KFAN is a joke

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tjgopher said:
Barriero yesterday really made a fool of himself, but he doesn't know it because he knows so little about what he was talking about; and he really doesn't care if he makes a fool of himself. As Steve Cannon used to say - "he got the money."

Dan B yesterday said after Henderson announced for USC. "I thought they told us the contract extension was going to be the key to landing Henderson? You can't even make this stuff up."

Uh, there was NO ONE who said a contract extension would lock up Henderson. NO ONE. It was possibly going to provide stability, maybe help in general terms, but anyone who thought it would "lock" up SH was nuts. But, yet, that's the approach Dan B took. What an absolute ass clown.
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I had Barreiro on for about 4 minutes yesterday and turned him off immediately. It was at the point when he was bashing the U and Coach Brewster for not landing Henderson. Then he went on to point out how a few of the "big name" schools like USC and Florida had x amount of ESPN 150 guys while the U had none. How school X had X amount of 5 stars. How school X had X amount of 4 stars. All the while pointing out that the U had none. Claiming Brewster is a fraud because he is not a Super recruiter. I was done with him then and am really starting to wear thin on his patronizing and demeaning ways. Don't even get me started about Gardsie.
 

josh087 said:
The Gophers are a direct competitor to the Vikings - they play the same sport at the same time of year. The more people that listen and follow the Vikings, the greater the chance that they will not support Gopher football. As long as people perceive the Gophers as not relavent, they are more likely to follow the Vikings.
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Dude, what is with the non-stop anti-Vikings rhetoric lately? Everything you say about the Vikings, especially the quote above, is easily refutable with even a cursory knowledge of NFL and college football.

The Gophers are their own worst enemy. The Vikings, at most, have a marginal effect on Gophers' attendance and following, and that's about it. The Vikings leaving will not make the Gophers better on the field, nor will it make them any more followed, aside from perhaps a small bump in attendance for early-season ho-hum non-conference games.

You seem to insinuate that the Vikings leaving would turn the Gophers into USC or Miami. The concept is so inherently ludicrous that I don't understand why you bring it up in nigh every post.
 

If the Vikings were to leave, the Gophers would probably see an increase in support. But it would be temporary, if the Vikings were to leave, the state would move heaven and earth to get a new team here. That's why I am so glad we have the new stadium, if the Vikings left and we didn't have it, the Gophers would again be offered up as a revenue stream for the new team.

I think much of the resentment over the Vikings is a hangover for being forced into the Metrodome. (I know, technically we could have stayed at Memorial, but it needed rennovations, and there was going to be no money for rennovations so long as people wanted to use the Gophers as a revenue stream for the Vikings) But that's the past, we're out of the dome and have our own stadium, and we're not going anywhere for a very, very long time.

Most Gopher fans are also watching the Vikings on Sunday, I don't think trying to force people into opposing camps does the Gophers a bit of good.
 

DP - I've never once said it would instantly turn us into a powerhouse program. That idea is laughable and you know I'm smart enough not to think it is true - not sure why you even suggested it.......

It would help if the Vikings left. Slowly, over time. It will take one or two generations. Is it the only thing, or biggest thing holding the program back? Of course not.

Where I think it would help is for the really big-time recruits like Seantrel, Mauer, Floyd, etc. Currently they have almost no thought or inkling to play for the U. We are not one of the Nation's powerhouse programs - so realistically to get these kinds of players they must have a feeling of pride toward the university - to want to help the hometown team to overcome the pitch and the allure of top programs that will also recruit them.

When they read the paper (as Seantrel admitted to doing) and listen to the radio, and watch TV during the football season, they only get Vikings, Vikings, Vikings. Not much of anything Gophers related. I get that Gopher coverage is negative, and understandably so - the team is not good. I'm not saying the media has too negative of a slant. The team is overshadowed coverage-wise in this town, and unless the Gophers start magically going to rose bowls every year it won't change. Even if the coverage is still negative, it will still help the program if the Vikings aren't here because the volume of coverage will increase.

It is very very difficult given the amount of media coverage the Gophers receive for the top of the top recruits playing in Minnesota to foster the sense of pride for the U needed to want to play here instead of the Big Boys. Will we get every Blue-chip MN recruit? No. But maybe we get one or two out of every five, instead of zero. Small steps.

Again, not changes overnight - and obviously not the one thing holding the program back. But every little bit helps. and as a diehard Gopher fan that is what I care about most.
 

josh087 said:
DP - I've never once said it would instantly turn us into a powerhouse program. That idea is laughable and you know I'm smart enough not to think it is true - not sure why you even suggested it.......

It would help if the Vikings left. Slowly, over time. It will take one or two generations. Is it the only thing, or biggest thing holding the program back? Of course not.

Where I think it would help is for the really big-time recruits like Seantrel, Mauer, Floyd, etc. Currently they have almost no thought or inkling to play for the U. We are not one of the Nation's powerhouse programs - so realistically to get these kinds of players they must have a feeling of pride toward the university - to want to help the hometown team to overcome the pitch and the allure of top programs that will also recruit them.

When they read the paper (as Seantrel admitted to doing) and listen to the radio, and watch TV during the football season, they only get Vikings, Vikings, Vikings. Not much of anything Gophers related. I get that Gopher coverage is negative, and understandably so - the team is not good. I'm not saying the media has too negative of a slant. The team is overshadowed coverage-wise in this town, and unless the Gophers start magically going to rose bowls every year it won't change. Even if the coverage is still negative, it will still help the program if the Vikings aren't here because the volume of coverage will increase.

It is very very difficult given the amount of media coverage the Gophers receive for the top of the top recruits playing in Minnesota to foster the sense of pride for the U needed to want to play here instead of the Big Boys. Will we get every Blue-chip MN recruit? No. But maybe we get one or two out of every five, instead of zero. Small steps.

Again, not changes overnight - and obviously not the one thing holding the program back. But every little bit helps. and as a diehard Gopher fan that is what I care about most.
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Just answer me one question (well, three variations on the same question, really):

1) Why do most Miami kids dream of growing up to play for the Hurricanes?

2) Why do most Chicago kids dream of growing up to play for Notre Dame?

3) Keeping in mind that most of the kids that signed up for Pete Carroll's early teams grew up with the Raiders in LA, why do most LA kids dream of growing up to play for the Trojans?

There are many more examples, but these three are the most comparable to the "dream" scenario you wish would come true.
 


dpodoll68 said:
Just answer me one question (well, three variations on the same question, really):

1) Why do most Miami kids dream of growing up to play for the Hurricanes?

2) Why do most Chicago kids dream of growing up to play for Notre Dame?

3) Keeping in mind that most of the kids that signed up for Pete Carroll's early teams grew up with the Raiders in LA, why do most LA kids dream of growing up to play for the Trojans?

There are many more examples, but these three are the most comparable to the "dream" scenario you wish would come true.
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1. Money from Uncle Luke

2. Money from Collection Plates

3. Money and recording deals from Snoop
 

The NFL is not going anywhere. If the Vikings do leave, another team will move in and a new stadium will be built for them. Even if there were to be no NFL team here, that doesn't mean that we'd get informed and honest coverage of the Gophers from sports radio.
 

Just answer me one question (well, three variations on the same question, really):

1) Why do most Miami kids dream of growing up to play for the Hurricanes?

2) Why do most Chicago kids dream of growing up to play for Notre Dame?

3) Keeping in mind that most of the kids that signed up for Pete Carroll's early teams grew up with the Raiders in LA, why do most LA kids dream of growing up to play for the Trojans?

There are many more examples, but these three are the most comparable to the "dream" scenario you wish would come true.
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This is always the response brought up - those are fair questions.

2) The Notre Dame example basically answers itself. Comparing the media coverage Notre Dame receives not only locally in Chicago, but Nationally to the GOPHERS???? - I mean there is literally no comparison coverage-wise in the media with any team in the country. They have a national TV deal for the love of God. This one is pretty obvious. Compare media coverage in Chicago between Notre Dame and Northwestern - there is an interesting dichotomy, considering South Bend is roughly 30-45 minutes outside of the Chicago metro area,depending on how south you call metro, and NW is smack dab in the middle of the Windy City.

As for 1) and 3) - it is a little more complicated than Notre Dame. Agreed, more kids growing up in those places want to play for Miami and USC. And they have NFL franchises there.

USC has an easier time supporting both NFL and Collegiate franchises. They have more people in the area. Simple numbers. So that helps. Also, the talent pool of High School athletes is greater in both of those areas. So again, a numbers game. Here in MN it is much more vital we lock in the 3-5 really good prospects that come out of here each year. With more to choose from, their margin for error is greater. Also, Miami and L.A are "sexy" cities. Kids want to go their all across the country for college, regardless if they play football or not!!. I mean, come on, it's Miami!!! It's LA!!! If you're from there - why on earth would you want to leave that climate? It makes it a little bit more difficult for an L.A kid to leave and go to Michigan, or OSU. You fall in love with the city and climate perhaps more than the desire to go to the school.

Because of the inherent disadvantages the Gophers face compared to these schools (HS talent locally, cold weather climate, etc.) it is all the more important we be able to lock down the really top kids locally who, if they weren't from MN, we wouldn't have a chance at otherwise. We already are at a big enough disadvantage without having the majority of the population of the Twin Cities more interested in another football team in town.

We can't change the climate. It would help if the talent pool here improved to be competitive with the rest of the country. And it would also help if the fans cared more and supported the program the way they do for other top teams. Having a competing football team in town does not help at all.
 

RodentRampage said:
The NFL is not going anywhere. If the Vikings do leave, another team will move in and a new stadium will be built for them. Even if there were to be no NFL team here, that doesn't mean that we'd get informed and honest coverage of the Gophers from sports radio.
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Pawlenty likes a lottery for a Vikings stadium. Really?

By Brian Lambert | Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010

Remember when Kremlinologists used to analyze the order of the lineup atop Lenin's Tomb and even leaders' body language to determine who was rising or falling in favor? It's a bit like that trying to figure out what Gov. Tim Pawlenty is really up to after he suddenly floated the idea of a new lottery to pay for a $800 million-plus Vikings stadium. Remember, this comes barely a month after former Sen. Dick Day announced that he had an ironclad deal for Pawlenty's support on a racino (where Day has since gone to work). Pawlenty took about a half hour to deny any such thing. But now, according to Stribbers Rachel Stassen-Berger and Mike Kaszuba, the Gov is half-serious. OK, maybe one-third. Would you believe one-eighth? Says the Gov, " '[T]here's new games added all the time in the lottery', Pawlenty told a radio audience. 'There was one just added the other day called Mega Millions that's going to generate $20 million a year', the governor said. Although 40 percent of those funds — $8 million — is constitutionally dedicated to an environmental trust fund, 'the other $12 [million] can be used for other stuff. People will say it should go into schools or roads or whatever, but ... that's another way to do [the stadium].' "

So while we're at it, talking about, "schools or roads or whatever ... ," Baird Helgeson of the Strib kicks in his report on the state's contingency plan to borrow $600 million — from schools — in case Minnesota runs completely out of cash this spring. "The state must keep $400 million in the bank to manage cash flow, but in March the account is expected to dip to $227 million. A month later, the state would be $143 million in the hole. By May, the state would have just $19 million in the bank. To forestall that, state officials plan to delay $422 million in payments to public schools and $52 million to the University of Minnesota. They also will delay $60 million in corporate and sales tax refunds. The state has already borrowed $870 million from other state funds, including health care accounts and state colleges and universities. Add in Pawlenty's decision to delay $1.7 billion in K-12 payments, and the internal borrowing tops $3.1 billion — roughly 10 percent of the state's annual budget." Pretty soon, you know, that all adds up to real money.
 




dpodoll68 said:
Dude, what is with the non-stop anti-Vikings rhetoric lately? Everything you say about the Vikings, especially the quote above, is easily refutable with even a cursory knowledge of NFL and college football.

The Gophers are their own worst enemy. The Vikings, at most, have a marginal effect on Gophers' attendance and following, and that's about it. The Vikings leaving will not make the Gophers better on the field, nor will it make them any more followed, aside from perhaps a small bump in attendance for early-season ho-hum non-conference games.

You seem to insinuate that the Vikings leaving would turn the Gophers into USC or Miami. The concept is so inherently ludicrous that I don't understand why you bring it up in nigh every post.
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Stop the presses, I completely agree with a post of yours.:clap:
 

I'm sorry I accidently hijacked this into a Vikes v. Gophers thread. My point was only that KFAN has hitched the entire station to a franchise that may or may not be here in 5 years instead of having a diversivied platform that would include coverage of the local university, which happens to play football at a fairly high level itself. KFAN acts like the Gophers are a summit league team or something.

On a side note I think that most football fans pay attention to both, but I don't understand why almost all of the casual fans slant heavily toward the Vikes. The on field performance has been similar (consistently mediocre, occasionally good, never great) and the off field stuff has been far worse and more frequent. I just do not get it.
 

Stop the presses, I completely agree with a post of yours
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I agree with most of what DP posts. He is passionate about Gopher Football and is knowledgable. He can come off abrasive at times, but I, for one, find it entertaining - and most of the time he said what I was thinking about posting anyway, but didn't want to because I usually don't have the time or energy to start a pi$$ing match debate.
 



ruralgopher said:
The on field performance has been similar (consistently mediocre, occasionally good, never great) and the off field stuff has been far worse and more frequent. I just do not get it.
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This is patently false. It's not even close.

The Gophers, outside of watching the 1999 and 2003 seasons run down their legs, haven't been even close to contention in over 40 years.

The Vikings, while they consistently break our hearts, are usually in the playoffs, and have at least played for a conference championship twice in the last 12 years. If you want to equate a Big Ten championship with a conference championship, when is the last time the Gophers were playing a game in which they would be considered champions if they won it? To even remotely compare the accomplishments of the two teams since the Vikings' inception in 1961 is just absurd.

Off the field stuff? What are you talking about? Since the Love Boat scandal (which happened over four years ago, by the way), what has happened? While the Gophers' misbehaviors aren't as bad as people make them out to be, I don't think you want to get into a tit-for-tat comparison between the two. You won't like the outcome.

I've had more than enough of the Vikings-bashing on this board. Rest assured that it pisses a lot of people off. I just happen to be the most vocal about it.

This is a Gophers site. We shouldn't even be talking about the Vikings. Stop bringing them up constantly.
 

dpodoll68-
First off, I have never been in the camp that believes the Vikes are the problem.

I stand by my comment. The Vikings are consistently mediocre, some years good (98,00,09) never great. With the draft, trades, salary cap, and free agency making the playoffs is a lot like going to a bowl game, something that both teams do regularly.

As far as off field stuff kids drinking underage got as much negative press as Peterson driving 108mph or McKinnie getting kicked off of the all star game.

I don't expect either too be saints, but back to what I said originally to the casual fan I don't see the difference.
 

RodentRampage said:
It's sports talk radio. It's supposed to provide sports information and honest, informed opinions about sports. It doesn't do that, but it's the only game in town. It's like being handed a stale bologna sandwhich, and your told to eat it because it's either that or nothing.
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As much as that is what you and I want to see (sounds like an MPR for sports), sports talk radio is about hitting nerves that make people listen and react. That's what sells advertising.

I, as several have aptly stated, just wish the guys at KFAN would take the hour (and it probably would take about an hour) to do the research necessary to sound even marginally illuminated on the subject. This isn't rocket science and it doesn't take too long to see both sides of the story and at least acknowledge that there are multiple forces at play.
 

dpodoll68 said:
You seem to insinuate that the Vikings leaving would turn the Gophers into USC or Miami. The concept is so inherently ludicrous that I don't understand why you bring it up in nigh every post.
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Nobody thinks that. All we want is for the Gophers program to be on par with Wisconsin and Iowa. That will happen if the Vikings leave. The only Big 10 teams that will be out of our reach are Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan. Anyone who doesn't see that has got their head up their ass.
 

Question for Doogie

Doogie said:
I swapped emails with PA and he respectfully declined my offer to help.
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Was your offer to help as an on-air guest or just an offer to talk football with him periodically off-air to help him build his knowledge. If it's the former, then I can see where that wouldn't work. If it's the latter, then it seems to confirm that he's just not that interested in the subject (or he doesn't think you have the goods to help him ;)).
 

Another Question for Doogie

Doogie, as someone who works in radio in this market, do you have any insight into why a 2nd loacl sports station hasn't been tried? I know radio and TV are hurting a bit for advertising currently because of the econony, but is it more than that? As this thread shows, there's clearly a want for a REAL all-sports station, something with hosts who know the Gophers and hockey (while Gopher football is my favorite team in the TC, it's unforgiveable that this is the State of Hockey and not one single KFAN hosts knows anything about hockey) as well as the Vikes and Twins.

Is there a station PM or someone else in town we can email so they can see how much this is needed?
 

2nd Degree Gopher said:
Was your offer to help as an on-air guest or just an offer to talk football with him periodically off-air to help him build his knowledge. If it's the former, then I can see where that wouldn't work. If it's the latter, then it seems to confirm that he's just not that interested in the subject (or he doesn't think you have the goods to help him ;)).
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Both ... He, paraphrasing slightly, said he doesn't care for college football, especially the local product ... He has said as such on-air plenty.
 

Jeffrick said:
Doogie, as someone who works in radio in this market, do you have any insight into why a 2nd loacl sports station hasn't been tried? I know radio and TV are hurting a bit for advertising currently because of the econony, but is it more than that? As this thread shows, there's clearly a want for a REAL all-sports station, something with hosts who know the Gophers and hockey (while Gopher football is my favorite team in the TC, it's unforgiveable that this is the State of Hockey and not one single KFAN hosts knows anything about hockey) as well as the Vikes and Twins.

Is there a station PM or someone else in town we can email so they can see how much this is needed?
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It does cost money, and radio stations are a limited quantity. KFAN does have a strong signal, some stations are able to broadcast only in a limited range. We may be able to support a second sports radio station, there has to be one of the low-rated stations that would get better ratings if it switched to a sports format. But that would take someone willing to put up the money for it.

I wish it would happen, even if it went on the air and failed, it might force KFAN to step up their game. I really don't think people are looking for smack talk from sports radio, but they take what they can get. People assume that the local sports station is giving the local team the best coverage they can get, so when they talk smack, a lot of people listen and treat it like unvarnished truth.
 

Jeffrick said:
Doogie, as someone who works in radio in this market, do you have any insight into why a 2nd loacl sports station hasn't been tried? I know radio and TV are hurting a bit for advertising currently because of the econony, but is it more than that? As this thread shows, there's clearly a want for a REAL all-sports station, something with hosts who know the Gophers and hockey (while Gopher football is my favorite team in the TC, it's unforgiveable that this is the State of Hockey and not one single KFAN hosts knows anything about hockey) as well as the Vikes and Twins.

Is there a station PM or someone else in town we can email so they can see how much this is needed?
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No longer in radio full-time ... just help out Mr. Phunn on AM-1500 from time-to-time ... it's a great question, and one I can't answer ... a sports format can generate revenue, likely not ratings though, but revenue more important ... you are guaranteed certain national advertising dollars (beer a biggie) ... and I agree, Common and Barreiro are fantastic at what they do, but from 12p on, sports talk is no guarantee ... a station that especially can talk Gophers/college football, college hockey, and Wild/NHL, plus Twins can succeed here in town ... P-Mac is the only baseball guy at KFAN and he isn't used enough (he should be used more). They do a great job with the Vikings, but are vulnerable in every other sports area.

I like the idea of a daily podcast, but that prohibits caller interaction, which can be good. Email big-wigs at CBS Radio, Hubbard, etc.
 

Chad Abbott, a friend and a very bright radio brain-wizard (program director at KFAN) welcomes emails -- [email protected] ... He told me to pass along his email ... Email him with questions and concerns.
 

Doogie said:
I like the idea of a daily podcast, but that prohibits caller interaction, which can be good. Email big-wigs at CBS Radio, Hubbard, etc.
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That's not necessarily true. You can stream it live and take calls, and then make the podcast available for download. Of course then it's more of a web radio program than a pure podcast. One advantage of a pure podcast is that you're not bound by schedule. With a web radio program, you can take callers, but people can only listen to it live when they are at their computers.
 

Doogie said:
Both ... He, paraphrasing slightly, said he doesn't care for college football, especially the local product ... He has said as such on-air plenty.
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Thanks for the response. From listening to his show from time to time I gathered that college football isn't a big interest, just a bit surprised he wouldn't take the opportunity learn a little more about it, especially since it would dovetail nicely with his obvious passion for the NFL.
 

2nd Degree Gopher said:
Thanks for the response. From listening to his show from time to time I gathered that college football isn't a big interest, just a bit surprised he wouldn't take the opportunity learn a little more about it, especially since it would dovetail nicely with his obvious passion for the NFL.
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That is a joke. He doesn't care for the game or the local team, so he ignores it (or is ignorant). It is his job to know/understand the game and to at least have some knowledge of the local team. I think the word lazy would be appropriate for P.A.
Oh WELL.
 

UpnorthGo4 said:
Nobody thinks that. All we want is for the Gophers program to be on par with Wisconsin and Iowa. That will happen if the Vikings leave. The only Big 10 teams that will be out of our reach are Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan. Anyone who doesn't see that has got their head up their ass.
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Um, please speak for yourself. I want MN to become elite again, NOT like Iowa and Wisconsuck. We've been consistently at the top before, and we can do so again. And if you think OSU, Michigan, and PSU are out of reach then you have your head up YOUR ass.

Just because it happened a long time ago doesn't mean we're only able to reach "Wisconsin" or "Iowa" status; that's just plain insulting.
 

tikited said:
That is a joke. He doesn't care for the game or the local team, so he ignores it (or is ignorant). It is his job to know/understand the game and to at least have some knowledge of the local team. I think the word lazy would be appropriate for P.A.
Oh WELL.
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He definitely isn't lazy ... his work ethic puts mine to shame ... more of a choice ... he has established his dislike with the current regime plenty, plus who knows who they can get on guest-wise after the fiasco last fall.
 

Doogie said:
He definitely isn't lazy ... his work ethic puts mine to shame ... more of a choice ... he has established his dislike with the current regime plenty, plus who knows who they can get on guest-wise after the fiasco last fall.
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That's funny, because he was definately on his high horse the day that thing went down. If he is indifferent to not only the team, but the sport in general why did he make such a big deal out of it? because piling on is easy, perhaps?? Doing something because it is easy sounds like lazy to me.
 

On signing day I was driving home and searching the dial for some info on the Gophers. After all is is the biggest off-season day for the football team (and the spring game). I wanted to reach through the radio and slap Barreiro when he made those pompous comments about Henderson not signing with the Gophers.

Flipping around the dial I found 1620 from Nebraska and they we conducting interviews with the incoming recruits and talking about all the players, etc... It was crazy, I actually enjoyed listening to the program even though I could care less about Nebraska football. I know that it is the only game in town in Omaha, but could we get just a little of this type of programing on a few key days of the year!!!

I agree with the chicken and the egg theory, until the radio stations start talking about the Gophers, not many of the casual fans want to hear about it.
 

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