The Minnesota football team Nebraska will face Saturday brings a 6-4 record to Lincoln. The six wins make the Golden Gophers bowl eligible; quite a turnaround after a 3-9 season, last year, which was Jerry Kill's first year as head coach. Coach Kill said that playing in a bowl game will be a big step in the rebuilding process at Minnesota.
Minnesota's six wins this season have come over Nevada-Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Western Michigan, Syracuse, Purdue and Illinois. The Gophers are 2-4 in the Big Ten, with Nebraska and Michigan State left on their schedule.
Minnesota has used three quarterbacks this year. Last year's starter, MarQueis Gray was sidelined with an ankle injury and true freshman Phillip Nelson is expected to be the starter against the Huskers. Coach Kill said that Nelson is a different type of quarterback than the dual-threat 6-4, 250-pound Gray, who is a senior.
Gray is now playing mostly at wide receiver. He is the third-leading pass-catcher on the team with 12 receptions for 121 yards. Nelson, a highly-recruited high school player from Minnesota, has completed more than 55 per cent of his passes for 615 yards. He has started the last four games for the Gophers.