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October 1, 2009

Minnesota-Wisconsin matchups aplenty

By Chad Courrier

Have your maroon and gold shirt ready? How ‘bout those purple and white Zubaz?

If you are Minnesota nice, then this might not be the weekend for you. The Gopher state hosts the Badger state in three border battles, and it’s time to protect the homestead.

On Saturday, the Gophers host Wisconsin in a Big Ten football game at the new stadium, where there should be far fewer Badgers’ fans attending than when the game was played at the more spacious, and empty, Metrodome. It’s Bucky vs. Goldy in a battle of big-headed, fuzzy mascots.

The Gophers are 3-1 but undefeated in Big Ten games. OK, they’ve only played one conference game, and it was at Northwestern, but how often can you say that the Gophers football team is undefeated at anything?

If the Gophers are to be taken seriously, they have to win their home games. This is not a great Wisconsin team, which has played all four games at home, but the Badgers are undefeated, exactly the type of team Minnesota must beat in order to move to the next level in this league. Too bad coach Tim Brewster is so unlikable.

Following Saturday’s emotional matchup, the Timberwolves open the preseason with a Sunday game against Milwaukee at Bresnan Arena. OK, nobody cares about preseason NBA games, but technically, these teams are from Minnesota and Wisconsin so they qualify for a border battle. And this should give the fan base a little down time before the grand finale, Monday’s game between the Vikings and Packers at Metrodome.

What? Brett Favre is playing for the Vikings? Hadn’t heard that.

The Metrodome is generally rocking for this game each season, but the anticipation of this one is off the charts. Favre has experienced plenty of success at the Metrodome, but that was usually wearing a green No. 4. That was quite an appetizer he served up on the final touchdown of last week’s victory over San Francisco so the entrée is even more tantalizing.

The Vikings are 3-0 and have a chance to end the first quarter of the season with at least a one-game lead in the NFC North. A loss would muddy the division race and put the home team at least one tiebreaker behind a key rival.

Oh yeah, have you heard Favre will be playing against his former team. Not the Jets.

Border weekend should be a lot of fun.



Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353 or e-mail at ccourrier@mankatofreepress.com.

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