Imagine watching an Animal Planet documentary about the mighty African lion as it stalks a group of zebras. The narrator is describing how the lion hides in the tall grasses with unwavering patience until the time is right to strike. Music creeps in slowly. It builds. Finally, the lion leaps from its hiding spot towards the zebras. But the herd isnâÄôt startled. Instead of darting away, the supposed prey charges at the lion; the lion turns on its heels and flees. For some reason, the lion canâÄôt sneak up on the zebras anymore; theyâÄôre expecting the attack, and theyâÄôre ready. The hunter becomes the hunted. The Gophers can relate. A 7-1 start and a No. 20 ranking in the Associated Press and USA Today have assured that the Minnesota football team wonâÄôt be sneaking up on anyone the rest of the year. But theyâÄôre also not about to stop hunting, and to junior linebacker Simoni Lawrence , the reason for that is simple. âÄúYou have to let everybody know why youâÄôre in the rankings and prove that you deserve to be there,âÄù he said. The Gophers may have as much to prove as any team in the top 25, but they have memories of 2007 to keep them perhaps as motivated as any team in the top 25 as well. âÄúWe know what we were before and we know what we donâÄôt want to be,âÄù junior defensive tackle Garrett Brown said. What they were was a one-recywin team ; dead last in the nation in total defense ; the laughing stock of the Big Ten. Complacency isnâÄôt about to creep into the Minnesota locker room. âÄúIt feels so good (to win) week in and week out that you donâÄôt want to go back to the way it was,âÄù sophomore strong safety Kyle Theret said. âÄúSo we know we have to work hard.âÄù With the rhetoric flying around TuesdayâÄôs press conference, working hard seems to be the least of the GophersâÄô worries. TheyâÄôve clearly bought in to head coach Tim BrewsterâÄôs idea of Minnesota football. âÄúWho we are is a hard-nosed physical football team thatâÄôs going to play like crazy for 60 minutes,âÄù Brewster said. Minnesota may be favored in games against the likes of Michigan and Wisconsin, meaning the perennial powerhouses, despite their struggles, will be hunting the Gophers. And if Minnesota falls to Northwestern or Iowa, it will likely be considered a crushing upset. How quickly expectations change. The Gophers lost to all four of those teams last year ; this season, there are whispers of winning out and an outside shot at a Rose Bowl berth. So hereâÄôs what Minnesota gets for a 7-1 start: lofty expectations and a target on its back. If the Gophers start buying in to the hype, though, senior tight end Jack Simmons offers a simple way to bring the team back to earth. âÄúThereâÄôs a quick reminder on the computers and in the film room,âÄù he said. HeâÄôs talking about a reminder of 2007; a reminder of 1-11. That might seem like a lifetime ago by now, but the team has not forgotten. Like Brown said, the Gophers know what they were. TheyâÄôve used what they were to become what they are. And because of that, theyâÄôre about to be hunted by Wildcats, Wolverines, Badgers, and Hawkeyes.