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Tom Powers: In first game after Kill, a rough start for Gophers

Goodbye Jerry, hello heartbreak.

Fans came to TCF Stadium to pay their respects to the Jerry Kill era on Saturday night. And while they were there, they were reminded of just how maddening Gopher football can be.

Three days after Kill tearfully resigned as head coach due to health reasons, Tracy Claeys led the Golden Gophers onto the field against Michigan at TCF Stadium. A night that began in glorious fashion ended in a last-second Minnesota loss, 29-26, even as the crowd was chanting "Jer-ry, Jer-ry!"

"Obviously, it's been a tough week for us," Claeys said.