Gophers Fleck on closing the gap against top teams: "...Just because you want that doesn't mean that's going to happen."

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

But if you try, sometimes you might find you get what you need.

 

[Panthadad2]

Indiana had a recent cash infusion. Gophers and a lot of others could become Indiana with $$$. That's different than becoming Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon. Texas Tech and Indiana are a different category.

Not just dollars, but also hitting lightning in a bottle with NFL quality 1-year transfer quarterbacks that embrace the system and a lot of luck with both the schedule and injuries. What Indiana is doing is not sustainable.

MN was close to that in 2019 but couldn't close the deal.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Not just dollars, but also hitting lightning in a bottle with NFL quality 1-year transfer quarterbacks that embrace the system and a lot of luck with both the schedule and injuries. What Indiana is doing is not sustainable.

MN was close to that in 2019 but couldn't close the deal.

Yeah, Indiana's run these last two years has been impressive but they are a long way from being a permanent resident of that top tier that includes teams like Ohio State.

 

[Random Guy 12]

Yeah, Indiana's run these last two years has been impressive but they are a long way from being a permanent resident of that top tier that includes teams like Ohio State.

If I hit the Powerball jackpot I might send us on a wild run for a year or two but its up to everyone else here to sustain it after that!

 

[Tech Machine]

Sorry but the tweet pic triggered an adverse fashion reaction...

View attachment 40214

The Billds really DISLIKE the lower color. Believe that Coach has shied away from it this season but it was prominent for several.

Coach's fashion choices are typically spot on...well, the ankles in his capris are a questionable look...but this color is yuck.

That Capri thing is spot on, should not be on the sideline in my opinion. Eric Von Rooyan(sp?) wears them on the PGA tour. I know he is a U guy but man, it just bugs me…….now get off my lawn!!

 

[Panthadad2]

Yeah, Indiana's run these last two years has been impressive but they are a long way from being a permanent resident of that top tier that includes teams like Ohio State.

I'd say Indiana does have the advantage of having Purdue as its only protected annual rivalry, Purdue being a perennial bottom program, so it will have years without its huge bugaboo Ohio State on its schedule.

For example, even though Iowa has been nowhere near Ohio State's level, it might as well be for Minnesota. Ferentz has almost single handedly kept Fleck from moving the Gophers solidly into that next tier below OSU/Michigan/Oregon.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

Not just dollars, but also hitting lightning in a bottle with NFL quality 1-year transfer quarterbacks that embrace the system and a lot of luck with both the schedule and injuries. What Indiana is doing is not sustainable.

MN was close to that in 2019 but couldn't close the deal.

Yes, 2019 was uplifting. We'll probably see another year like that some day. Tough to get there regularly. Re NIL, Minnesota sports money has many pots to fill. High dilution factor.

 

[BilldGopher]

I knew the equipment people for Missouri at one time and basically the Coaches had their game attire laid out for them each game by NIKE. Down to their socks

Sorry Heather...

 

[Some guy]

I would agree with this if we didn't see Iowa and other teams with far less money still compete every year and find ways to win without the extra money. It all comes down to coaching and PJ and company consistently get out-coached against these big schools.

I get what you’re saying but Iowa currently is 6-4 against a pretty similar schedule

The difference is Mn is 1-1 vs 6-4 Iowa and 7-3 Nebraska
Iowa is 1-1 vs 6-4 Minnesota and 8-2 USC

The next two weeks the schedule is easier for Mn though.

 

[caliGopher]

I knew the equipment people for Missouri at one time and basically the Coaches had their game attire laid out for them each game by NIKE. Down to their socks

Yes, with input from the coach. PJ wears the capris. All. The. Time. It's his choice. I don't care, but you can't blame that particular fashion choice on Nike.

 

[Random Guy 12]

I get what you’re saying but Iowa currently is 6-4 against a pretty similar schedule

The difference is Mn is 1-1 vs 6-4 Iowa and 7-3 Nebraska
Iowa is 1-1 vs 6-4 Minnesota and 8-2 USC

The next two weeks the schedule is easier for Mn though.

The difference is more about Iowa competed with and could argue should have beaten Indiana and Oregon while the Gophs were blown out vs Ohio St and Oregon. Funny that we have the same record as them but I think both fanbases are unhappy with outcomes. They are unhappy they can't finish/win these games and we're unhappy because we aren't really competitive in them.

 

[Some guy]

The difference is more about Iowa competed with and could argue should have beaten Indiana and Oregon while the Gophs were blown out vs Ohio St and Oregon. Funny that we have the same record as them but I think both fanbases are unhappy with outcomes. They are unhappy they can't finish/win these games and we're unhappy because we aren't really competitive in them.

Agree

I just think if the gophers had Iowa results the same people would be mad

6-4 this year.
Lost to rival Iowa state who is a mid level power 4. Can’t finish Va the big dogs

2024
8-5
Lost to instate rival
Lost to 5-7 UCLA
Lost to 5-7 Michigan State

2023
Won division….but lost to 5-7 Minnesota to cost themselves being 11-1 going to big ten title game. Not sure if it would’ve changed their bowl game or not
Lost 26-0 and 31-0 and 35-0 in the three ranked games they played

2022
8-5
Best division champ Purdue by 21
Lost to 4-8 Nebraska in last game to cost themselves a spot in big ten title game
Also lost to 4-8 in state rival

Etc

 

[DinkytownDelight]

I get what you’re saying but Iowa currently is 6-4 against a pretty similar schedule

The difference is Mn is 1-1 vs 6-4 Iowa and 7-3 Nebraska
Iowa is 1-1 vs 6-4 Minnesota and 8-2 USC

The next two weeks the schedule is easier for Mn though.

Iowa crushed us (again), lost by 5 to #2 Indiana, and Oregon needed a last second FG to beat them. My point is they at least consistently compete against the top teams and have a chance. We consistently get CRUSHED in those games.

 

[Some guy]

Iowa crushed us (again), lost by 5 to #2 Indiana, and Oregon needed a last second FG to beat them. My point is they at least consistently compete against the top teams and have a chance. We consistently get CRUSHED in those games.

You are correct regarding this year
It’ll be pretty funny if the gophers go 2-0 and Iowa loses to Nebraska though

 

[Random Guy 12]

Iowa crushed us (again), lost by 5 to #2 Indiana, and Oregon needed a last second FG to beat them. My point is they at least consistently compete against the top teams and have a chance. We consistently get CRUSHED in those games.

And both teams have fans that are unhappy with the results. I know quite a few Iowa fans here in southern Mn and I wouldn't say a majority but definitely some of them are ready to push Ferentz out the door ( I think they're silly). I would urge them to look at us and Wisconsin and be very careful what you wish for. Iowa is not some football coaching Utopia where success is guaranteed.

 

[BronkosGhost]

He consistently gets outcoached by Iowa.

He consistently gets outcoached a lot and not just by Iowa.

 

[DinkytownDelight]

And both teams have fans that are unhappy with the results. I know quite a few Iowa fans here in southern Mn and I wouldn't say a majority but definitely some of them are ready to push Ferentz out the door ( I think they're silly). I would urge them to look at us and Wisconsin and be very careful what you wish for. Iowa is not some football coaching Utopia where success is guaranteed.

I totally hear you and agree. Iowa's level of success is absolutely something I would like to see here and should be what PJ strives for. There is no reason that he can't. He doesn't need to go the CFB every year, but it would be nice to have a shot once every blue moon to actually make it. We had multiple times in a bad Big Ten West conference with an easy schedule to make it to the Big Ten Championship game and fell short every year (mostly because we couldn't beat Iowa).

I for one would also welcome Ferentz leaving so we have a better shot at them and they can experience what Wisconsin and Nebraska have faced in recent years!

 

[Random Guy 12]

I totally hear you and agree. Iowa's level of success is absolutely something I would like to see here and should be what PJ strives for. There is no reason that he can't. He doesn't need to go the CFB every year, but it would be nice to have a shot once every blue moon to actually make it. We had multiple times in a bad Big Ten West conference with an easy schedule to make it to the Big Ten Championship game and fell short every year (mostly because we couldn't beat Iowa).

I for one would also welcome Ferentz leaving so we have a better shot at them and they can experience what Wisconsin and Nebraska have faced in recent years!

I honestly think that PJs style of football is really pretty similar to Ferentz's . That's also why we consistently lose to them. Ferentz is better at it. Play great defense, solid to great special teams, good o-line, and play conservative. Let the other team beat themselves. Iowa is also fortunate enough to have one of the better defensive coordinators in the country. I just looked it up and he makes about 2 mil. That's a really big aspect as well.

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

I would agree with this if we didn't see Iowa and other teams with far less money still compete every year and find ways to win without the extra money. It all comes down to coaching and PJ and company consistently get out-coached against these big schools.

Speaking of Iowa they have $3 million more dollars annually to work with on assistant coaching salaries. I get they have Phil Parker and a top ST coordinator but for a program we expect to compete with, the gap should not be $3 million annually. Which tells me they have a quite bit more in NIL than we do as well if they are willing to approve that. We don't know everything about NIL.ans most likely will but looking at things that are accessible to the public I would have to imagine where a school ranks in spending on their coach and support staff would closely correlate to the NIL pecking order in this league. We may not be 17/18 in NIL but I would be willing to bet we are bottom third.

 

[Gopherchase]

And both teams have fans that are unhappy with the results. I know quite a few Iowa fans here in southern Mn and I wouldn't say a majority but definitely some of them are ready to push Ferentz out the door ( I think they're silly). I would urge them to look at us and Wisconsin and be very careful what you wish for. Iowa is not some football coaching Utopia where success is guaranteed.

I would say the majority of Iowa fans have been ready for him to go since the debacle with his son at OC.

 

[Gopherchase]

Speaking of Iowa they have $3 million more dollars annually to work with on assistant coaching salaries. I get they have Phil Parker and a top ST coordinator but for a program we expect to compete with, the gap should not be $3 million annually. Which tells me they have a quite bit more in NIL than we do as well if they are willing to approve that. We don't know everything about NIL.ans most likely will but looking at things that are accessible to the public I would have to imagine where a school ranks in spending on their coach and support staff would closely correlate to the NIL pecking order in this league. We may not be 17/18 in NIL but I would be willing to bet we are bottom third.

Everyone that posts this is just nonsensical. We are currently overpaying both of our coordinators. They wouldn’t be coordinators at any other power 4 conference team in the country and neither had the chops to get promoted into that job so what are you gonna do? Pay them even more just so we look better on paper comparison wise? Add that to the fact that MSM 55 is about 25 years old and has no business coaching our linebackers and we have a couple of other folks that are brand spanking new and it’s just complete nonsense to exclaim that Iowa has $3 million more than us to spend.

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

Everyone that posts this is just nonsensical. We are currently overpaying both of our coordinators. They wouldn’t be coordinators at any other power 4 conference team in the country and neither had the chops to get promoted into that job so what are you gonna do? Pay them even more just so we look better on paper comparison wise? Add that to the fact that MSM 55 is about 25 years old and has no business coaching our linebackers and we have a couple of other folks that are brand spanking new and it’s just complete nonsense to exclaim that Iowa has $3 million more than us to spend.

Our coordinators are dead last in salary they may be a lot of things but over paid ain't one of them. You seem to be ignoring the bigger problem which has lead to having cheap hires at key positions. I would be willing to bet if we had a budget at or closer to Iowa coaching budget we would be in a better position to o go get a better OC and keep Heatherman or Rossi or find a comparable replacement. As far as MSM goes, time will tell, I think Dev and Mav have had solid years, Kingsberry has played well in stretches, Currier and Le captain are the only positive things I'll say about ST coverage. Linebacker play isn't really a concern of mine, I would say there are some other guys who have been around a lot longer and are getting paid more than MSM who may need to have a difficult breakfast conversation. Will see how MSm does recruiting that room.

 

[Gopherchase]

Our coordinators are dead last in salary they may be a lot of things but over paid ain't one of them. You seem to be ignoring the bigger problem which has lead to having cheap hires at key positions. I would be willing to bet if we had a budget at or closer to Iowa coaching budget we would be in a better position to o go get a better OC and keep Heatherman or Rossi or find a comparable replacement. As far as MSM goes, time will tell, I think Dev and Mav have had solid years, Kingsberry has played well in stretches, Currier and Le captain are the only positive things I'll say about ST coverage. Linebacker play isn't really a concern of mine, I would say there are some other guys who have been around a lot longer and are getting paid more than MSM who may need to have a difficult breakfast conversation. Will see how MSm does recruiting that room.

Let me say it another way— our coordinators would have taken the job if we had offered them say 1/3 less or even more of a haircut. They don’t have options anywhere else that would pay anything close to what they are making. They are both overpaid for what they bring to the table. 9 rated dead last in PFF grade last game and shouldn’t be playing. Our LBer talent and play is lacking quite a bit. 49 should be out there a lot more.

 

[Tech Machine]

Speaking of Iowa

To me the biggest difference is their tackling is way better, especially this season. They also don’t seem to get out of position to allow big plays.

Their offensive line is better, good backs, and a tough QB, the talent gap this year is more than a little, in my opinion.

 

[Word]

Yes, with input from the coach. PJ wears the capris. All. The. Time. It's his choice. I don't care, but you can't blame that particular fashion choice on Nike.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how bothered are you by Capri pants? 1 being you don't care at all and 10 being ulcer-causing rage?

 

[Mr. 131]

What would it take for MN to become a Penn State, or a Michigan?

I truly think we have a rare advantage - this state has the flagship program (UMN) and St Thomas.

The U doesn’t need to compete with other teams the same way a UCLA does.

Get that fucking money!

 

[Mr. 131]

And both teams have fans that are unhappy with the results. I know quite a few Iowa fans here in southern Mn and I wouldn't say a majority but definitely some of them are ready to push Ferentz out the door ( I think they're silly). I would urge them to look at us and Wisconsin and be very careful what you wish for. Iowa is not some football coaching Utopia where success is guaranteed.

It reminds me of Hugh Grant going to a prostitute while being married at the time to Elizabeth Hurley.

Some folks can’t be happy with what they have.

 

[BilldGopher]

On a scale of 1 to 10 how bothered are you by Capri pants? 1 being you don't care at all and 10 being ulcer-causing rage?

This is in 5-6 range for me...


Ski-U-Show Me Some Ankle...

EDIT: I could never get away with this look so PJ's got me there. Mrs. Billd however is another story...

 

[LeftofThaDial]

Our coordinators are dead last in salary they may be a lot of things but over paid ain't one of them. You seem to be ignoring the bigger problem which has lead to having cheap hires at key positions. I would be willing to bet if we had a budget at or closer to Iowa coaching budget we would be in a better position to o go get a better OC and keep Heatherman or Rossi or find a comparable replacement. As far as MSM goes, time will tell, I think Dev and Mav have had solid years, Kingsberry has played well in stretches, Currier and Le captain are the only positive things I'll say about ST coverage. Linebacker play isn't really a concern of mine, I would say there are some other guys who have been around a lot longer and are getting paid more than MSM who may need to have a difficult breakfast conversation. Will see how MSm does recruiting that room.

What does Collins make as DC? I remember we bumped Heatherman from $850,000 to 1.2 million right before he left for Miami

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

What does Collins make as DC? I remember we bumped Heatherman from $850,000 to 1.2 million right before he left for Miami

He was scheduled to make $425 K before Heatherman left, but I can't find any info about an increase after his promotion. I would assume he got a bump upon assuming play calling duties probably somewhere along the lines of what Harbaugh made last year. Harbaugh around 730 K this year, up from $600 K last year. At year three Im not sure Harbaugh even a top 50 OC in salary, if we want one of the 25 or so OC that are currently over a million dollars than we need to amp up our salary pool. KC is making double what Harbaugh is at Rutgers