Saturday, November 03, 2001
Minnesota wants respect from Ohio St.
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota coach Glen Mason, who was very interested in the Ohio State job that Jim Tressel got, is downplaying the significance of today's game between his Golden Gophers and OSU, his alma mater. So is Tressel. But their players sure aren't.
Minnesota wide receiver Antoine Burns fired the first shot, guaranteeing a Gophers victory. His statement also can be found pinned to the bulletin board in the Buckeyes' locker room.
Responded Ohio State center LeCharles Bentley: “When guys do that, it's a lack of self-confidence and a lack of team confidence. I think the great teams don't have to say anything. They just go out and play.”
Minnesota's young defense squelched the fifth-ranked Buckeyes' offense last year in a 29-17 upset. The Gophers, with three freshmen starting, rank ninth in the Big Ten in defense.
“They're decent,” Bentley said. “Nothing spectacular.”
The Gophers are concerned that the Buckeyes feel last year was a fluke. “It has a lot to do with us going out there and playing for some respect,” said defensive end Greg White.
The Buckeyes (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) are coming off a 29-27 loss to Penn State in which they blew an 18-point lead.
In Steve Bellisari's three years as starting quarterback, there have been 11 games — including all three losses this season — in which the Buckeyes have been down a touchdown or less in the fourth quarter. They've rallied to win just twice.
“He has not demonstrated that he has done all the things we need to do to be as good of team as we want to be, but he has demonstrated that he is our best quarterback,” Tressel said.
The Gophers (3-4, 1-2) lead the Big Ten in total offense, though the Gophers' ranking was helped by a 66-10 last week against DivisionI-AA Murray State.
“They don't really have great players, but they execute,” OSU defensive end Tim Cheatwood said.
Maybe the players should stop talking and start worrying about qualifying for a bowl game. The Buckeyes need to win two of their last four to qualify; after today, they finish with three ranked opponents: No.20 Purdue, No.21 Illinois and No.6 Michigan.
Mason, who interviewed for the Ohio State job last year, insists the game is not a big deal.
“I wanted to beat 'em real bad last year, and I want to beat 'em real bad this year,” Mason said. “That's what my job comes down to. I think to say I want to win more against one opponent than another is not true. I want to win all the time.”
Tressel also downplays the rivalry: “I think the way that you've seen the Big Ten unfold here in the last 10 years, you've seen rivalries with just about every setting.,”
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Minnesota wants respect from Ohio St.
