MINNEAPOLIS _ There's no doubt that Minnesota is lamenting its 23-19 loss at Iowa last week as it gets ready to play at Northwestern on Saturday.
But the fact is that Kinnick Stadium has been a very tough place to win in November _ in 2017, Ohio State was 7-1 but lost, 55-24, at Iowa on Nov. 4, and in 2016, Michigan was 9-0 until it lost, 14-13, at Iowa on Nov. 12 _ and the Gophers showed real resolve in staying in the game once they trailed 20-6 at the half.
Coach P.J. Fleck said he knew this team could compete for a Big Ten title, but he also knows there is room for growth on this 9-1 club. "No matter what anyone else says, we were picked (by the Big Ten media to finish) sixth in the West, almost last in the West, second to last," Fleck said. "We knew if we could have our young guys grow up fast we could have a really special season and a special team. I think the season has been special up until this point. I think there is a lot of meat left on the bone and we have to continue to get better every day."
One thing Fleck said the team has to learn is how to win as the front-runner, a new position for these Gophers as they hold a one-game lead over Wisconsin in the Big Ten West.
"This team is learning how to win championship football in November. It has been a long time since we had to do that," he said. "When you're actually in the race and you actually have the lead and you have all of that stuff, there is a lot to deal with. This team is learning how to play championship football. We were able to do it one week against Penn State, we weren't able to do it the next week against a top-20 team in Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. We just have to be more consistent."
