上个赛季，没有哪支球队比明尼苏达队更能俘获各地球迷的心。金地鼠队14年来第一次参加了一场保龄球比赛，取得了8胜4负的战绩，其中包括在宾夕法尼亚州立大学24胜23负的惊人胜利。在经历了上个赛季的成功之后，地鼠队在民意调查中攀升到第12位，现在对主教练格伦·梅森和明尼苏达队来说又回到了起点。由于去年的主力球员离开了球队，gopher能否保持他们的成功还是个问题。梅森说，他有信心招募到足够的人才来填补空缺。“去年，如果你还记得的话，我说过我们会有很大的进步，而且在1999年明尼苏达金地鼠队会从一个失败的项目变成一个胜利的项目，”梅森说。“我这么说是因为我认为，今年，我们应该再一次得到改进。”明尼苏达不需要帮助的地方是防守端。全美候选人卡隆·莱利(Karon Riley)在一年前以16个麻袋领先十大联盟后，重返他的老年赛季。莱利在南卫理公会大学(Southern Methodist University)度过了大学的头两年，他在拐弯时的速度极快。身高6尺4寸，体重248磅，他是一名全能的运动员，可以改变进攻的战术。莱利说他和地鼠队上个赛季取得的成功促使他们提高自己。“能在城里到处炫耀自己是明尼苏达金地鼠，感觉真好，”莱利说。“我们不希望这种感觉很快消失。 We'll continue to work hard to put ourselves in a position to repeat that feeling."\nSenior linebacker Sean Hoffman will anchor the rest of the defensive unit. Last season, Hoffman was third on the team with 80 tackles. He was awarded All-Big Ten honorable mention.\nWhile Riley and Hoffman will lead the defense, the offense will be led by All-American center Ben Hamilton. Beyond Hamilton, there are a number of holes at the skill positions. Namely, the quarterback and running back positions will be filled with inexperienced players.\nRedshirt freshman quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq is expected to be Minnesota's signal-caller this season. Abdul-Khaliq was impressive in the Spring Game on April 19, completing 13 of 20 passes for 184 yards.\nFor the Gophers, the main goal in 2000 will be much different from last season's. Now that they have proven they can be a winning team, they will try to prove they are consistent winners.\n"It's one thing to go from a loser to a winner in a season," Mason said. "We've got to be consistent. I think a considerable goal is to have some consistency of being able to win in this conference"
