Irving to the end zone, can’t compete at MN

A name is a very personal thing and a nickname even moreso. PJ was a d##khead to disrespect the kid and I don't blame him for wanting out.
Many people wouldn't find a change of nickname to be insulting. Unless the nickname is d##khead, but even then it could be a term of endearment. People are weird.
 

Many people wouldn't find a change of nickname to be insulting. Unless the nickname is d##khead, but even then it could be a term of endearment. People are weird.
You don't know many athletes.
 


Many people wouldn't find a change of nickname to be insulting. Unless the nickname is d##khead, but even then it could be a term of endearment. People are weird.

Not surprising that he took the transfer to Oregon. As for the nickname? As mentioned earlier in this thread, he was given the nickname by his late father. Not surprising that Fleck didn't like the nickname. Not surprising that Irving was bothered by it being changed either.

"It's a moniker his late father gave him and it carries great sentimental value. Bucko belongs in the past, he explained. Minnesota coaches forced that one upon him as they weren't thrilled with referring to their up-and-coming running back by the same name as rival mascot Bucky the Badger."
 



Not surprising that he took the transfer to Oregon. As for the nickname? As mentioned earlier in this thread, he was given the nickname by his late father. Not surprising that Fleck didn't like the nickname. Not surprising that Irving was bothered by it being changed either.

"It's a moniker his late father gave him and it carries great sentimental value. Bucko belongs in the past, he explained. Minnesota coaches forced that one upon him as they weren't thrilled with referring to their up-and-coming running back by the same name as rival mascot Bucky the Badger."
Oh I don't disagree. I doubt that the coaching staff called him Bucko after knowing it was his late father that gave him the nickname. If so, I agree with roadrunner, that's a "d##khead" move.
 

I mean I'm high on Darius Taylor but I don't see how next year isn't a significant drop off at RB.
So we ran for damn near the same amount of yards last year. So while we likely have a drop off at rb1, if rb2 and rb3 are upgrades from this year, we may still have similar production. Also worth noting that victories this year didn’t hinge on whether Mo carried us or not.
 


His comments demonstrate poor character, no need to bad mouth his former team which was good to him. I’m looking forward to the Taylor, Evans era
 





He's a good back, but he's no Mo Ibrahim... not in any way, shape or form.

He doesn't quite measure up to Mo's standards, I'm afraid.
Whew -- gotta disagree with you there, Murray. While Ibrahim is certainly a great college back and has done great things for us he does not have the explosive break away speed that Irving has. Irving should go much higher in the NFL draft than Ibrahim and will probably enjoy a much more stellar NFL career as well. If we had Irving this year we probably would have beaten both Purdue and Iowa.

That one hurt.
 

Whew -- gotta disagree with you there, Murray. While Ibrahim is certainly a great college back and has done great things for us he does not have the explosive break away speed that Irving has. Irving should go much higher in the NFL draft than Ibrahim and will probably enjoy a much more stellar NFL career as well. If we had Irving this year we probably would have beaten both Purdue and Iowa.

That one hurt.
True, but Mo has something Irving doesn't. A desire to be here in MN and play for us. Irving would have backed him up one more year and been the starter next year. But he quit on this team. I'd be fine never hearing his name again. He's dead to me.
 



I mean I'm high on Darius Taylor but I don't see how next year isn't a significant drop off at RB.
We will never have someone again who can move the chains like Mo, but these younger kids will be able to take it to the house, which will be nice.
 

True, but Mo has something Irving doesn't. A desire to be here in MN and play for us. Irving would have backed him up one more year and been the starter next year. But he quit on this team. I'd be fine never hearing his name again. He's dead to me.
How did he quit on his team?
 

Well, so far PJ hasn't changed "Nuke" Hayes nickname. Maybe he actually learned something.
 

True, but Mo has something Irving doesn't. A desire to be here in MN and play for us. Irving would have backed him up one more year and been the starter next year. But he quit on this team. I'd be fine never hearing his name again. He's dead to me.
In what way did he quit on his team? He played out the whole season last year, including the bowl game, and didn’t cause any distraction during his transfer process as far as I remember. I think he could have done great things here, but he’s playing for a great program and will likely get a good shot at an nfl roster. Not to mention probably some cash to help out his family.

Of course I would have loved to still have him, but given the above I can’t really hold anything against him. I’ll always appreciate the role he played in helping us win the axe.
 



Not surprising that he took the transfer to Oregon. As for the nickname? As mentioned earlier in this thread, he was given the nickname by his late father. Not surprising that Fleck didn't like the nickname. Not surprising that Irving was bothered by it being changed either.

"It's a moniker his late father gave him and it carries great sentimental value. Bucko belongs in the past, he explained. Minnesota coaches forced that one upon him as they weren't thrilled with referring to their up-and-coming running back by the same name as rival mascot Bucky the Badger."
Coach and coaches made a strategic error on this one. Obvioulsy hit a nerve and they just didn't see it. Probably should have found a way to make this "Bucky" our own and screw the Vadgers.

Now if his nickname coming in was "Herky" then go straight to Defcon 1...

Regardless, water under the Portal but hopefully some lessons learned. Good for Bucky.
 

Splitting carries with Thomas had no impact on anything. Neither did the name thing. The dude left to another uncertain role and is still splitting carries. He left for money plain and simple. It just isn’t popular to announce that.
Yep....but going with the $$$ explanation doesn't allow you to bash the coaching staff so it won't be popular with a portion of this forum.
 

Yep....but going with the $$$ explanation doesn't allow you to bash the coaching staff so it won't be popular with a portion of this forum.

Works both ways. Plenty of "fans" here love to trash the coaching staff. Just as many, if not more, revel in trashing the players. Particularly those that leave.

In this case, understandably, it looks like Thomas didn't like having to change the nickname his Dad gave him.

Coaching staff, understandably, didn't like him being called the same thing a hated rival was.

Looking at Oregon's record at getting to top of the line Bowl games, seems logical that he'd want to play for them, with or without an extra payout.

But that wouldn't be popular with a portion on the board either.

Happy New Year!
 

So we ran for damn near the same amount of yards last year. So while we likely have a drop off at rb1, if rb2 and rb3 are upgrades from this year, we may still have similar production. Also worth noting that victories this year didn’t hinge on whether Mo carried us or not.
Mostly agree but we win the Purdue game if only one of a couple things bounce our way. One of them being a competent RB with Mo out.
 

Good lord.

He didn't leave here because the players (not PJ) didn't like "Bucky" and playfully changed it to "Bucko".

That was a silly thing, I agree, but had absolutely nothing to do with it.



Of all the things ....
 

Like I said, they had to come up with something for him to say on TV.

That's what they landed on it. Complete and total BS, to pretend like that was "the reason" that he left, or that it even played an iota of a part.



It was:
a) Mo's decision to come back and be the starter in 2022, and
b) Oregon tampering with our roster and offering him six-figure NIL money if he would "suddenly decide, out of thin air" that he should transfer to Oregon.

That is the truth ... but you can't say that part out loud.
 


Splitting carries with Thomas had no impact on anything. Neither did the name thing. The dude left to another uncertain role and is still splitting carries. He left for money plain and simple. It just isn’t popular to announce that.
It really cannot be anymore simpler than that. The name thing and number of carries didn't matter. They waved a bag of cash in front of him and he said yes.

Oregon was running 3 backs minimum all season. It wasn't a playing time issue.
 

It really cannot be anymore simpler than that. The name thing and number of carries didn't matter. They waved a bag of cash in front of him and he said yes.

Oregon was running 3 backs minimum all season. It wasn't a playing time issue.

Despite 30-40 years of losing recruits to teams with a must better history, path to the big bowls and getting better players, our new battle cry will be:

"It was all because of the money!"

;)
 
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Despite 30-40 years of losing players to teams with a must better history, path to the big bowls and getting better players, our new battle cry will be:

"It was all because of the money!"

;)
Why is that hard to believe in this case?
 




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