Rodrick Williams wants to silence the trash talk he's heard on trips home to Texas.
When the Gophers senior running back visits family and friends in Lewisville, they tell him Minnesota can't compete with teams from the South.
"I'm ready to shut that theory down," Williams said.
The Gophers lost to Texas Christian 30-7 last season, and Williams' roots provide a deeper motivation for the season opener against the second-ranked Horned Frogs Thursday at TCF Bank Stadium.
"I'm really fired up for this game," said Williams, who grew up about 35 miles from TCU's home in Fort Worth.