2001 FBL vs. Minnesota -- postgame notes

Little Brown Jug
With today's 31-10 victory over Minnesota, the Wolverines retained the Little Brown Jug with their 13th straight win over the Golden Gophers. Michigan has maintained the Little Brown Jug since regaining possession with a 30-20 victory on Nov. 7, 1987, at Minneapolis, Minn. In addition, the Wolverines have won 30 of their last 32 contests with Minnesota.

Ground Game Revived
Michigan recorded a season high on the ground with 300 yards. This is the first time the Wolverines have gone over 200 yards rushing this season and the first time Michigan has run for 300 yards or more since going for 341 vs. Illinois on Sept. 23, 2000. Michigan also matched a season best with four rushing touchdowns, which matched its output in the 45-20 win over Illinois on Sept. 29. The Wolverines scoring all four touchdowns on the ground meant quarterback John Navarre (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

Streak Extended
Senior wide receiver Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS) extended his school-record streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 33 when he grabbed a 23-yard toss from John Navarre in the first quarter. Walker finished the day with four catches for 60 yards, which ties him with Desmond Howard (1989-91) for sixth place with 62 receptions in a single season. He also moved into a tie for second place on the career-receptions list with David Terrell (1998-2000) with 152 catches. Walker is nine catches shy of Anthony Carter's (1979-82) Michigan record of 161 career receptions. However, Walker's streak of seven consecutive games with a touchdown reception ended.

Hitting Paydirt
Junior running back B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS) scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground in the first half, giving him four games this season in which he has reached the end zone at least twice. He also scored a pair of touchdowns vs. Illinois and Purdue while reaching the end zone three times vs. Western Michigan. Askew now has 10 career touchdowns and has reached paydirt in five of Michigan's nine games this season.

Option Off the Bench
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jermaine Gonzales (Pontiac, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS) came off the bench in the first half to see his most extensive action of the season. Gonzales set a career high with six rushes for 14 yards. Through the air Gonzales also set a career high in passing attempts with four.

Tight Ends Have Career Day
Senior tight end Bill Seymour (Granger Ind./Penn HS) caught a career-best five passes today for 47 yards, while fellow tight end Bennie Joppru (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka HS), the only Minnesota native on the Michigan roster, matched his career best with a pair of receptions. The two tight ends combined for seven of Michigan's 12 catches on the day.

Special Teams
Michigan blocked its fourth punt of the season as sophomore wide receiver Tyrece Butler (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central HS) broke through to set up the Wolverines' second touchdown of the game. Jon Shaw (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) recovered the ball on the five-yard line. In the kickoff return game, senior Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) returned two kickoffs for a career-best 111 yards. Howard's second return of 54 yards set up Michigan's first touchdown of the second half, which was scored on 19-yard reverse by Calvin Bell (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS).

Misdirection
Calvin Bell scored his third rushing touchdown of the season on a 19-yard reverse to cap off Michigan's first drive of the second half. Bell, who also carried on a reverse for 11 yards in the first stanza, has scored all three of his touchdowns this year on the ground.

Getting Defensive
Junior linebacker Victor Hobson (Mount Laurel, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep) led the Wolverines with nine tackles (seven solo). Hobson has now recorded at least four tackles in each game this season.

Moving Up the Big Ten Charts
Minnesota wide receiver Ron Johnson caught four passes for 73 yards with a touchdown, and he moved into ninth place on the Big Ten career receiving yards list with 2,734. Johnson passed former Ohio State receiver Cris Carter (1984-86). Johnson also extended his nation-leading consecutive games with a catch streak to 44.