Indiana

[Jack jones]

Everyone is forgetting one thing. The Administration at Indians is different than the U. Perhaps the are bending over backwards to let Curt do what needs done in order to win. Kind of like Barry at Wisconsin with Shula at the helm.

 

[EasyThere Pilgrim]

The only thing the blizzard affected was the ability to get home after the game. Was just an absolute mess.

To all of you saying the blizzard had no effect...I highly disagree. But it's beside the point. We will only have a team that good once every 30 years.

 

[EasyThere Pilgrim]

Patrick Reusse on the Hoosiers:

Reusse: Indiana Hoosiers football at last enjoying its moment in the spotlight

New coach Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers undefeated and ranked in the top 10 — and a double-digit favorite against the defending national champions.

www.startribune.com

Reusse isn't a journalist. He's a LIAR.

 

[Ope3]

To all of you saying the blizzard had no effect...I highly disagree.

There was NO blizzard during the game. You're delusional.

Clear/flurries.

Stats don't lie, regarding the impact.

Gophers might have gotten beaten worse on a dry day.

 

[Some guy]

There was NO blizzard during the game. You're delusional.

Clear/flurries.

Stats don't lie, regarding the impact.

Gophers might have gotten beaten worse on a dry day.

The weather definitely favored wisconsins style that day. Particularly after the OT went down. But I tend to think that Wisconsin just kicked the gophers’ ass that day.

That gophers team was 2-2 against legit top 20 teams. Were 9-0 against teams not in the top 20.

 

[Ope3]

The weather definitely favored wisconsins style that day. Particularly after the OT went down. But I tend to think that Wisconsin just kicked the gophers’ ass that day.

That gophers team was 2-2 against legit top 20 teams. Were 9-0 against teams not in the top 20.

Faalele going down hurt the Gophers prospects more than anything, not the manageable snow flurries.

Badgers rushed for 173 yds on 35 attempts. Gophers who had been equally adept at the run game, only had 76 yds on 30 attempts. Ballgame, as it was pretty equal through the air.

 

[PMWinSTP]

You're memory of the 2019 Wisc-Minn game is rather poor. Both QBs threw for at least 280 yds.

The snow flurries (not even remotely a blizzard until the game was over) had zero effect on the passing games. Notta.

Wisconsin 38-17 Minnesota (Nov 30, 2019) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Wisconsin Badgers vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAAF game from November 30, 2019 on ESPN. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

They ran that same bubble screen like 4-5 times for good gains every time.

 

[btowngopher]

The weather definitely favored wisconsins style that day. Particularly after the OT went down. But I tend to think that Wisconsin just kicked the gophers’ ass that day.

That gophers team was 2-2 against legit top 20 teams. Were 9-0 against teams not in the top 20.

The refs also swallowed the whistles and let the DBs play very physical if I recall properly.

 

[btowngopher]

I think it actually raises a different (and better) question.

Had today's rules been in place in 2017 when the red hot coaching prospect Fleck was hired here, what would he have been able to assemble for Year Zero?

Almost certainly, he would have brought 15-20+ players with him from the undefeated Western Michigan team that just played in the Cotton Bowl, just as Cignetti did this year at Indiana with his James Madison guys. That is huge. To have a bunch of guys who know the culture and the system would have instantly made them better. A few of those WMU guys that stayed there because they weren't going to sit out a year ended up getting drafted, so would have played well here, too.

Almost certainly, he would have brought in a high major quarterback transfer to step in and start and play right away. Instead, he had to talk walk-on Connor Rhoda out of retirement and somehow trust Demry Croft.

He definitely would have upgraded the offensive line through the portal, as well the defensive line.

And, 2017 was a fairly favorable schedule, avoiding Ohio State and Penn State from the Big Ten East.

No idea how it would have played out, but fair to say better than the 5-7 it was.

And, if it played out much better, how would that have impacted early recruiting and early growth as a program, etc.?

Makes you wonder if it’s worth it to hire anyone other than a successful coach coming off a good year at a lower FBS school. Being able to bring player talent with them is such a giant advantage over hiring a FCS coach or a coordinator.

 

[Some guy]

Faalele going down hurt the Gophers prospects more than anything, not the manageable snow flurries.

Badgers rushed for 173 yds on 35 attempts. Gophers who had been equally adept at the run game, only had 76 yds on 30 attempts. Ballgame, as it was pretty equal through the air.

Correct. Which means the weather impacted the game because the gophers had a much better passing offense and the two played about even.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Most media outlets of Big Ten cities hire alums of the local BT school….not in The twin cities. You get 30 yrs of grads from IN, IA, WI and of course the grade school grads of Sid and Rosen. This is how it turns out.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Sort of my point though. I didn’t see any posts from you or any of the others here picking apart our schedule during the 4 game win streak. Mostly just posts about how close we are to the Big10 championship and how PJ has proven he is great. Our conference opponents are 18-28 in the Big 10 with Iowa being the lone above .500 team at 4-3. That isn’t to say that I think this has been an undeserving year for the Gophers, just that it is a matter of perspective.

This isn't about comparing Minnesota and Indiana. We aren't in the CFP discussion this year, they are. We are firmly in the middle of the pack of the conference this year. Hopefully closer to the upper part of the middle than the lower part of the middle but firmly in the middle..

Nobody (or at least nobody rational) is talking about us being in the mix for the Big Ten championship or even being all that close to it this year not sure where you are pulling that from.

 

[Nax5]

They remind me a lot of 2019 Gophers. Happy for them. Would be great if they could go undefeated up to that OSU game. Would be a massively fun game at that point.

And here they are. What a huge game for them. Win, and playoffs are almost a guarantee.

 

[WoodburyTim]

Correct. Which means the weather impacted the game because the gophers had a much better passing offense and the two played about even.

I think people also forget that many of the MN players were worried about their car windows possibly being left open, whereas the Badger players cars were in Madison where the blizzard had no effect. Did that decide the game in Wisconsin’s favor and screw us over? The answer is yes.

 

[Some guy]

I think people also forget that many of the MN players were worried about their car windows possibly being left open, whereas the Badger players cars were in Madison where the blizzard had no effect. Did that decide the game in Wisconsin’s favor and screw us over? The answer is yes.

You are correct.

Cold Wet weather has never impacted a team with a downfield passing game more than a team without one

You are also correct that the word impacted means screwed over

 

[MNVCGUY]

And here they are. What a huge game for them. Win, and playoffs are almost a guarantee.

Their final regular season game is Purdue so as long as they don't get routed by Ohio State they are probably going to make the playoff and might even if they do get routed because they should be 11-1 at worst and would probably end up missing the conference title game on tiebreakers if they lose to Ohio State.

 

[Some guy]

Their final regular season game is Purdue so as long as they don't get routed by Ohio State they are probably going to make the playoff and might even if they do get routed because they should be 11-1 at worst and would probably end up missing the conference title game on tiebreakers if they lose to Ohio State.

Only way Indiana isn’t in now is if they lose to Purdue. And even if they didn’t if things fell a certain way they could get in.

 

[BilldGopher]

Went to Bloomington for an IU game under Mason in the 2000s. We drove all night from the TC and arrived at the stadium at sun-up for an 11 AM game. This was the first time any of our group of 5 had been there.

We literally were the first ones to arrive other than the overnight camper vehicles so no one was present to guide us on parking. It was clear though that parking was allowed on a series of stepped, grassed rows with huge oaks adjacent to the stadium. We found a prime spot, staked out our tailgate, and had the grill going by 7 AM.

In the meantime the fans showed up steadily and it was soon clear we parked smack-dab in the middle of the traditional student party area. Although the youngsters were drinking heavily it stayed mostly cordial with this Band of Gophers in this Sea of Hoosiers. Eventually it became time for the game and we headed off. As best we could tell the kids were there to party and not go to the game as the football was not good in those days in Bloomington. Needless to say this Mason team won handily and we were happy Gophers.

As we walked back to the car the kids were partying like it was still 1999. We did note that all eyes turned to us as we got closer to where we parked and with good reason. When we arrived we found that every possible horizontal plane on the minivan had an empty beer bottle or can, empty liquor bottle, empty water bottle, whatever on every square inch. It was a site to behold. A work of partying art in its own right.

The van's owner Chris was not happy to be sure, but we were surrounded by 100s of drunk college kids just waiting for the reaction. Fortunately we held our cool, forced a laugh, and started to remove the bottles. Eventually even some of the kids came over and assisted just saying they were having some fun since there was no fun for them on the field.

Unfortunately I lost the pics in a file transfer years ago. The van was covered from bumper to bumper and remarkably not a drop was spilled anywhere. They even had bottles in the middle of the top of the van that must have had some kids on the shoulders of others to pull off. A memory to be sure.

I can only imagine The Grove as it was called now with them winning. Party hearty until the game and then vacate for the actual event. I'd much rather park there now than then with them winning. They wouldn't need a prank like this for fun as it is now on the field.

Not the scale of ChinaGopher's tale but this one is true. Ski U Mah.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

They've been on quite the ride this year for sure, reminds me a bit of the 2007 Kansas team, another basketball school that went on a tear in football.

Did some digging and looked at P5 programs that had breakout seasons since 2000, meaning they won at least 11 games, except for 2020 in Iowa State's case. Includes their record, bowl result and final rankings:

• 2021 Wake Forest, 11-3, Won Gator Bowl Vs. Rutgers, No. 14/15
• 2020 Iowa State, 9-3, Won Fiesta Bowl Vs. Oregon, No. 9/9
• 2019 Minnesota, 11-2, Won Outback Bowl Vs. Auburn, No. 10/10
• 2018 Washington State, 11-2, Won Alamo Bowl Vs. Iowa State, No. 10/10
• 2015 North Carolina, 11-3, Lost Athletic Bowl Vs. Baylor, No. 15/15
• 2007 Boston College, 11-3, Won Sports Bowl Vs. Michigan State, No. 10/11
• 2007 Kansas, 12-1, Won Orange Bowl Vs. Virginia Tech, No. 7/7
• 2006 Wake Forest, 11-3, ACC Champs, Lost Orange Bowl Vs. Louisville, No. 17/18
• 2006 Rutgers, 11-2, Won Texas Bowl Vs. Kansas State, No. 12/12
• 2002 Maryland, 11-3, Won Peach Bowl Vs. Tennessee, No. 13/13
• 2002 NC State, 11-3, Won Gator Bowl Vs. Notre Dame, No. 11/13
• 2000 Oregon State, 11-1, PAC 10 Champs, Won Fiesta Bowl Vs. Notre Dame, No. 4/5

 

[tjgopher]

When PJ got here our OL room was pretty good.

It was decent. Pretty thin of quality depth with injuries through most of the spring. Claeys left him 3 pretty decent JUCO kids that would start, but not much quality depth between those guys and the promising younger players. No future NFL'ers were starting on the line that year, none got drafted. There were definitely some young guys that would eventually be really good that didn't start or play much in 2017 (Andries, Olson, Schlueter). A tragedy in losing Nick Connelly, who had a bright future.

I think in today's environment PJ would have upgraded the 2017 O line with a starter or two and definitely some added depth via the portal, if that had existed then. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Ope3]

Correct. Which means the weather impacted the game because the gophers had a much better passing offense and the two played about even.

The post that I responded to from Pilgrim his statement was, "the blizzard eliminated the our passing attack and turned the Wisconsin game into a slogfest", alluding to that was the reason the Badgers won.

- It was was well short of a blizzard to begin with. Flurries. Picked up a bit more towards the end but the game had been decided by that point.

- The Gophers passing game was not eliminated. Still threw for 290 yds.

- It was not a slogfest. 900 yds combined total offense and 55 points scored does not sound like a slogfest in any manner.

280 was the most passing yards that the Badgers had in a Big 10 Conference game that season. Maybe in ideal conditions they could have thrown for well over 300.

Same season in a steady drizzle/rain the Gophers rushed for over 300+ yds against Nebraska. I wish it had been that type of slogfest. If they could have gotten to half that total against Wisconsin, probably turns into a much closer contest instead of a 38-17 rout.

As you said earlier it was because the Badgers just kicked the Gophers ass. Big Dan getting hurt was a harbinger. Bummer.

 

[WoodburyTim]

You are correct.

Cold Wet weather has never impacted a team with a downfield passing game more than a team without one

You are also correct that the word impacted means screwed over

It was argument by hyperbole, but this might not the type of site for that.

 

[Some guy]

It was argument by hyperbole, but this might not the type of site for that.

Spider-Man meme

 

[PMWinSTP]

Correct. Which means the weather impacted the game because the gophers had a much better passing offense and the two played about even.

Gophs averaged almost 180 yards rushing per game that year.

 

[Some guy]

Gophs averaged almost 180 yards rushing per game that year.

That doesn’t disagree with what I said.

 

[MaxyJR1]

They've been on quite the ride this year for sure, reminds me a bit of the 2007 Kansas team, another basketball school that went on a tear in football.

Did some digging and looked at P5 programs that had breakout seasons since 2000, meaning they won at least 11 games, except for 2020 in Iowa State's case. Includes their record, bowl result and final rankings:

• 2021 Wake Forest, 11-3, Won Gator Bowl Vs. Rutgers, No. 14/15
• 2020 Iowa State, 9-3, Won Fiesta Bowl Vs. Oregon, No. 9/9
• 2019 Minnesota, 11-2, Won Outback Bowl Vs. Auburn, No. 10/10
• 2018 Washington State, 11-2, Won Alamo Bowl Vs. Iowa State, No. 10/10
• 2015 North Carolina, 11-3, Lost Athletic Bowl Vs. Baylor, No. 15/15
• 2007 Boston College, 11-3, Won Sports Bowl Vs. Michigan State, No. 10/11
• 2007 Kansas, 12-1, Won Orange Bowl Vs. Virginia Tech, No. 7/7
• 2006 Wake Forest, 11-3, ACC Champs, Lost Orange Bowl Vs. Louisville, No. 17/18
• 2006 Rutgers, 11-2, Won Texas Bowl Vs. Kansas State, No. 12/12
• 2002 Maryland, 11-3, Won Peach Bowl Vs. Tennessee, No. 13/13
• 2002 NC State, 11-3, Won Gator Bowl Vs. Notre Dame, No. 11/13
• 2000 Oregon State, 11-1, PAC 10 Champs, Won Fiesta Bowl Vs. Notre Dame, No. 4/5

Kansas was only power conference 1 loss team and had 6, 2 loss teams ranked ahead of them.

 

[GopherEnEspaña]

That is a really interesting question as it was a completely different world in 2017 than it is in 2024 in terms of roster construction and player movement.

I agree 1000% that we would not have been subjected to the Croft/Rhoda debacle at QB and he almost certainly would have brought a number of guys from that Western Michigan team with him as well to get a jump start on things here.

Will never know for sure how he would have handled it (unless he leaves in the near future and we see how he builds at the new place)....but it would be interesting to know how Fleck would have built things under the current crazy atmosphere of college athletics.

So weird to be talking about 2017 like it was a lifetime ago when it really wasn't that long ago.

Ironically, Fleck's biggest recruiting win at the U wasn't even on the recruiting trail, it was getting all of the 2016 MN Guys to stay.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Danny Strawman is out in front again. Not enough carts at lunds!!!

 

[Word]

Danny Strawman is out in front again. Not enough carts at lunds!!!

 

[PMWinSTP]

That doesn’t disagree with what I said.

Any semblence of a running game along with stopping that bubble screen play maybe once or twice would have helped in that game.