College Football thread

[biggentleben]

I'm excited for that, if for no other reason than the exposure.  Missouri just played for the SEC championship for the 2nd straight year, so it's a good sign that the Gophers are chosen to play a foe of that caliber.

[USAFChief]

First New Year's Day Bowl since 1962. And perhaps the least frightening opponent.

[Mike Sixel]

Congrats gophers

[ashbury]

I'm excited for that, if for no other reason than the exposure.  Missouri just played for the SEC championship for the 2nd straight year, so it's a good sign that the Gophers are chosen to play a foe of that caliber.

It wasn't crazy for Mizzou to be on the same field with Bama.  It isn't crazy for the Gophers to be on the same field with Mizzou.  Life is good.

[twinsnorth49]

Well deserved for coach Kill and all the players, Go Gophers!!!

 

This makes up for the Gophers getting dropped out of the rankings, but I'm still pissed.

[stringer bell]

Well deserved for coach Kill and all the players, Go Gophers!!!

 

This makes up for the Gophers getting dropped out of the rankings, but I'm still pissed.

They are #25 in the CFB tabulation and finished #26 in both the AP and USA-Today polls, so a victory would guarantee a ranking at the end of the season. I wanted to see the Gophers play in a New Year's Day bowl and the Citrus is as good as they could do this season. I barely remember them losing a game to Wisconsin in the early '60s which denied them another trip to the Rose Bowl and I thought well they'll get their chances in the future. It's more than fifty years later, and even with all the Bowls expanded, they finally play on New Year's Day for the first time in 52 years. I'll take it.

[twinsnorth49]

They are #25 in the CFB tabulation and finished #26 in both the AP and USA-Today polls, so a victory would guarantee a ranking at the end of the season. I wanted to see the Gophers play in a New Year's Day bowl and the Citrus is as good as they could do this season. I barely remember them losing a game to Wisconsin in the early '60s which denied them another trip to the Rose Bowl and I thought well they'll get their chances in the future. It's more than fifty years later, and even with all the Bowls expanded, they finally play on New Year's Day for the first time in 52 years. I'll take it.

Yeah, 25 in playoff ranking but out of the polls, really the only reason I'm annoyed  is because Nebraska is in, please.

 

First New Years Day bowl in my lifetime, pretty exciting!!  Just as happy for you long suffering old fellers as well!! (looking at you too Chief).

[twinsnorth49]

Gary Anderson leaving Wisconsin for.......Oregon State? Well, all must not be right in Buckyville, after only 2 years and coming off a place in the condeference title game (albeit a 59-0 pounding, tee hee).

 

Rumour has it Bucky is on the cheap with it's assistants pay packages, ranking behind Iowa, Nebraska and our beloved Gophers, none of which pleased Anderson and was a major reason for Bielema heading to Arkansas (none too soon I might add).

 

A few admissions issues had Anderson in a kerfuffle as well apparently but whatever the reason (which is not because Anderson is from that part of the country , like Alvarez is spinning), going on 3 coaches in 4 years is not the way to sell stability to recruits. Hopefully a few commits will see the smoke rising in the distance and head for the safety of other B1G schools, especially ones from Minnesota.

 

Looks good on them.

[biggentleben]

There's a lot of press going around that Alvarez simply has way too much thumbprint on the program still and that coaches that have left for other destinations did so because they felt like they couldn't build the program their way.  Interesting to say the least.

[Mike Sixel]

There's a lot of press going around that Alvarez simply has way too much thumbprint on the program still and that coaches that have left for other destinations did so because they felt like they couldn't build the program their way.  Interesting to say the least.

 

I don't know if it's true, but it would not surprise me even a little if it was. Lots of people are unable to give up control when they switch jobs. 

[FattCrapps]

Maxxxx Williams going pro.  That's too bad.

[USAFChief]

Maxxxx Williams going pro.  That's too bad.

On the one hand, I agree. On the other hand, It'd be ok with me if the Gophs have 3 or 4 going to the NFL early every year.

[biggentleben]

On the one hand, I agree. On the other hand, It'd be ok with me if the Gophs have 3 or 4 going to the NFL early every year.

 

From his perspective, there's not much else he can do in college on an individual level.

[biggentleben]

Very nice start for the Gophers.  Two picks and a key 3rd and long stop for the defense in the first three possessions and the offense is doing what Mizzou struggles with - going straight at the defense.

[biggentleben]

Nice pass by Leidner!

[USAFChief]

What a gutless way to end the first half.

[FattCrapps]

Gonna miss that.

[biggentleben]

Jeez, cannot drop a pass like that, Edwards.  That could have been a TD.  Leidner threw a perfect pass there.

[USAFChief]

I like Kill a lot, but he got badly out coached in this one. He told his team they were not good enough right before the half.

[biggentleben]

I like Kill a lot, but he got badly out coached in this one. He told his team they were not good enough right before the half.

 

This is not an excuse whatsoever as there's no reason the Gophers could not have gotten the W today with some better decisions or different breaks (that Edwards missed pass was absolutely huge in swing of momentum), but there was a tremendously obvious difference in speed/size/skill in the two teams.  The Gophers have come a long ways in that regards, but today was a good reminder that there's a long ways to go.

[USAFChief]

This is not an excuse whatsoever as there's no reason the Gophers could not have gotten the W today with some better decisions or different breaks (that Edwards missed pass was absolutely huge in swing of momentum), but there was a tremendously obvious difference in speed/size/skill in the two teams.  The Gophers have come a long ways in that regards, but today was a good reminder that there's a long ways to go.

If there's a tremendously obvious difference in speed/size/skill, then you're saying Kill can't recruit.

 

I don't buy that.  They were the underdog for a reason, but the differences in ability weren't that big.

 

They shot themselves in the foot some, but IMO the biggest problem was the coaching staff playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.  

[biggentleben]

If there's a tremendously obvious difference in speed/size/skill, then you're saying Kill can't recruit.

 

I don't buy that.  They were the underdog for a reason, but the differences in ability weren't that big.

 

They shot themselves in the foot some, but IMO the biggest problem was the coaching staff playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.  

 

At the top end, no, there wasn't a difference, but the Gophers had one Maxx Williams.  Missouri had multiple guys coming off the bench that were as good or better than the guy they replaced, allowing them to keep guys fresh while also keeping the same level of talent on the field.  That's something Kill is building to, but it's not quite there yet.

[USAFChief]

At the top end, no, there wasn't a difference, but the Gophers had one Maxx Williams.  Missouri had multiple guys coming off the bench that were as good or better than the guy they replaced, allowing them to keep guys fresh while also keeping the same level of talent on the field.  That's something Kill is building to, but it's not quite there yet.

All the more reason not to waste an offensive possession when behind, at your own 36 yard line, with a first down, 50 seconds left, and all three time outs.

 

If you are so badly outmatched talent wise, why waste a possession?  You need to maximize any possibility.  Play to win.

 

He got outcoached.  He told his team they weren't good enough.  Plain and simple.

 

Doesn't mean he's not the right guy, or that he can't do better in the future.

 

But that was gutless, and embarrassing, and IMO absolutely contributed to the loss.

[twinsnorth49]

I tend to agree with Chief on this one, although not quite so harshly. The message Kill sent, however unintentional was that he was satisfied with the score being that close, as if they were lucky for it to be that way.

[biggentleben]

I don't disagree at all with the desire to go for it at the end of the half.  That part bugged me.  I'm just stating that there are other reasons as well.  I'm honestly quite happy with the Gophers season, especially in light of how the Big Ten has fared in their bowl games.  The conference may have been looked down on throughout the season, but the elite of the Big Ten is playing with and defeating the elite of other, more highly-regarded conferences this bowl season, and the Gophers finished in the top half of the conference, which says something for where Minnesota is as a program.  Yesterday's game was an unfortunate hiccup in the building, but you can't expect to run before you master walking, and the Gophers had to go back to complete redevelopment of the program to the crawling stage.

[twinsnorth49]

Agreed, the result doesn't change my opinion of where Kill has this program heading.

[Mike Sixel]

Wasn't the first time Kill didn't try to score or move the ball, when you are worse than the other teams, you need to take more chances, not less, or you are just playing into the odds.

 

I'll reserve opinion on Kill for another year or so, but it would be nice to win more than 1 game against a legit team.....