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This Matters To Somebody

@tm2s.bsky.social

94 followers 110 following 710 posts

Four Minnesotans exploring the world through the sports you didn’t know you’d love LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/tm2s iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-matters-to-somebody/id1831854739 RSS Feed: https://anchor.fm/s/1036c317c/podcast/rss

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 17d

We need a pin explaining what we're about. So, hi!

We're four friends who met through U of Minnesota sports fandom.

Turns out we also have a shared interest in sports outside of the Big 4 (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), especially sports not common in the US. We think they're great and want to share them.

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CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 20m

Absolutely brutal way for the Phillies to lose, Dodgers win the series

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$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy @chairtrophy.bsky.social · 4h

These historical rivalry look-backs are fantastic, and a great way to count down to this year's game! Follow TM2S podcast, enjoy these threads on old Husker/Gopher matchups from the early 1900s, and DONATE!
Brokenchairtrophy.com

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Tomorrow we’ll move to the War Years where a surprise guest at the game created an unforgettable moment for the band on the field at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis.

No, not that one. Stay tuned!

Bo Pelini carrying a cat onto the field during a Nebraska Spring Game, one of the great moments in Coaches Who Get The Joke

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

#Nebraska finished 7-2-1, 2nd place behind Kansas in the MVC. Highlights included wins over Iowa and Iowa State, but they lost to champion Kansas. The #Huskers also finished their season against Jim Thorpe’s Carlisle, but met a 37-6 defeat on a cold December day in front of only 2,000 people.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

#Minnesota’s lack of size doomed them. They lost to Chicago and Wisconsin without scoring, then squeaked an 11-6 win over Jim Thorpe's famous Carlisle team to finish 3-2-1 and tied with Northwestern for last in the Western Conference. It was the first season the #Gophers had ever been outscored.

All-American, Olympian, and multi-sport athlete Jim Thorpe during his Carlisle days.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Coach Cole offered no excuses: “I am well satisfied that the Nebraska boys kept the Gophers from scoring…there was no muckerism and we left Minneapolis feeling that we had been nicely treated…”

The Minnesota papers eagerly predicted a win against Chicago in two weeks based on the tie.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Meanwhile the Lincoln papers were complained that one of the officials (“Umpire Gale, the former Chicago player…”) had called an off-sides on Nebraska setting up a tipped pass. #Cornhuskers felt instead it should have been what is now offensive pass interference.

Remember that Chicago thing?

a referee wearing glasses and a striped shirt stands on a field

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media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

The Minneapolis Journal called into question whether Coach Cole of Nebraska was cheating by signaling his quarterback during the game, with dripping sarcasm: “Of course no one is willing to believe that the Nebraska coach would signal his team in direct opposition to the rules of football.”

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Both teams, fanbases, and reports had the usual mix of emotions: they all claimed moral victory while also saying they were cheated but also satisfied.

And they say the internet has poisoned fan culture. Other way around, buddy.

a man wearing a mask with the words molded by it written above him

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media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

ANYWAY, rather than attempt to gain, Nebraska immediately punted from behind the goal posts, and miraculously recovered at their own 25, then immediately knocked off a 25 yard run to the 50. But after several failed efforts as the clock wound down, time was called and the game ended in a 0-0 tie.

Meme of Frank Beamer celebrating a 0-0 regulation score between Virginia Tech and Wake Forest

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Forward passes had only been legal 2 years; incompletes were a 15-yard penalty. Big runs required a defensive mistake, long passes rare, and rough fields cause erratic bounces, a kick-heavy strategy makes some sense if you trust your defense.

Hence why teams punted on 1st or 2nd Down frequently.

a logo for the sickos committee is displayed on a purple background

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media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

But consider that American football in 1908 was only 34 years from the Harvard vs. McGill games where the Canadian rugby-focused rules merged with the American Boston Game to create a rugby-like amalgam. More on this in Episode 4 of the podcast: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...

TMTS Episode 4: Canadian Football League

Podcast Episode · This Matters To Somebody · 2025-08-19 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Let's talk tactics for a minute. This choice is puzzling in 1908 because the rules were different.

Touchdowns were only 5 points, field goals were 4. Minnesota gave up 2 easy field goals that would have made it an 8-0, two possession game. The math worked differently then than it does now.

a man with his eyes closed is holding his head

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media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

The game seemed over when a Minnesota back named Young managed to get the ball over the goal line and the stadium erupted. But the referee called the touchdown back saying Young had grounded the ball at the 5.

After a pair of 2 yard runs Minnesota TURNED THE BALL OVER ON DOWNS AT THE 1

a man with red hair and glasses is wearing a suit and tie and making a funny face .

ALT: a man with red hair and glasses is wearing a suit and tie and making a funny face .

media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Early in the 2nd half #Minnesota resorted to rugby tactics, punting for field position and relying on their defense to force punts in turn. Eventually they got a 20-yard pass to the 12, but turned the ball over on downs at the 5, foregoing what might have been an easy game-winning field goal.

Perhaps these were Minnesota's kickers?

The Three Stooges

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Nebraska nearly won the game early. As halftime approached, captain Harvey caught a pass for a long gain before being brought down at the 20 yard line. Nebraska fumbled a faked a field goal, Minnesota recovered on their own 15, punted, and Nebraska’s 35-yard field goal attempt went only 20 yards.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

#Gopher play was criticized by the Minneapolis Star: “The Gophers showed few plays outside of a short forward pass…and straight line smashes.”

The Star had similar criticism for the #Cornhuskers: “Nebraska…was utterly helpless outside of a few forward passes which did not work with regularity.”

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

The game kicked off at 3 PM with Nebraska, its roster depleted by several injuries, choosing to receive with the wind at their back. What followed probably bore more relation to rugby than American football.

The newspaper highlights had engaging headlines like these:

Minneapolis Journal headline from the game recap:

"MAKES 7 YARDS"

Another highlight:

"MADE 8 YARDS"

OK, better...I guess

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 8h

🚨🇨🇦Important #CFL content🇨🇦🚨

LuUuUuUuke Knox 👻 @lukeknox.me · 13h

Thread: Big week for Canada, let’s remember some familiar CFL quarterbacks

Doug Flutie

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 9h

Season schedule here: bsky.app/profile/thep...

PWHL @thepwhl.com · 8d

PWHL HOCKEY IS BACK ON NOVEMBER 21! 🤩

The countdown to Season 3 has begun. Don't miss a moment. Grab your season tickets!
➡️ thepwhl.com/en/tickets

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 9h

Season 3 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League starts in 6 weeks! This season the league has expanded from 6 to 8, adding Seattle and Vancouver.

Catch up on a crazy 2024 season below! #PWHL

PWHL @thepwhl.com · 9h

A U.S. attendance record AND a clutch shootout winner from Hilary Knight? Sign us UP!

Tune in at 7PM ET tonight to catch this week's PWHL Rewind where we take it back to Season One's PWHL in the Motor City!
📺 youtube.com/live/V3ZkvFF2NRE

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BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL @edsbs.bsky.social · 10h

Chattanooga’s finest

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 10h

Been watching this on repeat for 5 minutes

Rob Friedman @pitchingninja.com · 13h

All 8 of the Blue Jays Pitchers from Yesterday (overlay)

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 10h

it’s me, aubrey plaza accord @sellingtheta.bsky.social · 13h

Olivia Reeves world record snatch at 123kgs and world record clean and jerk at 155kgs at the IWF world championships in Norway yesterday

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 11h

Tomorrow we’ll move to the War Years where a surprise guest at the game created an unforgettable moment for the band on the field at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis.

A special guest, you say?!

(Bo Pelini brings a cat onto the field during Nebraska's Spring Game)

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