Bayfieldgopher
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Taken from the Savegoopherfootball.com
I had the unpleasant experience of playing on a 1-10 Gopher football team in 1983. It was a painful and embarrassing experience...now known as the "infamous" 1983 team. We had a good coaching staff, a new stadium (The Dome), an Athletic Director (Paul Giel) who cared deeply about football, and some talented athletes on that squad. Should we have won the Big Ten that year? Ah, no. Should we have been competitive? Yes.
I've been asked seemingly thousands of times over the past 27 years why we were so bad. I've honestly never been able to point to any one administrator, coach, player, offense, or defense to say, "Well, here are the main reasons we failed."
My oldest son is in his fourth year at Virginia Tech where he plays football for the Hokies. I've had the pleasure of watching up close and personal this perennial top 10 ranked team that has attended 17 straight bowl games and here is what I believe is part of their formula for success:
1) Their head coach, Frank Beamer, is in his 24th season at VT and for the most part the same staff of assistants has been with him for 17 years...yes, 17 years!
2) Beamer is a humble man of integrity who has won the respect of the state of Virginia, the campus, the players, the staff, the administration, and all of his coaching peers in Division 1 football.
3) Beamer attended VT and played football for the Hokies. He deeply and genuinely loves that university and everything it stands for (remember Butch Nash?).
4) Beamer started his coaching career at VT with four losing seasons in six years and a record of 19-30-2.
5) There isn't a college campus with more passion and energy for its football team than VT. Attending a game there is truly electrifying.
If I had any say in the direction of our next coaching hire at the U of M, I would hope that the committee or individuals making this decision would take these things into consideration:
1) Hire a man of integrity, who is humble, trustworthy, genuine, dedicated and a proven D1 football coach.
2) Invest in a quality staff that is not likely to turnover every year.
3) If possible, find a man who has attended the U of M or who has ties to MN...someone who sincerely cares about this school, state, and students.
4) Give him a five+ year contract and ask him what else he needs to succeed - then give him everything within reason on that list. Be patient with him and his staff and let him build something special. This program is in its depths (similar to 1983)...it will take time to bring it out of the hole.
5) Consistently and aggressively reach out to the U of M alumni, its former players, the student population, the professors, and the state to regain or gain their and allegiance to this program. Don't just ask for money...ask for their input, their presence, and their loyalty.
This website is a step in the right direction. Hopefully it helps to move the masses out of a state of apathy or disgust. I, personally am guilty of not being an active alumni...partly because of the busyness of life...partly because no one has asked.
Go Gophers!
—Jay Carroll, 1980–83
I had the unpleasant experience of playing on a 1-10 Gopher football team in 1983. It was a painful and embarrassing experience...now known as the "infamous" 1983 team. We had a good coaching staff, a new stadium (The Dome), an Athletic Director (Paul Giel) who cared deeply about football, and some talented athletes on that squad. Should we have won the Big Ten that year? Ah, no. Should we have been competitive? Yes.
I've been asked seemingly thousands of times over the past 27 years why we were so bad. I've honestly never been able to point to any one administrator, coach, player, offense, or defense to say, "Well, here are the main reasons we failed."
My oldest son is in his fourth year at Virginia Tech where he plays football for the Hokies. I've had the pleasure of watching up close and personal this perennial top 10 ranked team that has attended 17 straight bowl games and here is what I believe is part of their formula for success:
1) Their head coach, Frank Beamer, is in his 24th season at VT and for the most part the same staff of assistants has been with him for 17 years...yes, 17 years!
2) Beamer is a humble man of integrity who has won the respect of the state of Virginia, the campus, the players, the staff, the administration, and all of his coaching peers in Division 1 football.
3) Beamer attended VT and played football for the Hokies. He deeply and genuinely loves that university and everything it stands for (remember Butch Nash?).
4) Beamer started his coaching career at VT with four losing seasons in six years and a record of 19-30-2.
5) There isn't a college campus with more passion and energy for its football team than VT. Attending a game there is truly electrifying.
If I had any say in the direction of our next coaching hire at the U of M, I would hope that the committee or individuals making this decision would take these things into consideration:
1) Hire a man of integrity, who is humble, trustworthy, genuine, dedicated and a proven D1 football coach.
2) Invest in a quality staff that is not likely to turnover every year.
3) If possible, find a man who has attended the U of M or who has ties to MN...someone who sincerely cares about this school, state, and students.
4) Give him a five+ year contract and ask him what else he needs to succeed - then give him everything within reason on that list. Be patient with him and his staff and let him build something special. This program is in its depths (similar to 1983)...it will take time to bring it out of the hole.
5) Consistently and aggressively reach out to the U of M alumni, its former players, the student population, the professors, and the state to regain or gain their and allegiance to this program. Don't just ask for money...ask for their input, their presence, and their loyalty.
This website is a step in the right direction. Hopefully it helps to move the masses out of a state of apathy or disgust. I, personally am guilty of not being an active alumni...partly because of the busyness of life...partly because no one has asked.
Go Gophers!
—Jay Carroll, 1980–83
