First-year Minnesota football Coach Glen Mason has fond memories of the Iowa State football program, and not just because his former Kansas teams posted a 6-2-1 record against the Cyclones.

Mason, 47, served as an assistant coach at ISU under Earle Bruce during the 1975 and 1976 seasons.

Mason was the offensive line coach on ISU’s 1976 team which finished with a 8-3 record, including a memorable victory over then ninth-ranked Nebraska, 37-28.

“I really enjoyed my two years (in Ames),” Mason said. “I still know a lot of people down there. I don’t get down to Ames near as much as I’d like, but my experiences there being a Cyclone and turning the program around were a lot of fun.”

As a head coach for 11 seasons, Mason owns a career record of 59-64-1.

Mason was hired by Minnesota in an attempt to turn around the football program, much like he did at the University of Kansas.

Mason’s Golden Gophers will play ISU (0-2) on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Minnesota is 0-1 after losing to Hawaii, 17-3, on August 30.

Minnesota and ISU’s teams are similar this season in that both are trying to adapt to a new offensive philosophy.

But unlike the Cyclones, Minnesota is trying to switch to more of a rushing offense.

Quarterback Cory Sauter leads the Minnesota offense. Sauter is a three-year starter who has thrown for over 200 yards in a game 13 times in his career.

Even with Sauter’s credentials, Mason hinted that Minnesota might rely on the running game more in the future. Minnesota threw for 121 yards against Hawaii and ran for 100 yards.

“If I had my choice of I could only run it well or pass it well, I’d go with run it well,” Mason said. “(Sauter’s) had to adapt quite a bit. I think by all accounts that Cory’s performance was sub-par against Hawaii, but so was our total offense.”

Mason also said Sauter should not bear the sole responsibility for the Gophers’ lack of offensive production.

“The quarterback probably receives way too much credit when the offense rolls and way too much criticism when it doesn’t roll,” he said.

ISU football Coach Dan McCarney finds himself also trying to boost up his team’s rushing totals, not out of style so much, as out of necessity.

ISU rushed for 63 yards in a season-opening 21-14 loss to Oklahoma State and 59 yards in a 56-10 loss at Wyoming last week. The Cyclones passed for a combined 483 yards in those games.

“We’ve had a real good chance to be a real good passing-type offense, but we have to establish the running game,” McCarney said. “Otherwise, people are going to be going up to the line and they’re going to stick their rear ends up in the air as high as they can get … and sprint every snap, just thinking about tackling the quarterback.”

McCarney blamed some of the problems of the running game on his team’s lack of experience on the offensive line.

“We got (Oliver) Ross who’s played two games of college football at left tackle, and we’ve got center Marc Cortez who’s played two games of college football and whoever we use at right guard, it’s the first time they’ve hit the field,” McCarney said.

“It just takes time. The two positions I think are always toughest to coach and to learn as a player are the offensive line and the (defensive) secondary,” he said.

On the injury front, McCarney said senior defensive tackle Rudy Ruffolo is having surgery on his torn pectoral muscle.

“We don’t anticipate him coming back at all this season,” McCarney said.

“I feel real bad for him, because he was one of the most improved players from last season up until the opener against Oklahoma State,” he said.

McCarney did say the news was more encouraging for tailback Darren Davis and senior strong safety Tracy Williams, although both are ruled out for the Minnesota game.

“Darren Davis won’t play this week, but we definitely anticipate him coming back and playing,” McCarney said. “It is absolutely a week-to-week situation with him.”

Williams is a two-year starter who was injured in the Oklahoma State game.

“Tracy Williams, with the knee, definitely won’t play this week, but we really think that he has a chance to be back and hopefully real soon,” McCarney said. “He’s making a lot of progress.”