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It was a little more than a year ago that the Gophers were in Illinois, celebrating becoming a bowl-eligible team.
Quarterback Adam Weber remembers it, the raucous Gophers locker room, in the moments following the 27-20 victory over the Fighting Illini. The singing, joking. Listening to coach Tim Brewster ask, "Why not us, why not now?"
"It was probably one of the greatest memories I'll have as a Gopher," Weber said this week, as his team was preparing to try for a familiar goal: becoming bowl-eligible against Illinois.
"That locker room? Even during the game, you felt it was one of those getting-over-the-hill type games for us," Weber said. And now, today. This time the Illini will be making their first appearance in TCF Bank Stadium.
Illinois is not bowl-bound, barring an unlikely five-game winning streak to end the regular season. Indeed, until last week's 38-13 whipping of Michigan, Illinois was one of the most underachieving teams in the nation. But with one explosive, 500-plus-yard game, Illinois has proven it can be a dangerous foe. And for the Gophers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) to win their sixth game and fourth in the conference, they'll have to flash back to more than just that locker room celebration.
That day in Champaign, the Gophers limited the Illini big plays early, and Minnesota won despite giving up 550 yards of offense. But the Gophers countered that yardage with big plays of their own. The Gophers recorded five sacks, had an interception and forced two fumbles. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence returned one of those fumbles for a key second-half touchdown.
It probably was Tim Brewster's biggest victory as a head coach until last week's 42-34 triumph over Michigan State. A repeat against the Illini won't be easy.
Given the talent on the Illinois offense, it's been difficult to understand the team's troubles this season. But, against Michigan, Illinois put it all together while avoiding the costly mistake. The result?