Athlon ranks Gophers as 56th best job in America, says program hit ceiling under Mase

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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per Athlon:

56. Minnesota

Pros: The Gophers have a relatively new stadium that provided a significant upgrade from the outdated Metrodome. As the only Division I (FBS or FCS) program in the state, Minnesota should land its fare share of in-state recruits.

Cons: Minnesota is a tough sell for out-of-state recruits. The weather is bad and the program lacks tradition.

Final Verdict: Minnesota is a program with a ceiling — and Glen Mason hit that ceiling (winning five to eight games in most seasons with an occasional 10-win breakthrough).

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-all-128-college-football-coaching-jobs-2014

Go Gophers!!
 


BleedGopher said:
per Athlon:

56. Minnesota

Pros: The Gophers have a relatively new stadium that provided a significant upgrade from the outdated Metrodome. As the only Division I (FBS or FCS) program in the state, Minnesota should land its fare share of in-state recruits.

Cons: Minnesota is a tough sell for out-of-state recruits. The weather is bad and the program lacks tradition.

Final Verdict: Minnesota is a program with a ceiling — and Glen Mason hit that ceiling (winning five to eight games in most seasons with an occasional 10-win breakthrough).

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-all-128-college-football-coaching-jobs-2014

Go Gophers!!
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I don't see much wrong with that assessment, obviously others here will, but from an outside perspective that is the program.
 

lacks tradition is a major understatement. 7 national titles apparently equates to a lack of tradition.
 

Ski U Master said:
I don't see much wrong with that assessment, obviously others here will, but from an outside perspective that is the program.
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Yeah, that's the perspective of this program, and I don't even disagree with most of the premise. But I disagree that Mason hit the ceiling, simply cause I refuse to believe this program is incapable of winning a conference title, ever lol.
 


that ceiling talk is stupid and lazy. Programs fortunes change for a number of reasons. There was a time when Oregon was a nothing program but then Phil Knight came around. Iowa and WI have no more natural advantages than MN does. KSU doesn't have a ton going for it. There are a lot of programs that with the right people in place can make things happen.
 

With all the Athlon rankings lately I'm beginning to think PJR writes for them.
 

t-docious said:
lacks tradition is a major understatement. 7 national titles apparently equates to a lack of tradition.
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Traditions are ongoing. Our championships are historical, but not traditional.
 

Ski U Master said:
Traditions are ongoing. Our championships are historical, but not traditional.
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I get that our championships are a lot further back then some like OSU or Mich but then what tradition does Wisky or Iowa or most any other B1G school have that we don't? How exactly are they attributing tradition? We've had some down years but does that really mean we're lacking tradition? Do you really call being a decent team for only the last 10 years or so but before that a lousy team having tradition? Not disagreeing with you except the part where you insinuate that we would have nothing but championships to count as tradition.
 



Not bothering to click on article, but it seems like they're ranking schools on potential to win big. In that case, our 7 national titles are absolutely meaningless compared to Wisconsin's recent success. It's great, but nobody can possibly think Bronko, Bierman, Bell, and early 60's Rose Bowls make up a tradition that's going to attract a high recruit. Hell, pretty sure some kids the Badgers are getting have no idea who this Alvarez guy is. What's sad is that we're over two generations removed from where our tradition meant anything to some kid playing high school football unless some family member played.
 

Agree with the premise that the program has a ceiling, but so does every Division 1 program (there's no such thing as limitless potential). The question is where that ceiling is. No one honestly knows because in the past, the program was dominant. For the last 50 or so years, not so much. I think the program can do better than what Mason did. This writer disagrees. Hopefully, we'll all find out over the next few years.
 

These writers basically operate on the premise that things will be more of less the same from year to year, it makes it easier to write. There's no particular reason that Minnesota can't do better than the Mason era.
 

Love these two Athlon rankings. Based on a static analysis of the Gophers it's about right. In two years we'll see a huge change in the rankings of Kill's ability and the attractiveness of the Gopher H C job. I believe this absolutely.
 



I'm optimistic that Jerry Kill can bust the Gophers through this "ceiling".
 

Totally nonsensical appraisal and article. For example, the weather is nearly the same across the midwest. I have lived in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois and can attest that there is little appreciable difference in weather be it the TC's, Madison, Iowa City, Champaign, etc.
 

proudgopher said:
Totally nonsensical appraisal and article. For example, the weather is nearly the same across the midwest. I have lived in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois and can attest that there is little appreciable difference in weather be it the TC's, Madison, Iowa City, Champaign, etc.
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Perception trumps reality. Always will when it comes to cold/Minnesota.
 

BleedGopher said:
per Athlon: 56. Minnesota Pros: The Gophers have a relatively new stadium that provided a significant upgrade from the outdated Metrodome. As the only Division I (FBS or FCS) program in the state, Minnesota should land its fare share of in-state recruits. Cons: Minnesota is a tough sell for out-of-state recruits. The weather is bad and the program lacks tradition. Final Verdict: Minnesota is a program with a ceiling — and Glen Mason hit that ceiling (winning five to eight games in most seasons with an occasional 10-win breakthrough). http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-all-128-college-football-coaching-jobs-2014 Go Gophers!!
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Champaign is a lot warmer than Minneapolis. Madison is not.
 

If you win, the ceiling goes up, which means it wasn't really there at all. Sure, getting to the level of success that Ohio State fans have come to expect is a real long shot, but if Iowa and Wisconsin can do better, so can we, they don't have any inherent advantages. Win and the weather becomes a whole lot less of a factor. If recruits really want to avoid winter weather, they aren't coming to the Big Ten anyway.
 


BleedGopher said:
per Athlon:

56. Minnesota

Pros: The Gophers have a relatively new stadium that provided a significant upgrade from the outdated Metrodome. As the only Division I (FBS or FCS) program in the state, Minnesota should land its fare share of in-state recruits.

Cons: Minnesota is a tough sell for out-of-state recruits. The weather is bad and the program lacks tradition.

Final Verdict: Minnesota is a program with a ceiling — and Glen Mason hit that ceiling (winning five to eight games in most seasons with an occasional 10-win breakthrough).

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-all-128-college-football-coaching-jobs-2014

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

Of course Mason won more than 8 games just once in 10 seasons.

I get that we've been pretty mediocre at best for a long time, but I don't see how we can't be an 8-10 win team just about every year with an occasional better or worse season. I'm not saying it will happen, but I don't think it's too outlandish to think we can get to that level.

I certainly think we can do better than Mason's 40% Big Ten winning percentage.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Of course Mason won more than 8 games just once in 10 seasons.

I get that we've been pretty mediocre at best for a long time, but I don't see how we can't be an 8-10 win team just about every year with an occasional better or worse season. I'm not saying it will happen, but I don't think it's too outlandish to think we can get to that level.

I certainly think we can do better than Mason's 40% Big Ten winning percentage.
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You people talk a LOT and guarantee a LOT and usually just end up trying to dump on anyone who doesn't buy into your over simplified, unrealistic and fantasy-filled assumptions that you: "...don't see how we can't be an 8-10 win team just about every year with an occasional better or worse season..." While you are: "...not saying it will happen..." you don't think it's too outlandish to think we can get to that level..."

Here are some facts of life for you people to chew on: The Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, iowa and the stinking wisky. Please go back over the past fifty years and count the number of wins my Gophers have had over these teams during that time frame.

Then, shorten your time frame a bit to see how many wins my Gophers have had over these SAME teams in the past twenty five years.

Now: take it back to the past ten years.

Finally: look at the past five years.

Now: just as you did in questioning Mason's 40% Big Ten win percentage, look ONLY at the Big Ten wins. But, the teams that will do you, and your theory in are the teams that I have listed here. These 7 teams have been in the conference for various amounts of time. However, my Gophers had a long-standing history of playing Nebraska.

I think in a 12 or 13 game schedule, with four games being ooc games and some years having a bowl game you will very quickly see why your "8 to 10 game win expectation for MOST years..." just may be a bit of a fantasy when looking at the reality of the situation. Playing the Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, iowa and wisky with great regularity is NOT conducive to ten win seasons...even during a year when 13 games are played.

Once in a great while it may be possible to have a breakthrough year and have a "shot" at a ten win season. However, 6 and 7 win seasons with a shot at 8 wins most likely will be the norm when teams such as the Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, PSU, Nebraska, iowa and wisky make up the traditional CORE of your schedule.

Do your home work people. Look at the HISTORY of YOUR Golden Gopher Football Program. The past schedule was the same for YOUR Gophers as it was for MY Gophers. The results were also the same. The standings tell us that. Why is it that you think it is not "far-fetched" at all to see YOUR Gophers just about constantly winning 8 to as many as 10 games a season as opposed to my estimation that 6 or 7 wins for most seasons would be darn good with an occasional 9 or 10 win season when everything aligns right.

At least, that is the way it has played out for MY Golden Gopher Football Team.

I fear that many of you people just do NOT pay attention to the reality of how college football has evolved.

COUNT the number of Conference wins. It NEVER lies. It IS...what it is.

Every season is a new season. Let's see how Coach Kill and his staff will follow up last year's very good 8 win season. Four Conference wins is a pretty good accomplishment.
 

imthewalrus said:
You people talk a LOT and guarantee a LOT and usually just end up trying to dump on anyone who doesn't buy into your over simplified, unrealistic and fantasy-filled assumptions that you: "...don't see how we can't be an 8-10 win team just about every year with an occasional better or worse season..." While you are: "...not saying it will happen..." you don't think it's too outlandish to think we can get to that level..."

Here are some facts of life for you people to chew on: The Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, iowa and the stinking wisky. Please go back over the past fifty years and count the number of wins my Gophers have had over these teams during that time frame.

Then, shorten your time frame a bit to see how many wins my Gophers have had over these SAME teams in the past twenty five years.

Now: take it back to the past ten years.

Finally: look at the past five years.

Now: just as you did in questioning Mason's 40% Big Ten win percentage, look ONLY at the Big Ten wins. But, the teams that will do you, and your theory in are the teams that I have listed here. These 7 teams have been in the conference for various amounts of time. However, my Gophers had a long-standing history of playing Nebraska.

I think in a 12 or 13 game schedule, with four games being ooc games and some years having a bowl game you will very quickly see why your "8 to 10 game win expectation for MOST years..." just may be a bit of a fantasy when looking at the reality of the situation. Playing the Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, iowa and wisky with great regularity is NOT conducive to ten win seasons...even during a year when 13 games are played.

Once in a great while it may be possible to have a breakthrough year and have a "shot" at a ten win season. However, 6 and 7 win seasons with a shot at 8 wins most likely will be the norm when teams such as the Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, PSU, Nebraska, iowa and wisky make up the traditional CORE of your schedule.

Do your home work people. Look at the HISTORY of YOUR Golden Gopher Football Program. The past schedule was the same for YOUR Gophers as it was for MY Gophers. The results were also the same. The standings tell us that. Why is it that you think it is not "far-fetched" at all to see YOUR Gophers just about constantly winning 8 to as many as 10 games a season as opposed to my estimation that 6 or 7 wins for most seasons would be darn good with an occasional 9 or 10 win season when everything aligns right.

At least, that is the way it has played out for MY Golden Gopher Football Team.

I fear that many of you people just do NOT pay attention to the reality of how college football has evolved.

COUNT the number of Conference wins. It NEVER lies. It IS...what it is.

Every season is a new season. Let's see how Coach Kill and his staff will follow up last year's very good 8 win season. Four Conference wins is a pretty good accomplishment.
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Take your mediocrity ans shove it where the sun don't shine. You know why people hate Mase because he's a smug asshole. Brew turned out to be bust, but you know why people wanted him to win because he didn't believe in limits and that kind of bull**** and it's going to take someone with that mentality that CAN COACH!!!! for this program to breakthrough
 

Ok bermidgi: just remember to count the conference wins. Anything under 4 to 6 conference wins just won't get that 8 to 10 win mark that you and your type think will magically happen. Here is a clue though: the Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, PSU, Nebraska, iowa and wisky programs are turning up the heat EVERY year too. Their fans are just as obnoxious, unrealistic and demanding as you bermidgi type fans are. Right now, Michigan is down and PSU has challenges. Nebraska won't play like they did last year very long. And, even Northwestern from time to time dials it up a notch. Purdue isn't playing the way they have historically played. Remember the DB and Tiller days?

I'm not talking mediocrity...I am talking real, honest to goodness facts of life in the B1G stuff bermidgi.

Be a hothead. It won't do you much good...but...watch the number of Conference wins in 2014. And then consult with your local weatherman to determine just where the sun will or will NOT shine...
 

imthewalrus said:
Ok bermidgi: just remember to count the conference wins. Anything under 4 to 6 conference wins just won't get that 8 to 10 win mark that you and your type think will magically happen. Here is a clue though: the Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, PSU, Nebraska, iowa and wisky programs are turning up the heat EVERY year too. Their fans are just as obnoxious, unrealistic and demanding as you bermidgi type fans are. Right now, Michigan is down and PSU has challenges. Nebraska won't play like they did last year very long. And, even Northwestern from time to time dials it up a notch. Purdue isn't playing the way they have historically played. Remember the DB and Tiller days?

I'm not talking mediocrity...I am talking real, honest to goodness facts of life in the B1G stuff bermidgi.

Be a hothead. It won't do you much good...but...watch the number of Conference wins in 2014. And then consult with your local weatherman to determine just where the sun will or will NOT shine...
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You're a broken record, news flash Mase didn't win that many conference games either and I don't watch the news or live in Bemidji, only some ***got from Winona would call it Bermidji go suck Mason's mediocre dick for all I care, in fact go start a Glen Mason message board since it's the only thing you ever post about. I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking.
 

If wanting to win is a bad thing wren, than I don't want to live in your socialist utopia where everything is mediocre and mediocre is great. I bet you were so happy getting your participation medals when you were a kid.
 

bemidjigopher said:
If wanting to win is a bad thing wren, than I don't want to live in your socialist utopia where everything is mediocre and mediocre is great. I bet you were so happy getting your participation medals when you were a kid.
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I always love the internet tough guy "I ain't settling for mediocrity approach." So what? Unless you are forking over cash that can be used for building facilities, funding scholarships, joining booster clubs, etc. it's meaningless to keep sputtering it. I'm guessing most of those people don't. Instead, too often, it means being impatient with coaches and players and then proceeding to rip away.
 

imthewalrus said:
You people talk a LOT and guarantee a LOT and usually just end up trying to dump on anyone who doesn't buy into your over simplified, unrealistic and fantasy-filled assumptions that you: "...don't see how we can't be an 8-10 win team just about every year with an occasional better or worse season..." While you are: "...not saying it will happen..." you don't think it's too outlandish to think we can get to that level..."

Here are some facts of life for you people to chew on: The Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, iowa and the stinking wisky. Please go back over the past fifty years and count the number of wins my Gophers have had over these teams during that time frame.

Then, shorten your time frame a bit to see how many wins my Gophers have had over these SAME teams in the past twenty five years.

Now: take it back to the past ten years.

Finally: look at the past five years.

Now: just as you did in questioning Mason's 40% Big Ten win percentage, look ONLY at the Big Ten wins. But, the teams that will do you, and your theory in are the teams that I have listed here. These 7 teams have been in the conference for various amounts of time. However, my Gophers had a long-standing history of playing Nebraska.

I think in a 12 or 13 game schedule, with four games being ooc games and some years having a bowl game you will very quickly see why your "8 to 10 game win expectation for MOST years..." just may be a bit of a fantasy when looking at the reality of the situation. Playing the Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, iowa and wisky with great regularity is NOT conducive to ten win seasons...even during a year when 13 games are played.

Once in a great while it may be possible to have a breakthrough year and have a "shot" at a ten win season. However, 6 and 7 win seasons with a shot at 8 wins most likely will be the norm when teams such as the Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, PSU, Nebraska, iowa and wisky make up the traditional CORE of your schedule.

Do your home work people. Look at the HISTORY of YOUR Golden Gopher Football Program. The past schedule was the same for YOUR Gophers as it was for MY Gophers. The results were also the same. The standings tell us that. Why is it that you think it is not "far-fetched" at all to see YOUR Gophers just about constantly winning 8 to as many as 10 games a season as opposed to my estimation that 6 or 7 wins for most seasons would be darn good with an occasional 9 or 10 win season when everything aligns right.

At least, that is the way it has played out for MY Golden Gopher Football Team.

I fear that many of you people just do NOT pay attention to the reality of how college football has evolved.

COUNT the number of Conference wins. It NEVER lies. It IS...what it is.

Every season is a new season. Let's see how Coach Kill and his staff will follow up last year's very good 8 win season. Four Conference wins is a pretty good accomplishment.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to breakdown everything in your post but will touch on a few. No where in my post did I say we will get to that plateau. But I also don't think it is impossible. Why can't we win 8-10 games just about every year? Stanford went from nothing to a top end program. There are others as well.

This year was still considered a "rebuilding year" by many. Yet we still won 8 games. If Kill (and I know it is a big if) can continue to build and stabilize the program, I don't see why we can't be a very good program.

And, in case you forgot, the conferences have been realigned starting next year so teams like Ohio St., Michigan, Michigan St. and Penn St. will not make up the core of our schedule year after year.

My post was not meant to take a shot at Mason (I know you love him), but more about the article. The said "occasional 10 win season" like it was something that actually occasionally happened under Mason. It didn't. I'm just not going to sit here and think it would be impossible for my favorite football team to win 9 or 10 games three years in row that's all. Forgive me for having high hopes. Maybe it will never happen, but that isn't going to stop me from believing it can.
 

One, I don't see how Wisconsin can get to 3 consecutive Rose Bowls, Iowa can get to an Orange bowl and even Northwestern can get a 10 win yet for Minneosta only 8-10 wins is the ceiling. Also those teams that you listed that we play against should help our cause. Unfortunately OSU is really the only current elite program in the Big Ten right now that we have to play where you would say we have almost no shot. We don't play in the SEC and football in the Big Ten isn't quite what it is basketball wise. We don't have to play a ranked conference team every other game. Last year only 2 teams finished in the top 25 that we played against and there is a legit possibility that only one of the teams we play next year will be ranked (OSU obviously.) Unfortunately the Big Ten as it is in its current state is just as weak, maybe even weaker then the Big 12, Pac 12, and dare i say ACC?
 

GophersInIowa said:
I'm not going to breakdown everything in your post but will touch on a few. No where in my post did I say we will get to that plateau. But I also don't think it is impossible. Why can't we win 8-10 games just about every year? Stanford went from nothing to a top end program. There are others as well.

This year was still considered a "rebuilding year" by many. Yet we still won 8 games. If Kill (and I know it is a big if) can continue to build and stabilize the program, I don't see why we can't be a very good program.

And, in case you forgot, the conferences have been realigned starting next year so teams like Ohio St., Michigan, Michigan St. and Penn St. will not make up the core of our schedule year after year.

My post was not meant to take a shot at Mason (I know you love him), but more about the article. The said "occasional 10 win season" like it was something that actually occasionally happened under Mason. It didn't. I'm just not going to sit here and think it would be impossible for my favorite football team to win 9 or 10 games three years in row that's all. Forgive me for having high hopes. Maybe it will never happen, but that isn't going to stop me from believing it can.
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The Ohio State, Michigan, MSU and PSU will not be going away. When my Gophers win their division over the likes of iowa, wisky, Nebraska, et al, they will still have to go through most likely one of those four teams or who ever the champion of the other division is. Also, I believe they will be increasing the number of Conference games to 9. (It's possible that finances may dictate even more B1G Conference Games...but...that is a potential future consideration. So, with a 9 game conference schedule it is entirely likely that my Gophers will have to defeat, Nebraska, iowa, wisky, NU and another division member or two. Then they would also have to defeat which ever cross-divisional games they have in a given year...and then IF they win their division, they would need to defeat the other division champion in the B1G Championship Game. If anything, it is almost certain that the cupcake ooc matchups will disappear and be replaced with more conference games making the overall schedule even more difficult.

Believe me, I want my Gophers to do as well as they can possibly do. But it IS a very difficult task. The odds are not very good. But: in a very special and incredible year it could happen. Sorry: I have seen what I have seen of Big Ten Football. I also see not much changing. However, IF and when my Gophers can raise the more recent "high mark" of Mason's 40% of Conference wins even to a high mark of 45% to 50% Conference wins, the odds of catching a magical season when everything went right just MIGHT produce a Championship Season. I just don't think it is realistic to say with a straight face that my Gophers OR your Gophers will be averaging between 8 and 10 win seasons any time in the near future. It might happen the way it did for Mason: 1 ten win season in ten years. But, winning 10 games in a season as the norm would mean that Minnesota would have to move right along side of the Ohio State or MSU right now. MSU has had a string of really nice seasons lately. What will happen when Michigan regains their ability to win football games the way they traditionally have? The same is true for Nebraska. Will wisky tank it any time soon? What will happen if PSU regains their form. And, will iowa return to their pre-Haydon Fry days? Will Kill bring the Gophers to the first dozen years or so of the Warmath Era? Things can be GREAT without winning 8 to 10 games most every season. 8 to 10 wins MOST seasons is not in the cards, I fear. However, that doesn't mean that my Gophers won't be a factor and a presence in the B1G Conference. Not at all. I just fear you will be setting up a good coach like Coach Kill to fail by using an 8 to 10 win NORM to judge him as a coach. The B1G Conference, just as the Big Ten Conference was before it is a very difficult conference to dominate and finish in the top 3 or even top four team position year in and year out Minnesota will have to continue to look for a "break out" season every once in a while to remind people that it IS relevant and can NOT be taken lightly. Be competitive Gophers! That is what respect is made of.
 

56th best program and 36th best Coach. We are headed in the right direction!
 

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