Speaking of gambling, how about some of the chances Fleck took Saturday afternoon? For starters, the Golden Gophers elected to go for it on fourth down four times and converted twice, including Mohamed Ibrahim’s 26-yard touchdown run to give his team an early 7-0 advantage in the first quarter.
“I told the team before (the game), ‘We’re going to be aggressive,'” Fleck said. “We went for some fourth downs, we had a new kicking situation … I want to put our team in a position to be successful.”
Then, possessing the ball with a seven-point lead with under five minutes left in the game, Minnesota didn’t turn to three vanilla running plays and then punt the ball to the Huskers. Instead, it sparked a back-breaking drive with a 10-yard pass, and Ibrahim did the rest to the seal the victory. Another risk, another reward.
“Again, moving parts, you are finding out what your team can and cannot do and you have new players coming in and showing you what they can do as it happens in real-life time,” Fleck said.
The Golden Gophers showed their coach what they could do, all right. The flight home to Minneapolis should be a doozy, as the team celebrates an improbable victory.
And there should be extra room to space out on the charter. Another win.
Nebraska warms up before hosting Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska defensive coordinator Erik Chinander (left) gets hugged by cornerback and captain Dicaprio Bootle during Senior Day on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska family members look for their seats before the Huskers host Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
A security guard watches the field among snow-covered cardboard cutouts before Saturday’s Nebraska-Minnesota football game at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska coach Scott Frost speaks with officials during a break in the first quarter against Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Icicles begin to melt in the morning heat Saturday ahead of Nebraska and Minnesota at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Wan’Dale Robinson is tackled by Minnesota’s Jordan Howden (left) and Justin Harris in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin (left) celebrates with Coney Durr after an interception thrown by Nebraska’s Luke McCaffery on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
A pass slips through the fingers of Nebraska’s Wyatt Liewer while defended by Minnesota’s Jordan Howden in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Wan’Dale Robinson carries the ball while trying to avoid Minnesota’s Michael Dixon and James Gordon IV in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Austin Allen celebrates his first quarter touchdown catch with Brenden Jaimes and Ethan Piper against Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks to throw down field against Minnesota in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska defensive lineman Casey Rogers (98) knocks down a fourth-down pass from Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan (right) in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska tight end Austin Allen (second right) celebrates his second-quarter TD with teammates against Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (left) jogs off the field after he was disqualified from the game due to a targeting call in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (left) goes to tackle Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Taylor-Britt was later disqualified for the tackle, which was deemed targeting.
Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (left) is disqualified from the game due to a targeting call against Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska coach Scott Frost reacts after a fourth-quarter touchdown was called back due to a holding call against the Huskers during Saturday’s game against Minnesota at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan is tackled by Nebraska’s Nick Henrich in the third quarter at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Nebraska senior Dicaprio Bootle (right) hugs fellow senior Collin Miller after the Huskers’ 24-17 loss to Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska senior Dicaprio Bootle (7) hugs fellow senior Marquel Dismuke (left) as JoJo Domann looks on after the Huskers’ 24-17 loss to Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Noa Pola-Gates (facing) hugs senior Marquel Dismuke (9) after the Huskers’ 24-17 loss to Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Brenden Jaimes blocks Minnesota’s Josh Aune on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim (24) gets tackled by Nebraska’s Dicaprio Bootle and Will Honas late in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim (24) rushes for a first down past Nebraska’s Marquel Dismuke (9) in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck (left) shakes hands with Nebraska head coach Scott Frost after the Gophers’ 24-17 win Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck (left) shakes hands with Nebraska head coach Scott Frost after the Gophers’ 24-17 win Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim (24) celebrates what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown with teammates Brevyn Spann-Ford (88) and Connor Olson (64) in the fourth quarter against Nebraska on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (1) pulls in a pass as he’s defended by Minnesota’s Jordan Howden in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim rushes for a first down past Nebraska’s Marquel Dismuke (9) in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (33) reacts after a missed third-quarter field goal against Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (1) leaps for a third-quarter pass from Adrian Martinez against Minnesota on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (33) and Christian Gaylord (65) and Travis Vokolek (83) watch as his third-quarter field goal against Minnesota goes wide Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) takes off on a third-quarter run against Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin (27) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (26) gets stopped in the red zone by Minnesota’s Mariano Sori-Marin in the third quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) takes off on a third-quarter run against Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin (27) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim (24) scores what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against Nebraska on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford (88) reaches up to pull in the second-quarter touchdown reception in front of Nebraska’s JoJo Domann on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) gets taken down on a second-quarter run by Minnesota’s Benjamin St-Juste on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Cam Taylor-Britt (5) looks up at the North Stadium video board after being disqualified from the game after a second-quarter targeting call against Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login