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Greene could pose a problem for Minnesota defense

Amidst the speculation surrounding MinnesotaâÄôs bowl projection, the minor buzz created by the last game in the Metrodome, and the heat of the rivalry between the Gophers and the Hawkeyes, head coach Tim Brewster keeps his thoughts simple. âÄúI know this: If we beat Iowa, good things happen for Minnesota. ThatâÄôs all I care about,âÄù he said. A sellout crowd is expected to be on hand to witness the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Gophers are already bowl eligible, but playing Iowa (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) at home in the season finale stirred up memories this week for Minnesota players that were around the last time the teams faced off at the Metrodome. When the Hawkeyes visited Minneapolis on Nov. 18, 2006, the Gophers were a win away from bowl eligibility. The raucous crowd of 64,140 witnessed one of MinnesotaâÄôs better moments in the Dome, a 34-24 win that propelled them to the Insight Bowl and returned the Pig to the Gophers. âÄúThat was probably one of the most fun times in the Metrodome that IâÄôve had,âÄù senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg said. Needless to say, Minnesota would love to replicate that fun, and senior tight end Jack Simmons said he expects a crowd just as loud as the one the Gophers (7-4, 3-4) played in front of two years ago. âÄúIâÄôm excited for this football game and what it could mean for this University,âÄù he said. Minnesota will have to stop arguably the Big TenâÄôs best running back in IowaâÄôs Shonn Greene. HeâÄôs rushed for more than 100 yards in every game this season. âÄúShonn Greene is as good of a back as there is in the country right now,âÄù Brewster said. âÄúIf weâÄôre to have a chance in the game, weâÄôre going to have to swarm and have multiple tacklers âĦ getting after him on every snap.âÄù That could prove difficult; junior linebacker Lee Campbell and sophomore safety Kyle Theret are both nursing ankle sprains and are still questionable for SaturdayâÄôs game. âÄúRight now, I feel like IâÄôll be good to go,âÄù Theret said Wednesday evening. Campbell is less likely to play, according to Brewster. âÄúI think KyleâÄôs further than Lee at this point,âÄù Brewster said. But helping the Gophers on the other side of the ball will be junior wide receiver Eric Decker , who missed last weekâÄôs game at Wisconsin. âÄú[He went] full speed,âÄù Brewster said Wednesday after practice. âÄúLooked really good.âÄù

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