When Gophers football changed the interception song at practice, no one told head coach P.J. Fleck.
Minnesota football players picked up on the viral TikTok dance popularized by the father-son duo, Eric and A.J. Befumo, commonly known on the internet as A.J. and Big Justice. The pair created a song and dance that repeats the phrase “Bring the Boom” which has made its way across college football.
It was only a matter of time before the trend found its way to Huntington Bank Stadium.
Gophers defensive backs Koi Perich and Justin Walley both hit the celebration dance after their interceptions against Maryland.
Unlike several other TikTok dances, “Bring the Boom” is simple. All you do is flex your arms and cross one leg over the other repeatedly.
Fleck even gave it a try after Saturday’s game.
“You do that for your players because you look at them and you’re laughing at them all week and this is serious stuff with them,” Fleck said. “I didn’t do that all week with them until I did it, it’s part of the 1-0 celebration I guess.”
Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg even hopped in on the movement as he started flexing and swaying with Perich after Perich’s 45-yard interception return. Lindenberg had no intention of mimicking the 18-year-old, but he said it just happened organically.
“We play our best defense when we’re having fun,” Lindenberg said. “It’s little things like that that allow us to bring a little more personality to the game.”
Lindenberg said the “Bring the Boom” dance allows the players to be themselves out on the field while having fun.
The Gophers rank second in the nation with 15 interceptions this season only trailing James Madison. Perich has five of those picks, including two game-sealing takeaways against Southern California and UCLA.
Perich came to the Gophers from Esko High School as the state’s No. 1 recruit. He said he chose to stay home because Minnesota produces National Football League (NFL) talent at the safety position.
“I believe in what Fleck has done for this program and where we’re going,” Perich said. “In the next couple of years, we’re going to keep improving and improving and it’s going to be really fun.”
Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Howden and Tyler Nubin all represent the maroon and gold as safeties in the NFL.
The Minnesota defense is the ninth-best overall in the nation, so naturally they are going to celebrate.
The Gophers also rank top 10 in takeaways with 17 in eight games.
Minnesota faces Illinois as the Fighting Illini are coming off their largest loss of the season 38-9 to Oregon. In the loss, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer threw two interceptions, which bodes well for a takeover-happy team in the Gophers.
