Fun facts: Iowa-Minnesota football

MINNEAPOLIS -- I've never covered a college football game in Minnesota in September. Every other time I've covered an Iowa-Minnesota (or Coe-St. Thomas) game, it was in mid- to late-November. Except the 2011 game, which was in late October.

Those things on the trees ... are those ... leaves? Anyway, on the with the Fun Facts:

1. Iowa has outgained its four opponents by an average of 152.5 yards. Minnesota has outgained its four foes by an average of 14.8 yards.

2. The two teams have a combined 2,105 rushing yards.

3. Floyd of Rosedale was an actual pig who came from the Rosedale Farm near Fort Dodge, Iowa. In 1938, the Fort Dodge Creamery marketed milk and ice cream under the name "Rosedale."  The creamery is gone, but  there's a Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center in Fort Dodge. Meanwhile, for a show-business pig who really entertained us ...

4. The Hawkeyes are third in the nation in punt-returning, with an average of 25.1 yards per return and two touchdowns. But Minnesota is no slouch at 19th, with 14.8 yards per return and a TD.

5. The last time Minnesota allowed a punt-return for a touchdown was Sept. 7, 2002, to Nick Dugas of Louisiana Monroe. However, the Gophers won, 35-11.

6. Minnesota has scored touchdowns in seven different ways. Sixteen rushing, one passing, one via kickoff-return, one via punt-return, one via fumble-return, one via interception return, and one via blocked field goal-return. That pretty much covers the possibilities, doesn't it?

7. The Gophers Radio Network includes Minnesota affiliates in Detroit Lakes, Grand Rapids, Little Falls and Thief River Falls.

8. Minnesota has outscored opponents in the first quarter by a total of 13-12. In the fourth quarter, it's Minnesota 63, Opponents 21.

9. Iowa has been shut out 15 times by the Gophers, but not since 1967. That happens to be the last season in which Minnesota earned as much as a share of the Big Ten title.

10. Iowa scored 59 points last week against Western Michigan. In Todd Lickliter's last season as Iowa's men's basketball coach (2008-09), the Hawkeyes failed to score 59 points on 17 occasions.