Throughout HATE WEEK, we'll be looking back at some of the memorable moments in Gopher football history. Because all teams have moments of ineptitude, but few have so many widely available on Youtube.
October 15, 2005:
Minnesota returns to the Metrodome 5-1 after splitting road dates with Penn State and Michigan. Ranked #22, they face interstate rivals #23 Wisconsin back at the Metrodome. It's a tight affair the whole way through, but a 19-play, 80-yard drive culminates in a one-yard touchdown with 3:27 to go, and Minnesota leads 34-24. Victory seems imminent.
But wait! Wisconsin drives quickly down the field, and Brandon Williams' third reception of the drive, this for 21 yards, brings Wisconsin within three. An onside kick that can be charitably described as "botched" put the ball in Minnesota's possession at their own 11. Minnesota can't convert a first down, but they exhaust Wisconsin's timeouts and set up to punt the ball away with about half a minute to go. Victory still seems imminent.
And that is what makes the following 44 seconds so hilarious.
"Unbelievable?" Tirico, you have so much to learn about Minnesota football. We hope you watched it to the very end for the positively dickish edit job over the last ten seconds, because it's exactly what we would do in the same situation. Find the wound, pour an entire can of Morton Salt in, then piss in it for good measure.
Speaking of pissing in open wounds, Minnesota fumbled the ensuing kickoff, sealing Wisconsin's win at 38-34. Minnesota would finish 7-5 on the year. Hey, most teams would kill for the opportunity to lose in the Music City Bowl.