BIG TEN NOTEBOOK Minnesota's collapse haunts Mason

The Golden Gophers blew a three-touchdown lead against Michigan.
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A year later, the memory still stings Minnesota coach Glen Mason.
The unbeaten Golden Gophers were dominating Michigan by three touchdowns with a quarter left, yet ended up losing 38-35.
"Do you really think that I have to remind them we blew a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter against Michigan last year? I don't think so," Mason said. "That's not something we are very proud of, but that's not Michigan's fault, that's our fault. Michigan did what they were supposed to do."
Mason said the idea that his team is out for redemption when it takes on the No. 14 Wolverines in the Big House on Saturday is downright laughable.
The game will likely revolve around the elemental subplot of Minnesota wanting to run the ball and Michigan wanting to stop them.
The Golden Gophers are muscling their way to 323 yards a game on the ground, third best in the country. They have the nation's top 1-2 punch in Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III, fifth and eighth, respectively, in the country.
Michigan permits just 47 rushing yards a game -- not even a productive drive for the 13th-ranked Gophers.
"That's going to be motivating," Wolverines safety Ryan Mundy said. "We want to stay No. 1."
Unwelcome hugs
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez has a simple message for his defensive linemen: Expect to be held.
Alvarez said he's done all he can to bring attention to the problem, talking with the head official each week and sending in clips to the Big Ten office. Despite all that, Wisconsin opponents have been flagged for offensive holding just once.
Led by end Erasmus James, a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the week, the Wisconsin defense is tops in the nation in scoring defense and total defense, giving up just 193 yards per game. The Badgers have 15 sacks, have forced six fumbles and picked off three passes in five games.
Yet no one is apparently trying to get grabby with the Badgers?
"Just keep playing because you're going to be held," Alvarez said he told his linemen.
Iowa's injuries
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has analyzed it from every angle, he has talked it over with his medical staff. His conclusion: he can't find anything that could have been done differently to prevent the slew of injuries that have hit the Hawkeyes this season.
The latest to go down was starting tailback Jermelle Lewis. He tore the ACL in his right knee in last Saturday's 38-16 victory over Michigan State. Lewis, the team's leading rusher, was the third running back the Hawkeyes have lost this season to an ACL tear.