Minnesota counting on ground game against Alabama in Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Minnesota’s Laurence Maroney did everything he could to make backfield mate Marion Barber III crack a smile. The quiet Barber wouldn’t budge at Maroney’s antics, though, and Minnesota hopes to mirror that serious demeanor when it plays Alabama in today’s Music City Bowl.
“He’s like a little brother to me,” Barber said, referring to the Golden Gophers’ other star running back. “He makes everybody laugh.”
Neither team had much to smile at lately. Minnesota (6-5) started the season 5-0 before dropping five of six games – including big losses at Michigan State (51-17) and Wisconsin (38-14).
“You have ups and downs,” Minnesota quarterback Brian Cupito said. “We were down at the end.”
So was Alabama (6-5).
The Crimson Tide was 5-2 at one point despite losing starting quarterback Brodie Croyle and backup Mark Guillon to injuries. Alabama lost three of four games down the stretch with Spencer Pennington leading the offense.
“I’d rather not play a down than see somebody get hurt,” Pennington said. “Brodie’s my best friend. I hated it for him to get hurt because he was having such a great year.”
Pennington struggled, going just 60-of-116 for 731 yards with three touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“He’s more relaxed and he’s throwing the ball a little more accurately,” Alabama coach Mike Shula said. “I think the biggest thing with him – as with a lot of guys – is consistency.”
Alabama will need Pennington to play well if top runner Kenneth Darby isn’t available, who ran for 1,061 yards, has an abdominal strain and is a game-time decision, Shula said.
If Darby can’t go, Alabama’s defense will have to step up again as the nation’s second-best unit.
“Alabama has really hung in there and, if anything, the defense has picked it up a notch,” Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. “It’s a team game, but it’s just like a family. If someone is sick and injured and can’t carry all the weight, then you pitch in.”
Then again, no Southeastern Conference team is as good at running the ball as Minnesota is. Barber (1,082) and Maroney (1,243) each ran for 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season, a first in NCAA history, and the Golden Gophers’ running game is sixth in the nation.
Alabama safety Roman Harper said it’s a matter of limiting production by the backs.
“It’s OK if they get 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 yards,” he said. “That’s better than 70 or 80. You’ve just got to get them on the ground.”
Minnesota is going for a school-record third straight bowl win, but only seven players on Alabama’s roster have been to the postseason before. The Crimson Tide’s last trip was in 2001, when it beat Iowa State 14-13 in the Independence Bowl. Even with two years off because of NCAA sanctions, Alabama is making an NCAA-record 52nd bowl appearance and has 29 wins.