GOPHERS HIRING BEN JOHNSON

[MplsGopher]

He wasn't coming here for the $. But we would have to at least match whatever Arkansas is paying him/will pay him after this tournament run, plus pay his buyout. It's a big check, that got bigger with each passing day in the past week.

Minnesota means nothing to him. Was just a cold place he lived when he was aged 7-11.

Grew up in San Diego and Cleveland.

 

[howeda7]

Minnesota means nothing to him. Was just a cold place he lived when he was aged 7-11.

That simply isn't true according to his own words over the years. Just stop.

 

[MplsGopher]

That simply isn't true according to his own words over the years.

You've never heard of someone "saying the right thing" or "being polite"? Come on dude.

What was he going to say in the interview?? "Minnesota sucks! What a craphole! Why would anyone want to live there except polar bears??"

And at the time you're likely referencing, he hadn't gotten a P5 head offer yet, and in those times, yes Minnesota could've been the first and he would've said yes.

Not anymore.

 

[BilldGopher]

Coyle did say Gable, "spent way too much time with him and the search committee during the process." Which I thought was a strange comment for a process that took a week, which didn't seem overly long. I doubt Gable was a wallflower and I am sure her input in that "way too much time" of a relatively short process was not input about the 5 out offense or ball line defense, I am pretty certain her input was about minority coaching ratios. I am sure Coyle was under a lot of pressure.

I'll note that die hard Gopher fans from the late 1970s to the hiring of Mark Yudoff would have given a left...errr...tooth to have that luxury. University Presidents over that tenure were either actively trying to eliminate revenue sports...or ignoring then with the hope they would die...over that period. Example: "Hello Metrodome as the new home of your Minnesota Golden Gophers..."

Even if 2020 didn't happen, I'm sure President Gable is paying a lot of attention to the AD's management, including the dropping of the 3 other sports programs.

 

[howeda7]

You've never heard of someone "saying the right thing" or "being polite"? Come on dude.

What was he going to say in the interview?? "Minnesota sucks! What a craphole! Why would anyone want to live there except polar bears??"

And at the time you're likely referencing, he hadn't gotten a P5 head offer yet, and in those times, yes Minnesota could've been the first and he would've said yes.

Not anymore.

You're making more baseless assumptions than anyone else on this subject.

 

[sal]

Sorry, I can't tell you that, but it doesn't matter anyway at this point. I am now all in on Johnson. Who knows, it may be for the best.

Fair enough. Ben will have some ups and downs, most coaches do. He’s got a great opportunity here, exactly where he wants to be. That means a lot. All in.

 

[MplsGopher]

You're making more baseless assumptions than anyone else on this subject.

As you said, none of us have any relevant proof, so no one is above anyone else in that regard. Thank you very much.

You believe what you want to believe, and I will believe what I want to believe.

 

[USAF]

Nope. Either he and Gable came to an agreement before hand, or Gable put her foot down, that it had to be a Black hire.

The king of bad takes solidifies his hold on the crown.

 

[MplsGopher]

The king of bad takes

You may kiss the ring now.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Yudof was great!

 

[Wally]

I like the pick, give him a chance, you never know. If he can bring in the second tier MN players just below the Suggs and Jones of the world we could be solid. He is a risky pick but I say go for it...

How can you not get excited about a guy landing his dream job. He has spent enough time in the college bball assistant coaching ranks to know what he has to do.

 

[GopherBlood777]

I like the pick, give him a chance, you never know. If he can bring in the second tier MN players just below the Suggs and Jones of the world we could be solid. He is a risky pick but I say go for it...

How can you not get excited about a guy landing his dream job. He has spent enough time in the college bball assistant coaching ranks to know what he has to do.

Allegedly, this is also Craig Smith's dream job. Not suggesting he should be hired for that. Happy for Ben, but I want them to win games. It's easy to not get excited immediately because I care about the program's success first. Ben will have to prove he is the best person to lead this program as we would expect any new coach to do.

 

[BilldGopher]

Yudof was great!

Mark Yudof understood the value of revenue sports...period.

Not sure the Regents understood that when he was hired, but his Longhorn roots made him wonder WTF happened to one of the Big 10s legacy programs in football.

This translated to other sports too. Great to have had him.

 

[alaska]

We’re not allowed to think that or we’re closet bigots.

If we are honest the majority of us would make that same decision. The same way I do not take my family to Minneapolis at all now that it is a circus down there. Plus nothing is open and people are moving out if their house values have not already plummeted.

 

[DeathClutch]

If we are honest the majority of us would make that same decision. The same way I do not take my family to Minneapolis at all now that it is a circus down there. Plus nothing is open and people are moving out if their house values have not already plummeted.

You have the right to be scared, but you don't have the right to just make up facts. Firstly, their are plenty of places open. Restrictions were relaxed on March 15th for most businesses. Secondly, people aren't moving out at any sort of record rate. Lastly, housing values are up 5-10% in Minneapolis, in the past year, depending on location.

 

[MplsGopher]

I do not take my family to Minneapolis at all now

You didn't before.

it is a circus down there.

Nope

Plus nothing is open

Wrong

people are moving out

Some are indeed selling ... and their houses are getting more offers than they know what to do with before even showing it.

if their house values have not already plummeted.

They haven't. Going up, in fact.

 

[bfriedrichs10]

Get Joe Hurlburt BJ! He is announcing at 6 tonight. Conroy appears to be the primary recruiter. I'd think if Hurlburt comes here that'd maybe indicate Conroy stays, and so does Liam?

 

[Bad Gopher]

Get Joe Hurlburt BJ! He is announcing at 6 tonight. Conroy appears to be the primary recruiter. I'd think if Hurlburt comes here that'd maybe indicate Conroy stays, and so does Liam?

Succession plan at the 5!

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Get Joe Hurlburt BJ! He is announcing at 6 tonight. Conroy appears to be the primary recruiter. I'd think if Hurlburt comes here that'd maybe indicate Conroy stays, and so does Liam?

I am hopeful Conroy stays if he does in fact work with the big men. He has had guys really improve under him (Daniel, Liam) in short periods of time

 

[MplsGopher]

Get Joe Hurlburt BJ! He is announcing at 6 tonight. Conroy appears to be the primary recruiter. I'd think if Hurlburt comes here that'd maybe indicate Conroy stays, and so does Liam?

Is there any indication?

If he didn't grow up a fan of Badgers, Ohio St, or Colorado (and not sure why he would being from North Dakota) .... we might actually have a chance here?

Unless he doesn't like that TT is right in front of him? You can always argue that one either way (doesn't want the competition vs. not afraid of competition).

 

[bfriedrichs10]

Is there any indication?

If he didn't grow up a fan of Badgers, Ohio St, or Colorado (and not sure why he would being from North Dakota) .... we might actually have a chance here?

Unless he doesn't like that TT is right in front of him? You can always argue that one either way (doesn't want the competition vs. not afraid of competition).

I don't see much smoke one way or the other. By no means am I more connected than anyone else though.

He's about 30 pounds heavier than Treyton based on their 247 profiles. I wonder if Hurlburt could play the Robbins role, staying mostly in the middle, with Thompson evolving more into a pick and pop 4? I think Hurlburt would be more likely to play meaningful minutes early while Thompson might need to develop a bit first. Purely speculation.

 

[Gopherfan84]

I am hopeful Conroy stays if he does in fact work with the big men. He has had guys really improve under him (Daniel, Liam) in short periods of time

Thorson is good with big men too, but I agree I want Ed to stay too.

 

[GFBfan]

You're making more baseless assumptions than anyone else on ANY subject.

FIFY

 

[MplsGopher]

FIFY

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Thorson is good with big man too, but I agree I want Ed to stay too.

Dont know much about Thorson aside from him being the delasalle coach. Very successful but had much more talent than most opponents. Not his fault though. I’m sure he is a knowledgeable coach

 

[Gopherfan84]

Dont know much about Thorson aside from him being the delasalle coach. Very successful but had much more talent than most opponents. Not his fault though. I’m sure he is a knowledgeable coach

Yeah he works with the bigs at Colorado State I believe, but he also was great with the Travis brothers at DeLasalle. I think he's well enough versed honestly to work with either skill position at a high level as is Conroy.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Yeah he works with the bigs at Colorado State I believe, but he also was great with the Travis brothers at DeLasalle. I think he's well enough versed honestly to work with either skill position at a high level as is Conroy.

I’m fine with him as an assistant but if it’s him, Conroy...probably need to add a younger person to the fold. Just my opinion.

 

[millions2spare]

Minnesota means nothing to him. Was just a cold place he lived when he was aged 7-11.

Grew up in San Diego and Cleveland.

That’s not at all true...Barbaro knows him well and he would have taken this job...Coyle went on the cheap and it will cost this university dearly with 5 years of poor ticket sales and a continued role as B1G bottom feeders....very short sighted by Coyle and the Admin.

 

[millions2spare]

Fair enough. Ben will have some ups and downs, most coaches do. He’s got a great opportunity here, exactly where he wants to be. That means a lot. All in.

His highs will be lower than most teams in the B1G lows ......this is at best a lateral coaching hire.

 

[matt]

Coyle went on the cheap and it will cost this university dearly

Perhaps Coyle went on the cheap because no Minnesota boosters stepped in to assist with the buyout or salary necessary for an established coach. Let’s say boosters with hmm, oh, I don’t know... millions to spare?