NCAA FOOTBALL: Andries, Gophers look to get back on track against Northwestern
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MINNEAPOLIS -- After suffering their first and only loss of the season last Saturday at the hands University of Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, the No. 10 ranked Gopher football team is hoping to rebound this week with another matchup on the road against Big Ten opponent Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois today.
Marshall native and Gophers' starting left guard Blaise Andries said the offense has been working all week trying to correct some of the mistakes made against Iowa in order to prepare for the stiff test the Wildcats will bring.
"The offense is preparing like any other week. We had a lot to learn from last Saturday and we have to correct those mistakes," said Andries. "We're just coming out here every day trying to change our best. It's a daily process and we have to put in the work to get better."
NU enters the late-season matchup with a record of 2-8 after most recently defeating the University of Massachusetts in a 45-6 rout. In spite of the less than impressive record they bring to Saturday's matchup, Andries said the team is not overlooking them.
"They're a good team and I don't think their record portrays that, but they're a very good team," said Andries. "There's a saying that we always tell each other is be confident enough to know that you can beat anyone, but be humble enough to know that anyone can beat you."
"Obviously we're confident in the locker room, but we're also humble to know where if we don't put in the work, if we don't show up everyday and grind, that we can get beat by anyone so it's just a matter of going out there and working."
If the Gophers can come away with a victory Saturday, they will improve to 10-1 on the season and strengthen their lead in the Big Ten West -- setting up another crucial matchup the following week against second-place Wisconsin in a Battle for the Axe rivalry game at TCF Bank Stadium.
So far this season, the Gophers have gone 2-1 in rivalry games with victories over Nebraska and No. 9 Penn State, along with a loss most recently to No. 19 Iowa in the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry game.
Andries said being able to participate in these historic rivalry games has been a rewarding experience after growing up following the team.
"Growing up as a Minnesota player playing in these rivalry games means a lot to me," said Andries. "It's a lot of fun. I grew up watching all these games in the Big Ten and it's fun to have a part in that and be able to work hard to accomplish the things that we do."
The following week's matchup against Wisconsin will help determine if the Gophers will have a chance to play for a Big Ten Championship against Big Ten East-leader Ohio State University. The potential matchup would be the first time in program history that Minnesota has played in the Big Ten Championship game since its inception in 2011.
In the meantime, Andries and the rest of the team are pushing their long term goals to the side in order to prepare for the task at hand with Northwestern. However, he acknowledged that it would be amazing to be part of achieving something that the program has never done before.
"Honestly it would be awesome," said Andries. "Growing up I've watched Gopher football forever, and just being able to be a part of that and be able to lift the program would be amazing. I think it would really help to show the world that Gopher football is a legitimate program, but we have to focus on this week to be able to get that done."