Gophers Announce Series with USC, Future Schedule Additions

Don't be too sure we'll be playing USC on 9/3/11

Typically the opening weekend of college football does not feature many marquee games. Now that the NFL opens their season the weekend after Labor Day ABC will pick up a game of potential national interest with a prime time telecast on Labor Day evening (Monday Night Football !). This past year they picked up the Tennessee at UCLA. Past years games include Miami (FL) playing Florida State.

This would be the type of game that ABC /ESPN would love to pick up as it features two teams from large TV markets and from BCS conferences. Bottom line - don't book that airfare quite yet.
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OK, I'm probably THE only person in the world this affects, but I'm bummed they've cancelled the Wash St. series. I was planning on getting out there in 2011 as I have a good friend who lives in eastern Washington state. But still, getting to see USC in person next year will be awesome!

Go Gophers!

I have three cousins that attended Wash State, so I was bummed about that too! You're not alone.
 

5-3 BT record for Minnesota with an additional lose to USC will get us to a January Bowl game over a 5-3 Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue or Michigan State?

I don't know about that.
 




5-3 BT record for Minnesota with an additional lose to USC will get us to a January Bowl game over a 5-3 Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue or Michigan State?

I don't know about that.

No offense, but right now a 5-3 B10 record with an identical overall record as Iowa, WI, Mich, OSU, and PSU doesn't get us a Jan bowl game over them. Those teams would likely jump over us in the selection process anyway. We still aren't seen as a bowl game draw like those schools are.

That's why I don't think the USC game hurts us. A Jan bowl game alone won't take this program to the next level. A Rose Bowl win might (I'd argue an appearance in the RB alone wouldn't do it). But not a Cap One/Outback Bowl. Scheduling better opponents is another part of the process. If we want to win a Rose Bowl we have to be ready to beat USC level opponents. Avoiding this kind of an opportunity is foolish in my opinion.

The whole perception of the U as a program right now is that we pad our record with weak opponents in the NC slate. An 8-4/9-3 season with a L to USC is MUCH better than a 9-3/10-2 season with cupcakes from a program building standpoint.
 


If it takes USC to get excited about Gopher Football

Just how much of a Gopher Football Fan are you.

I accept the challenge coming out of the gates. But take an honest look. If the home opener doesn't move your heart regardless of the opponent . . .
 



USC OOC as of late
at Virginia was on ABC
at Arkansas was on ESPN
vs. Nebraska was on ABC
vs. Virginia Tech was ESPN
vs. Colorado State was ABC
vs. BYU was ESPN
at Hawaii was ESPN2
 

I don't see those as the only two choices. I could see about a dozen other choices as being better choices and more likely to happen. But, the only guy who matters, is on your side with this one.
 

Just how much of a Gopher Football Fan are you.

I accept the challenge coming out of the gates. But take an honest look. If the home opener doesn't move your heart regardless of the opponent . . .

I guess I haven't seen where anyone wrote something like "I really wasn't excited about the Gophers but now that they've scheduled USC, I'm super excited."

So you're saying opening against Air Force or Miami (OH) would have the same feel as opening against USC? Give me a break.
 

This is awesome. SC is going to be a nice road game to go to. And I am happy for Walker Ashley, as he will be able to play in front of friends and family.
 



I don't see those as the only two choices. I could see about a dozen other choices as being better choices and more likely to happen. But, the only guy who matters, is on your side with this one.

Are you referring to my last post here? I'm confused about the "two choices" comment.
 

I guess I haven't seen where anyone wrote something like "I really wasn't excited about the Gophers but now that they've scheduled USC, I'm super excited."

So you're saying opening against Air Force or Miami (OH) would have the same feel as opening against USC? Give me a break.

Agreed. Who are you responding to with your post?
 

This really is a great move and will get the U a ton of national TV exposure. SC has been steamrolling everyone OOC lately. A blow out loss for the gophers will be expected. Anything better than that is a bonus.
 

I am still trying to fugure out how getting embarrassed twice on national TV is going to be a good thing (which, by the way, is exactly what is gong to happen). I know many gopherholers have been clamoring for this sort of thing for years. An aoutomatic, embarrassing "L" is never a good thing.
 

I have three cousins that attended Wash State, so I was bummed about that too! You're not alone.

Already posted, but I'm bummed too. Living in western Washington, I was already planning the visit.
 

I am still trying to fugure out how getting embarrassed twice on national TV is going to be a good thing (which, by the way, is exactly what is gong to happen). I know many gopherholers have been clamoring for this sort of thing for years. An aoutomatic, embarrassing "L" is never a good thing.

Ohio State got embarrassed, beaten down and run over by SC on national TV last year. Did that hurt OSU? It's all about expectations and the Gophers have none.
 

loss?

why does everyone assume that? Our talent is getting better and Gray will give us a chance in every game by then. Do you think the players see this as an automatic loss? Neither should we.
 

gophersiniowa - word of advice about votary guy....

Did you get beat up by a Vikings player or something? You seem pretty obsessed with the Vikings and the possibility of them moving to LA.

just ignore votary guy. he is quite simply the biggest D-BAG on the board and has a hard-on when it comes to the vikings. is from the "art vandelay school" of message board posting (i.e. thinks he is droll when he is not).
 

This is awesome. SC is going to be a nice road game to go to. And I am happy for Walker Ashley, as he will be able to play in front of friends and family.

This is pretty good, even for a Walker Ashley joke.
 

why does everyone assume that? Our talent is getting better and Gray will give us a chance in every game by then. Do you think the players see this as an automatic loss? Neither should we.

Is this another guy who thinks Gray is the starter on day 1? That may be overstating things but the only way I see us bringing it to USC is to have Gray under center. And Salamon playing anywhere other than RB.
 

Nothing like getting your ass handed to you by 50 in your own stadium to pump up the home state support! I remember when Michigan and Penn State and Ohio State used to beat Wacker's teams by 50 consistently back in the 90's, that was one of the most dreadful times in Gopher football history.

I liked the idea of Wazzu much better, because we actually had a good chance to win. Why not schedule a team that we actually have a chance against? Like Missouri, or Kansas, or Iowa State; maybe Pitt or Arkansas or Ole Miss?

Or maybe I'm just a fool and, after seeing two very good Big Ten football teams in OSU and PSU get pounded by USC this past year, just have black-tinted glasses on and am over-reacting to what is really a great thing.

I guess this USC series can really be used as a good recruiting tool; and the series should make the U some serious money.
 

If it matters . . .

Those comments are out there. I don't just read this board. And some of the very happy comments here are very similar to the justifications used by those who have had no interest in Gopher football in the past or recent past.

I support the Gophers, and really don't care who they play. I prefer the conference games to the non-conference games. But to be honest Air Force, Washington State, Washington, Oregon, Oregon State, Kansas or K-State, Texas, Texas Tech, UNLV, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi State and many others are as exciting of oppenents.

I can honestly say that on that Saturday, I will be more interested in USC than anyother weekend. But no, I cannot say that USC will make be more interested in the Gophers than any other opponent.

I guess I haven't seen where anyone wrote something like "I really wasn't excited about the Gophers but now that they've scheduled USC, I'm super excited."

So you're saying opening against Air Force or Miami (OH) would have the same feel as opening against USC? Give me a break.
 

If the games had been played at the larger Dome it might have made money for the U. At TCF it will be a sell out like most every other game for the first two years. We don't make money on the away games either. Frankly, other than more hollow male bravado, I'm not sure what the U is going to get out of these games. We are just not ready to play an elite program like SC>
 

If the games had been played at the larger Dome it might have made money for the U. At TCF it will be a sell out like most every other game for the first two years. We don't make money on the away games either. Frankly, other than more hollow male bravado, I'm not sure what the U is going to get out of these games. We are just not ready to play an elite program like SC>

If you're a hot-shot recruit, who would you rather play Bowling Green or USC?
 




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