ESPN: Best case/worst case: Minnesota Golden Gophers (Kill gets cast in "Fargo")

[BleedGopher]

ESPN: Best case/worst case: Minnesota Golden Gophers (Kill gets cast in "Fargo")

per ESPN:

Best Case:

The Gophers can't overcome Ohio State in the rematch at the Big Ten championship game, but with their only two losses coming respectfully at the hands of the Buckeyes, they get a nice consolation prize: the program's first Rose Bowl berth since 1962. Surly hauls 10 trucks full of prime suds to Pasadena, and it's a Goldy in the Golden State.

Wisconsin and Iowa finish with losing records. The Vikings win the Super Bowl. After winning his second straight Big Ten coach of the year award, Kill gets cast in a small role for the third season of "Fargo."

You betcha!

Worst Case:

Ohio State overwhelms the Gophers in Columbus. Now reeling and beaten up from the schedule, Minnesota loses the pig in Iowa City. Wisconsin makes it a dirty dozen in the Axe series.

The 5-7 season and sorry finish have people questioning the direction of the program. Wisconsin makes the playoff and Iowa has a bounce-back campaign. The Vikings stink again. America reinstates prohibition. Dairy Queen discontinues the Dilly Bar. "Fargo" casts Tim Brewster as its Season 3 lead.

It's a long, lonely winter in the ice shanties.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/122342/best-caseworst-case-minnesota-golden-gophers

Go Gophers!!

 

[LakerFan]

Using some of the skills he learned at the Manning Passing Academy this summer, Leidner is heard on TV repeatedly shouting "Omaha!" as the Gophers beat Nebraska for the third straight year on Oct. 17. That improves their record to 7-0 as they climb into the top 10.

This above from the story is a real gem!

 

[Spoofin]

Wow, they did a nice job of summarizing what would be a worst case scenario.

 

[Iceland12]

"The Gophers have been steadily building under Jerry Kill, and 2015 is the year of the big breakthrough.

It all starts in two weeks, when Minnesota's suffocating defense (which produces a pair of pick-sixes, from Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun), excellent special-teams play and a physical running game proves too much for No. 2 TCU. The huge upset at home puts the nation on alert for the Gophers, whose popularity soars in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Mitch Leidner jerseys start popping up all over the Land of 10,000 Lakes as the junior quarterback shows better accuracy and continues his hard-nosed running style. He even starts to get some dark horse Heisman Trophy notice.

Using some of the skills he learned at the Manning Passing Academy this summer, Leidner is heard on TV repeatedly shouting "Omaha!" as the Gophers beat Nebraska for the third straight year on Oct. 17. That improves their record to 7-0 as they climb into the top 10.

The good times keep rolling with a second straight win over Michigan on Halloween. Minnesota fans dressed up as Zombie Brady Hoke fill the Little Brown Jug with candy.

The fairy tale comes to a halt as Ohio State on the road is too tall of a task, but the Gophers hang around until the fourth quarter and earn some respect from lingering doubters. The team bounces back the following week at Iowa, keeping Floyd happy as a pig in slop with a second straight blowout win over the stumbling Hawkeyes.

But what really seals the season as a rousing success happens in the finale. On the final play against Wisconsin, Rodrick Williams plunges over the goal line for the winning touchdown. Ignoring the bitter cold and blinding snowstorm, short-sleeved Minnesota fans rush on the field to celebrate with the Axe for the first time in a dozen years. Free Dilly Bars for all!

 

[Schnauzer]

My memory is a little clouded but wasn't it their "best case" prediction a year ago to simply duplicate the previous year's record? If my spotty memory is correct, and the Gophers did then go on to match the "best case" - how often has that happened?

 

[Gopher07]

My memory is a little clouded but wasn't it their "best case" prediction a year ago to simply duplicate the previous year's record? If my spotty memory is correct, and the Gophers did then go on to match the "best case" - how often has that happened?

Here was their best/worst case for Minnesota last year (and you are mostly correct):

Best case

Before all the lollipops and rose petals, a question: Minnesota fans, would you take another 8-5 season, guaranteed no better or worse, if it were offered today?

Yes? I thought so.

With a backloaded schedule, quarterback questions and not much in the way of all-conference-caliber talent, the Gophers ought to jump at the opportunity to repeat the magic of 2013. Let’s face it, last season played out very much in best-case fashion.

Fast forward to Nov. 29. It’s been a fun fall for the Gophers as quarterback Mitch Leidner has come of age in Matt Limegrover’s offense. Running back David Cobb improved on his 1,200-yard junior season to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. The Gophers got a great season from defensive end Theiren Cockran.

Still, there is unfinished business at hand. Wisconsin has won 10 straight in this series. Little reason exists to believe, after losses to Ohio State and Nebraska -- the Gophers’ first two-game skid of the season -- that Paul Bunyan’s Axe is coming back to the Twin Cities.

But coach Gary Andersen’s club, eliminated from contention for the West title a week earlier in a loss at Iowa, wallowed in its sorrows and ate a bit too much turkey before the visit from Leidner and Co.

The sophomore quarterback turns Camp Randall into his personal playground, throwing for 200 yards in the first half -- highlighted by a 93-yard catch and run from big tight end Maxx Williams to give the Gophers a 21-7 lead. They hold on to win 24-21 as Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon loses his second late fumble in as many weeks, sealing the win for Minnesota.

The Gophers carry Jerry Kill out of the stadium on their shoulders after a second straight eight-win regular season that began with a 4-0 nonconference run, featuring a 6-4 victory at TCU on Sept. 13 that does little for Big Ten credibility. Sure, a win’s a win, but this game was so ugly that Kill and old buddy Gary Patterson agreed during the post-game handshake to cancel the Horned Frogs' return trip to Minneapolis in 2015.

Minnesota can’t pull off its fourth win against Michigan since 1977, but the Gophers rebound behind Cobb and an improving defensive line to win three of the next four.

The Big Ten rewards Kill with an Outback Bowl appearance, Minnesota’s first postseason trip to Florida since the 2000 MicronPC.com Bowl (that game -- and sponsor -- existed) to face fellow upstart Ole Miss.

Low and behold, Minnesota gets its ninth victory on New Year’s Day. Guess the Gopher fans should think twice about that eight-win guarantee after all.