Gophers Football

[Vanimal46]

Highest Gopher ranking in my lifetime as well, and would be for anyone under the age of 57. Truly a remarkable run by this team.

Yep. We've seen so many lean years of Gopher football. This year has been a blast to watch. I was a little skeptical of PJ Fleck's schtick at the beginning, but he is the real deal.

[USAFChief]

 

The highest the Gophers have been in my lifetime. While I'm no Chief, I'm no spring chicken, either. Very nice run.

 

Highest Gopher ranking in my lifetime as well, and would be for anyone under the age of 57. Truly a remarkable run by this team.

GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

[USAFChief]

In all seriousness, whether you like Fleck's schtick or not, there's no denying his teams tend to be well coached. 

 

Few mental mistakes, few penalties, willing and able to throw and run the ball when appropriate. Apparent "buy-in" up and down the roster. Confident, decisive players. He and his staff appear to be able to identify underrated recruits with more talent than stars. 

 

There's more to this than slogans and bluster.

 

 

[Badsmerf]

In all seriousness, whether you like Fleck's schtick or not, there's no denying his teams tend to be well coached.

 

Few mental mistakes, few penalties, willing and able to throw and run the ball when appropriate. Apparent "buy-in" up and down the roster. Confident, decisive players. He and his staff appear to be able to identify underrated recruits with more talent than stars.

 

There's more to this than slogans and bluster.

I've been super impressed with the lack of mental errors and solid fundamentals on this team. Fleck is going to have problems keeping his coaches at Minnesota.

[biggentleben]

 

In all seriousness, whether you like Fleck's schtick or not, there's no denying his teams tend to be well coached. 

 

Few mental mistakes, few penalties, willing and able to throw and run the ball when appropriate. Apparent "buy-in" up and down the roster. Confident, decisive players. He and his staff appear to be able to identify underrated recruits with more talent than stars. 

 

There's more to this than slogans and bluster.

 

More than anything, this is what wins in college football. Yes, you want to have a rallying point to get behind, but while doing that, the team that makes the fewest errors almost always ends up the victor in collegiate athletics, even when the teams have a significant talent disparity.

[Mike Sixel]

More than anything, this is what wins in college football. Yes, you want to have a rallying point to get behind, but while doing that, the team that makes the fewest errors almost always ends up the victor in collegiate athletics, even when the teams have a significant talent disparity.

I know you played, and I trust your takes, but far superior talent will win the most. It's not like Ohio State it's mistake free year after year....

 

Closer talent, mistakes matter a ton. But far superior talent?

[biggentleben]

 

I know you played, and I trust your takes, but far superior talent will win the most. It's not like Ohio State it's mistake free year after year....

Closer talent, mistakes matter a ton. But far superior talent?

 

Happens more than you may want to admit. Appy State and Michigan. Navy and Notre Dame in '08 or '07. Temple and Virginia Tech in the late-90s. Stanford and USC when the Trojans were studs. In the majority of situations, sure, but if there is a chance for a team of lesser talent to win, it's not trick plays or even just turnovers. It's a day where every offensive line assignment is nailed, every defensive lane and coverage assignment is nailed, etc. In general, you want the talent to be at least nearly equal, but for most teams in a power 5 conference, the talent disparity is not extreme, it's the execution and maximization of that talent.

 

A quick for instance...Seth Green was fairly touted as a HS QB. He was obviously misfit as an every down quarterback, but the team has used his ability to run an offense in their "Green Wave" package and in other packages on the field in different positions. Maximizing a player's talent, rather than forcing a square peg in a round hole or tossing said peg aside when it doesn't fit, is a huge thing that Fleck does that's not been done well recently.

[USAFChief]

https://www.si.com/college/2019/11/15/minnesota-pj-fleck-big-ten

 

Really nice article from SI.

[Badsmerf]

https://www.si.com/college/2019/11/15/minnesota-pj-fleck-big-ten

 

Really nice article from SI.

I guess nothing happening athletically means women's teams, hockey, and wrestling don't matter. You don't really have to look far to see success in sports from Minnesota....

[Badsmerf]

Gophers I a tough one. Tyler Johnson drops a pass on 4rth and 4 that could have evened the game. If they march down and score this possession I line their chances.

[Mike Sixel]

Pj going on the field is probably the difference in this game....ugh. We'll see, but ugh.

[Mike Sixel]

I should have known better than to care

[Mike Sixel]

I'd drop them to about twentieth.

[gunnarthor]

Man, a Minnesota football team hosed by their kicking game. That never happens.

 

In all honesty, getting the ball with a chance at the end of the game was about all we could hope for from this game. Left a lot of points on the field. We should have won, which is nice to say about the Gophers football team.

[biggentleben]

Dropped a sure INT, Johnson and Bateman had multiple drops, o-line missed assignments all game, and then of course, missed kicks. All that, and they lost by what the gambling line for the game was at kickoff.

[Badsmerf]

I think it is pretty clear gophers are the better team, just didn't play well enough to win. First 3 possessions going for TDs was tough to come back from. 4th and 4 and your senior NFL bound WR drops a pass that would be 1st and goal is hard to come back from.

 

Is what it is. Iowa is a tough team. Big ten is a tough conference. Hopefully they can come back and beat Northwestern and Wisconsin. Then, go all in Ohio State. A rose Bowl birth would still be awesome.

[Badsmerf]

After watching Oklahoma and Baylor... I really think the gophers can play with anyone in the second tier of the country. They deserve the 8th ranking. Will obviously fall a bit after this loss, but should still be above 15.

[Vanimal46]

The Cinderella run to the final 4 playoffs may be over... But there's still a lot to play for. I'd love to see them play in the B1G championship game.

[#1ShaneMackFan]

 

The Cinderella run to the final 4 playoffs may be over... But there's still a lot to play for. I'd love to see them play in the B1G championship game.

It's not over. Lots of fun left. Playoffs are still in play by running the table. People who jump off right away have no idea what is happening here. 

 

Morgan better not be out though. That would probably end all dreams.

Edited November 18, 2019 by #1ShaneMackFan

[Badsmerf]

It's not over. Lots of fun left. Playoffs are still in play by running the table. People who jump off right away have no idea what is happening here.

 

Morgan better not be out though. That would probably end all dreams.

Out against Northwestern probably won't be a big. Out against Wisconsin... forget about it.

[biggentleben]

Something brought out on Twitter today. The Gophers went 364 days between losses.

 

It's been a long, long time since the program could say that.

[Badsmerf]

Morgan and Bateman are sophomores. Add long as both guys are on this team, they'll be pretty good. I could see PJ pulling in a big time DE/LB too. He was able to recruit some good guys before success, I'm interested to see what he can pull in with success. No reason Minnesota shouldn't beat everyone in the big ten west in recruiting. It will take a while to beat Michigan and Ohio State, but sustained success will.

[nokomismod]

Everything is still possible for this team except going undefeated. This game hurt a lot because mistakes cost the game.

Tyler Johnson had an amazing game and then drops that pass on 4th down where he could have scored a td. Still feeling bummed about this one.

[howeda7]

 

I'd drop them to about twentieth.

Losing on the road to the #20 team is not cause to plummet 12 spots in the rankings. 12th is where they are in AP/Coaches and is about right.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Losing on the road to the #20 team is not cause to plummet 12 spots in the rankings. 12th is where they are in AP/Coaches and is about right.

 

I don't think they are the 12th best team in the country. I'm ok with others thinking they are.....they've played two good teams, and are 1-1 in those games. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

Everything is still possible for this team except going undefeated. This game hurt a lot because mistakes cost the game.

Tyler Johnson had an amazing game and then drops that pass on 4th down where he could have scored a td. Still feeling bummed about this one.

They play Northwestern and Wisconsin. If they win both, they will play the winner of Penn State - Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship.

 

If they win all three, they will be 12-1 and have wins against Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State or two against Penn State. Do they get to the BCS?

[Badsmerf]

They play Northwestern and Wisconsin. If they win both, they will play the winner of Penn State - Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship.

 

If they win all three, they will be 12-1 and have wins against Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State or two against Penn State. Do they get to the BCS?

Yes. They would easily have the best 1 loss resume in the country, and possibly the best outright. Have to beat Bucky first.

[Badsmerf]

Yawn. Another easy big ten win. Showdown with Wisconsin for the big ten west next weekend in Minneapolis should be a packed crowd. Maybe gameday will show up.

[ashbury]

Is that the most points scored by Northwestern in a Big Ten game this season? Worrisome.

[Badsmerf]

Is that the most points scored by Northwestern in a Big Ten game this season? Worrisome.

I think they let the foot off the gas pretty early. Northwestern was averaging .4 yards per play at the end of the first half.