Gophs traveling Wednesday, not ideal

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gophergv

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I read somewhere that the equipment was on the way but the team is leaving Wednesday. While I'm sure they will be fired up enough to fight through it the players sleep will be messed up. Every time I travel to the pacific time zone I wake up MN time the first morning. Guys will be waking up at 3 or 4 AM from the excitement slash timezone change. Then they have to wait around until 8. I guess it is what it is.
 

you'd think they'd fly out tuesday night, and let them get the "lights of vegas" out of the way that night. Then wednesday they could focus on the game, seems pretty rushed to me.
 

gophergv said:
I read somewhere that the equipment was on the way but the team is leaving Wednesday. While I'm sure they will be fired up enough to fight through it the players sleep will be messed up. Every time I travel to the pacific time zone I wake up MN time the first morning. Guys will be waking up at 3 or 4 AM from the excitement slash timezone change. Then they have to wait around until 8. I guess it is what it is.
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Can't address without speculating, but my guess is they are thinking young team plus multiple distraction opportunities equals big problems. With that said, I am thinking that this is why they are leaving so close to the game. They are most likely trying to make everything look and feel like a business trip. Go in play the game even keeled, possibly celebrate/ take in Las Vegas post game, go home, prepare for New Hampshire.

I wouldn't be surprised if they haven't already started to adjust the players schedule in Minnesota to take into consideration the two hour time shift.
 


I think the idea is they don't want to let them have a day of fun in Vegas before the game. I can see how distracting Vegas could be. Are they going to let them do anything in Vegas afterwards? Seems like a waste to go to Vegas and not get to see the sights a bit. On the other hand, Vegas is a great place to get into trouble.
 



GopherInPittsburgh said:
Maybe they'll do some late practices to acclimate for the time change.
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Yeah that is what I was thinking as well.

Addressing another posters comments, I too think it would be a distraction to go out on the town before the game. Play the game, celebrate/ take in the scenery post game. Part of the problem with Las Vegas is that most sights, etc. are adult themed. Drinking, gambling, etc. Might be hard to take 65 plus guys on the strip, or downtown to take in the Fremont Experience.
 

There are other things that can be done that aren't vice-related (yes, even in Vegas!). There's the Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam. The Grand Canyon propably might be impractical for a side trip.
 

I'm hoping they treat it as business, fly in, play the game, fly out. Get a few days off to wind down, then start in on New Hampshire. I understand these are 18-22 year olds and at that age I'd love the chance to get out and check out some of the sights, but as a fan I hope they focus on the game itself.
 



RodentRampage said:
There are other things that can be done that aren't vice-related (yes, even in Vegas!). There's the Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam. The Grand Canyon propably might be impractical for a side trip.
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You are correct. I meant to mention the Hoover Dam and Western Rim of the Grand Canyon as well. The Hoover Dam and western rim/ Grand Canyon Hualapai Indian tribal grounds is doable in a day. Lot of time on the bus though.
 

Gopher07 said:
I'm hoping they treat it as business, fly in, play the game, fly out. Get a few days off to wind down, then start in on New Hampshire. I understand these are 18-22 year olds and at that age I'd love the chance to get out and check out some of the sites, but as a fan I hope they focus on the game itself.
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Absolutely the most rational plan. They can go to Vegas on spring break. No reason to get to LV earlier. No reason.
 

But on a business trip, you usually some time on your own. I'm fine with getting in there and playing the game, and then afterwards let them do something in Vegas. Controlled fun, sure, there's just too much that can go wrong with letting them run wild.
 

How 'bout that ride in? I guess that's why they call it Sin City.
 



I can't recall his exact wording, but Coach Kill made it very clear in Saturday's press conference the players won't have much, if any, free time while in Vegas.

Kill said they were staying "off site", which I took to mean Middle of the Desert Inn, or some other place far, far away from temptation and the bright lights.
 

When I used to travel with the team in the Mason days we would fly into wherever it was the day before, game would be played and then get on the busses and go directly to the airport for the flight home. Now this game is a little different starting at 10 central so they wouldn't get in until really early Friday morning, but that still might be better than the trouble that could happen if they are celebrating and staying an extra night in Vegas. Also I think I read in an earlier post that the team is staying well off the strip to avoid those distractions.
 

I think the sleep schedule aspect is overblown, these are 18-22 year old kids, they should be fine. As a college kid I worked nights during the week and then flipped my schedule on the weekend to hang out with friends...not a big deal at all. If I tried to do that now I would be falling asleep at all times and would constantly be tired and cranky.
 


Does anyone know when the Gophers are coming back? With the game being Thursday, I'd see no problem with a team outing somewhere. Just don't set them loose to collect business cards on the strip.
 

The WESTBOUND time change is overblown. Having lived in Seattle for some time, I made the adjustment many times.

Coming back is a different story. There's a reason why Jeff Tedford brought his Cal team east a day early a couple of years ago. The eastbound time change is a royal pain in the neck.
 

If I was in Kill's place, I would not let the team anywhere near "Vegas." For one thing, as young as this team is, I'd bet a significant % of the team is under 21. Allowing a college FB team any free time in Vegas is just asking for trouble. I don't care how well disciplined the team is. All it takes is for 1 kid to do something stupid, and the headline on page 1 of the Strib is "Gopher FB player Arrested in Vegas." This team needs to avoid distractions and stay focused on FB.

If it was up to me, I'd take them directly from the field to the airport, and have them nap in the concourse until the 1st plane out of town. (if the players over 21 want to drop a few quarters in the slot machines at the airport, that's OK.)
 

short ornery norwegian said:
If I was in Kill's place, I would not let the team anywhere near "Vegas." For one thing, as young as this team is, I'd bet a significant % of the team is under 21. Allowing a college FB team any free time in Vegas is just asking for trouble. I don't care how well disciplined the team is. All it takes is for 1 kid to do something stupid, and the headline on page 1 of the Strib is "Gopher FB player Arrested in Vegas." This team needs to avoid distractions and stay focused on FB.

If it was up to me, I'd take them directly from the field to the airport, and have them nap in the concourse until the 1st plane out of town. (if the players over 21 want to drop a few quarters in the slot machines at the airport, that's OK.)
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Or you could take them on a group outing, and they would be no less under control.
 

How do most teams do it when making this trip? How did Sconny do it a couple years back? If I recall, they struggled in the first half and then laid it on them in the 2nd, so it would seem the time difference wasn't the factor then. I'm guessing they'll be exhausted when they get back, but as far as the actual game, I think they'll be fine. Probably good they'll have 10 days to prepare for UNH.
 

They have several large water parks in Las Vegas

I would book a group outing to one of the large water parks for the entire team and staff. Get's them in a place that offers some of the fun without getting anyone under age in the group in trouble. Sounds lame I know but it keeps everyone's noses clean.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
I would book a group outing to one of the large water parks for the entire team and staff. Get's them in a place that offers some of the fun without getting anyone under age in the group in trouble. Sounds lame I know but it keeps everyone's noses clean.
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I say unleash the hounds. Drop them off downtown and let them run hog wild. Whoever is left standing takes on NH Week 2.
 

Its pretty normal to fly in the afternoon before a game. Checkin and take a bus to the stadium for a walk through. Some punting and fielding, maybe some field goals and kick offs. Walk through and checklists. Back for a meal and meetings. In this case problably till about 11 PM. Bed check and with a night game breakfast about 9, meetings, last minuted details, an afternoon nap and buses leave for the stadium around 7. Dressing, taping, etc. warm ups. Pads, pregame drills, and return to the lock room for the pregame speech and the kick ass. If the game goes 3 hours it will be after midnight. A well deserved shower, dress to travel, maybe an interview or two and on the bus to the plane. They will be back around 5 A.M. Friday morning. And have the day for classes with no practice. Film review friday night. Team will meet on Saturday with a game plan for New Hampshire. Shells and walk through. Maybe Sunday off. This is a business not a sporting trip. And there is nothing unusal about flying in the day before.

I think I can remember Coach Mason flying in the moring of game day, and I thought that was unusal. Could have been a cost saving to the U.
 

husker70 said:
Its pretty normal to fly in the afternoon before a game. Checkin and take a bus to the stadium for a walk through. Some punting and fielding, maybe some field goals and kick offs. Walk through and checklists. Back for a meal and meetings. In this case problably till about 11 PM. Bed check and with a night game breakfast about 9, meetings, last minuted details, an afternoon nap and buses leave for the stadium around 7. Dressing, taping, etc. warm ups. Pads, pregame drills, and return to the lock room for the pregame speech and the kick ass. If the game goes 3 hours it will be after midnight. A well deserved shower, dress to travel, maybe an interview or two and on the bus to the plane. They will be back around 5 A.M. Friday morning. And have the day for classes with no practice. Film review friday night. Team will meet on Saturday with a game plan for New Hampshire. Shells and walk through. Maybe Sunday off. This is a business not a sporting trip. And there is nothing unusal about flying in the day before.

I think I can remember Coach Mason flying in the moring of game day, and I thought that was unusal. Could have been a cost saving to the U.
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I have been amazed by how many of the comments here were actually suggesting various activities that the team could do while in Las Vegas. If any of you think for one moment that coach Kill is going to let his team loose in Vegas you haven't learned what coach Kill is all about. He is a great teacher of life lessons but Vegas isn't a classroom.:cool:
 

Killjoy said:
I have been amazed by how many of the comments here were actually suggesting various activities that the team could do while in Las Vegas. If any of you think for one moment that coach Kill is going to let his team loose in Vegas you haven't learned what coach Kill is all about. He is a great teacher of life lessons but Vegas isn't a classroom.:cool:
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There are a number of things that can be done in Vegas without letting anyone loose.
 


RodentRampage said:
There are a number of things that can be done in Vegas without letting anyone loose.
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I am sure that is correct but Coach Kill doesn't want any distractions. They are there to play a football game, period. That is why they are not downtown. It is also one of the reasons why during fall practice there was very little free time. Coach Kill wants his team to be more disciplined and focused than their opponents.

He also realize that there needs to be a time for them to relax and recharge their batteries. That time is after the football game and since they are leaving after the game it won't happen in Vegas.
 

let's see young team, time zones, altitude, road game and vegas lifestyle. this friday morning column writes itself. 'The Gophers went into the game an 8 point favorite but found themselves feeling the heat immediately when the AC broke on the bus. From there things only got hotter...'
 

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