Gophers bring 'Dramatic Chipmunk' meme distraction back to TCF Bank Stadium

Try to kick a field goal with that giant rodent staring out at you.

That's the challenge Gophers football opponents will face this year – to kick a ball through the uprights while the chipmunk-looking creature dramatically glares down from a 48-foot-high, 108-foot-wide screen.

The image is from the original "Dramatic Chipmunk" video, which to date has been seen more than 42 million times (and that's not counting the millions of views on spin-off videos). Here's the original if you haven't seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

The popular "Dramatic" Internet meme – which is technically a prairie dog, but is often referred to as a chipmunk or gopher – debuted last fall at TCF Bank Stadium, and made its return Saturday when Minnesota beat Middle Tennessee 35-24. Middle Tennessee kicker Cody Clark went up against the animal's gaze once and actually connected, converting a 21-yeard field goal attempt in the third quarter to get within 28-10.

But the Gopher Football Twitter account seems undeterred.

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The Gophers Football Twitter account also said the video will be used whenever an opponent kicks a field goal facing that scoreboard. (Season-opening opponent Eastern Illinois University did not attempt a kick doing that direction, so the meme did not make an appearance).

The University unveiled the meme distraction last fall, during a Nov. 23 game against Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin won the game 20-7. But the dramatic rodent did work one of the two times it was used.

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