P.J. Fleck's motivational slogans are sprinkled throughout the Gophers football complex. The messaging should be easy this week as Fleck takes his team south across the state line into what has become a house of horrors.
If not now, then when?
Seriously, if the Gophers don't win at Iowa on Saturday, will their losing streak to the Hawkeyes ever end?
To be clear, Iowa is favored to win by oddsmakers, based on recent history and where the game is being played. The Gophers have not won at Kinnick Stadium since 1999 — the same year Fleck graduated high school — and the drought feels even longer than that considering the excruciating nature of defeats in recent years.
Tenured Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has fielded more talented and complete teams than the one the Gophers will face this time. To put the game and the Big Ten West race into proper context, the Hawkeyes sit atop the division despite having the lowest-ranked offense in major college football.
Matchup No. 117 in the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry serves as an inflection point for Fleck's team. The Gophers are 3-3 and coming off a 42-point drubbing by Michigan. The offense has been plodding. The defense has been uncharacteristically susceptible to big plays and blown assignments. Fleck's team has yet to play a complete game.
The importance of this opportunity cannot be overstated. Lose again with Ohio State still to come and the mood around the program will totally deflate. A win could have the opposite effect. Look beyond the Ohio State game and the remainder of the schedule is hardly daunting.
The Gophers had their bye week to get healthier, address problem areas and devote extra time to preparing for this opponent. There should be no excuses.