Two in-a-row

I remember it well.  In 2006 I was working in the garage listening on the radio to the NDSU Bison play the Gophers.  The score was 10-9 and the Bison were getting ready to win the game on a long field goal.  Unfortunately the Gophers blocked the kick to seal their victory.  At the time I thought, "Wow, the Bison actually almost beat the Gophers.  Wouldn't it be cool if they actually did win?"

To my delight the Gophers again hosted the green and gold in 2007.  My dad and I decided to attend this game in person.  I got my bachelor's from NDSU in '99; He received his graduate degree from the U of M and has long since rooted for the maroon and gold (he now reminds me, "43 years of futility and mediocrity" :-).  It was a fun Father-Son event, he wearing Gopher pride and me in my NDSU gear.  At the start of that game I watched the Gophers march down the field in short order, picking apart the defense, and quickly going up 7-0.  On NDSU's first possession they faced a 3rd-and-long; in the opening minutes it was obvious they were out-matched.  But then Tyler Roehl broke a screen play 77 yards for a Bison TD.  We were back in business!  Roehl would go on to amass over 250 yards rushing and the Bison defeated the mighty Gophers 27-21.  This was the inaugural year of the Brewster era.  It was satisfying to show him what "little green men" from the sticks of North Dakota can do to a Big Ten team he thought was bound for the Rose Bowl.  The Gophers finished that season 1-10 and "Pasadena Brew" is long gone...

So earlier this year when I learned the Bison were again coming to play the Gophers I asked Dad if he'd want to join me.  He was happy to attend the rematch.  Over the past few years it's been fun watching the football team and broader university grow in size and influence.  So while the Bison were certainly underdogs again, I had more confidence they might pull off another upset.

This was my first trip to TCF Bank Stadium.  It was a gorgeous day.  Before the game I had to show Dad who's boss:

In 2007 we parked outside of downtown and rode the light rail.  But that was when the Gophers played at the Metrodome.  This time we opted to park at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.  There are free shuttles from the fairgrounds to the game, and back.  It was certainly a festive atmosphere -- and so much green and gold!!

 

We didn't have the closest seats, but who can complain about outdoor football, temps in the mid-60's, and a beautiful view of downtown Minneapolis?

Just like 2007, the Gophers received the opening kick-off and marched right down the field to go up 7-0.  I thought, "Oh boy, here we go..."  But the Bison answered with a long drive of their own to tie the score on the first play of the second quarter:

The teams traded scores and near the end of the 2nd quarter the Bison found themselves ahead 21-14.  As time expired in the first half the Gophers heaved a "hail mary" pass which was intercepted by the Bison.  It was a crazy play; a botched lateral turned into perfection giving the Bison another TD to head into halftime ahead 28-14.  I thought, "Wow, we might really win this one!"  At halftime we enjoyed music from both bands amidst a gorgeous sunset.

The second half was not without its tense moments as the Gophers made a valiant comeback, but in the end the "little green men" were just too much and the Bison once again claimed victory.  Now there should be no doubt -- the Thunderin' Herd is the dominant species of the prairie...