Gameday Preview: Minnesota vs. Colorado State

GAMEDAY

PREVIEW

MINNESOTA VS. COLORADO ST ATE

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 11AM

2

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Daily Breakdown: Minnesota set to continue winning streak against CSU

BY MIKE HENDRICKSON mhendrickson@mndaily.com

The Gophers end their non-conference schedule with another easy game, this one coming against Colorado State. A full breakdown and prediction can be found below:

When Minnesota runs the ball: The Gophers have r ushed for at least 150 yards and ran for at least thr ee touchdowns in both of their games so far, and that’s without last year’s leading rusher Shannon Brooks.

He’s been cleared to play Saturday after missing the first two games with a foot injur y, but his role is likely to be limited.

The opponents have been favorable, but the two r unning backs who have played during Brooks’s absence — Rodney Smith and Kobe McCrar y — had encouraging games and should be able to continue that against Colorado State.

The Rams’ rushing defense was 107th in the FBS last year and allowed 180 yards against Minnesota in their 2015 game. Their rushing defense has been a bit better this season, but that can be attributed to a small sample size and weak opponents. The Gophers could ver y well top their mark from last year with the way they’ve been per forming on the ground so far.

Matchup to watch: RB Rodney Smith vs.

LB Kevin Davis Advantage: Minnesota

When Colorado State runs the ball: The name to know is Dalyn Dawkins. The redshir t junior r unning back had a breakout year last season and has had a good star t to 2016, but he missed the Rams’ last game with a hamstring

injur y. Dawkins appears likely to retur n for Saturday, but may be limited.

His backups, Mar vin Kinsey and Izzy Matthews have been decent fill-ins, but having Dawkins would give Colorado State a big boost.

The Rams r ushed for 172 yards and Dawkins rushed for 92 last time against Minnesota, so he and his team could create problems for the Gophers again.

Minnesota’s r ushing defense has been good so far – 23rd in the FBS – but it hasn’t seen a r unning back as skilled as Dawkins. He will be Minnesota’s first tr ue test if fully healthy.

Matchup to watch: RB Daryl Dawkins vs. LB Jack Lynn Advantage: Minnesota

When Minnesota passes the ball: Quar terback Mitch Leidner has had a hot star t to the season. He has thrown and ran for six touchdowns, completed almost 60 percent of his passes and committed no turnovers.

Although these were weak passing defenses, Colorado State should be easy, too.

The Rams ar e 114th in the FBS this year in yar ds allowed through the air, with an average of 290.7 per game, even with a favorable schedule.

Colorado State had an elite passing defense last year, but four players in their defensive backfield graduated. The group accounted for 75 per cent of inter ceptions.

Chalk this one up as another good game for the veteran Minnesota quarterback.

Matchup to watch: WR Tyler Johnson vs. CB Jordon Vaden Advantage: Minnesota

When Colorado State passes the ball: The Rams will have unpredictable true freshman Collin Hill making his second career star t at quar terback. Hill had a great first star t with over 300 yards and four touchdowns through, plus a 51-yard touchdown run to top it off. But similar to Leidner’s game, that was against a FCS opponent.

Minnesota’s passing defense has taken a hit with cornerbacks KiAnte Hardin and Ray Buford suspension — and it showed at times during the Indiana State game.

The Sycamores scored four touchdowns through the air.

Minnesota cur rently is in the bottom half of the FBS in passing defense.

The Gophers still have key players, like safety Damarius Travis and cornerback Jalen Myrick, in the secondar y, but this matchup could be closer than it may seem.

Matchup to watch: QB Collin Hill vs.

CB Jalen Myrick Advantage: Minnesota

Prediction: Minnesota 38, Colorado State 23.

There are some concerns with the Gophers defense, but Minnesota shouldn’t str uggle to put enough points on the board and win by a sizeable margin.

Prediction record: 2-0

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

VS MINNESOTA 2-0

COLORADO STATE 2-1

WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday WHERE: TCF Bank Stadium SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

Thursday, September 22, 2016 Vol. 117 No. 6

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Thursday, September 22, 2016

3

Questions from the Other Side: Colorado State football beat writer Eric Wolf

BY JACK WHITE jwhite@mndaily.com

For this weekly column, Minnesota Daily spor ts repor ter Jack White will interview someone with knowledge of Minnesota’s next opponent. Colorado State football beat writer Eric Wolf of the Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State’s student newspaper, was interviewed this week.

Wolf has covered Colorado State Football for two years. This is Wolf’s first year in print journalism.

Q: What have you seen from Colorado State after the loss to Colorado?

A: They came out the last two weeks and they obviously weren’t playing an

opponent the same caliber as Colorado, but they have responded, especially last week’s game against Northern Colorado. It showed they were struggling offensively big time in the Colorado game and especially at the quarterback position. Collin Hill came in last week, and he was able to get the offense going and actually complete some passes. And then defensively … That’s another aspect of the team that’s definitely gaining some confidence after the loss. I think they rebounded, but I think the game against Minnesota will be a nice barometer test for where they’re at.

Q: Going off the improvement in the passing game, what have you liked from the freshman quarterback?

A: I know [head coach Mike Bobo] likes [Hill], he’s liked him for a long time. When most people thought it was a two-man race between Nick Stevens and Faton Bauta [for starting quarterback], Bobo made clear that it was a three-man competition and [said] that he didn’t think Hill was actually a freshman because he came here early … you can see it in his play; he’s a confident kid.

Granted, it’s only been one game but he put the ball where it needed to be thrown which is something this teamw was sorely lacking the first two games.

Q: How much has this Colorado State team changed since last year?

A: Almost completely, honestly. Last year, the Minnesota-Colorado State game was a

very defensive-minded game … [Last year’s defense] lost eight starters … they just got a new defensive coordinator, Marty English, and they switched back to a 3-4 scheme.

Schematically and personnel-wise, the defense is almost completely new from that game last year ... Offensively, a lot of the offensive line is the same. They’re a big, physical offensive line, this is going to be a test for them. Stevens was the quarterback for the majority of that Minnesota game last year and this year it’s going to be Hill, a guy who has a different look then Stevens. I think if anything that will be the biggest difference between the two games, along with the defense. u See Q&A Page 12

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Thursday, September 22, 2016

Quick Hitters from last week’s game: Indiana State Final: Minnesota: 58, Indianna State: 28 Sept. 10, 2016 TCF Bank Stadium

BY MIKE HENDRICKSON mhendrickson@mndaily.com

Recap: Minnesota’s offense came alive against FCS opponent Indiana State, scoring their most points in a game since 2006 in a 58-28 win on Sept. 10 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Ever y par t of the of fense clicked for the Gophers. Quar terback Mitch Leidner finished with 295 yards through the air and four touchdowns, while r unning back Kobe McCrar y had 176 yards and two touchdowns on only 17 attempts.

The game was tied 7-7 in the middle of the first quar ter, but the Gophers broke away. Minnesota scored 34 unanswered points from there and was later up 48-21 by the end of the third quarter.

Indiana State’s offense showed bright spots in the game. Quar terback Isaac Harker had 237 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His favorite target of the day, Robert Tonyan, finished with 90 yards and all three of Harker’s touchdowns.

Minnesota improved to 2-0 with the win. They end their non-conference schedule with a home game against Colorado State.

It was over when: McCrar y ran the ball in from six yards out for his first touchdown of the day late in the second quarter to make the score 35-7.

Indiana State never came closer than 27 points after that, as Minnesota kept scoring touchdowns and hitting ever y field goal.

Key play: Indiana State was driving down the field midway through the second quarter with the Gophers up 28-7 when linebacker Julian Huff forced a fumble that gave Minnesota great field position to star t their drive, leading to McCrar y’s first touchdown of the day.

Five obser vations: 1. Gophers star ted rough,, but it didn’t matter Minnesota started the game with two false star t penalties in their first three plays. Wide receivers dropped some balls, and for a second, it looked like the game might be close.

None of that mattered, as Minnesota fixed their problems and won the game 5828.

2. Minnesota’s defense was not great The of fense was able to put up 58 points, but Minnesota’s defense didn’t have a great game.

They only forced one turnover, and allowed an FCS opponent to score four touchdowns.

3. Quarterback Mitch Leidner had a career day While it was against a weak opponent, Leidner had one of his strongest days with Minnesota on Sept. 10.

Leidner didn’t throw any interceptions, completed 66.7 percent of his passes, and threw for four touchdowns and almost 300 yards. The four touchdowns tied a careerhigh in a game for the veteran quar terback. u See QUICK HITTERS Page 10

Thursday, September 22, 2016

5

Gophers ready for final non-conference game after early bye week Minnesota ends their nonconference schedule with a game against Colorado State.

BY JACK WHITE jwhite@mndaily.com

The Gophers schedule is a bit different this year. The team is coming off an early bye week after just two games and still has one more non-conference game before they start Big Ten play.

But that hasn’t changed the way head coach Tracy Claeys has prepared the team for the rest of the season.

“We usually try to get guys back healthy and rest. Even though it’s in the second week, the bye week has taken on such a recruiting emphasis of getting out and recruiting,” Claeys said. “We carried the same routine, and hopefully we get a couple guys back from being banged up, and kids will have their legs under them and be ready to go.”

The bye week was especially beneficial for one of Minnesota’s key players.

Sophomore running back Shannon Brooks — the team’s leading rusher from last season — has missed the first two games of the season with a foot injury.

But Claeys said Brooks has been cleared to play for the game against Colorado State on Saturday. He said his participation in the game will depend on how he is in practice.

“He really hasn’t practiced,” Claeys said.

“If he gets through practice okay and he’s not sore and all that, then [he will play] but if he’s sore we won’t take a chance on him this week.”

In the absence of Brooks, redshirt sophomore Rodney Smith and junior Kobe McCrary have filled the void well for Minnesota in the run game. Smith earned his career high for rushing yards in a game in the opener against Oregon State. McCrary led the team in rushing and added two touch downs in the Gophers blowout win against Indiana State.

Once Brooks comes back, all three running backs will be competing to play a big role in the Gophers offense.

LIAM JAMES DOYLE, DAILY

Running back Shannon Brooks pushes an Ohio defenseman aside on his way to score a touchdown on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2016 at TCF Bank Stadium.

“It’s a lot of deadly weapons in the backfield,” said redshirt senior quarterback Mitch Leidner. “Another very explosive player to have [Brooks] back. It will be fun to see him go out there and rumble around a little bit.”

The game against Colorado State will be Minnesota’s third and final non-conference game of the season.

All three of the games were at home. The Gophers will have their first road game when they face Penn State on Oct. 1.

The Gophers now have 10 games in a row without a break.

“I think now, having these 10 games, we can roll through and keep our confidence up,” said senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky.

“No more freak pauses during the season.

That’s good.”

The Gophers narrowly defeated Colorado State 23-20 in overtime last season — a victory Claeys said Minnesota got away with.

“When you watch the film, I thought their offensive line a year ago handled us up front on the defensive line for the most part and played harder, and the same way with their defensive line got after our offensive line,” Claeys said. “We definitely need to play better or it’ll be the same type of deal.”

Leidner said he didn’t mind the timing of the early bye week, and that it was able to give the Gophers more time to make sure another

game like last year against the Rams doesn’t happen again. “Especially after how close it was last year, so we’ve got to be ready to go,” Leidner said.

Notebook: The four suspended players — Defensive backs KiAnte Hardin, Ray Buford, Dior Johnson and defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson — being investigated by police for possibly being connected to a sexual assault are still suspended, Claeys said.

Linebacker Nick Rallis is listed as out for the Colorado State game. The redshirt senior injured his left arm in the second quarter of the Oregon State game.

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Thursday, September 22, 2016

Minnesota’s Depth Chart

MINNESOTA COACHES

OFFENSE

Tracy Claeys Brian Anderson Jay Johnson

QB

Bart Miller Dan O’Brien

Jeff Phelps Pat Poore Rob Reeves Jay Sawvel Mike Sherels Keith Jordan

Head Coach Wide Receivers Coach Offensive Coordinator Quarterbacks Offensive Line Coach Asst. Defensive Backs Co-Special Teams Cord.

Asst. to the Head Coach Defensive Line Coach Running Backs Co-Special Teams Coordinator H-Backs Tight Ends Coach Defensive Coordinator Linebackers Coach Acting Linebackers Coach

RB

TE X-WR H-WR Z-WR LT LG C RG RT

7 15 1 22 23 80 44 10 9 82 5 26 12 78 73 55 62 77 62 76 61 79 70

DEFENSE

Mitch Leidner (6-4, 230, R-Sr.) Conor Rhoda (6-3, 215, R-Jr.) Rodney Smith (5-11, 205, R-So.) Kobe McCrary (6-1, 235, Jr.) Shannon Brooks (6-0, 210, So.) Nate Wozniak (6-10, 275, R-Jr.) Colton Beebe (6-3, 270, R-Fr.) Tyler Johnson (6-2, 185, Fr.) Eric Carter (5-11, 195, R-Jr.) Drew Wolitarsky (6-3, 220, Sr.) Melvin Holland (6-3, 205, R-So.) Brian Smith (6-4, 210, R-Jr.) Hunter Register (6-5, 215, R-Fr.) Garrison Wright (6-4, 320, R-Jr.) Donnell Greene (6-7, 345, R-So.) Connor Mayes (6-5, 330, Jr.) Jared Weyler (6-4, 305, R-So.) Tyler Moore (6-4, 305, So.) Jared Weyler (6-4, 305, R-So.) Vincent Calhoun (6-4, 330, Jr.) Bronson Dovich (6-5, 300, R-Fr.) Jonah Pirsig (6-9, 325, R-Sr.) Chad Fahning (6-6, 290, R-Jr.)

DE DT DT DE LB

LB LB

CB CB S

95 88 97 93 99 96 87 9 13 20 49 12 35 50 20 45 34 16 5 30 7 17 11

Hendrick Ekpe (6-5, 240, Sr.) Winston DeLattiboudere (6-3, 240, R-Fr.) Scott Ekpe (6-4, 285, R-Sr.) Merrick Jackson (6-2, 320, R-Jr.) Andrew Stelter (6-4, 290, Jr.) Steve Richardson (6-0, 300, Jr.) Gaelin Elmore (6-6, 275, Jr.) Jerry Gibson (6-3, 245, R-So.) Jonathan Celestin (6-1, 220, Jr.) Julian Huff (6-0, 225, So.) Kamal Martin (6-3 225 Fr.) Cody Poock (6-2, 230, R-Jr.) Jaylen Waters (6-3, 255, R-Fr.) Jack Lynn (6-3, 240, R-Sr.) Julian Huff (6-0, 225, So.) Carter Coughlin (6-4, 220, Fr.) Antonio Shenault (5-11, 180, So.) Coney Durr (5-10, 190, Fr.) Jalen Myrick (5-10, 205, Sr.) Eric Amoako (5-11, 195, R-Sr.) Damarius Travis (6-2, 215, R-Sr.) Jacob Huff (5-11, 205, So.) -ORAntoine Winfield Jr. (5-10, 195, Fr.)

S

4 8

Adekunle Ayinde (6-0, 205, R-Jr.) Duke McGhee (6-1, 205, R-Jr.)

SPECIAL TEAMS K P

LS KR PR H

38 37 18 47 34 25 39 5 1 5 82 47 18

Emmit Carpenter (6-0, 199, R-So.) John Mack (6-0, 185, Fr.) Ryan Santoso (6-6, 250, R-Jr.) Jacob Herbers (6-2, 215, R-Fr.) -ORLogan McElFresh (6-1, 205, R-So.) Payton Jordahl (6-2, 225, R-So.) Trey Hansen (6-2, 205, R-Fr.) Jalen Myrick (5-10, 205, Sr.) Rodney Smith (5-11, 205, R-So.) Jalen Myrick (5-10, 205, Sr.) Drew Wolitarsky (6-3, 220, Sr.) Jacob Herbers (6-2, 215, R-Fr.) Ryan Santoso (6-6, 250, R-Jr.)

GOPHERS CLICK IT DAILY.

T

Thursday, September 22, 2016

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Colorado State’s Depth Chart

COLORADO STATE COACHES

OFFENSE

Mike Bobo Will Friend

QB

Marty English Jamie Bryant Bryan Applewhite Joe Cox Terry Fair Ronnie Letson Ricky Logo Alvis Whitted Ryan Davis

Head Coach Offensive Coordinator/ Offensive Line Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers Special Teams Coordinator/ Safeties Running Backs Tight Ends Cornerbacks Quarterbacks Defensive Line Wide Receivers Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach

RB

WR WR

FL

TE

LT LG C

15 5 7 1 25 35 81 84 88 4 19 89 23 8 32 9 30 61 76 51 55 77 51

Collin Hill, 6-5, 210, Fr. Faton Bauta (6-2, 220, R-Sr.) -ORNick Stevens (6-3, 200, R-Jr.) Dalyn Dawkins (5-9, 175, R-Jr.) Marvin Kinsey, Jr. (6-1 ,190, Fr.) Izzy Matthews (6-0, 210, So.) Olabisi Johnson (6-0, 190, So.) Xavier Williams (6-3, 200, R-Jr.) Elroy Masters, Jr. (6-2, 215, R-Jr.) Michael Gallup (6-1, 195, Jr.) Sammie Long IV (6-3, 195, Jr.) Robert Ruiz (5-10, 170, R-Sr.) Marcus Wilson (5-10, 190, R-So.) Detrich Clark (5-10, 180, Jr.) Nolan Peralta (6-3, 245, R-Sr.) Danny Nwosu (6-3, 245, R-Sr.) Dalton Fackrell (6-4, 240, Jr.) Zack Golditch (6-5, 295, R-Jr.) Nick Callender (6-6, 325, R-Sr.) Colby Meeks (6-3, 305, So.) Paul Thurston (6-5, 300, R-Sr.) Jake Bennett (6-3, 290, R-Jr.) Colby Meeks (6-3, 305, So.)

THE ALL NEW MNDAILY.COM

RG RT

54 71 60 65

Fred Zerblis (6-2, 305, R-Sr.) Jeff Taylor (6-1, 305, Fr.) Trae Moxley (6-6, 325, R-Jr.) Christian Montes (6-4, 290, R-Sr.)

DEFENSE LDE NT

DT

RDE

SLB MLB WLB LCB

94 97 92 56 93 91 98 95 43 36 54 52 15 55 42 33 44 11 10

Darnell Thompson (6-4, 270, Jr.) Toby McBride (6-3, 245, Fr.) Josh Lovingood (6-4, 290, Jr.) O’Shea Jackson (6-1, 305, R-Fr.) Justin Nunez (6-4, 305, R-Fr.) Jakob Buys (6-4, 265, R-Jr.) Johnny Schupp (6-5, 290, R-Sr.) Richard King (6-4, 260, R-Fr.) Evan Colorito (6-4, 245, R-Jr.) Bryan Ohene-Gyeni (6-2, 225, R-Sr.) Arjay Jean (6-4, 230, Fr.) Tre Thomas (6-2, 215, R-So.) Kiel Robinson (6-2, 225, R-Jr.) Josh Watson (6-2, 235, R-So.) Patrick Elsenbast (6-0, 210, R-Jr.) Kevin Davis (6-2, 240, Sr.) Deshon Mayes (6-2, 215, R-Jr.) Jordon Vaden (6-3, 195, R-Sr.) Kevin Nutt, Jr. (5-10, 190, Jr.)

RCB SS FS

5 17 8 29 18 7

Tyree Simmons (5-11, 190, Sr.) Shun Johnson (5-11, 170, Jr.) Jake Schlager (5-11, 195, R-Jr.) Justin Sweet (5-10, 190, R-Jr.) Braylin Scott (6-3, 185, So.) Demontrie Taylor (5-10, 190, R-So.)

SPECIAL TEAMS PR

KR

LS H P K KO

89 5 3 1 89 10 58 59 49 5 49 96 96 93 93 96

Robert Ruiz (5-10, 170, R-Sr.) Tyree Simmons (5-11, 190, Sr.) A’Keitheon Whitner (5-11, 190, Jr.) Dalyn Dawkins (5-9, 175, R-Jr.) Robert Ruiz (5-10, 170, R-Sr.) Kevin Nutt, Jr. (5-10, 190, Jr.) Trent Sieg (6-4, 230, R-Jr.) Nathan Lucas (6-2, 230, R-So.) Hayden Hunt (6-0, 220, R-Sr.) Faton Bauta (6-2, 220, R-Sr.) Hayden Hunt (6-0, 220, R-Sr.) Wyatt Bryan (6-1, 175, R-So.) Wyatt Bryan (6-1, 175, R-So.) Braxton Davis (6-0, 170, So.) Braxton Davis (6-0, 170, So.) Wyatt Bryan (6-1, 175, R-So.) *Depth charts accurate as of September 20

8

Thursday, September 22, 2016

First female band director takes helm

BRIDGET BENNETT, DAILY

University Director of Marching and Athletic Bands Betsy McCann directs a football pre-game performance at TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 1. McCann is the first female director of a marching band the University has had, as well as in the Big 10.

Betsy McCann is the first female marching band director in Big Ten history.

BY RAJU CHADUVULA rchaduvulaa@mndaily.com

Nearly half a centur y after the University of Minnesota Marching Band begrudgingly welcomed its first female percussionist, a woman is running the show.

Betsy McCann is the first female marching and athletic bands director in the University band’s 125-year history — and the

first woman to lead a marching band in the Big Ten Conference.

But getting there wasn’t easy.

“I knew the University never had [a woman director] … but being the first in the Big Ten came as surprise,” McCann said.

The flutist joined the University marching band in 2000 as an alto saxophonist, looking to str etch

her skills in preparation for a future career in music education.

After graduating from the University with a degree in music per formance and education in 2003, McCann completed a master’s degree in conducting at Northwestern University and taught high school band.

McCann took a position as assistant director for the University’s band in 2013. A

new mom to two young children, she felt the part fit her scheule well. “[And] ever y year I was doing that, I ended up picking up more responsibilities,” she said.

Three years later, she’s at the top.

“I was just for tunate that I’ve been doing this for a number of years, and u See MCCANN Page 11

Thursday, September 22, 2016

GAME RECAP

FINAL SCORE

WR DREW WOLITARSKY 8 receptions 125 receiving yards 2 touchdowns

109

247

RUSHING PASSING

301 292

MINNESOTA

17 carries 176 rushing yards 2 touchdowns

356 593

RUSHING PASSING

INDIANA STATE

RB KOBE MCCRARY

INDIANA STATE

20/30 completions-attempts 295 passing yards 4 touchdowns

total yards: MINNESOTA

top performers

september 10, 2016 QB MITCH LEIDNER

9

58 28

10

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Last Opponent: ISU Quick Hitters u from Page 4

4. Gophers may have a three-headed monster at running back It was already known that running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith were talented, but on Sept. 10, a third player for the future emerged.

Junior college transfer McCrary scored his first two career touchdowns and had r uns of 50 and 43 yards on one drive.

With Brooks looking likely to retur n for the Colorado State game, Minnesota will now have three viable options at one position.

5. Of fensive line having good start under new coach Bar t Miller took over as the new offensive line coach this offseason, and the

group has had two encouraging games after struggling at times last year.

Minnesota’s offensive line has yet to allow a sack, the number of quarterback hits has been limited, and they’ve allowed the running backs to go for over 100 yards in both games.

Quote of the game: “[We’re] doing some things I’m real pleased with. Offensively, awfully well on third down and defensively, we got to play better on third down and get off the field.” – Head coach Tracy Claeys

Up next: Minnesota ends their non-conference schedule with a match up against Colorado State (2-1) at TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 24 at 11 a.m.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

11

McCann u from Page 8

people were happy with the work that I was doing,” she said.

Working toward gender integration The band exclusively recruited men at its inception in 1892, the band’s historian, Mark Gaffron, said.

Women filled in for men who left home to fight in World War II, but after the war, the school resumed its male-only policy, he said.

Female divisions of the band existed onand-off between the end of the first World War and the late ‘60s, but as the the decade came to a close, women pushed for total inclusion in the band, Gaffron said.

In 1973, Joni Sutton — soon-to-be the band’s first female percussionist — tried out for the ensemble but received pushback from the male-dominated team.

One man said he’d quit the drum line if Sutton and other women joined. Another thought that even if the band welcomed women, the dr um line surely wouldn’t.

Though some men wondered if a coed band would negatively af fect its atmosphere.

“Once I was in and proved myself, that I wouldn’t hold [the band] back], I was treated like anyone else,” Sutton said.

By 1974, the student president of the marching band was a woman. Within a few years, the band fully integrated, though there were still kinks to sor t out; with only seven uniforms for 35 women, the rest of the female team members acted as a dance group in their first year, Gaffron said.

Uniforms soon became available, but they had to be re-fitted for female bodies, said Ellen Sorenson, who joined in 1975.

“By the time I came, there wasn’t really any weirdness,” she said. And because the band facilities in Northrop Auditorium had only one men’s locker room, women were forced to change in a hallway with slanted floors and doors that didn’t quite lock — until TCF Bank Stadium opened in 2009 — Sorenson said.

Women continued making strides in the University’s marching band as years passed.

In the ’90s, the application process for

BRIDGET BENNETT, DAILY

Members of the University of Minnesota Marching Band peform at the Gophers’ game against the Oregon State Beavers on Sept. 1 at TCF Bank Stadium.

student band leadership changed, making way for more women to take on greater responsibilities. In 2006, Molly Watters became the band’s first — and only — female drum major.

For McCann, An outpouring of support Since accepting the offer, McCann has received emails and letters from former band members offering their support.

One such letter came from a former member blocked from the marching band in 1967because, the letter said, “the long and strenuous hours would be exhausting to the average girl.”

For McCann, the congratulations are motivational.

“I need to make sure that I do a great job for the all the reasons I should – for the students, the school, for myself – but also for these people who are happy that this milestone has happened,” she said.

In her new role, McCann will serve as a role model for young Minnesotan women, Sutton said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND

An image from 1972, the first year the women were allowed to be full members of the University’s marching band, provided by the University Marching Band.

“[McCann] isn’t there as a token,” she said. “She’s there because she can get the job done.”

A previous version of this stor y appeared in the Sept. 15 issue of the Daily.

12

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Questions from the Other Side: CSU Q&A u from Page 3

Q: At the slightest chance that starting running back Dalyn Dawkins doesn’t go, what do you think we can see from the Colorado State running game?

A: [Sophomore] Izzy Matthews is another who’s not fully healthy right now. He was a guy who expected to come in and be a big producer this year and he’s been hobbled by an ankle injury … Bobo said on Monday that the injury is still nagging him. If Dawkins isn’t able to go, expect a heavy dose of [Matthews]. And then [there’s] Marvin Kinsley who’s started out this year a little rough. He had a fumble against Northern Colorado on Saturday but he got it going towards the end of the game. He’s a talented guy.

Q: Going to the other side of the ball, who has been a standout on the

defense?

Defensively, a standout, no doubt has been [linebacker] Kevin Davis.

In that loss against Colorado, he went out and had 19 tackles. It shows that the rest of the defense was not producing in that game but he’s still a playmaker, he’s all over the field. They turned him lose against Texas, San Antonio. He had three sacks in that game [and] six more tackles in that game.

He’s a linebacker who can r ush the passer and can cover. He’s their definite defensive standout. He’s been there a long time. He’s a leader on the defense and he’s got playmaking ability.

Q: How do you think Colorado State stacks up against this Minnesota team?

A: I think they definitely stack up a lot better than how they would have stacked up a week ago or two weeks ago just be-

cause they’re not so one-dimensional in their of fense anymore … All week long, the coaches have been stressing how physical and how good of a defense [Minnesota] is … you can see how physical they are. Their speed, their pass r ush, I mean, they’re a good defense. … Offensively [for the Rams], it’s going to be tough. I think moving the ball down the field in the passing game is going to be crucial. I don’t know how much there’s going to be there in the running game.

Defensively, [Colorado State is] going to have to step up. [Mitch] Leidner is a great quar terback. He’s bigger than some of [Colorado State’s] linebackers.

The defense is going to have to play a physical ball game and they’re definitely undersized compared to Minnesota …

Q: Do you have a score prediction?

A: If I had to give you a score prediction, I would say, 23-14 Minnesota.

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