Schnauzer
Pretty Sure You are Wrong
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I was bummed the Gophers didn't get their signature win on Saturday, just like everyone else. It is easy to nit pick the play of individual players, the coaching, the schemes, the running game, etc. etc.
But, lost in all those details is a lot of good news in my opinion.
First, the team itself. The Gophers showed they should be in every game this year and there is at least potential to have a great year on the field in the Big 10.
Remember all the comments over the last year about the "shallow bowl" in the stadium and people wondering if it woudn't be able to hold noise? Well, it was very clear in person and noted SEVERAL times on the ESPN broadcast that it was LOUD. It was very loud and after two games it can be said that TCF will be a tough place for visiting teams to play. What a difference from the Meat-ro-Dump. There was a window of opportunity for the Dome but that window closed when Lou Holtz left.
I TiVO'd both games and after getting home from the stadium watched both of them later. It is clear the atmosphere at TCF will have its own unique quality. You can tell the TV producers just can't get enough of the beautiful shots of downtown and the campus. The stadium shows extremely well on TV and the open end provides great material for the cameras during time outs or other breaks. The crowd also showed well when the Gophers were making a game of it. The announcers didn't fail to notice it (and I'm sure recruits are noticing it too). Speilman wondered out loud if the crowd was literally carrying the team. Perhaps that is a bit strong but hey, it was loud. I had high hopes and it looks to me that the TCF experience will be better than we had dreamed.
The last time the UofM had an on campus stadium... many of the games were not even on TV and the ones that were had a broadcast crew, a couple cameras, and that was about it. They never showed anything outside the stadium. Coverage of college football was like the stone age compared to now.
I know it has been said before but I find myself wanting to go earlier, stay later and it isn't just because the stadium is new. The entire atmosphere is light years beyond what the Gophers have had in the past. I was wondering if the 11:00 AM start would be sucking some of the energy away. I guess it did suck some of those late arriving students away but overall it was very exciting and it will continue to be a great experience, and a home field advantage for the long term.
But, lost in all those details is a lot of good news in my opinion.
First, the team itself. The Gophers showed they should be in every game this year and there is at least potential to have a great year on the field in the Big 10.
Remember all the comments over the last year about the "shallow bowl" in the stadium and people wondering if it woudn't be able to hold noise? Well, it was very clear in person and noted SEVERAL times on the ESPN broadcast that it was LOUD. It was very loud and after two games it can be said that TCF will be a tough place for visiting teams to play. What a difference from the Meat-ro-Dump. There was a window of opportunity for the Dome but that window closed when Lou Holtz left.
I TiVO'd both games and after getting home from the stadium watched both of them later. It is clear the atmosphere at TCF will have its own unique quality. You can tell the TV producers just can't get enough of the beautiful shots of downtown and the campus. The stadium shows extremely well on TV and the open end provides great material for the cameras during time outs or other breaks. The crowd also showed well when the Gophers were making a game of it. The announcers didn't fail to notice it (and I'm sure recruits are noticing it too). Speilman wondered out loud if the crowd was literally carrying the team. Perhaps that is a bit strong but hey, it was loud. I had high hopes and it looks to me that the TCF experience will be better than we had dreamed.
The last time the UofM had an on campus stadium... many of the games were not even on TV and the ones that were had a broadcast crew, a couple cameras, and that was about it. They never showed anything outside the stadium. Coverage of college football was like the stone age compared to now.
I know it has been said before but I find myself wanting to go earlier, stay later and it isn't just because the stadium is new. The entire atmosphere is light years beyond what the Gophers have had in the past. I was wondering if the 11:00 AM start would be sucking some of the energy away. I guess it did suck some of those late arriving students away but overall it was very exciting and it will continue to be a great experience, and a home field advantage for the long term.
Curiously enough not one of them has mentioned empty seats in the upper corners of the end zone....