Last time Northwestern was at the Metrodome, the team unveiled an instant classic — Victory Right.

With the game tied and two seconds left on the clock, quarterback Zak Kustok launched a pass from NU territory into the Minnesota endzone that was tipped up by Kunle Patrick and caught by Sam Simmons for a 55-yard completion and the game-winning touchdown in NU’s 41-35 win Oct. 28.

Since then, Victory Right has become a staple of Thursday practice and provided another game-winning score in the final seconds against Michigan State in 2001.

The play has only gotten better each week as Patrick, the “setter,” continues to hone his special skill.

“It’s amazing how he can do it because the ball is coming from 50 yards away and he just kind of sets it,” Walker said. “He looks like a volleyball player.”

Although the Wildcats usually practice the play on Thursdays — last week, the offense executed it perfectly and “won” — it won’t be forgotten in the shortened week. In fact, it was going to be rehearsed Tuesday with a few new twists, Walker said on Monday.

“Now we have a couple things off Victory Right that we haven’t unveiled,” Walker said. “There are a couple of new spin-offs.”

MIDWEEK MATCHUP: College football on a Thursday night — what is this, Florida State?

But unlike the Seminoles, NU and the Golden Gophers aren’t squaring off midweek for television purposes. In fact, the game is not being televised anywhere. The teams are lining up early because of baseball — the playoffs and the Minnesota Twins, to be exact.

In a turn of events nobody would have predicted when football schedules were being made, the Twins are headed for the American League Championship Series and will be in the Metrodome on Saturday when the NU-Minnesota game was originally set to be played.

So, like the Gophers’ game last week against Illinois, the contest was moved up two days to Thursday.

This will most likely mean a smaller crowd for the Gophers in the always-loud Metrodome, which Walker said will be nice, but not a huge factor in the game.

“It definitely gets loud in there, and that can get you rattled,” Walker said. “But we’re more of a signaling team. I’d worry about it if we were real verbal, but we’re sign readers.”

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Playing Ohio State, with its hard-hitting defense and physical offense, the Cats suffered a few minor injuries on both sides of the ball. But NU coach Randy Walker said none of the injuries will sideline players Thursday at Minnesota.

“This time of year when you have played six games you get pounded around,” Walker said. “That was a physical football team we played Saturday night. We had some sore guys at practice on Sunday night, but we have a lot of guys who will be ready on Thursday.”

Freshman wide reciever Mark Philmore had X-rays on his shoulder after two-time All-American Mike Doss hit him in the endzone.

Possibly more painful than the hit was the fact that officials ruled the catch incomplete, saying Philmore was juggling the ball before going out of bounds. X-rays were negative, and Walker said Philmore’s shoulder is sore but manageable.

Linebacker Doug Szymul sprained muscles in his neck against Michigan State, but felt good enough to play against Ohio State. Against the Buckeyes, Szymul ran off the field in the fourth quarter after tweaking his neck again. Walker said Szymul has recovered this week, and will actually feel better Thursday than he did last Saturday.

Another player who should feel better for this week’s game is wideout Jon Schweighardt, who has suffered from knee problems for the past couple of weeks.

Schweighardt, who did not practice at all last week, has participated in practices since NU’s loss to Ohio State. The knee swells because of an overactive gland, and has to be drained frequently, but Walker said the swelling was down this week.

Body 2 ———————————————————————–

Patrick perfects Victory Right

Body 3 ———————————————————————–

NU-Minnesota changed to Thursday because of ALCS; Cats nurse minor injuries