You've got a lot to learn my friend. This brand of opinion(s) is not generally accepted on this web site. GopherHole was created to promote University of Minnesota athletics, and most opinions not in-line with the site's glowing Minnesota philosophy will get you in some trouble. Most people on here believe stars don't matter when recruiting (of course), that Wisconsin has a horrible athletics program (of course) and that within a couple years all the under-the-radar prospects will buck the trend, become the exception to the rule and put this program over the top. RECRUITING DOESN'T MATTER. STARS DON'T MATTER. SCOUT.COM AND RIVALS.COM DON'T MATTER. It's all about solid WRs from Rochester Community College and big farm boys.
Personally, I like Jerry Kill. I think he is a phenomenal person and has overcome odds in his life that should garner everyone's respect. Does he belong coaching in the B1G? No one really knows. He did pretty well at N. Illinois, but has never been known as a top-tier recruiter. I also think this program will someday get back to the middle of the pack. Every dog has his day. Heck, Northwestern made the Rose Bowl in my lifetime, Purdue had a couple good seasons with Drew Brees and Indiana, well, Indiana sucks. Either way, there is zero possibility that the Gophers football program remains this terrible for the long haul. Somehow, some way, Kill (or whoever) needs to attract top-flight players. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT WIN WITH 2 AND 3 STAR RECRUITS CONSISTENTLY.
Ok, we'll take this one-by-one, I suppose.
(1) That brand of opinion is pretty well accepted. Predicting between 4-7 wins sounds about right in the average around here. I'd guess it would be a pretty evenly distributed bell curve around that range.
(2) There are countless posts ripping on MN athletics. There aren't too many right now with Kill because we were all in the "honeymoon" phase. But generally, there are times when it gets negative on Gopherhole. Did you happen to check out the basketball boards during rough times with Tubby over the past couple years? Were you around here during the end of the Brewster tenure? Was that overly positive? Furthermore, one of the most common trends on here was to absolutely blast Maturi...the AD.
(3) The stars convo is a long running debate....meaning people have differing opinions. I've read a lot of posters on here that are Gopher fans who definitely believe stars matter and some that don't. It's a debate. Your characterization of the whole website turning on anyone who wants to see improved recruiting, even improved recruiting according to Rivals is overly sensitve and wrong.
(4) I don't think I've ever heard anyone on here say that WI has a terrible athletics program. I know I hate WI and most other GHers do as well, but they obviosly have had success in football and basketball recently.
(5) Now here is the debate about recruiting, you said that he did well at Northern Illinois but has never been known as a top-tier recruiter. Well, we could argue that his teams at Northern Illinois were some of the best recruited teams in the MAC right? I mean...recruiting is succesful if you have talented players...right? Will he be able to recruit and coach enough here? Who knows? BTW...who was a big farm boy last recruiting cycle (or this one)? Pirsig? Probably our 2nd or 3rd highest RATED player?
(6) Getting top-flight players isn't how Mason turned it around. He simply won with 2 and 3 star recruits consistently. I don't think that model is ideal, I'd way rather have a higher rated class. However, there is something to being a good judge of talent, having a system, and recruiting to that system. Will it work? Again...who knows. It's a difficult task to turn around a football program.
Your prediction on wins is in the ballpark with most of us. IMO. It is way too early to make a judgement on Kill and the state of the program. I tend to be a little less patient with Tubby.
