25

just I said it, play with some reckless abandon yeah, because you're gonna

54:30

have to get weird in a game like this to be able to score twenty

54:35

something points, which is what you're gonna need to be able to somehow pull

54:37

off an upset here. But you just got to figure it out offensively,

54:42

and let Ethan put him in spots to make the throws, and if he

54:45

makes him, you're gonna be in the game in the second half, and if he doesn't, it's gonna be more like North Carolina. Last reminder,

54:51

we haven't done this in a couple of weeks. And I want to remind people that I saw one of these were you with me, I don't remember.

54:57

I saw a couple of these on Saturday on O Street. The start

55:00

Your Day one hundred percent shirts are available, are available. It's nice to

55:04

see them. The parents Apparel shop still at the top of the Parents bear

55:09

pod Twitter account. Right, yeah, and I told you guys that my

55:12

wife while we were at well, we were all in Chicago or maybe it

55:15

was North Carolina. She wore that shirt to a like a garden center.

55:19

That's right, okay. She wore the start Your da at one hundred percent

55:22

one and somebody came up and was like, oh my god, I love

55:24

that podcast. And I was like, okay, well did you did you

55:28

tell them? Like, hey, say thank you? Yeah, thank you, Like tell a friend you're my wife, like that's why you're wearing She's

55:34

like, absolutely not. I'm never going to tell anybody. It's disappointed.

55:37

I was disappointing. Missus burn We're all on the same team together. We

55:42

grab an or missus burns. We gotta row, Yeah, we gotta row.

55:45

We gotta roll in the same direction here. But if you want to

55:47

buy one of the shirts start Your Day one hundred percent or they got molk

55:51

shirts, it's they're still available. To there and they're awesome and it was fun to see those on Saturday. It's always fun to see him on the

55:54

road. I wore mine out in North Carolina, I think on the plane,

55:59

and why wouldn't I. We're all the Parent of s Bear family,

56:01

so we don't talk about the shirts enough. But if you want to jump

56:05

in there and buy some of the merch, we will jump to you.

56:07

We have you there at the apparent of s Bear pod Twitter handle. Thanks

56:10

again to Jack'scafe and Jackscafe dot com for their great partnership. Like Chip said,

56:15

make your reservation at Jackscafe dot Comjaxcafe dot com mentioned in the notes that

56:20

the Parent of Spaar sent you. Whether it's for brunch, whether it's for

56:22

lunch, holiday dining, happy hour, whatever it is, you'll never go

56:25

wrong with Jack's Cafe. Thanks everybody for listening. Tell a Gopher fanfriend in

56:29

your life. We're here. We'll talk to you next week on the Parent of Spaar podcast