No. 6 Buckeyes Upset By Minnesota – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 14, 2000
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By RUSTY MILLER
%^$AP Sports Writer
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Minnesota ended 50 years of frustration. Ohio State’s%^$may just be beginning.%^$
“It’s almost unbelievable,” Minnesota coach Glen Mason said after his%^$Golden Gophers beat No. 6 Ohio State 29-17 on Saturday. “After the game they%^$said, ‘Coach you’re on top of the Big Ten.’ I don’t know if we can handle that.%^$I mean, we are what we are.”%^$
Minnesota’s last win in Columbus was in 1949, with Ohio State winning the%^$last 15 times the Gophers came to town. The Golden Gophers had lost 16 in a row%^$to the Buckeyes and 28 of the last 29.%^$
Maybe the next streak to fall might be Minnesota’s 29 years without a trip%^$to the Rose Bowl. The Golden Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) are tied for the top%^$spot in the Big Ten.%^$
“This program is not turned around yet,” Mason said. “But we’re getting%^$better.”%^$
After the game, the entire team ran to the tiny corner of Ohio Stadium%^$reserved for visiting fans and lined up to shake hands and wave to the%^$cheering, clapping crowd.%^$
After a week of daydreaming about BCS rankings and polls, the Buckeyes (5-1,%^$2-1) again saw a season of promise turn to ashes against another “M” school.%^$
In 1996, the Buckeyes were No. 2 in the nation when they lost to Michigan%^$13-9. A year later they were ranked fourth when they lost to top-ranked%^$Michigan 20-14. In 1998, Ohio State ran the table and was ranked No. 1 as it%^$hosted 17-point underdog Michigan State, yet lost another shot at the%^$championship game, 28-24. A year ago, the Buckeyes were just 6-6 but lost games%^$to Miami, Michigan State and Michigan.%^$
“Obviously, we weren’t ready to play and you can blame me for that,” Ohio%^$State’s John Cooper said. “I’m the head coach. I guess it’s my job to get them%^$ready to play.”%^$
Ron Johnson had eight catches for 163 yards and a 3-yard touchdown reception%^$and came up with the big plays on three other scoring drives for the Gophers.%^$
Still, the Buckeyes pulled within six points in the fourth quarter before%^$Tellis Redmon, who totaled 118 yards on 30 carries, went 20 yards for a score%^$with 4:51 left to seal the win.%^$
Ohio State mounted a shadow of an offense against a Minnesota defense that%^$dared the Buckeyes – without leading rusher Derek Combs (ankle injury) – to%^$run. The Buckeyes averaged just 2 yards on their 35 rushing attempts and%^$totaled 200 yards – only 37 more than Johnson had by himself.%^$
“They felt they could check me with one defender and they paid the price,”%^$Johnson said.%^$
Travis Cole completed 16-of-28 passes for 243 yards and two scores, without%^$an interception. His scoring passes covered 2 yards to tight end Scooter Baugus%^$and 3 yards to Johnson.%^$
Minnesota built a 23-10 halftime lead by scoring on its first five%^$possessions.%^$
“It wasn’t a surprise to us,” Cole said. “We knew we could win this%^$game.”%^$
The Gophers’ opening drive was highlighted by Cole’s 28-yard pass to%^$Johnson. Johnson was well defended, but able to get his hand on the ball. He%^$bobbled it, but pulled it in with his left hand and picked up another 15 yards.%^$
After a first down at the Ohio State 4, the drive stalled and Dan Nystrom%^$came on to kick the first of his three field goals, running his streak to 10 in%^$a row.%^$
Ohio State ran three plays before B.J. Sander punted. Jermaine Mays, coming%^$in untouched from the right side, smothered the ball on Sander’s foot and%^$Minnesota’s Jimmy Henry returned the ball to the Buckeyes’ 20.%^$
“As much time as we spend on punt protection, to have a blocked kick like%^$that is absolutely devastating,” Cooper said.%^$
Cole’s short flip to Baugus then made it 10-0.%^$
Johnson had a 55-yard reception that set up his own 3-yard TD catch for a%^$17-3 lead.%^$
Ohio State’s only touchdown of the first three quarters came on a 7-yard run%^$by Jonathan Wells. The Buckeyes cut the lead to 23-17 early in the fourth%^$quarter on Steve Bellisari’s 4-yard play-action toss to tight end Darnell%^$Sanders.%^$
Mason chose to play conservatively in the second half, choosing to throw%^$only when necessary. He had to on third and 10 at the Ohio State 45 midway%^$through the final quarter, but Cole hit Johnson for a 14-yard gain – one of%^$four consecutive third-down conversions on the drive. Redmon then sprinted%^$around left end for the 20-yard clinching score.%^$
“They just said, ‘We’re going to run the ball right at you and then they%^$ran it down our throats,” Buckeyes linebacker Matt Wilhelm said.%^$
Ohio State’s homecoming game was particularly sweet for Mason, Ohio State%^$class of 1972, who played for and was an assistant coach at his alma mater.%^$
“I’ve got a lot of memories about this place. Good, good memories,” Mason%^$said.%^$
Now he has one more.
