BY JOHN SHIPLEY
BERKELEY, Calif. — Within minutes of Minnesota's season-opening victory over Kent State on Aug. 31, the Gophers were talking about California. The Bears had captured their attention over the summer and presented Minnesota with a chance to earn respect on a national stage. When it ended badly, a 42-17 loss Saturday night at Cal's Memorial Stadium, the Gophers turned their attention inward. Their next opponent presents a ripe opportunity for a bounce-back victory but little else in the way of motivation. Temple might be the worst Division I-A program in the country, a dubious distinction it probably earned after losing to Buffalo 9-3 in its season opener. Louisville took the Owls (0-2) to the woodshed 62-0 on Saturday, a loss in which Temple's defense surrendered 671 yards of offense. The loss was the Owls' 14th straight and dropped them to 3-23 since 2004. Minnesota (1-1) will be a prohibitive favorite in a 1 p.m. game that will not be televised.
The Gophers have plenty to work on; they didn't do anything particularly well against Cal. But what really stuck in coach Glen Mason's craw was the defense, scorched for 531 yards.
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