MINNEAPOLIS -- After becoming the first team in Big Ten history to have three running backs earn conference player of the week honors in the same season, Minnesota coach Glen Mason was wondering if a name change was in order.
"I guess we're getting the reputation as Tailback U," Mason said Tuesday.
Perhaps a more appropriate nickname would be the Minnesota Broncos, because the Golden Gophers are fast becoming the NCAA's version of the NFL's Denver Broncos, who seem to have success in the running game no matter who is carrying the ball.
In last week's victory over Michigan State, third-string running back Amir Pinnix rushed for 206 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries after managing just two carries in the previous five games combined.
"I told him, 'Good things happen to good people,"' Mason said. "I really felt good that Amir Pinnix got a chance to play and he played extremely well.
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He's been waiting very patiently, and he has ability and he showed that. He's been behind some good football players, and he's not getting to play as much as he would like."
Pinnix joined teammates Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell as winners of the Big Ten player of the week.
Running behind one of the best offensive lines in the country, the Gophers are averaging 295 yards rushing a game.
Maroney leads the way with 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns, Russell has rushed for 967 yards and 17 touchdowns and Pinnix has 448 yards and the one score in spot duty.
"Somebody asked me why we run the ball so much and I said, 'Because we're the Gophers,"' Mason joked. "If we were the Eagles, we'd throw the ball more."
Russell is just 33 yards away from the Gophers having two 1,000-yard rushers for the third straight season. Maroney and Marion Barber III, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, became the first tandem in NCAA history to each top 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons the two previous years.
The Gophers picked up right where they left off last year, with Maroney and Russell becoming a powerful one-two punch.
But on Saturday against the Spartans, Maroney sat out with an injured ankle and Russell was shaken up on a big hit in the first quarter.
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That opened the door for Pinnix, who had two carries in a victory over Indiana two weeks ago, but not one in the previous four games counting the Big Ten opener against Purdue that he missed due to injury.
"He's just as good as us," Maroney said. "You can't play us all at the same time. I know he can get the job done. If he wasn't here, he could start somewhere else."
Mason said he spoke often to Pinnix, as he does to most of his players, to make sure the youngster didn't lose faith. He was impressed by Pinnix's attitude and willingness to stay the course.
"I always anticipate there's a problem even when there might not be one," Mason said. "I love to see those kids who are hard working guys like that, who keep their great attitude, get a chance to play and they make the most of it."
He's not the only one. Pinnix has received plenty of well wishes from family, teammates and friends.
"Everybody was just proud of the fact that I maintained and I stayed focus and I just waited for my turn," Pinnix said. "I just want to keep working hard and stay humble."
Pinnix's success hasn't thrown a wrench into the team chemistry of the running backs. All three support each other and push each other every day in practice.
"Those are my brothers," Pinnix said of Maroney and Russell. "Each one of us is very competitive. It just makes each person hungrier."
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That's the way Mason likes it.
"I hope the guy that is in there is saying, 'I better run real fast because there are two guys behind me. If I want to play I got to keep it going,' " Mason said.
