Will the Gophers be able to upend the top-ranked Screaming Eagles of Boston College tonight in the NCAA semifinal national tournament men's ice hockey match? The Gophers have returned to national prominence after missing out on the National Tournament each of the last three seasons. This year's team swept defending National Champion Minnesota-Duluth to start the season, and didn't look back but a couple times. They spent much of the season ranked #1, and avenged a catastrophic collapse against the Fighting Sioux (oops, didn't say tha) of North Dakota in the Final Five with a convincing victory in the Regional Final two weeks ago.

The Screaming Eagles have won 17 straight games, and their penalty kill has succeeded 39 of its last 40. The Gophers have a solid power play, so this very well could be the key. Reports are also that the Screaming Eagles are a very fast skating team, but the Gophers can match that speed. Per the scouts and Gophers coach Don Lucia, early signs to how the Gophers will compete are whether the Golden Rodents attack, attack, attack to let the Screaming Eagles know that "hey, we're the U of M, the most storied program in college hockey. We don't give no darn about 17 straight games." If the Gophers are content to defend and allow the Screaming Eagles to carry the play, look for a 4-1 BC victory, aided by an empty netter. If the Gophers delivery an early message they will compete, and win 3-2.

From this great college hockey mind ... the team that scores first will win.

Our favorite piece of Purple Land Mass has washed his face and taken his seat elbow to elbow with the other sales professionals for the week, but this weekend he'll reapply the Purple and Gold face paint, only this time he'll replace the Helga Horns with MooCow Horns as he travels to the home of the Purple Cows to fling Purple Dung at the Cow's rivals from the north, those over-biting, skinny-faced, pointy-nosed looking rodents from the Big U. "Oooooo, Big UUUUUUU!! Big MOOOOOOO!!! F-UUUUUUUUUU!!" The noise and chants will be defeaning as 1,265 pile into the Verizon Text Message Center for what might be Rodent U's final visit to the City of Mooooo!! Mr. Brown's going ... are you?

I hear there are some rabid Gopher Fans going to the game with skeddy as well.

Yeah. The arena security should check Gophers fans for rabies upon entering.

MOOOOOOOO!!!

Keep fighting back Skeddy!

http://wtbx.com/podcasts/monday-morning-rant/sorry-und-fanssorry-about-your-state/

Since this is the college hockey thread, please enjoy. We can all agree on this.

This weekend at Verizon Text Message Center Arena the team from the major college in the State of Hockey, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, will visit Minnesota's City of Hockey, Mankato, for a struggle with the mighty Purple Cow. Something has to give when these tradition rich powers collide ... the Gophers with their pile of WCHA Championship, Final Five and NCAA Championship banners, and the Purple Cows with their 2003 Final Five Banner. The Mavs look to rebound from a pair of 1 to 5 losses at St. Cloud State last weekend. Expect the 1,246 at the Text Message Center to send one message loud and clear ... "GOPHERS SU(K ... GOPHERS SU(K ... GOPHERS SU(K!!" Just don't stare to long at the goal light behind the home team's net, as retina damage could occur from the frequent illumination.

clap clap ... clap
clap clap ... clap (repeat over and over)

clap clap ... clap clap clap...clap
Brrr it's cold out there
clap clap ... clap clap clap... clap
Must be some rodents in the atmospere
Brrr ... it's cold out there
Must be some rodents in the atmostphere