Former Gophers assistant Joe Rossi struggling with Michigan State

[BleedGopher]

Per Greder:

Former Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi is having a rough season with Michigan State. Coming into Saturday’s game against the Gophers, the defensive coordinator has the Spartans last in scoring in the 18-team Big Ten Conference (32.5 points per game) and 15th in total defense (380 yards per game).

Former Gophers assistant Joe Rossi struggling with Michigan State

The Spartans bring an 0-5 Big Ten record into Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Hunting Bank Stadium.

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[GoldMedalCounty]

Sounds like a Barreiro statement and typically the kiss of death…

 

[UpAndUnder43]

I think I read he is top 15 for highest salary in the country. Or right in that range. Which is wild.

 

[LesBolstad]

Anyone watch the MSU game Saturday? Rossi was on the sidelines acting like a complete psycho the entire game. Honestly, it looked like he was having a mental breakdown

 

[Gopher Ally]

He might be available after the season

 

[btowngopher]

He might be available after the season

I’d hate to bring him back and get burned again like KC did to us.

 

[mngg11]

Our defense was abysmal the season before he left us

 

[LeftofThaDial]

I think I read he is top 15 for highest salary in the country. Or right in that range. Which is wild.

Rossi made 1.1 million his last year in Mn. Signed a 3 year deal for 1.5 at MSU with a 100,000 raise every year. Which as far as publicly available data did put him around the top 15. Heatherman made 800,000 at Mn in ‘24. Was bumped up to 1.2 million in January of ‘25, but left for Miami shortly after.

 

[NateDawgUM]

There is so much more to organizational leadership than just one guy...though that is not reflected in the insane salaries that coaches, CEOs and other senior management command due to the inflated narratives they push.

 

[BilldGopher]

Right now I'm just concerned that the Gophers end up struggling with Michigan State.

Big game. Again.

 

[Tech Machine]

I wonder if Coach Rossi got incompetent all of a sudden, or if he just doesn’t have the horses?

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

Anyone watch the MSU game Saturday? Rossi was on the sidelines acting like a complete psycho the entire game. Honestly, it looked like he was having a mental breakdown

I did and he was a maniac. My Michigan State friends think that it was partly due to a season full of pent up frustration and partly intentional due to the head coach appearing to not knowing or caring that there was a game going on. For what it's worth, they loved that someone on the sideline was finally showing some passion, even if it seemed a bit unhinged.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

I wonder if Coach Rossi got incompetent all of a sudden, or if he just doesn’t have the horses?

They can definitely afford to go get studs. It's perplexing that things aren't working.

 

[Arnold Babar]

It might also have something to do with not having a ball control philosophy on offense. Defensive stats for a team that runs the play clock down to zero and hands the ball off to Mo Ibrahim 35 times a game will look pretty good.

 

[Schnauzer]

He'll be a scapegoat long before the head coach is.