2003 vs. 2013

Donate To GopherHole
Jike Spingleton

Jike Spingleton

Traveling Champ
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
6,509
Reaction score
72
Points
48
10 years ago, the Gophers won 10 games in a season for the only time in the modern era. This season has been the most fun I've had watching Gopher football since that 2003 team, and with a win against Wisconsin/Michigan State and in the bowl game, the 2013 squad could join 2003's Gophers in the record books, so I wanted to see how 2013 stacked up. Of course, you can look at any number of statistics, but I'm going to keep it rather simple with how each team fared against its schedule.

The combined record (excluding bowl games) of the Gophers opponents:

Overall
2003: 66-78 (.458)
2013: 49-52 (.485)

Big Ten Conference
2003: 46-50 (27-37 Big Ten, .422)
2013: 34-26 (15-21 Big Ten, .417)

Gophers' Big Ten wins
2003: 19-41 (10-30 Big Ten, .250)
2013: 21-19 (9-15 Big Ten, .375)

With a win over Wisconsin, the Gophers would equal the 2003 team with nine overall victories and five conference victories. Their win percentages in the above categories would improve to 57-55 (.509) overall, 42-29 (20-23 Big Ten, .465) in conference, and 29-22 (14-17 Big Ten, .452) in conference wins - all would blow away the marks of the 2003 team.

For the record, the 1999 Gophers faced competition that went 67-59 overall, better than either 2003 or 2013 (so far), but the conference breakdown isn't as favorable. Big Ten opponents were 46-44 (27-37 Big Ten - identical to 2003) and the league wins were 24-32 (13-27 Big Ten - worse than 2003 or 2013).

Essentially, putting aside how amazing it would be to finally win the Axe, a win over Wisconsin would give the 2013 Gophers a very strong argument for being Minnesota's finest team since 1967.
 

Good post. Fun read. Thanks.
 

Jike Spingleton said:
Essentially, putting aside how amazing it would be to finally win the Axe, a win over Wisconsin would give the 2013 Gophers a very strong argument for being Minnesota's finest team since 1967.
Click to expand...

I can't really find any way to dispute this. But I'd say if we can beat EITHER Wisconsin or Mich State, that claim would remain true. Obviously, getting the Axe is the more desirable of the two games.

Getting by both teams might well put us in a even higher category for 'best teams since', but one step at a time here. More likely, we lose both games to close this year, so where would that put us? I'd say best team since 2005 (when we went 4-4 in conference, beat Michigan on the road, but lost to Wisconsin in horrific fashion at home -ugh).
 

Jike, great breakdown. File this under unintended consequences but to me those comparisons really highlight that 2003 was THE YEAR if there ever was one where the Gophers had the scheduling stars aligned to play in the Rose Bowl. Another haunting reminder of the opportunity lost due to the 2003 loss to Michigan.
 

Saw some Twitter banter with Ron Johnson and Tyrone Carter talking about the 2003 team thinking they would win head-to-head against the 1999 team.
 


Gopher Bandanna Guy said:
I can't really find any way to dispute this. But I'd say if we can beat EITHER Wisconsin or Mich State, that claim would remain true. Obviously, getting the Axe is the more desirable of the two games.
Click to expand...

Yes - and I kind of alluded to that at the start by saying "with a win against Wisconsin/Michigan State and in the bowl game." Regardless of whether win #9 came against Wisconsin or Michigan State, because of the records of those teams, the 2013 Gophers' resume would vault it to the top.

Gopher Bandanna Guy said:
More likely, we lose both games to close this year, so where would that put us? I'd say best team since 2005 (when we went 4-4 in conference, beat Michigan on the road, but lost to Wisconsin in horrific fashion at home -ugh).
Click to expand...

Agreed, and I would rank that team first. 2005 was the last time the Gophers beat two ranked opponents in a season, and the combined record of the four Big Ten losses was 38-11 (28-8 Big Ten).
 

MaxyJR1 said:
Saw some Twitter banter with Ron Johnson and Tyrone Carter talking about the 2003 team thinking they would win head-to-head against the 1999 team.
Click to expand...

I'd put my money on the 1999 team over 2003. 1999 had a much better defense.
 

Best resume of the three if we win one of the next two.

But I think I would take the 1999 team and the 2003 team -10.
They won prettier (although that might not mean much)

99 had the best defense of the three
03 had the best offense of the three
 




If we somehow win against Wisconsin and lose vs MSU, our conference record and opponents would be nearly identical to 03 (losses to MI, IA, MSU, switch Nebraska for Illinois in the W column).

But yes, I'd say a win over either Wisconsin or MSU and a bowl win would make this the best season since 1967.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom