Has Minnesota Surpassed Wisconsin?

Are we the better program?

  • Yes

    Votes: 56 61.5%
  • No

    Votes: 35 38.5%

  • Total voters
    91

Gopher_In_NYC

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I would say an enthusiastic Yes.

Based on the following -

Have won 3 of the last 4.

Rarely lose top ranked MN preps to them. I’m old enough to remember to remember, when they would routinely get high rated preps, like: Rosga, McCullough, Powers-O’Neil etc…sometimes we snag A Roy

No longer dread games at Camp Randell.

Whatever shortcomings PJ has, this is certainly an indelible accomplishment.

The Black Friday Beatdown clinched it for me. They had zero hope to win that game after the first quarter; we were the Superior Squad and it wasn’t even close.
 

I would say an enthusiastic Yes.

Based on the following -

Have won 3 of the last 4.

Rarely lose top ranked MN preps to them. I’m old enough to remember to remember, when they would routinely get high rated preps, like: Rosga, McCullough, Powers-O’Neil etc…sometimes we snag A Roy

No longer dread games at Camp Randell.

Whatever shortcomings PJ has, this is certainly an indelible accomplishment.

The Black Friday Beatdown clinched it for me. They had zero hope to win that game after the first quarter; we were the Superior Squad and it wasn’t even close.
And they have a coach that will likely get fired in the next year or two. It will be curious how hard they are hit with portal transfers out and recruits flipping to other schools.
 



No but definitely pulled equal if you’re looking at a 5 year stretch post covid.
But hard for me to discount 2010-2019 still. It’s old but it isn’t that old.
 




FWIW - saw on Twitter today that some HS Coaches in Wisconsin are taking shots at Fickell because the HS coaches believe Fickell is not giving enough attention to recruiting Wisconsin kids.

Fickell is also getting ripped for his comments after the MN game. asked about what he would say to the Wisconsin fan base, Fickell said:

“Just like I told the players, those that stay will be a champion. You’ve got to have people that believe in you. And, I know, it’s hard. Having faith in things you can’t see. Right now, I’m sure they can’t see it either, and that’s the tough part. But, they’ve got to believe. Obviously seeing is believing. And I don’t worry as much about them as I worry about those guys in that locker room. Our job to get them to believe is to put that product on the field, and right now we don’t have that opportunity, and we haven’t done it.

So, I would understand if they’re worried. It’s their prerogative, and our job is to prove it. We haven’t done that, but we will.”


some people are taking the part in bold as Fickell saying he doesn't care about the fans. which is the kind of thing that happens when a team is losing - the fans start picking apart the Coach's statements.
 

FWIW - saw on Twitter today that some HS Coaches in Wisconsin are taking shots at Fickell because the HS coaches believe Fickell is not giving enough attention to recruiting Wisconsin kids.

Fickell is also getting ripped for his comments after the MN game. asked about what he would say to the Wisconsin fan base, Fickell said:

“Just like I told the players, those that stay will be a champion. You’ve got to have people that believe in you. And, I know, it’s hard. Having faith in things you can’t see. Right now, I’m sure they can’t see it either, and that’s the tough part. But, they’ve got to believe. Obviously seeing is believing. And I don’t worry as much about them as I worry about those guys in that locker room. Our job to get them to believe is to put that product on the field, and right now we don’t have that opportunity, and we haven’t done it.

So, I would understand if they’re worried. It’s their prerogative, and our job is to prove it. We haven’t done that, but we will.”


some people are taking the part in bold as Fickell saying he doesn't care about the fans. which is the kind of thing that happens when a team is losing - the fans start picking apart the Coach's statements.
People love piling on when it is handy and HS coaches are prone to think their guy is the center of the universe ...

Granted Fickell did seem exasperated and burnt out this season.
 




FWIW - saw on Twitter today that some HS Coaches in Wisconsin are taking shots at Fickell because the HS coaches believe Fickell is not giving enough attention to recruiting Wisconsin kids.

Fickell is also getting ripped for his comments after the MN game. asked about what he would say to the Wisconsin fan base, Fickell said:

“Just like I told the players, those that stay will be a champion. You’ve got to have people that believe in you. And, I know, it’s hard. Having faith in things you can’t see. Right now, I’m sure they can’t see it either, and that’s the tough part. But, they’ve got to believe. Obviously seeing is believing. And I don’t worry as much about them as I worry about those guys in that locker room. Our job to get them to believe is to put that product on the field, and right now we don’t have that opportunity, and we haven’t done it.

So, I would understand if they’re worried. It’s their prerogative, and our job is to prove it. We haven’t done that, but we will.”


some people are taking the part in bold as Fickell saying he doesn't care about the fans. which is the kind of thing that happens when a team is losing - the fans start picking apart the Coach's statements.
if I’m his AD, those comments aren’t inspiring me and I’d be thinking of his replacement, as they are more likely to stay in this year’s lane, than improve.
 

Not really sure this is a yes/no type of question. We have definitely had the better of the rivalry in recent years with Wisconsin but overall the programs are on very similar footings. The important part is that we have closed/eliminated the gap that used to exist between us and our main rivals.
 




They are definitely on the downtrend, although it takes more than a couple down years to say a program has been surpassed. They’ve been even or ahead in B1G standings most of the last several years.

They could be at risk of becoming a Nebraska of the 2010s, but I don’t think that will happen in the age of NIL and portal where teams can be turned around quicker, and I think Wisconsin has more recruiting advantages so they’ll be back, with the right coach.
 

They are definitely on the downtrend, although it takes more than a couple down years to say a program has been surpassed. They’ve been even or ahead in B1G standings most of the last several years.

They could be at risk of becoming a Nebraska of the 2010s, but I don’t think that will happen in the age of NIL and portal where teams can be turned around quicker, and I think Wisconsin has more recruiting advantages so they’ll be back, with the right coach.
Will be interesting to see what level Coach they can attract when Fickle’s tenure ends
 


This year yes
The past 5 years - fairly even


I think it takes more than a year to say we've surpassed them.

If MN finishes 6-3 in conference next year and Wisc finnishes below us and we beat them I'd be more in line...
 

1. Total # of bars? Nope.

2. Mass murderers? Nope.

3. DUI arrests? Nope.

4. Cheese products? Nope.

5. People that eat roadkill? Nope.

We still have some work to do, gentlemen.
Beat me to it. I would add total weight of people and people who do "other things" to animals too.
 


Just from an attendance standpoint, the Badgers still sold 75,000 tix for every game this season.

Obviously there are constrains with stadium capacity, but The Bank still had 5,000 tix (10%) available for a game against a Top 5 opponent (Penn St) just 2 Saturdays ago on a relatively benign weather day.

For me to even entertain the notion that Minnesota has "surpassed" Wisconsin, the Gophers are going to have to start selling out the Bank much more consistently, especially for Big 10 games. Also, the Badgers would have to drop somewhere into the mid 60,000 range.
 



His 2024 and 2025 classes have 19 4* combined. I don't think he is going anywhere.
You think if they have the same season next year, he won’t get canned? I do. They showed their impatience with Cookie Chryst.

Additionally, they have no offensive identity now. The Milk Raid didn’t work this year and unless they get a Brosmer level transfer, it ain’t gonna work next year.

You can have all the numbers you want, but if she won’t go out with you, it don’t mean didly squat according to @Slim Tubby . I obviously wouldn’t understand that analogy to star recruits = wins🥸
 

Just from an attendance standpoint, the Badgers still sold 75,000 tix for every game this season.

Obviously there are constrains with stadium capacity, but The Bank still had 5,000 tix (10%) available for a game against a Top 5 opponent (Penn St) just 2 Saturdays ago on a relatively benign weather day.

For me to even entertain the notion that Minnesota has "surpassed" Wisconsin, the Gophers are going to have to start selling out the Bank much more consistently, especially for Big 10 games. Also, the Badgers would have to drop somewhere into the mid 60,000 range.
I think MN is closer to surpassing them on the field than off the field, if that makes sense...
 


They are definitely on the downtrend, although it takes more than a couple down years to say a program has been surpassed. They’ve been even or ahead in B1G standings most of the last several years.

They could be at risk of becoming a Nebraska of the 2010s, but I don’t think that will happen in the age of NIL and portal where teams can be turned around quicker, and I think Wisconsin has more recruiting advantages so they’ll be back, with the right coach.
How do you figure? Like NIL money? Even if true, I think we've shown we are better at developing players in recent times.
 


Just from an attendance standpoint, the Badgers still sold 75,000 tix for every game this season.

Obviously there are constrains with stadium capacity, but The Bank still had 5,000 tix (10%) available for a game against a Top 5 opponent (Penn St) just 2 Saturdays ago on a relatively benign weather day.

For me to even entertain the notion that Minnesota has "surpassed" Wisconsin, the Gophers are going to have to start selling out the Bank much more consistently, especially for Big 10 games. Also, the Badgers would have to drop somewhere into the mid 60,000 range.
What does attendance have to do with anything?
 

You think if they have the same season next year, he won’t get canned? I do. They showed their impatience with Cookie Chryst.

Additionally, they have no offensive identity now. The Milk Raid didn’t work this year and unless they get a Brosmer level transfer, it ain’t gonna work next year.

You can have all the numbers you want, but if she won’t go out with you, it don’t mean didly squat according to @Slim Tubby . I obviously wouldn’t understand that analogy to star recruits = wins🥸
I think Fickell has a longer leash than others. The admin there, moving how they did on Chryst and not picking Leonhard, wants to see this succeed so I think he'll get more time. Is that such a bad thing for the Gophs of it doesn't pan out?
 

How do you figure? Like NIL money? Even if true, I think we've shown we are better at developing players in recent times.
According to ESPN Minnesota has 17 players in the NFL, Wisconsin has 25. But the last few years have been closer I would agree...
 




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