The winner of the annual Minnesota-Wisconsin game receives one of the best trophies in sports — Paul Bunyan’s Axe. Minnesota coach Tim Brewster likely wanted to make good use of the axe by taking a swipe at Wisconsin coach Bret Bielama with it after the game.
In case you missed it, the Badgers beat up the Gophers 41-23 in Madison. Wisconsin had just gone up 41-16 on James White’s second touchdown run of the game. Instead of kicking the extra point, they decided to go for a two point conversion. Yes, a team up by 25 with under seven minutes left in the game decided to go for two.
Minnesota coach Tim Brewster was pissed about the decision, rightfully feeling like Bielama was trying to run up the score. Bielama explained that his coach’s chart told him to go for two when up by 25. Uhh, sure, whatever dude. A chart will tell you to go for two when you’re up by one and there’s three minutes left in a game. Any reasonable human being recognizes that going for two up 25 with seven minutes left is excessive.
As if his decision wasn’t bad enough, the Badgers were already covering the 21.5 point spread. Bielama, you’re out of excuses. Next time maybe you’ll do the right thing and kick the extra point instead. Brewster might not be there when you guys meet next year, but the players will be, and they might remember.
Photo Credit: Star Tribune
