Gophers Football

[Badsmerf]

Perhaps Georgia Southern can't be classified as awful, but a big 10 team beating a sun belt team isn't noteworthy.

 

For context, LSU - an actual great team, beat Georgia Southern by 52 points.

This team obviously isn't great, but they are good. The big ten west isn't awesome this year, but Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota are pretty good. I dare LSU to come up and play a black Saturday game against the gophers. I dare any SEC team to play in the big ten in November. Wisconsin was a bad match up for bad weather conditions.

 

Going 10-2 in as power 5 conference is good. Clemson still hasn't beat a team that could be considered good.

[Mr. Brooks]

This team obviously isn't great, but they are good. The big ten west isn't awesome this year, but Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota are pretty good. I dare LSU to come up and play a black Saturday game against the gophers. I dare any SEC team to play in the big ten in November. Wisconsin was a bad match up for bad weather conditions.

 

Going 10-2 in as power 5 conference is good. Clemson still hasn't beat a team that could be considered good.

I agree the Gophers are good. I just don't think they're great. A great team doesn't lose both Iowa and Wisconsin games. They at least split.

I think new year's day games should be reserved for great teams.

 

Clemson has 3 wins against top 25 teams, including one win against a top 10 team. I'm not sure what schedule you're looking at.

 

EDIT: Incorrect info on Clemson schedule, oops.

[Mr. Brooks]

As for the weather being a bad matchup against Wisconsin: someone might want to tell PJ that they play in an outdoor stadium in Minnesota. If cold snowy weather is ever a disadvantage to the home team, that's 100% on recruiting.

[gunnarthor]

Here's Clemson's schedule - https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228

 

Texas A&M was ranked (12) at the time but fell out of the top 25. I don't see any other ranked teams. Maybe I'm missing something or the teams became ranked afterwards?

 

I think the Gophers fit well in the top 15ish tier and have a puncher's chance against a handful of teams in the tier above them but would get blown away by the truly great teams that will be in the playoffs. I imagine Ohio State will put up 50+ against Wisconsin again in the Big 10 championship game. 

[Mr. Brooks]

Here's Clemson's schedule - https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228

 

Texas A&M was ranked (12) at the time but fell out of the top 25. I don't see any other ranked teams. Maybe I'm missing something or the teams became ranked afterwards?

 

I think the Gophers fit well in the top 15ish tier and have a puncher's chance against a handful of teams in the tier above them but would get blown away by the truly great teams that will be in the playoffs. I imagine Ohio State will put up 50+ against Wisconsin again in the Big 10 championship game.

Oops, my bad for assuming that Google would know I want the current schedule, not 2017.

You're right, it is a pretty weak schedule.

[Vanimal46]

Would be nice to see the Gophers play in one B1G Championship game in my lifetime... I’m sure they would get blown out by Ohio State but it’s still something I’d like to see.

 

I hope this isn’t the peak we’ll see in the Fleck era. The road is only going to get more difficult when they have to play Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State again.

[Mr. Brooks]

Would be nice to see the Gophers play in one B1G Championship game in my lifetime... I’m sure they would get blown out by Ohio State but it’s still something I’d like to see.

 

I hope this isn’t the peak we’ll see in the Fleck era. The road is only going to get more difficult when they have to play Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State again.

As disappointed as I am in this loss, I'm confident we haven't seen the peak of this team. Fleck needs to recruit some legit running backs though, and some reinforcements for the front 7 on defense. And have a long talk with whomever thinks it's a good idea to give Rodney Smith the bulk of the carries, I don't get that.

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe don't run the ball on third and ten, twice in the second half, basically giving up the drive? Play to win....

[Badsmerf]

As disappointed as I am in this loss, I'm confident we haven't seen the peak of this team. Fleck needs to recruit some legit running backs though, and some reinforcements for the front 7 on defense. And have a long talk with whomever thinks it's a good idea to give Rodney Smith the bulk of the carries, I don't get that.

Agree with this. Brooks looked like the real deal before his injuries, and has been progressively better every game. They have a blue chip RB from Kansas committed.

 

Morgan and Bateman are still young. Bateman might declare after next year if he has a big year. There is a good chance this team is better next year. Fleck is still young too, he'll get better at putting together gameplans and helping make adjustments.

 

I think a mid-teens ranking is appropriate.

[howeda7]

 

I'm still rowing the boat too, but if this team gets a new years day bowl game then college football is broken. They've literally only beaten one good team. That one was a good win, but it's still just one. The rest of the wins were against awful teams.

This is a silly standard. Who has Alabama beat? Who has Clemson beat? Who has Utah beat? If the standard is "2 or more win against top 15 teams" almost no one should ever go to a New Year's Bowl. Illinois turned out better than expected. Nebraska and Maryland worse. The Gophers don't have to apologize for who they played. And they won most of those games convincingly.

[howeda7]

 

 

Would be nice to see the Gophers play in one B1G Championship game in my lifetime... I’m sure they would get blown out by Ohio State but it’s still something I’d like to see.

I hope this isn’t the peak we’ll see in the Fleck era. The road is only going to get more difficult when they have to play Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State again.

Next year they swap PSU for Michigan (a draw at worst) and Rutgers for Michigan State (no one is as bad as Rutgers, but MSU is very winnable.).

[Mr. Brooks]

This is a silly standard. Who has Alabama beat? Who has Clemson beat? Who has Utah beat? If the standard is "2 or more win against top 15 teams" almost no one should ever go to a New Year's Bowl. Illinois turned out better than expected. Nebraska and Maryland worse. The Gophers don't have to apologize for who they played. And they won most of those games convincingly.

Why did you put "2 or more wins against top 15" in quotations, since I certainly never said that?

They beat one good team, one. I said nothing of the rankings of teams they played.

They don't have to apologize for their schedule, and the Penn State win was a great win. But their schedule afforded them the opportunity to affirm that they were a great team (Iowa and Wisconsin) and they shrunk in the moment.

 

If the argument is that they don't get to pick their schedule, all they can do is play it, then there is two things I'd say.

 

1) They do get to choose their nonconference schedule. There is no rule that says they have to schedule cream puffs.

 

2) They didn't beat the schedule that was given to them. They beat all the bad teams, then had an awesome win against Penn State, that they don't have to give back, but then ultimately came up short when the games mattered.

 

I'm not saying they have to be embarrassed or anything. It was a good, but far from great season. Hopefully it will make them better in the future because of it. But, for this year, they aren't a great team, and I feel that new year's day bowls should be for great teams.

[Badsmerf]

I believe gophers can compete with anyone outside the top 8. When 4 of those teams are not going to be in a NYD bowl, that leaves the next group/tier. Current projections have them playing Tennessee in the Outback... whom the gophers should crush. I'm not sure why it isn't Florida or Auburn, who would be great matchups.

[howeda7]

 

Why did you put "2 or more wins against top 15" in quotations, since I certainly never said that?
They beat one good team, one. I said nothing of the rankings of teams they played.
They don't have to apologize for their schedule, and the Penn State win was a great win. But their schedule afforded them the opportunity to affirm that they were a great team (Iowa and Wisconsin) and they shrunk in the moment.

If the argument is that they don't get to pick their schedule, all they can do is play it, then there is two things I'd say.

1) They do get to choose their nonconference schedule. There is no rule that says they have to schedule cream puffs.

2) They didn't beat the schedule that was given to them. They beat all the bad teams, then had an awesome win against Penn State, that they don't have to give back, but then ultimately came up short when the games mattered.

I'm not saying they have to be embarrassed or anything. It was a good, but far from great season. Hopefully it will make them better in the future because of it. But, for this year, they aren't a great team, and I feel that new year's day bowls should be for great teams.

My only point is that they have one very good win and some of the teams ranked in front of them have no top 15 or top 10 wins at all (Alabama, Iowa, Memphis etc.). Very few have 2.

 

Their NC schedule this year didn't pan out all that great. But playing a road game at Fresno State when they won 11 games last year is not scheduling cream puffs. They simply fell off a lot from one year to the next. Most years they are equal to or better than a mid-tier Power 5 team.

 

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I believe gophers can compete with anyone outside the top 8. When 4 of those teams are not going to be in a NYD bowl, that leaves the next group/tier. Current projections have them playing Tennessee in the Outback... whom the gophers should crush. I'm not sure why it isn't Florida or Auburn, who would be great matchups.

We feel drastically different about the quality if this team.

That's fine, but it's the root of our disagreement.

 

They weren't competitive at home against Wisconsin. So I respectfully disagree that they can compete with anyone outside of the top 25. Based on the Wisconsin and Iowa games, I think they'll struggle to beat any ranked team.

[Mr. Brooks]

My only point is that they have one very good win and some of the teams ranked in front of them have no top 15 or top 10 wins at all (Alabama, Iowa, Memphis etc.). Very few have 2.

 

Their NC schedule this year didn't pan out all that great. But playing a road game at Fresno State when they won 11 games last year is not scheduling cream puffs. They simply fell off a lot from one year to the next. Most years they are equal to or better than a mid-tier Power 5 team.

Ok, but Fresno State is just one game.

Scheduling a team like South Dakota is a joke, IMO.

[Badsmerf]

We feel drastically different about the quality if this team.

That's fine, but it's the root of our disagreement.

 

They weren't competitive at home against Wisconsin. So I respectfully disagree that they can compete with anyone outside of the top 25. Based on the Wisconsin and Iowa games, I think they'll struggle to beat any ranked team.

They outplayed Iowa for most of the game. They are a better team than Iowa. If they played again, I'd very heavy on the gophers.

 

Yeah, they weren't great against Wisconsin. I think Wisconsin is a bad match up in cold wet conditions. Where the talent gap exists, favors Wisconsin heavily in those conditions. Game didn't go their way after the great early start.

 

We'll get to see what they can do at the bowl. I'll be surprised if they get blown out by anyone outside of Alabama. They are the potential matchup I see as much better.

[howeda7]

 

Ok, but Fresno State is just one game.
Scheduling a team like South Dakota is a joke, IMO.

Plenty of teams schedule FCS opponents and SDSU is one of the best. They could beat Rutgers and probably Maryland easily. They were not the worst team on our schedule.

[stringer bell]

After the Twins I follow Gopher football and basketball. I am old enough to remember the Sports Peach in the Minneapolis paper when the Gophers game was more important than the Vikings game was on the following day. 

 

IMHO, this team was the best since the Rose Bowl teams of the very early sixties. The best Mason team and the best Kill team were pretty close to this outfit. The schedule broke right in a lot of ways--Maryland, Nebraska, and Purdue were played at the right time and all had pretty bad years. Minnesota played Illinois when they were flailing and beat a very good Penn State team. That they could not secure either the Pig or the Axe leaves me unfulfilled, for sure. 

 

The point here is will the program continue to improve? I believe they should be able to compete with Iowa and Wisconsin on a yearly basis and that they should be able to win the West B1G on a fairly regular basis. The program appears to me to be one step from that reality. 

[#1ShaneMackFan]

 

We feel drastically different about the quality if this team.
That's fine, but it's the root of our disagreement.

They weren't competitive at home against Wisconsin. So I respectfully disagree that they can compete with anyone outside of the top 25. Based on the Wisconsin and Iowa games, I think they'll struggle to beat any ranked team.

But they beat Penn State. How is that different from Wisconsin? They were also more than competitive at Iowa.  They blew it, but were easily competitive. Also, they blew out Wisconsin at their place just a year ago. Let it go. It was one game. It completely sucked, but that's sports. If you can't see how good they were and where they are headed, then go root for someone else. 

 

If you actually take a serious look at the teams outside of the top 3, you see they are all about the same. They all have warts. They all play similar schedules. And they all can beat each other on a given day.

[ashbury]

They were also more than competitive at Iowa.  They blew it, but were easily competitive. Also, they blew out Wisconsin at their place just a year ago. Let it go. It was one game. It completely sucked, but that's sports.

Don't you think Penn State fans are saying something similar, from their perspective? I took a look at a site called Lions24/7 - here's a thread the day after that game:

 

https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/board/18/Contents/report-card-penn-stateminnesota-138249612/

 

"I'm tough on some of these, but I'll bet the players and coaches are going to be even tougher on themselves when they go over things tomorrow."

 

"We came out flat and paid for it. Minny played like it was their super bowl"

 

"Look at our talent vs their talent. Should we have lost? Horrible coaching as usual."

 

Same thing as we're saying about Iowa, pretty much. Every team has their coulda/woulda/shouldas.

[Mr. Brooks]

But they beat Penn State. How is that different from Wisconsin? They were also more than competitive at Iowa. They blew it, but were easily competitive. Also, they blew out Wisconsin at their place just a year ago. Let it go. It was one game. It completely sucked, but that's sports. If you can't see how good they were and where they are headed, then go root for someone else.

 

If you actually take a serious look at the teams outside of the top 3, you see they are all about the same. They all have warts. They all play similar schedules. And they all can beat each other on a given day.

It was one game, but it was the biggest game in most of our lifetimes.

Penn State was a great win, but there was no pressure on the Gophers.

The Wisconsin game was for a Conference championship game, against our biggest rival, at home. The pressure was high, and they responded by completely disappearing. To me, that says a lot about who they are as a team.

 

You disagree, you think it's just one game and the loss doesn't signal anything aside from that they lost one game.

 

That's fine, not everyone has to agree, but please have enough respect not to demand that people have to be a fan your way or not at all.

 

I already said they have nothing to be embarrassed about, they had a good season, and had an awesome win against Penn State.

I also said I don't think we've seen the best of the Fleck era yet.

 

I'm somewhat sour because after the Penn State win I was fooled into thinking this team was special. They weren't. When it mattered, and the season came down to one game they didn't show up.

I'm still hopeful though that Fleck can make some recruiting adjustments and build a great team soon.

[Badsmerf]

A wise man once said... "They are who we thought they were."

 

This team had a great season. Hopefully they get a good match up in their bowl game, and we can see how they perform against another good team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

A wise man once said... "They are who we thought they were."

 

Does that mean you're crowning their ass?

[#1ShaneMackFan]

 

It was one game, but it was the biggest game in most of our lifetimes.
Penn State was a great win, but there was no pressure on the Gophers.
The Wisconsin game was for a Conference championship game, against our biggest rival, at home. The pressure was high, and they responded by completely disappearing. To me, that says a lot about who they are as a team.

You disagree, you think it's just one game and the loss doesn't signal anything aside from that they lost one game.

That's fine, not everyone has to agree, but please have enough respect not to demand that people have to be a fan your way or not at all.

I already said they have nothing to be embarrassed about, they had a good season, and had an awesome win against Penn State.
I also said I don't think we've seen the best of the Fleck era yet.

I'm somewhat sour because after the Penn State win I was fooled into thinking this team was special. They weren't. When it mattered, and the season came down to one game they didn't show up.
I'm still hopeful though that Fleck can make some recruiting adjustments and build a great team soon.

Three weeks earlier the Penn State game was the biggest game in our lifetimes. They showed up and played amazing. I'm just not seeing the distinction. They won one and lost one. 

 

I was more than disappointed and frustrated against Wisconsin. I'm just focusing on the big picture. The Minnesota Gophers went 10-2 and completely dominated half their Big Ten games. I rewatched the game last night. They got blown out in the fourth quarter. That was a game for three quarters. They showed up. Unfortunately the coaches didn't. They coached differently than every game this year. I am at a loss to understand why. I have no big picture concerns about Fleck, but I cannot believe how he coached that game.

[#1ShaneMackFan]

 

Don't you think Penn State fans are saying something similar, from their perspective? I took a look at a site called Lions24/7 - here's a thread the day after that game:

 

https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/board/18/Contents/report-card-penn-stateminnesota-138249612/

 

"I'm tough on some of these, but I'll bet the players and coaches are going to be even tougher on themselves when they go over things tomorrow."

 

"We came out flat and paid for it. Minny played like it was their super bowl"

 

"Look at our talent vs their talent. Should we have lost? Horrible coaching as usual."

 

Same thing as we're saying about Iowa, pretty much. Every team has their coulda/woulda/shouldas.

I'm sure they are. That wasn't the point of my response. The point was to respond to the notion that we "would struggle to beat any ranked team." This team was clearly good enough to compete with and beat ranked teams this year.  

[gunnarthor]

I read an ESPN article that predicted the Gophers would play Alabama on Jan 1 in the Outback bowl. Wouldn't that be something? I think they'd crush us but still, playing Alabama on Jan 1? Yes, please.

[Badsmerf]

I read an ESPN article that predicted the Gophers would play Alabama on Jan 1 in the Outback bowl. Wouldn't that be something? I think they'd crush us but still, playing Alabama on Jan 1? Yes, please.

I think Alabama has too much talent for this team. I'm hoping for Auburn. They got lucky against Alabama and would be a much better match up for the gophers.

 

Now that Utah lost, pac 12 is out of the playoff. LSU beating Georgia knocks them out. The way I see it:

 

Rose:Wisconsin/Penn State vs Oregon

Sugar: Georgia vs Utah

Citrus: Florida vs Penn State/Wisconsin (gophers match up well with Florida)

Outback: Minn vs Auburn/Alabama

 

Next SEC bowls are TaxSlayer vs ACC/B1G or Liberty vs Big 12. Alabama could get matched with Baylor. The bowls want competitive games. Michigan could jump Minnesota in the selection too.

[Badsmerf]

Outback against Auburn it is. Should be a good one. Interested to see how they do against a team that beat Oregon and Alabama.

[biggentleben]

 

Outback against Auburn it is. Should be a good one. Interested to see how they do against a team that beat Oregon and Alabama.

If I were to pick the matchup of the rumored potential ones that I wanted to see most, this was the one. Now they need to go show out.