Fleck stayed in Minnesota, and UCLA hired former star running back DeShaun Foster as coach. The Bruins won their opener at Hawaii but have lost four consecutive games to Indiana, LSU, Oregon and Penn State — all teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
For the Gophers (3-3, 1-2), a victory is the task at hand, especially since the win over USC steered their season back toward a winning path. Fleck, a Sugar Grove, Ill., native, lists upstart Northwestern’s appearance in the 1995 season among his top Rose Bowl memories, and he’s excited to be competing in a stadium with such a rich history.
“It has this nostalgia, this tradition that is unlike any other,” he said. “It’s great for our fans. It’s a great experience for our players, one of the greatest venues in all of college football. But we have a job to do, and that job is preparing to play the best football game we played all year, period.”
Gophers defensive end Danny Striggow, a senior from Long Lake, embraces the chance to play in the stadium.
“As a Minnesota kid, it’s an awesome experience to be able to go out there and play,” he said. “The Rose Bowl is an iconic name, so we’re super grateful to have the opportunity.”