(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
When describing the University of Minnesota's new stadium, I'm compelled to draw upon my extensive knowledge to the movie Caddyshack and steal a line from Mr. Havercamp: "That's a peach, hon." What a fantastic facility. Wide concourses, ample restrooms, and a wide array of food options. I had high expectations for the stadium, and it did not disappoint.
When you've spent your entire life watching your favorite college football team play its games off campus in a stadium they share with a professional baseball team, pro football team, and a myriad of monster truck rallies and Monsters of Rock concerts, it's easy to get your hopes up when they finally break free and return back to campus. All of my fears wear alleviated Saturday afternoon. TCF Bank stadium is everything I hoped it would be, and more. It doesn't have the capacity or history of some its Big Ten counterparts, but right now, I wouldn't change a thing; the University of Minnesota got this one right.
Gopher season ticket holders got their first look at the new stadium and most got their first look at this year's Golden Gopher squad during the intersquad scrimmage. Like most teams at this point in the season, the Gophers clearly have a lot of work left to do, but there were also a share of positive notes that rang true as well.
The Gophers scrimmage had its share of high and low points; every big play your offense makes reflects poorly on your defense and viceversa. There were several big plays, starting with the first offensive play for the Maroon offense. After a big kick return from Troy Stoudemire, QB Adam Weber hooked up with Eric Decker on a 53 yard TD strike. If that play is any indication of how the season will go, the outlook could be Rosey for the Gophers. Weber looked pretty sharp most of the day, although he was intercepted three times.
The running game is a work in progress. It was good to see Duane Bennett back on the field after tearing his knee up last season, but I'm not sure he's 100 percent yet. He seems to have lost a half step. Heading into the first game at Syracuse, I'm still not sure who's going to get the bulk of the carries. Someone has to emerge as the feature back if the Gophers hope to improve their running attack from last year.
The defense did well in forcing turnovers. Highly touted recruit Michael Carter got torched by Eric Decker on that first play from scrimmage, but he redeemed himself, picking off Adam Weber two times. Carter will get plenty of work at nickelback, and could be starting opposite Traye Simmons before the season's over.
Special teams were a major area of concern, with new faces at both kicker and punter. Junior Eric Ellestad looks to be the Gophers placekicker. Nothing spectacular, but he didn't miss any easy kicks either. Freshman punter Dan Orseske was awfully impressive. He had two high, deep punts that got some oohs and ahhhs from the crowd.
Most Gopher fans who saw the team's Spring Game came away very impressed with return man Troy Stoudemire. He didn't disappoint on Saturday, racking up one big return on a kick and another on a punt. As of right now, he's the best return man in the Big Ten. Look for the Gophers to get him involved in the offense as well, in a variety of roles.
Overall, it was a wonderful day on campus at the University of Minnesota. Fans finally got inside TCF Bank Stadium and the team got to work on some game situations. Now the hard part comes, waiting three weeks for "the real deal" when Air Force comes to town.
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