For Minnesota coach Glen Mason, 2000 is the kind of season that necessitates a constant supply of Tums and Rogaine in the medicine cabinet.

After the Golden Gophers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) were stunned by lowly Ohio (the state, not the State) Sept. 9, they came back to upset then-No. 24 Illinois and then-No. 6 Ohio State (the State, not the state) as part of a three-game winning streak.

Then last Saturday, having earned its own ranking at No. 22, Minnesota lost 51-43 to Indiana and star quarterback Antwaan Randle El, who racked up 473 yards of total offense by himself.

Further salting the Gophers’ wounds, standout cornerback Willie Middlebrooks fractured his left ankle against Indiana and is done for the season. Backup free safety Trevis Graham will fill the void Saturday against No. 23 Northwestern (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten).

“I was disappointed,” Wildcats receiver Teddy Johnson said. “I was looking forward all year to play against Middlebrooks. He’s a great DB and I didn’t get a chance to play against him last year because he was hurt.”

Middlebrooks, a speedster who ran 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had made one interception and broken up seven passes before the injury.

“He’s a great football player,” NU coach Randy Walker said. “Just watching and my sense of it is that he’s probably a great kid. I don’t know him, but it looks like he plays hard, plays emotionally, revved up.”

The Gophers aggressive defense will likely force the Cats to try and exploit Middlebrooks’ absence in the secondary. Minnesota is led by All-American defensive end Karon Riley, the Big Ten sack leader with 16 in 1999 and seven this season.

Like the Boilermakers two weeks ago, the Gophers are expected to crowd the defensive line to contain NU tailback Damien Anderson.

“By stacking the box, it’s giving me and the other wide receivers a lot more opportunities to go over the top,” Johnson said. “Especially with their better defensive backs being out, it’s going to be harder for them to cover down the field.”

Minnesota brings a two-pronged attack at both quarterback and running back. Despite suffering through an interception, a fumble and a concussion against Indiana, Travis Cole will start under center.

If Cole’s struggles continue, backup quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq should see action. A redshirt freshman, Abdul-Kaliq has thrown for 640 yards and seven touchdowns this year.

“The quarterback Cole is a pretty effective thrower, I think he throws the ball well,” Walker said. “Abdul-Kaliq is a great talent but a young player and I think they say they need to season him a little bit further.”

The Gophers also have options in the backfield with two capable tailbacks in Tellis Redmon and Thomas Tapeh. Redmon enters Saturday’s battle riding a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games. Tapeh averages nearly 50 yards per game off the bench.

“They both bring a little different dimension to the game,” Cats defensive end Conrad Emmerich said. “Redmon can run a little better, and Tapeh sticks it up in there. He’s their big, bruising back.”

And if Mason has his way, Minnesota will keep the ball on the ground all day long.

“I think Glen would admit that he wants to be able to rush the football effectively,” Walker said. “I don’t think I’m speaking for him, I think that’s what he is.”

Not that he’d wish bodily harm on anybody, but Zak Kustok couldn’t have been too broken up over the news of Gophers uber-cornerback Willie Middlebrooks’ shattered ankle last week. That injury forces Trevis Graham, a spot-starter with little big-game experience, into the unenviable role of containing Kustok and the spread offense. Graham will likely be on Sam Simmons or Teddy Johnson, two of Kustok’s favorite targets. If Kustok can exploit the mismatch, he could have a field day.
– Mark Lazerus

10 – Zak Kustok
NORTHWESTERN
Vitals
6-foot-1, 212 lbs.
Jr. Quarterback
Orland Park, Ill.
2000 Statistics (8 games)
Passing: 104-183 passing, 1322 yards
12 TDs, 7 INT

vs.

13 – Trevis Graham
MINNESOTA
Vitals
5-foot-10, 185 lbs
Sr. Cornerback
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
2000 Statistics (8 games)
35 tackles, 1 for loss
1 INT, 1 blocked kick