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| | Sunday, September 3 Gophers put their fate in freshmen's hands | |||||
| By Jeff Potrykus Special to ESPN.com Minnesota Golden Gophers 1999 record: 8-4 (5-3 Big Ten) Coach: Glen Mason. Returning starters: 12 (4 offense, 8 defense) Outlook Mason not only has to pin his hopes on freshmen starters at quarterback and tailback, but he has to deal with overzealous fans and boosters who expect the Gophers to parlay their '99 success into a trip to the Rose Bowl this season. Memo to those fans: Simmer down! Minnesota's defense, No. 2 in the Big Ten in points allowed (16.3) last season, should again be stingy. However, the loss of safety Tyrone Carter will hurt more than people realize. Can the offense again finish in the top three of the conference in total yards and rushing yards? Only if the freshmen develop quickly, which never is a given. Not having to face either Michigan or Michigan State is a bonus. Trips to Purdue, Ohio State and Wisconsin aren't. "It's one thing when you go into a program that's down and you go from a loser to a winner and it's another thing to stay there," Mason said. "We've got to be a consistent winner. A lot of people in our neck of the woods think we've arrived, turned the corner. We've not done that." Keep an eye on ... Barring injury, freshman Asad Abdul-Khaliq will start at quarterback. Abdul-Khaliq studied tapes during his formative years of Joe Montana and John Elway and last season at Fork Union (N.J.) Military Academy he passed for 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. That broke Vinny Testaverde's school record for touchdown-to-interception ratio. It's a good season if ... Going to back-to-back bowls for the first time since 1985-'86 would be a sign of sustained success under Mason. Jeff Potrykus covers the Big Ten for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
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