Gophers running back Shannon Brooks will miss Saturday's game against Purdue with an unspecified injury. The team made the announcement an hour before kickoff.
Brooks missed the first two games this season with a broken foot. He has scored one touchdown in all six of his games this year, with 93 carries for 472 yards (5.1 avg.).
The Gophers will proceed with Rodney Smith (153 carries, 801 yards, 5.2 avg, 10 touchdowns), and Kobe McCrary (34 carries, 234 yards, 6.9 avg., three TDs).
Attendance watch
The Gophers could not have dialed up better November weather for Saturday's game against Purdue.
It's Minnesota's second-to-last home game, and I'm interested to see the crowd. The Gophers are on a three-game winning streak, albeit against some of the Big Ten have nots (Maryland, Rutgers and Illinois). Purdue is struggling, too, so it won't be the opponent that draws people today.
But it's a 2:30 kickoff, which is always better for fans headed to the game. The Gophers opened the year with a Thursday primetime game against Oregon State and then played four consecutive home games at 11 a.m., against Indiana State, Colorado State, Iowa and Rutgers.
After playing to near capacity crowds for each game last season (when there were several marquee opponents), here's a look at how the Gophers have drawn this year to 50,805-seat TCF Bank Stadium: Oregon State (44,582), Indiana State (41,026), Colorado State (44,854), Iowa (49,145) and Rutgers (46,096).
Pirsig returns, Wright moves to guard
Jonah Pirsig is back from his ankle injury. He's at right tackle, with Garrison Wright moving to right guard, and Donnell Greene sticking at left tackle.
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