BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Minnesota couldn't have created a
better script.
Its proficient running game was about to face one of the Big
Ten's worst run defenses, and the gusty winds were going to force
both teams to rely more heavily on their ground games. Add an early
14-0 lead, and it seemed picture perfect; the Gophers could just
keep on running.
One problem: They were at Indiana where everything seems to go
awry.
"We got beat because we didn't tackle well, we didn't block
well, we didn't catch well and we made some bad decisions," coach
Glen Mason said after the No. 24 Gophers were upset 30-21 by the
Hoosiers.
For the seventh straight time since 1985, Minnesota left
Bloomington with a loss.
For the third time in four games, the Golden Gophers (6-3, 3-3)
left their "A" game at home. Not even running backs Laurence
Maroney and Marion Barber III could rescue them this time.
And in less than one quarter, Minnesota's quest for a New Year's
Day bowl game went from longshot to long gone.
"We totally outplayed them last year, and they outplayed us
this year," Mason said.
Still, the loss seemed inexplicable.
A week earlier, Maroney and Barber had combined to rush for more
than 200 yards to help Minnesota snap a two-game losing streak. It
appeared as if the Gophers were about to get righted against a team
that had lost five straight.
Indiana and the weather conditions never allowed it to happen.
Minnesota, a dome team, struggled against the wind in the second
and third quarters and never got themselves turned around.
"There's no doubt that it was strong, and it was one of those
swirling type winds, so it was a factor," Mason said. "But that
is not where we got beat today."
The more logical question was the impact it had on Minnesota's
confidence.
Quarterback Bryan Cupito completed more passes in the first
quarter (six) than he did in the next three quarters (five) and
appeared cautious after throwing an interception in the second
quarter. He finished just 11-of-30 for 182 yards with two
touchdowns and one interception and frequently had errant throws.
Barber and Maroney hardly looked like one of the nation's top
running duos. Maroney ran 16 times for 89 yards and one touchdown
as he topped the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season.
Barber managed just 65 yards on 20 carries and had just four runs
for seven yards in the second half.
And wide receiver Jared Ellerson dropped what almost certainly
would have been a 42-yard TD pass in the third quarter that would
have given Minnesota the lead and likely turned the game.
Instead, the Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4) took advantage of every
opportunity.
When Cupito threw for the second time going into the wind,
Hoosier safety Will Lumpkin jumped the route, picked off the screen
pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. The score only made
it 14-6, but it gave the Hoosiers a boost.
"I wouldn't say that we were flat," Indiana coach Gerry
DiNardo said. "But we weren't energized until that play. We were
having to deal with the wind and all of the other little things
and, before you know it, we were down two scores."
The Hoosiers then stopped Barber on three straight plays, and
Matt LoVecchio delivered with a 67-yard scoring drive that trimmed
the deficit to 14-12.
A dropped pass and two penalties ruined the next Minnesota
series, and LoVecchio again converted by hooking up with Chris
Rudanovic on a 6-yard TD pass and David Lewis on a 2-point
conversion to give Indiana a 20-12 lead just before halftime.
Minnesota could already feel it slipping away.
"After that, every time it seemed like we were going to knock
on the door or make a move, something happened," Mason said,
referring to Cupito's interception.
The Gophers opened the second half with a three-and-out, then
watched Indiana move 64 yards to set up a short Bryan Robertson
field goal.
Suddenly, Minnesota was down two scores and had to change its
game plan.
As usual, little went right.
Cupito hooked up with Matt Spaeth on a 6-yard score.
But Ellerson's dropped touchdown typified Minnesota's misery in
Bloomington, and the Gophers never got another chance.
"I'm not really worried about the postseason right now," Mason
said. "We've got Wisconsin coming up, and they've got a great
football team. If we don't play any better than we played here,
then we will really get embarrassed."