BleedGopher
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per Mike:
Not many people can say they were there the last two times Minnesota wrested Paul Bunyan’s Axe from Wisconsin.
Matt Simon can.
In 2003 he was a senior All-State football player at Farmington High School, considering an opportunity to walk on at Minnesota, and was in the stands when the Gophers beat the Badgers 37-34 at the Metrodome. Rhys Lloyd, an Eastview High School graduate, kicked the winning field goal on the last play of the game.
The Gophers kept the Axe only one year. By 2018, Simon was the Gophers’ wide receivers coach, and Minnesota ended a 14-game losing streak against Wisconsin, reclaiming the Axe with a 37-15 victory in Madison.
The opportunity for moments like that brought Simon back to Minnesota in 2017 after a college career at Northern Illinois, a brief shot at the NFL, and coaching stops at St. Thomas, Northern Illinois, Rutgers and Western Michigan.
“That always was kind of the dream, but I didn’t know if it would ever happen,” Simon said. “I grew up a Gophers fan. Waking up every morning wearing the block ‘M’ is a good feeling.”
Now, Simon is trying to help head coach P.J. Fleck take Minnesota to the upper echelon of college football. The Gophers closed the first 11-victory season in school history by beating Southeastern Conference power Auburn 31-24 in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. Simon took over as offensive coordinator – and chief play-caller – for the bowl game after previous offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca left to join the Penn State coaching staff.
Simon was passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2019. This year he will be co-offensive coordinator (with Mike Sanford) and receivers coach.
www.hometownsource.com
Go Gophers!!
Not many people can say they were there the last two times Minnesota wrested Paul Bunyan’s Axe from Wisconsin.
Matt Simon can.
In 2003 he was a senior All-State football player at Farmington High School, considering an opportunity to walk on at Minnesota, and was in the stands when the Gophers beat the Badgers 37-34 at the Metrodome. Rhys Lloyd, an Eastview High School graduate, kicked the winning field goal on the last play of the game.
The Gophers kept the Axe only one year. By 2018, Simon was the Gophers’ wide receivers coach, and Minnesota ended a 14-game losing streak against Wisconsin, reclaiming the Axe with a 37-15 victory in Madison.
The opportunity for moments like that brought Simon back to Minnesota in 2017 after a college career at Northern Illinois, a brief shot at the NFL, and coaching stops at St. Thomas, Northern Illinois, Rutgers and Western Michigan.
“That always was kind of the dream, but I didn’t know if it would ever happen,” Simon said. “I grew up a Gophers fan. Waking up every morning wearing the block ‘M’ is a good feeling.”
Now, Simon is trying to help head coach P.J. Fleck take Minnesota to the upper echelon of college football. The Gophers closed the first 11-victory season in school history by beating Southeastern Conference power Auburn 31-24 in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. Simon took over as offensive coordinator – and chief play-caller – for the bowl game after previous offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca left to join the Penn State coaching staff.
Simon was passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2019. This year he will be co-offensive coordinator (with Mike Sanford) and receivers coach.
Gophers football on the rise, with Simon’s help
Farmington native will be co-offensive coordinator this season
Go Gophers!!
