ML7 appreciation thread

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Hollinsanity said:
Unfortunately given the second half of today's game and his play throughout the season most casual Gophers fans will remember Mitch in a negative light, but I think that's a little unfair.

Did he ever reach his full potential? No. Was he maddeningly inconsistent? Sure.

But he led the Gophers to three 8-win seasons and leaves the program in much better shape than when he stepped into the job.

He deserves some appreciation and recognition from Gophers fans as he moves on and I for one appreciate all he has done for this program.
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I only appreciate he's done. I never have to watch another regular season game with that nightmare behind center.
 

I certainly appreciate all that ML7 gave for this program. Thanks Mitch!

Its a damn unforgiving game. Had they called a run instead of a pass and kicked a field goal to go up 20-7, I think Gophers win.
 

I think Leidner could have been more productive in a different offense. The coaching staff - especially Johnson this year - tried to shove a square peg in a round hole. The Gophs have a pretty good running QB, and several good backs. Let's see - what kind of offense does that suggest - a veer or triple option.

Yes, Leidner deserves a share of the blame. But he did not design the offense, coach the offense or call the plays. I believe Johnson came into a team and inherited personnel that was ill-suited to run his system - but like a lot of coaches, he is myopic about "his" system and insisted on running it with players that didn't fit. Hence, the dysfunctional offense we saw so often this season. A stronger Head Coach would have told him to change things up - but Claeys is too hands-off and let Johnson continue to push a square peg in a round hole all season. That's on Claeys and Johnson as much as Leidner. You don't ask a 6' point guard to play power forward, and you don't ask a running QB to operate a passing offense. Maybe, if Johnson got players who fit his system perfectly, things might get better. Do you want to take that bet? I don't.
 

What should we appreciate Mitch for? He's lost EVERY big game he's played in for us. And then y'all come back with he's won a lot of games... No the team around him has won games for us not him. I say good riddance Mitch you had no business being a starter of a D1 school.
 



Appreciate the fact that we had three eight-win seasons out of the last four with Leidner under center. The most wins a four year stretch for quite awhile. He was part of the foundation being build brick by brick to turn the program around.

So, Mitch thank you for all your effort. You may not be the most talented QB, but you worked your butt off and set a good example for the rest of the team.

Even if Claeys is fired tomorrow, the cupboard will not be bare. Thanks also go to Kill & Claeys.
 

hungan1 said:
Appreciate the fact that we had three eight-win seasons out of the last four with Leidner under center. The most wins a four year stretch for quite awhile. He was part of the foundation being build brick by brick to turn the program around.

So, Mitch thank you for all your effort. You may not be the most talented QB, but you worked your butt off and set a good example for the rest of the team.

Even if Claeys is fired tomorrow, the cupboard will not be bare. Thanks also go to Kill & Claeys.
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give Mitch a participation ribbon!
 

hungan1 said:
Appreciate the fact that we had three eight-win seasons out of the last four with Leidner under center. The most wins a four year stretch for quite awhile. He was part of the foundation being build brick by brick to turn the program around.

So, Mitch thank you for all your effort. You may not be the most talented QB, but you worked your butt off and set a good example for the rest of the team.

Even if Claeys is fired tomorrow, the cupboard will not be bare. Thanks also go to Kill & Claeys.
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I appreciate we have one more game of this clown.....Show me one game against a TOP b10 team or ranked team in Mitch's career where he elevated his game and the team's to a victory....They have won games despite his limitations.
 

I appreciate the leadership and at times good play. Throughout his career when he would have good pass protection he could make some really nice throws. He had plenty of arm strength and he can throw a very nice deep pass.

The bad showed up too often for us and many times it would come against above average defenses where he was trying to do too much which includes holding the ball too long or throwing an impossible pass.

His running ability was a plus. He wasn't quick like Tommy Armstrong, but in previous years he would sometimes run guys over. This year he seemed reluctant to keep the ball as often on zone reads.

Which brings us to the near ending of his legacy. Had he played a complete game and had the coaches called a better second half yesterday, I think even the biggest critics would have tipped the cap to him. The first interception was just an inexcusable decision. There was still time to recover after that but he just seemed lost after that and the play calling didn't help.

I wish him well and I will be cheering for him and the team in the bowl game.
 



I appreciate that he was a good representative of the program off the field, and only missed one game due to injury.

I would have appreciated him much more if the staff had recruited well enough that Leidner was a quality backup or change of pace guy, as he should've been, rather than the clear cut no. 1 we had to rely on the last 3 years.
 

Yesterday was a legacy game for Mitch and he failed to show up. Had he won he would have been remembered well but the way he just fell apart in the 2nd half is how he will be remembered. Bad QB play has cost the Gophers multiple games each of the last few seasons.

He has been making the same mistakes for 3 years now, hopefully next year they can begin to field some consistency at the QB position.

At the end of the day though, they just aren't recruiting enough talent to be a legitimate contender
 


I appreciate that now we can b%tch and moan against the next replacement, and that we don't win all our games.

Perfection is the standard.

We whine and moan and scare some of the potential recruits away when they read GH.

We are one unhappy psychotic family at times.
 



hungan1 said:
I appreciate that now we can b%tch and moan against the next replacement, and that we don't win all our games.

Perfection is the standard.

We whine and moan and scare some of the potential recruits away when they read GH.

We are one unhappy psychotic family at times.
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scared away recruits? you cannot be serious? you feel the crap that is posted here makes a difference in the program?
 

I appreciate a lot of what Mitch brought to the program, but I will most likely remember him by two passes: Penn State and Wisconsin. Fair or not...that is what his legacy will be in a few years from now and I have been a big Mitch apologist from the get-go.
 

He is who he is unfortunately. Very inconsistent. We saw the good in the first half yesterday but unfortunately his bad is very bad. Hoped he would improve on the inconsistency. Just never happened.
 

Great kid, good leader, tough as hel!. Program kind of player. He'll do well in life. As for football, I'll remember the good times:

1) TD pass in his first bowl game when they subbed him for Nelson. He was running down the field like a mad man.
2) Throttling of Iowa where he was carving them up and looking like a million bucks.
3) Going into Lincoln and beating Nebraska in 2014 with both his arm and legs.
4) Go-ahead drives late in the 4th quarter. Yes, he stunk in several 4th quarters, but he also led long drives to win (or almost win) us some games.
4) Michigan game last year where he led the team out of the tunnel in prime time after Coach Kill resigned. I got chills. And Mitch played like a man possessed that night.
 

Mitch Leidner deserves a ton of credit for putting in 4 years for the program. He was a great leader for this team and there is no doubt that he commanded respect from his teammates. He plays an incredibly tough position especially considering the amount of contact the Minnesota system asks from its QB.

However, the people that are defending the quality of play from the position the last four years baffle me. Check out the Maryland game this year to see how much is required from the QB in games against mediocre/bad teams. This team has been absolutely carried by its defense since Kill arrived and now after he left. Defense and special teams have been remarkably good over that span and the running game has usually been solid despite below average offense line play. The defense does not get enough credit for keeping the team in games despite poor offensive play. If this program wants to take a step up from mediocrity it absolutely requires better play from the quarterback position. We likely won't see that next year but at least now we can have hope.

Thank you Mitch Leidner the student athlete who absolutely gave the program everything he had for this program. We wish you well as you move on from this program.
 

Heber said:
Mitch Leidner deserves a ton of credit for putting in 4 years for the program. He was a great leader for this team and there is no doubt that he commanded respect from his teammates. He plays an incredibly tough position especially considering the amount of contact the Minnesota system asks from its QB.

However, the people that are defending the quality of play from the position the last four years baffle me. Check out the Maryland game this year to see how much is required from the QB in games against mediocre/bad teams. This team has been absolutely carried by its defense since Kill arrived and now after he left. Defense and special teams have been remarkably good over that span and the running game has usually been solid despite below average offense line play. The defense does not get enough credit for keeping the team in games despite poor offensive play. If this program wants to take a step up from mediocrity it absolutely requires better play from the quarterback position. We likely won't see that next year but at least now we can have hope.

Thank you Mitch Leidner the student athlete who absolutely gave the program everything he had for this program. We wish you well as you move on from this program.
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it's over now. it's finally over.
 



He had a rough senior campaign but he was tough as they come, bled maroon and gold, and won in Lincoln and Ann Arbor.
 

I will always remember Mitch as being tough as nails, bleeding maroon and gold, playing injured much of the time yet never complaining about it, and playing fearlessly. He is a true competitor, a leader of men, and he set many records for us. But it is not over. He has one more game to play for the Maroon and Gold. I think he will do well in the Bowl Game. Thank you Mitch, for everything you have done for this Minnesota Golden Gopher football team. I am proud of you. I am glad that you were our QB for 4 years. May you enjoy fair winds and following seas in whatever endeavor you engage in after obtaining your college diploma. Hopefully next stop is the NFL. If not, then you will land on two feet and you will be a great success and inspiration to your leaders, peers, and subordinates.
 



csom_1991 said:
Which ones exactly? I am truly unaware of them.
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Completion Percentage. QB rushing touchdowns. QB rushing yards. QB wins. QB starts. I'm sure he's at or near the top for all of these. Any 4-year QB in the modern era will be at the top of most of these categories.
 

I can appreciate Mitch, but why is he singled out here? Why not a Damarius Travis, Scott Ekpe, or Jonah Pirsig appreciation thread? Just curious.
 

John Galt said:
I can appreciate Mitch, but why is he singled out here? Why not a Damarius Travis, Scott Ekpe, or Jonah Pirsig appreciation thread? Just curious.
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Travis, Ekpe and Pirsig don't get anywhere near the attention or criticism of Mitch. Criticism naturally follows the QB when teams lose. That's not to say those guys don't deserve credit, they certainly do. The defense is the primary reason this team won 8 games and Travis and the Ekpe's were heavy contributors. Hats of to them on a really great season. Pirsig too.
 

Heber said:
Completion Percentage. QB rushing touchdowns. QB rushing yards. QB wins. QB starts. I'm sure he's at or near the top for all of these. Any 4-year QB in the modern era will be at the top of most of these categories.
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This appears to be true for many four year qbs including the ones that don't seem so stellar yet set many records. It seems that often times they are making plays during garbage time including both big loses and wins. I don't think this is unique when it comes to Mitch but a good example is when Claeys had him playing well into the fourth quarter against Indiana St. I think stats get even more padded when qbs are losing big time and are slinging the ball around against the second and third team D players. I have no evidence that this is true but it seems to be the case.
 

Mitch played with heart, never more so than in the first half against the Badgers. Unfortunately, the second half, paired with the Iowa game, meant two agonizing trophy/rival game losses. He was not the QB to take the Gophers to the Promised Land, but he had heart - and guts. We should appreciate all the good things he did in many games and remember that there is one game left.
 

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