[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 14

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

We're already two weeks into the countdown and kickoff in Nashville gets closer with every item. Before we begin, a quick recap of our countdown so far ...

FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL
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> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota
09) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
08) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
07) Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin
06) Randy Walker, Northwestern
05) Lloyd Carr, Michigan
04) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
03) Joe Tiller, Purdue
02) Joe Paterno, Penn State
01) Jim Tressel, Ohio State

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade

10) 2000: Purdue 32, Michigan 31
09) 2001: Michigan State 26, Michigan 24
08) 2005: Michigan 27, Penn State 25

> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade
> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

And a quick reminder of the "rules" ...

- No bowl games
- Only conference games
- No "repeats" (i.e. only one Michigan vs. OSU game)

Back to the list ...

TOP GAMES
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7) 2003: Minnesota 37, Wisconsin 34

There's only one game in this countdown that doesn't involve either the Wolverines or Buckeyes, and there's a couple reasons for that. One is that those two teams have dominated the league during the last decade (and several decades before). Another is that they're always involved in the ABC marquee game, which gives it a bit more importance (and makes it more likely to be seen by me for the countdown after the NU game is done). Finally, beating OSU or Michigan (save for the last couple years with RichRod) was always a "signature win" for the school and their season.

So when looking for a non-OSU/UM game for the list, the thoughts obviously turn towards Northwestern. Purdue produced its share of excitement as well, but I challenge anyone to find a group of fans who got more bang for their buck (and more thrilling finishes ... mostly pro, but some con - ahem, MSU comeback - ahem) than fans in purple these past 10-15 years. The Wildcats and Badgers have played some classic games in the 2000s, from the 47-44 overtime thriller that knocked off a top-5 ranked Wisconsin early in the year and gave a clue to NU's explosive new offense to the 51-48 shootout in Evanston in 2005 to another classic contest in 2009 under the lights. But Northwestern and Minnnesota have produced some doozies as well ... the "victory right" Hail Mary in 2000 for the 41-35 NU win and the interception runback in 2008 to win 24-17 at the gun instantly come to mind.

But those games, thrilling as they were (and all wins for Northwestern!), came early in the season and nothing screams "big game" like November. Except perhaps rivalry game. Then I realized that if I took NU out of the equation, I had found my answer with a November rivalry clash between those two teams.

Minnesota has rivalry games with just about everyone this side of St. Olaf, but the one that really counts is the Paul Bunyan Axe game with Wisconsin. It's a border war, it's not for a pig and it usually produces some close games. Even better, the winner gets to rush over to the sideline and carry the axe around the stadium and the game's older than any other rivalry in the league (and just about any in the nation).

In 2003, the two teams met with a lot on the line for both teams in November, which made this game bigger than most Axe games. The Badgers were 6-3, the Gophers 8-2 - losing those two games by a combined 9 points. Wisconsin had won 7 of the last 8 Axe games (and each one since), but Minnesota was jockeying for bowl position and ready to avoid what had been a trend of late-season fades by Glen Mason teams after feasting on cupcakes and inflating their record in September. The Badgers had just been knocked out of the top 25 by Northwestern, but Minnesota came in ranked No. 18.

Minnesota jumped up 24-6 with a ground attack of Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney who would later star on their own in the NFL. The Badgers' leading rusher, Anthony Davis, was injured but quarterback Jim Sorgi matched Minnesota's 300+ yard day on the ground with a 300+ yard day in the air for the Badgers.

Wisconsin roared back to tie the score at 27 all entering the final quarter and answered Minnesota's drive with a touchdown midway through the fourth to make it 34-34 in the final minutes. Minnesota marched down the field and won the game on a 35-yard kick as time expired, sending a blitz of maroon and gold to the opposing sideline to reclaim the axe.

The game was the highlight of a 10-win season for Minnesota, their best in almost a century, as they went on to defeat Oregon in a wild Sun Bowl. For the Badgers, the season fizzled out with a loss in the Music City Bowl after an injury-riddled final half of the season.

Coming Monday: We get our first look at the Buckeyes on the countdown with a game where the stars aligned against them.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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