If Jerry Kill can't rebuild Gopher football...nobody will!!!

[Gopherprof]

Maybe I am misunderstanding but saying not many of the 4 star athletes are in as good of academic standing as a 3 star athlete seems pretty unfair and stereotyping in my view.

Oh course it is, but it's a nice way of rationalizing why those players don't want to come here.

 

[positively4thstreet]

Ruppie logic at its finest. Gotta love it!

It's got to be the 3rd coming though, right? I could have SWORN that you proclaimed our annual Don Morton Doom once before...

Or maybe it's the 4th or 5th or 7th... I've frankly lost track of how many times Wisconsin has been pronounced dead or a sinking ship in the last 20 years. Especially by the wise CFB sages from UMN.

Here's to hoping your greatest wish comes true though, lol.

Big plans today? Aside from shaking the Dorito crumbs out of your keyboard?

 

[Deleted_User]

Of course I rationalize things! And without data to back it up either. My theory is premised that excellence in one area takes away excellence in other areas due to the constraint of time. In order to compensate for this, you need more time to plan to be great in both activities. Fewer people will commit to both. I do know of people who are all American athletes and academic champions, but they are the exception and not the rule. It takes substantial support for these students to be both. The higher the goal, the more resources, commitment, clarity of purpose and communication has to happen. a failure in any one of these areas produces a greatly diminished result in the person obtaining that glorious high ranking.

I think it is better to take the long view with athletes by identifying kids who have passion for football and academics and build them up over time and develop them as a resource than to recruit fabulous athletes who don't buy into Kill. I think that pool is biggest at 3 stars as there will be fewer primadona personalities involved. You will find better leadership qualities in the humble group than the primadona group. That is my reasoning, or rationalization for thinking 3 star athletes are the way to go. It may be foolish and biased toward recent leadership theory, but it is as valid as whatever you great football minds have experienced.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Of course I rationalize things! And without data to back it up either. My theory is premised that excellence in one area takes away excellence in other areas due to the constraint of time. In order to compensate for this, you need more time to plan to be great in both activities. Fewer people will commit to both. I do know of people who are all American athletes and academic champions, but they are the exception and not the rule. It takes substantial support for these students to be both. The higher the goal, the more resources, commitment, clarity of purpose and communication has to happen. a failure in any one of these areas produces a greatly diminished result in the person obtaining that glorious high ranking.

I think it is better to take the long view with athletes by identifying kids who have passion for football and academics and build them up over time and develop them as a resource than to recruit fabulous athletes who don't buy into Kill. I think that pool is biggest at 3 stars as there will be fewer primadona personalities involved. You will find better leadership qualities in the humble group than the primadona group. That is my reasoning, or rationalization for thinking 3 star athletes are the way to go. It may be foolish and biased toward recent leadership theory, but it is as valid as whatever you great football minds have experienced.

A lot of your other points in that list of 10 were valid but you are off base on this one. The line of thinking you are putting out would imply they could get those 4* recruits but would rather get 3* guys instead. If you believe Kill and his staff are not targeting highly ranked players you are kidding yourself, they just aren't getting commitments out of those guys.

And as to the OP who suggested Kill is our last hope....he was the fallback choice of a very poorly run organization when they couldn't land any of the guys they wanted. Maybe he will work out, maybe he won't but if he fails I don't think it is time to give up hope. We have new leadership at the President and AD level, and they have yet to hire a football coach so I don't think we should give up all hope for the future if Kill ends up failing here.

 

[Deleted_User]

A lot of your other points in that list of 10 were valid but you are off base on this one. The line of thinking you are putting out would imply they could get those 4* recruits but would rather get 3* guys instead. If you believe Kill and his staff are not targeting highly ranked players you are kidding yourself, they just aren't getting commitments out of those guys.

And as to the OP who suggested Kill is our last hope....he was the fallback choice of a very poorly run organization when they couldn't land any of the guys they wanted. Maybe he will work out, maybe he won't but if he fails I don't think it is time to give up hope. We have new leadership at the President and AD level, and they have yet to hire a football coach so I don't think we should give up all hope for the future if Kill ends up failing here.

I won't disagree with anything you said, or for that matter Prof. I'm just thinking what the ideal candidate for our current situation and that we want to commit the best we can get. We need the following attributes in a recruiting candidate: athletic frame, athletic ability, game aptitude, game experience, technical skill, communication skills, commitment, clarity of purpose, academic aptitude and ability, character and leadership. This is no small order in a human being. All but athletic frame are behavioral traits. You can exercise for athletic ability (time and effort), you can grow frame to a point, game experience is whatever they bring with them, technical skill can be taught, the rest is something that we can instill, but they need to bring it as well. One of the most important leadership skills is humility. I think you will find more in 3 star ranks than 4 or 5. This might seem contrary to what success would dictate, but I think the matrix calls for something else than what the recruiting services offer up for public consumption. If you factor in the non athletic attributes, some of those 5 star kids become 2 star candidates. We have seen 4 star athletes come in and never contribute because they were failures in the classroom and never developed their leadership skills. I think some 2 star recruits like Setterstrom and company were really 5 star recruits for what they became. The services may prove that a 4 star athlete functions well at Alabama, but Alabama is not in the league of Minnesota for the difficulty of our academics. Minnesota has different criteria for 4 and 5 star athletes than the Alabamas of this world. I think Kill's class last year really was as close to a 5 star class as is possible.

 

[Gopherprof]

I won't disagree with anything you said, or for that matter Prof. I'm just thinking what the ideal candidate for our current situation and that we want to commit the best we can get. We need the following attributes in a recruiting candidate: athletic frame, athletic ability, game aptitude, game experience, technical skill, communication skills, commitment, clarity of purpose, academic aptitude and ability, character and leadership. This is no small order in a human being. All but athletic frame are behavioral traits. You can exercise for athletic ability (time and effort), you can grow frame to a point, game experience is whatever they bring with them, technical skill can be taught, the rest is something that we can instill, but they need to bring it as well. One of the most important leadership skills is humility. I think you will find more in 3 star ranks than 4 or 5. This might seem contrary to what success would dictate, but I think the matrix calls for something else than what the recruiting services offer up for public consumption. If you factor in the non athletic attributes, some of those 5 star kids become 2 star candidates. We have seen 4 star athletes come in and never contribute because they were failures in the classroom and never developed their leadership skills. I think some 2 star recruits like Setterstrom and company were really 5 star recruits for what they became. The services may prove that a 4 star athlete functions well at Alabama, but Alabama is not in the league of Minnesota for the difficulty of our academics. Minnesota has different criteria for 4 and 5 star athletes than the Alabamas of this world. I think Kill's class last year really was as close to a 5 star class as is possible.

You make some good points, but there's honestly nothing about Minnesota that says if we recruited more high profile recruits that they should fail here more than any other school. There are slightly harder academics, I suppose, but c'mon...they have ways of getting the lesser intellectually inclined kids by at almost every school. Tough academics is not the reason why we haven't been successful in football in the last 30-40 years. Previous high-profile recruits failed because Brewster was an awful head coach, not because they were high-profile. For evidence of that, consider how many of the lower-profile Brewster recruits succeeded. Still not very many.

I think Kill has done a very nice job of identifying underrated talents and abilities and has seemingly done a nice job of looking for character guys as well (that's one of those things that you don't really know from the outside until something happens, but outside of Ge'Shun Harris so far so good). But let's not pretend that this isn't also a product of Kill and co's recognition that they aren't the best salespeople in the world, and Minnesota isn't the prettiest girl at the ball.

 

[Killjoy]

Football Is a Team Game

I won't disagree with anything you said, or for that matter Prof. I'm just thinking what the ideal candidate for our current situation and that we want to commit the best we can get. We need the following attributes in a recruiting candidate: athletic frame, athletic ability, game aptitude, game experience, technical skill, communication skills, commitment, clarity of purpose, academic aptitude and ability, character and leadership. This is no small order in a human being. All but athletic frame are behavioral traits. You can exercise for athletic ability (time and effort), you can grow frame to a point, game experience is whatever they bring with them, technical skill can be taught, the rest is something that we can instill, but they need to bring it as well. One of the most important leadership skills is humility. I think you will find more in 3 star ranks than 4 or 5. This might seem contrary to what success would dictate, but I think the matrix calls for something else than what the recruiting services offer up for public consumption. If you factor in the non athletic attributes, some of those 5 star kids become 2 star candidates. We have seen 4 star athletes come in and never contribute because they were failures in the classroom and never developed their leadership skills. I think some 2 star recruits like Setterstrom and company were really 5 star recruits for what they became. The services may prove that a 4 star athlete functions well at Alabama, but Alabama is not in the league of Minnesota for the difficulty of our academics. Minnesota has different criteria for 4 and 5 star athletes than the Alabamas of this world. I think Kill's class last year really was as close to a 5 star class as is possible.

You make some good points, but there's honestly nothing about Minnesota that says if we recruited more high profile recruits that they should fail here more than any other school. There are slightly harder academics, I suppose, but c'mon...they have ways of getting the lesser intellectually inclined kids by at almost every school. Tough academics is not the reason why we haven't been successful in football in the last 30-40 years. Previous high-profile recruits failed because Brewster was an awful head coach, not because they were high-profile. For evidence of that, consider how many of the lower-profile Brewster recruits succeeded. Still not very many.

I think Kill has done a very nice job of identifying underrated talents and abilities and has seemingly done a nice job of looking for character guys as well (that's one of those things that you don't really know from the outside until something happens, but outside of Ge'Shun Harris so far so good). But let's not pretend that this isn't also a product of Kill and co's recognition that they aren't the best salespeople in the world, and Minnesota isn't the prettiest girl at the ball.

Interesting discussion on what characteristics do you want in a player whom you are recruiting? I always have felt that Kill and Company place a high value on "team players". His recruiting process is designed to weed out those players that don't meet this standard. The problem is that this is obviously is a pretty vague term but my conclusion is that for Kill it means (1.) that a player places the team's success/welfare above his own ego driven needs and (2.) that the team can count on the player to be there for the team when the game is on the line.

To achieve these two attributes above, humility and discipline is required. Part of this is accepting and having trust/faith in the coaches. That includes doing it Kill's way. It is my personal belief that one of the things that makes Kill different from many other recruiters is that he places a higher value on these traits than most other recruiters. If you listen to Kill talk about his life and experiences, it becomes clear these are his core values.

 

[Kratos3]

Kill is doing it the right way. I think of NW when I look at how we should be doing it. Find smart kids who like to play and fit what we want to do. I used to get all tied up in rankings and stars, but I really feel like coaching is over half the equation. Coaching also takes time. Kill will need all 7 years to get this program where he wants it to be.

I don't think he's our only hope, though.

 

[imthewalrus]

Kill is doing it the right way. I think of NW when I look at how we should be doing it. Find smart kids who like to play and fit what we want to do. I used to get all tied up in rankings and stars, but I really feel like coaching is over half the equation. Coaching also takes time. Kill will need all 7 years to get this program where he wants it to be.

I don't think he's our only hope, though.

I suspect that given the history of Minnesota Football Coaches, in order to not only need BUT also receive all 7 years that his contract calls for, year number three will be CRUCIAL for Coach Kill to maintain the support of the administration, the local media AND the self-proclaimed die-hard supporter/poster kill-happy spokespersons. Year number four and five features brutally difficult conference schedules. Year number three could produce 3 or, hopefully 4 B1G wins. A sound and much improved year number 3 would really help tie the hands of the media and the administration so that they could not grow too quick to pull the trigger during the more difficult fourth and fifth years of the contract. In fact, a strong year number three may even bring about calls for an extension from the more vocal kill-happy spokespersons.

So, I look for this 2013 season to look much like Coach Mason's 3rd season. I will hope for 3 to 4 B1G wins. (FIVE B1G wins the way Coach Mason did it would be FANTASTIC!) I look for a second bowl invitation...and...I look for a bowl win! I believe this could help lock Coach Kill into place, not only for his full 7 season contract run...but will most likely insure him a contract extension that would help insure STABILITY within the Golden Gopher Football Program. And, that would be as close to "tenure" as any modern-era Gopher Football Coach has had since Coach Mason was here.

I don't like changing football coaches all the time. I don't like that at all...The program is much better off giving "ten year" tenures to coaches than five year and less brief auditions...

However, falling short of 3 B1G wins, a bowl invitation and a bowl win would just be tempting fate. It would put the ball into the hands of an ad who is admittedly a "hoops" guy who really isn't a football guy. And, we have seen how quickly fans turn from being supportive to displaying an angry mob mentality and point of view.

Find a way to do very well in year number 3 Coach Kill and staff. It will solve so MANY possible potential problems.

2013 or BUST!

; 0 )

 

[froggopher]

Coach Kill......Will we greatly improve this year?

I suspect that given the history of Minnesota Football Coaches, in order to not only need BUT also receive all 7 years that his contract calls for, year number three will be CRUCIAL for Coach Kill to maintain the support of the administration, the local media AND the self-proclaimed die-hard supporter/poster kill-happy spokespersons. Year number four and five features brutally difficult conference schedules. Year number three could produce 3 or, hopefully 4 B1G wins. A sound and much improved year number 3 would really help tie the hands of the media and the administration so that they could not grow too quick to pull the trigger during the more difficult fourth and fifth years of the contract. In fact, a strong year number three may even bring about calls for an extension from the more vocal kill-happy spokespersons.

So, I look for this 2013 season to look much like Coach Mason's 3rd season. I will hope for 3 to 4 B1G wins. (FIVE B1G wins the way Coach Mason did it would be FANTASTIC!) I look for a second bowl invitation...and...I look for a bowl win! I believe this could help lock Coach Kill into place, not only for his full 7 season contract run...but will most likely insure him a contract extension that would help insure STABILITY within the Golden Gopher Football Program. And, that would be as close to "tenure" as any modern-era Gopher Football Coach has had since Coach Mason was here.

I don't like changing football coaches all the time. I don't like that at all...The program is much better off giving "ten year" tenures to coaches than five year and less brief auditions...

However, falling short of 3 B1G wins, a bowl invitation and a bowl win would just be tempting fate. It would put the ball into the hands of an ad who is admittedly a "hoops" guy who really isn't a football guy. And, we have seen how quickly fans turn from being supportive to displaying an angry mob mentality and point of view.

Find a way to do very well in year number 3 Coach Kill and staff. It will solve so MANY possible potential problems.

2013 or BUST!

; 0 )

At least we are in a much better position than Iowa. An overpaid coach who won't achieve much this season down in Iowa City. Hope Becky also falls flat on their butt's too. Go Gophers!!

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

Interesting discussion on what characteristics do you want in a player whom you are recruiting? I always have felt that Kill and Company place a high value on "team players". His recruiting process is designed to weed out those players that don't meet this standard. The problem is that this is obviously is a pretty vague term but my conclusion is that for Kill it means (1.) that a player places the team's success/welfare above his own ego driven needs and (2.) that the team can count on the player to be there for the team when the game is on the line.


To achieve these two attributes above, humility and discipline is required. Part of this is accepting and having trust/faith in the coaches. That includes doing it Kill's way. It is my personal belief that one of the things that makes Kill different from many other recruiters is that he places a higher value on these traits than most other recruiters. If you listen to Kill talk about his life and experiences, it becomes clear these are his core values.

Well told. I think UM's best chance to continue to improve is to recruit the good citizen, good student, team athlete who will improve with coaching, play for wins not for headlines, and stay with the program for 4-5 years. Developing the reputation for recruiting these players may result in us getting the best of them. Chasing the high-ego, high star recruits in hopes of quickly becoming a national or even conference power is quixotic.

 

[nsmike]

Well told. I think UM's best chance to continue to improve is to recruit the good citizen, good student, team athlete who will improve with coaching, play for wins not for headlines, and stay with the program for 4-5 years. Developing the reputation for recruiting these players may result in us getting the best of them. Chasing the high-ego, high star recruits in hopes of quickly becoming a national or even conference power is quixotic.

There are a number of 4 and 5 star athletes that don't have the big egos and want a program that does it the right way. They also want to be associated with a winner. Once the program puts it together and is winning and going to good bowls they'll start getting a few of them. Get good under the radar kids, coach them up and start winning some games, then attract better kids.

 

[bemidjigopher]

I suspect that given the history of Minnesota Football Coaches, in order to not only need BUT also receive all 7 years that his contract calls for, year number three will be CRUCIAL for Coach Kill to maintain the support of the administration, the local media AND the self-proclaimed die-hard supporter/poster kill-happy spokespersons. Year number four and five features brutally difficult conference schedules. Year number three could produce 3 or, hopefully 4 B1G wins. A sound and much improved year number 3 would really help tie the hands of the media and the administration so that they could not grow too quick to pull the trigger during the more difficult fourth and fifth years of the contract. In fact, a strong year number three may even bring about calls for an extension from the more vocal kill-happy spokespersons.

So, I look for this 2013 season to look much like Coach Mason's 3rd season. I will hope for 3 to 4 B1G wins. (FIVE B1G wins the way Coach Mason did it would be FANTASTIC!) I look for a second bowl invitation...and...I look for a bowl win! I believe this could help lock Coach Kill into place, not only for his full 7 season contract run...but will most likely insure him a contract extension that would help insure STABILITY within the Golden Gopher Football Program. And, that would be as close to "tenure" as any modern-era Gopher Football Coach has had since Coach Mason was here.

I don't like changing football coaches all the time. I don't like that at all...The program is much better off giving "ten year" tenures to coaches than five year and less brief auditions...

However, falling short of 3 B1G wins, a bowl invitation and a bowl win would just be tempting fate. It would put the ball into the hands of an ad who is admittedly a "hoops" guy who really isn't a football guy. And, we have seen how quickly fans turn from being supportive to displaying an angry mob mentality and point of view.

Find a way to do very well in year number 3 Coach Kill and staff. It will solve so MANY possible potential problems.

2013 or BUST!

; 0 )

A three or four win big ten campaighn will not quiet the media if years four and five are rough ones. Keep in mind Brew won three conference twice before the wheels fell off in 2010. I doubt the wheels will fall off for Kill since he clearly has a vision, but Kill will not reach seven years with bad fourth and fifth years, especially if he's not the current AD's choice. The only way Kill is still employed in this scenario is if the 2013 team does it's best '95 Northwestern impression, which god willing were due for something like that.

 

[Killjoy]

There are a number of 4 and 5 star athletes that don't have the big egos and want a program that does it the right way. They also want to be associated with a winner. Once the program puts it together and is winning and going to good bowls they'll start getting a few of them. Get good under the radar kids, coach them up and start winning some games, then attract better kids.

I hope people didn't misunderstand my comment about Kill's recruiting approach of focusing on disciplined "team players" whose egos are under control. I wasn't trying to imply that therefore 4-star recruits are excluded. That's just stupid and the facts don't support it. Kill has offers out to several 4-star recruits. As nsmike points out above, with more wins and understanding of where our program is going, we will be able to recruit more of the highly ranked players.

 

[Big Ten Mind]

Hello fellow Gopherholers, I usually put in my 2 cents worth twice a year on this board and have come to the conclusion that our "last chance" at really turning the corner with this program is Jerry Kill and company. We have seen many head coaches, AD's, U of M presidents, etc., and none of them brought the program to a level of permanent respectability. At this time we have a pretty cool U of M president in Eric Kaler, Norwood will do a great job at AD, (sorry Maturi, you didn't) and the Kill coaching staff have rebuilt past programs at other schools. So, this is our "last hurrah" in my book. My season tickets are purchased and along with many other die-hard Gopher football fans, I will follow them to my grave. I just want to win a Big Ten title before I croak! Go Gophers! Am I right with my thoughts?

Your title suggests if you could select one coach to turn this ship around it would be Kill? That is preposterous...Kill may get the U back to Mason-like levels (3rd tier bowls and 4th place or worse finishes however this insn't the MAC and competing with MI, tOSU, NE, PSU, WI, et al for recruits and on the field is daunting.

Realistically, the hope is when that one year window opens (like when Michigan was down under Rich Rod) the Gophs can slip through, beat some quality opponents and get to Orlando or Tampa for a Jan 1 game.

 

[dpodoll68]

Your title suggests if you could select one coach to turn this ship around it would be Kill? That is preposterous...Kill may get the U back to Mason-like levels (3rd tier bowls and 4th place or worse finishes however this insn't the MAC and competing with MI, tOSU, NE, PSU, WI, et al for recruits and on the field is daunting.

Realistically, the hope is when that one year window opens (like when Michigan was down under Rich Rod) the Gophs can slip through, beat some quality opponents and get to Orlando or Tampa for a Jan 1 game.

Go away.

 

[Big Ten Mind]

Go away.

Just keepin' it real...with TCU coming on the schedule along with MI and tOSU your dreams may get a bit dashed...hope they get there sooner than later but I don't see it on the next three years however it will be entertaining to see it play out

 

[dpodoll68]

Just keepin' it real

No, you're just an enormous tool.

 

[Killjoy]

No, you're just an enormous tool.

I have always appreciate your honesty but I think you are getting a little soft. You are way too kind to this jerk.

 

[Eagan]

I have always appreciate your honesty but I think you are getting a little soft. You are way too kind to this jerk.

Check back in 3-4 years and you'll see that Big Ten Mind was spot on!

 

[dpodoll68]

Check back in 3-4 years and you'll see that Big Ten Mind was spot on!

BFD if he is. It doesn't take earth-shattering prescience to predict that Minnesota will not be a football contender in the Big Ten.

 

[station19]

Agree....this is our big shot with this coach at finally turning it all around. Everything is looking up...record is improving, recruits are starting to look our way and I have a feeling attendance will start climbing. Hope we don't do anything stupid to screw this all up....just going by stupid things that have happened in the past.

Parski

When did you start considering yourself a Big Shot?

 

[Old Cardinal]

Classic thread!

Wren talking about Big 10 wins. All the guys with over one thousand post's cutting down the opinions of newcomers and dpodoll68 being the smartest guy in the room.

Next the spelling and grammar police will be checking in.

This is why I check in (and don't post) every day.

 

[GopherHomer]

Your title suggests if you could select one coach to turn this ship around it would be Kill? That is preposterous...Kill may get the U back to Mason-like levels (3rd tier bowls and 4th place or worse finishes however this insn't the MAC and competing with MI, tOSU, NE, PSU, WI, et al for recruits and on the field is daunting.

Realistically, the hope is when that one year window opens (like when Michigan was down under Rich Rod) the Gophs can slip through, beat some quality opponents and get to Orlando or Tampa for a Jan 1 game.

I know he's trying to troll, but I don't think he's that far off...and I'm fine with it. I never got on this train with visions of national titles or even Rose Bowls. The last 5 years have been pretty crappy, and still look back on all of it with glee. My fandom only grows year by year, and I'd be more than happy for the program to get to a point where the Iowa and Wisconsin games are up for grabs and we win 51-60% of them. Given that, we'll be in good shape to compete with the other mid-tier teams in the conference and with a few surprises or bounces, we could even do something special...who knows. Unless something terrible happens to OSU, Michigan, or Nebraska we probably won't ever consistently be on their level. There's probably some that will have huge issues with this philosophy, and call it defeatist but it would sure beat the last half decade.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

I know he's trying to troll, but I don't think he's that far off...and I'm fine with it. I never got on this train with visions of national titles or even Rose Bowls. The last 5 years have been pretty crappy, and still look back on all of it with glee. My fandom only grows year by year, and I'd be more than happy for the program to get to a point where the Iowa and Wisconsin games are up for grabs and we win 51-60% of them. Given that, we'll be in good shape to compete with the other mid-tier teams in the conference and with a few surprises or bounces, we could even do something special...who knows. Unless something terrible happens to OSU, Michigan, or Nebraska we probably won't ever consistently be on their level. There's probably some that will have huge issues with this philosophy, and call it defeatist but it would sure beat the last half decade.

One man's "realistic" is another man's "defeatist."

My realistic goal for Gopher FB is to see the program become more relevant in the local scene and at the conference level. I accept that the days of National Championships may never come again, given where D1 FB is going with the financial arms race and the dominance of the SEC. But, if the Gophs can at least play in some decent bowl games, win a few, and win some trophy games, I can live with that. All I ask is that the Gophs go into every game with at least a chance to win. (Unlike the days when you knew going in they had no chance to win.)

 

[Deleted_User]

Wren talking about Big 10 wins. All the guys with over one thousand post's cutting down the opinions of newcomers and dpodoll68 being the smartest guy in the room.

Next the spelling and grammar police will be checking in.

This is why I check in (and don't post) every day.

Koward, Dammed new kommer,

 

[froggopher]

Coach Kill...........

Koward, Dammed new kommer,

Very interesting posts fellow Gopher-Holers, my point of starting this whole thread was to get different opinions and suggestions on Coach Kill and staff. I predict the Coach Kill era will at least surpass Mason's tenure. I also expect to see more wins overall in the next 3-5 years, but it won't be easy with a growing conference and the usual great Ohio State/Michigan/Nebraska teams. Should be a fun 2013 season! Go Gophers!

 

[ruppertflywheel]

2014 and 2015 will be brutal. That is why this years recruiting class is so important. With a small class ( 16 ) the coaches can't make any mistakes. If we lose JC to Alabama ( some reports say he committed ) that will be a kick in the lowers.

 

[Gopherprof]

2014 and 2015 will be brutal. That is why this years recruiting class is so important. With a small class ( 16 ) the coaches can't make any mistakes. If we lose JC to Alabama ( some reports say he committed ) that will be a kick in the lowers.

Losing one player, a 3* interior lineman at that, is not going to make or break anything. Recruiting needs to improve if they're ever going to take the next step, but that's at a much more macro level.

 

[ruppertflywheel]

Losing one player, a 3* interior lineman at that, is not going to make or break anything. Recruiting needs to improve if they're ever going to take the next step, but that's at a much more macro level.

With a Bama offer he will probably grab a 4th star. " the kick in the lowers"
was really a reference in losing an instate kid. ( if he did commit )