FSN: Bowled over: Goal of Gophers now is to win Big Ten

[BleedGopher]

per FSN:

MINNEAPOLIS -- When Gophers cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun first arrived on campus before the 2012 season, Minnesota's team goal was simple: win six games to get to a bowl game.

For a team that was fresh off a three-win season, that goal seemed realistic and attainable, but some work needed to be done to get there. Sure enough, Minnesota won six games in 2012 to advance to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Two years later, Boddy-Calhoun and the Gophers have altered their expectations. The goal is no longer to simply get to a bowl game.

"When I first got here, the bowl game seemed like it was like, 'Oh, I don't know.' Now, we could care less about a bowl game," Boddy-Calhoun said. "We want the Big Ten Championship and we know that's something that we can really get."

http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/bowled-over-goal-of-gophers-now-is-to-win-big-ten-101514

Go Gophers!!

 

[GoldenRodents]

We need about +7 in turnovers in the last 4 games, a healthy Cobb and Williams, and a rising Leidner.

 

[Twinsfan007]

Wow, that was a very good read. It got me when Boddy-Calhoun talked about the speech that Thompson gave. The seniors have been though it all over the past 4 years.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Wow, that was a very good read. It got me when Boddy-Calhoun talked about the speech that Thompson gave. The seniors have been though it all over the past 4 years.

Knowing what Thompson has been through in his life makes it even better. He's come a long ways.

 

[vagopher]

It'll be a steep climb for us to win the B1G, but I don't think it is impossible. If it were to happen, one could make a great movie about it. There would be a number of great story lines, not the least of which would be Thompson's. My recollection is that he was a lightly recruited kid from remote Bombay Beach, California on the Salton Sea where he was a refugee from the LA gang scene. I love his passion for the Gophers. Another great story line would be Jerry Kill's success in overcoming epilepsy and the loyalty of his staff. Truly amazing. Assuming Mitch Leidner continues to grow in confidence and effectiveness, that could be another. And what could be more compelling than David Cobb's going from third on the depth chart to one the nation's best running backs. His cousin Damien Wilson's story isn't bad either. And there are others as well.

In my opinion, the more we can fly under the radar the better. I want as little respect for our program as possible, until the season is successfully over. Yeah, I know, It'll be a little hard to hide our light under the bushel basket if we are able to beat Iowa and go 8 and 1, and it'll be impossible to do so if we beat Ohio State for 9 and 1. But I think the key for making this a very special season, and the beginning of a new era for Gopher's football, is taking each game one at a time. I know that is what Coach Kill and his staff wants to do. May they succeed in doing so.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I think the change in view towards bowl eligibility says great things about the direction Kill has taken the program. A few years ago, barely making a bowl would have been considered the difference between a pretty good year and not quite there yet. Now, barely making a bowl is the difference between disappointing season and total catastrophe.

 

[WanderingGopher]

The West division is there for the taking. Play reasonably well for the next 2 games, and we'll be 4-0 going into the bye. Rest for a week and get a home game against a decent but beatable Iowa team (which will NOT be coming off a bye), we have a good chance to be 5-0. The last 3 games look difficult on paper right now, but a month from now maybe at least 1 of the 3 will appear a lot more winnable. Nebraska, with their fans' unreasonably high expectations and skepticism of Pelini, could crater like last year if they lose another game or two. Wisconsin looks more vulnerable than they have in years. Ohio State is already on its second string QB and who knows if the freshman can stay healthy and effective into November. And weather could affect all 3 of those games.

Win 2 of the last 3, and we win the west. Even winning 1 of the 3 (to get to 6-2) could be enough if Northwestern and Iowa have good years besides losing to us.

Play MSU in the title game, a team we can reasonably match up with and have a shot to beat.

All possible, although I think next year is more likely our year.

 

[EG#9]

The West division is there for the taking. Play reasonably well for the next 2 games, and we'll be 4-0 going into the bye. Rest for a week and get a home game against a decent but beatable Iowa team (which will NOT be coming off a bye), we have a good chance to be 5-0. The last 3 games look difficult on paper right now, but a month from now maybe at least 1 of the 3 will appear a lot more winnable. Nebraska, with their fans' unreasonably high expectations and skepticism of Pelini, could crater like last year if they lose another game or two. Wisconsin looks more vulnerable than they have in years. Ohio State is already on its second string QB and who knows if the freshman can stay healthy and effective into November. And weather could affect all 3 of those games.

Win 2 of the last 3, and we win the west. Even winning 1 of the 3 (to get to 6-2) could be enough if Northwestern and Iowa have good years besides losing to us.

Play MSU in the title game, a team we can reasonably match up with and have a shot to beat.

All possible, although I think next year is more likely our year.

Agree with a lot of this, there's a real shot to be 5-0 in conference play and reasonable chance to end up 6-2. I love your point about not knowing what those last 3 games will be like until we actually get to that point in the season. Minnesota could be playing for something that is HUGE for the program/state, while a Nebraska, Ohio State or Wisconsin could be less motivated due to potentially not reaching preseason goals. I also think there's a real shot for the team to end up 4-4 again and a lot will depend on whether or not the offense can become more potent as the season wears on (and also things like turnovers, luck, and weather).

One area I strongly disagree with is that next year is likely "our" year. The B1G is decidedly down this year and the Gophers (and others) have a great opportunity to break through and create some momentum for their program(s) this year.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Agree with a lot of this, there's a real shot to be 5-0 in conference play and reasonable chance to end up 6-2. I love your point about not knowing what those last 3 games will be like until we actually get to that point in the season. Minnesota could be playing for something that is HUGE for the program/state, while a Nebraska, Ohio State or Wisconsin could be less motivated due to potentially not reaching preseason goals. I also think there's a real shot for the team to end up 4-4 again and a lot will depend on whether or not the offense can become more potent as the season wears on (and also things like turnovers, luck, and weather).

One area I strongly disagree with is that next year is likely "our" year. The B1G is decidedly down this year and the Gophers (and others) have a great opportunity to break through and create some momentum for their program(s) this year.

At this point, 4-4 will be really disappointing. It would mean that either (a) we choked against a really weak Purdue or Illinois team or (b) we went 0-4 against some good but beatable opponents. If we end this season on a 4 game skid that involves losing the Axe and Floyd, Id be pretty upset and feel like we squandered a great opportunity.

 

[killme]

Maybe the best thread I’ve read, and that’s saying something, with all the good stuff here at gopherhole. Sometimes the task of weeding through the glut of nonsense is pretty challenging in search of the nuggets.

Tyler’s article was a great one and anyone here that doesn’t read it will miss out.

I also need to extend kudos to twinsfan007 and vagopher, but don’t want to slight all the other posts so far. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive thougths. I’m hopeful and optimistic about the rest of the season, and who among us wouldn’t have taken this position before the season started? You all have seen the movie Hoosiers, right?

 

[60's Guy]

Great article

It'll be a steep climb for us to win the B1G, but I don't think it is impossible. If it were to happen, one could make a great movie about it. There would be a number of great story lines, not the least of which would be Thompson's. My recollection is that he was a lightly recruited kid from remote Bombay Beach, California on the Salton Sea where he was a refugee from the LA gang scene. I love his passion for the Gophers. Another great story line would be Jerry Kill's success in overcoming epilepsy and the loyalty of his staff. Truly amazing. Assuming Mitch Leidner continues to grow in confidence and effectiveness, that could be another. And what could be more compelling than David Cobb's going from third on the depth chart to one the nation's best running backs. His cousin Damien Wilson's story isn't bad either. And there are others as well.

In my opinion, the more we can fly under the radar the better. I want as little respect for our program as possible, until the season is successfully over. Yeah, I know, It'll be a little hard to hide our light under the bushel basket if we are able to beat Iowa and go 8 and 1, and it'll be impossible to do so if we beat Ohio State for 9 and 1. But I think the key for making this a very special season, and the beginning of a new era for Gopher's football, is taking each game one at a time. I know that is what Coach Kill and his staff wants to do. May they succeed in doing so.

I enjoyed the article very much and nice post va guy.

 

[jaymil]

We're going to miss Cedric a lot next year. He's a solid player and an outstanding leader. He's obviously taken the role of being the defensive leader very seriously.

 

[60's Guy]

We're going to miss Cedric a lot next year. He's a solid player and an outstanding leader. He's obviously taken the role of being the defensive leader very seriously.

We will miss Cedric, but his gift will carry on. He may have benefited from Vereen who we could say the same about after last season. The hardest part
is done. As a coach you can tell a player about leadership and they'll respond but to be able to say, remember Brock? remember Cedric? follow their lead!
That is 100 times easier than blazing the trail the first time. Somebody of the 80 or so returning guys will break out and emulate the leadership they witnessed, with encouragement from an experienced, consistent staff.

 

[Monty519]

We will miss Cedric, but his gift will carry on. He may have benefited from Vereen who we could say the same about after last season. The hardest part
is done. As a coach you can tell a player about leadership and they'll respond but to be able to say, remember Brock? remember Cedric? follow their lead!
That is 100 times easier than blazing the trail the first time. Somebody of the 80 or so returning guys will break out and emulate the leadership they witnessed, with encouragement from an experienced, consistent staff.

Well said and very true. This stuff snowballs on itself when you get guys who are all in and are teaching and leading and showing great examples to the younger players. If done right, next year someone else will be the "we're gonna miss this guy badly next year" guy.

 

[cjbfbp]

Agree with a lot of this, there's a real shot to be 5-0 in conference play and reasonable chance to end up 6-2.

OK, but the one reservation I have about a 9-3 season is that we might end up in a bowl game where we have to play the third best SEC team. I think I'd rather lose one more regular season game if it improved our chances of winning the bowl game. However, given that the bigger bowls probably would pick Iowa and Wisconsin ahead of us even if they finished with one less win, maybe that's not a consideration. I would like to see the team win a bowl game this year as it's been too long of a drought. Losing to 6-6 Syracuse last year made our 8-4 season less credible to outside observers.