Next year we will start 7-1

[die hard gopher]

i don't think TCU will be too tough to beat and i don't see us being underdogs in that one, they are 4-7 this year, we are 8-3 and return 17 starters, as for Michigan i definitely feel we have a decent shot to beat them, they are really struggling this year and if we replayed them i think we would win, Devin Gardner and that offense as a whole just is not very good, if that game was at home i would maybe be expecting a win but since it is at the big house that will make it a little tougher, I thought Iowa wouldn't be to tough this year but they trounced us so i don't know about that one, we should win though, and we do have a good shot to win in Lincoln and Madison, will be tough but we can do it, i see
11-1 as the ceiling and 7-8 wins as the minimum, for comparison sake last year i was thinking we have 5 should wins, 3 toss ups and 3 guaranteed losses looking at this years schedule

 

[dpodoll68]

Where was I being whiny?

Saying "fine" and "happy?" and "get a life". Sounds like a PMSing teenage girl to me.

When I <strike>disagreed with you on</strike> was wrong about Michigan being a tough place to play?

FIFY

When I thought the Gophers had a better chance to win there than you did?

There's a pretty vast chasm between disagreeing about our chances to win and implying that it's a breeze to play there. I also don't understand how any reasonable person can think that a 2-22 record in the last half-century can suggest anything short of a daunting task there.

When you say 'Who said that?' I think you did by implication with the 2-22 comment. I know it's not technically what you said and because you're the type of internet conversationalist that leaches onto specific language rather than the implied meaning behind it I won't convince you otherwise. I'll say this, in my experience the type of people that utilize this approach are either stupid or 7 years-old. Now I never said 'you're stupid' so don't read too much into that.

More whining. No reasonable person would suggest that I even remotely implied that it was an automatic loss.

Your attempts at humor are lame.

Your attempts at pretending to be a Gopher fan are lame. Your attempts at providing any good insight are lame.

live in Southwest Minneapolis, my internet seems to work just fine.

Unless the Buckyville servers are at your house, your internet is immaterial to the joke. Do you understand how website hosting works?

 

[maroonedinCA]

Saying "fine" and "happy now?" and "get a life". Sounds like a PMSing teenage girl to me.



FIFY



There's a pretty vast chasm between disagreeing about our chances to win and implying that it's a breeze to play there. I also don't understand how any person can think that a 2-24 record in the last half-century can suggest anything short of a daunting task there.



More whining. No reasonable person would suggest that I even remotely implied that it was an automatic loss.



Your attempts at pretending to be a Gopher fan are lame. Your attempts at providing any good insight are lame.



Unless the Buckyville servers are at your house, your internet is immaterial to the joke. Do you understand how website hosting works?

No I don't know how server hosting works, I don't work in IT. You likely do though, so this all makes sense. You're an internet tough guy. I'll bet your wife/girlfriend is a real dog too.

I didn't say it would be a breeze, just don't think it's intimidating either, there's a vast chasm between those two to use your language.

Also, another strong tactic in an argument, the old cross out my words and place yours in it and say 'FIFY'. Really good insight there as well.

You've literally added nothing to this thread but to critique my posts and you're spouting off about my contributions.

Anyway, back on topic. Michigan Stadium will be easier to win at than Lincoln and Madison next year.

 

[dpodoll68]

No I don't know how server hosting works, I don't work in IT. You likely do though, so this all makes sense.

Nope. Just have a modicum of intelligence.

You're an internet tough guy.

Shorthand for "getting my ass handed to me after making an idiotic statement".

I'll bet your wife/girlfriend is a real dog too.

I'm not sure why you're bringing my wife into this, but she's not and that has nothing to do with this conversation. Funny how you call me the "internet tough guy" and then make half-assed attempts to bring my family into a discussion on a Gopher football message board.

I didn't say it would be a breeze, just don't think it's intimidating either, there's a vast chasm between those two to use your language.

What about 2-22 screams "not intimidating"? What about losing by 4 TDs this year screams "not intimidating"? What about losing by 3 TDs (at home) to a 3-9 Michigan team screams "not intimidating"? Break it down for me.

Also, another strong tactic in an argument, the old cross out my words and place yours in it and say 'FIFY'. Really good insight there as well.

Really good continued whining here.

You've literally added nothing to this thread

I disagree.

Anyway, back on topic. Michigan Stadium will be easier to win at than Lincoln and Madison next year.

I doubt it. Nebraska will be playing under a new coach, your Becky squad is losing a ton of seniors, and Michigan is reloading with 4- and 5-star players while losing 5-6 players of significance. We also hold a series edge against Nebraska and your Becky squad, while we have 2 wins at Michigan since the JFK administration.

 

[Unregistered User]

Hey guys

<img src= "http://i.imgur.com/BIQ65PN.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

 

[vagopher]

There is nothing wrong with looking ahead but this season isn't even over yet and a lot can change between now and the start of next year. Teams that look bad can suddenly become decent (US). Teams that look great months in advance can be busts (Northwestern). It is why I dislike preseason polls and predictions, I know they need to do it to give fans something to focus on but in most cases it is just a crap shoot at best until you actually get to see the teams on the field.

At this point everyone in this thread is chalking up the game at Illinois as a win but they could be a much better team next season and that game could be a whole lot tougher than it looks right now.

Graduations, players leaving early, transfers, and first year impact recruits can change the landscape in a hurry in college football.

All good points, but that shouldn't prevent fans from sharing their hopes and dreams for the future.

 

[howeda7]

I don't expect TCU to be a given next year.

Agreed. For all we know, Patterson can read Kill's mind like a Denny's menu.

 

[fryguy22]

Agreed. For all we know, Patterson can read Kill's mind like a Denny's menu.

Yeah, but regardless, I think we will be able to beat them at the line of scrimmage (I agree that it could be a tough game, but wow it felt good to type that about a Gopher team)

 

[Nate]

Agreed. For all we know, Patterson can read Kill's mind like a Denny's menu.

And I think they return 22 starters next year.

Appears that I took another posters word as gospel and this isn't true.

 

[IDFM]

The TCU game is going to be much more difficult than we are giving it credit. Their QB Boykin is very mobile and very similar in running style to Taylor Martinez and their best defensive player Devonte Fields was out for the year this season. He was the National Freshman of the Year last season and is incredibly aggressive off the end. Patterson is a hell of a coach and will give us fits. Do I think we can win yes, but do not look at this season as a barometer of TCU's play. They are much like Northwestern of the Big 12 and are really underachieving because of injuries. I dont think that there is a one of us that would have said that Northwestern would have been 4-7 and this point in the season back in August. I really thought that they could have won the Division before the season.

 

[MNVCGUY]

All good points, but that shouldn't prevent fans from sharing their hopes and dreams for the future.

I agree there is no harm in looking ahead just pointing out that it is pretty pointless at this point to try and project too far out because things are going to change a lot between now and the start of next season. This feels more like a summertime thread as opposed to a late November before the current season is over thread.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

And I think they return 22 starters next year.

Appears that I took another posters word as gospel and this isn't true.

Damn rivals depth chart. I made that mistake as well. I watched a few minutes of a TCU game a week or two ago with a roster and crossed off some starters that were seniors. They lose 2-3 starting O-Linemen and some starters on defense, along with QB Pachall and a few other key players. They'll be a tough out, no doubt about it.

 

[MZBKA]

People should not assume that Iowa will be a W

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

 

[vagopher]

Oh nothing. Probably just the pessimistic Gopher fan in me. But I do think it is important to realize that season predictions are next to useless. See: 95% of people's prediction for the Big Ten season after Iowa and Michigan.

I understand. I myself thought here we go again after the Iowa game, but I do think there is value in optimism even if at time it seems delusional. Most Gopher football fans have never experienced anything other than mediocrity and frustration, and its probably difficult for them to think that it's ever going to change, but I have. The last two years I was a student at the U, we went to the Rose Bowl, and growing up in Minnesota during the 40s Minnesota was one of the country's better football programs. I attribute the decline in the program since my student days to two factors. The first is a faculty induced de-emphasis of the program. When I was on campus the Senate Faculty wanted to follow the lead of the University of Chicago and drop the program. Back-to-back Rose Bowl invitations prevented that, but it didn't prevent a de-emphasis of the program and once your down, it's hard to get back up. The other factor is the Minnesota Vikings, which began playing about that time and siphoned off Gopher fans, especially as the Gopher's fortunes declined.
I personally think Minnesota has some assets that can contribute to a restoration of the program. The U is overall a solid academic institution, with some top programs, such as the Carlson School, and I considered the Twin Cities area to be among the most attractive metro areas in the country. (I've lived in various parts of the country and have travelled a lot) Minnesota is also the only Division 1 program in the state and the only BCS program within an even larger area. Minnesota may not produce as many Division 1 prospects per capita as other sections of the country, such as the South, but my sense is that the quality of in-state talent is improving and our lack of instate Division 1 competition should help offset the smaller per capita talent pool. Where we have suffered the most, in my opinion, is the lack of resources invested in the program. What makes me optimistic that things can be turned around, is that I believe that in Eric Kahler and Norwood Teague we have a college president and an athletic director who sincerely want to change that. Raising the money to implement phase one of the proposed facilities upgrade will not be easy, but at least we now have an administration that I believe will bring much greater energy to the effort than we have seen over the past 50 years. And its going to take a lot more than just upgraded facilities; it will require supporting the football program in other ways as well. Since the Iowa game, which was my personal low point this season, I have slowly regained my confidence that we are headed in the right direction. I even saw hints of that in the Michigan game, which I thought was a lot closer than the score. I have since been impressed with what Kill and his staff have been able to do with relatively lightly regarded recruits. I haven't seen us this competitive for some time, which should help us to improve recruiting. I get the sense that the pieces might be coming together. I went to the Rose Bowl to cheer for my beloved Gophers twice when I was a student, and I want to do it again.

 

[die hard gopher]

Patterson's Defenses are usually smaller faster ones so that should help us, i think we will overpower them like what we did to the last big ten team we faced(texas Tech) or like what Wisconsin did to them in the Rose bowl, they led the nation in defense going into that game and Wisconsin ran all over them, and for defense we usually play better against more pass happy teams as opposed to power run teams so i think this is a very good matchup for us

 

[Unregistered User]

Wisconsin ran all over them

Uhm...46 rushes for 226 yards, which turned out to be a very nice 4.9 YPA - but whiskey still lost the game. You did know that, right?

 

[die hard gopher]

Uhm...46 rushes for 226 yards, which turned out to be a very nice 4.9 YPA - but whiskey still lost the game. You did know that, right?

yes i know they lost the game but 226 yards on the ground is running all over them, but our defense will match up better with their O then Wiscy's D did

 

[RochesterGopher]

Looking at the schedule no reason we can't start 7-1 next year. With TCU having a down year as is Michigan, I suspect we can split in those games. Not easy but possible. The rest look winnable. Northwestern at home and Illinois/Purdue back on the schedule. It will make the gauntlet at the back end interesting.


Thurs, Aug 28 Eastern Illinois TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Sep 06 Middle Tennessee State TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Sep 13 at TCU Fort Worth, Texas
Sat, Sep 20 San Jose State TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Sep 27 at Michigan * Ann Arbor, Mich.
Sat, Oct 11 Northwestern *^ TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Oct 18 Purdue *^ TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Oct 25 at Illinois *^ Champaign, Ill.
Sat, Nov 08 Iowa *^ TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Nov 15 Ohio State * TCF Bank Stadium
Sat, Nov 22 at Nebraska *^ Lincoln, Neb.
Sat, Nov 29 at Wisconsin *^ Madison, Wis.

With the way Jerry Kill and Company is building this program (strong on D, running the football) I love the way the BIG schedule is setting up especially the back half when we play Ohio St and Nebraska back to back. It could be cold and nasty, advantage team that runs the football well and plays solid D.

 

[SamSquatch]

It's great to look ahead, but lets keep some perspective. The Gophers have been a very bad football program in recent history. Assuming we're going to start beating squads like Iowa, TCU, Mich, and even Illinois is too bold. To assume we'll beat all in one season is kind of absurd considering our track record.

I love the forecasting and position breakdowns. That said, some of the over-the-top homer assumptions are embarrassing to the fan base as a whole.

 

[Formo]

I don't expect TCU to be a given next year.

Nope. They return 22 starters from this year.

They will be improved, vastly, from this year.

 

[Formo]

Damn rivals depth chart. I made that mistake as well. I watched a few minutes of a TCU game a week or two ago with a roster and crossed off some starters that were seniors. They lose 2-3 starting O-Linemen and some starters on defense, along with QB Pachall and a few other key players. They'll be a tough out, no doubt about it.

Hmm.. I guess I missed this as well.

My bad.

 

[tikited]

This is why you are wrong. Nothing else to argue about imo. Michigan is a tough place to play for any team (especially the Gophers) and has an intimidating atmosphere. Weird you think otherwise.

 

[MadtownGopher]

It's great to look ahead, but lets keep some perspective. The Gophers have been a very bad football program in recent history. Assuming we're going to start beating squads like Iowa, TCU, Mich, and even Illinois is too bold. To assume we'll beat all in one season is kind of absurd considering our track record.

I love the forecasting and position breakdowns. That said, some of the over-the-top homer assumptions are embarrassing to the fan base as a whole.

Ahhh we did beat Northwestern, Nebraska, Indiana, and Penn State this year. I don't think it's crazy, much less 'embarrassing to the fan base', to think we could beat Iowa, TCU, Michigan and Illinois. Your post is borderline trollish.

 

[positively4thstreet]

Ahhh we did beat Northwestern, Nebraska, Indiana, and Penn State this year. I don't think it's crazy, much less 'embarrassing to the fan base', to think we could beat Iowa, TCU, Michigan and Illinois. Your post is borderline trollish.

This. Why do all these self-described "realists" think they're doing the board some kind of favor?

 

[SamSquatch]

It's not meant to be trollish. We had some good wins this year.

But it is embarrassing to read predictions about being ranked a top 10 team going into the OSU game or how we should beat teams like Iowa or Mich. Even when winning, the Gophs are Vegas underdogs for a reason - they aren't consistent and they aren't convincing, not against good teams at least.

The purpose of Gopherhole is a good one, and it should work. The group of ticket holders I buy tix with do read it, but they don't participate. These are folks that make most games. They spend money and tailgate. But we joke about some of the content on this site due to its absurdity. This is one of those threads.

 

[die hard gopher]

is this a depth chart for last year or what?

http://tcu.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

 

[Nate]

is this a depth chart for last year or what?

http://tcu.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

Last Update: 8/27/2013

 

[Cayman]

It's great to look ahead, but lets keep some perspective. The Gophers have been a very bad football program in recent history. Assuming we're going to start beating squads like Iowa, TCU, Mich, and even Illinois is too bold. To assume we'll beat all in one season is kind of absurd considering our track record.

I love the forecasting and position breakdowns. That said, some of the over-the-top homer assumptions are embarrassing to the fan base as a whole.

For as bad as we've been, we've beaten Illinois 10 out of the last 13 times we've played. Two of those three wins they have over us since 1995 were years when they went to a BCS bowl. Wow, weird to think that Illinois has been to two BCS bowls. Coming off an 8 (plus a couple more hopefully!) win season, I think expecting to beat Illinois is entirely reasonable.

 

[imthewalrus]

IIguess I don't like the way the Conference schedule sets up for 2014...

With the way Jerry Kill and Company is building this program (strong on D, running the football) I love the way the BIG schedule is setting up especially the back half when we play Ohio St and Nebraska back to back. It could be cold and nasty, advantage team that runs the football well and plays solid D.

Any time you play iowa, the Ohio State University, Nebraska and wisky back to back to back to back I don't care how cold and nasty the weather may be. Those teams know how to play in cold and nasty weather too. Will my Gophers have the depth to be successful during a KILLER stretch that features what most likely will be four top twenty Five teams (some of them VERY high ranking teams) four games in succession? Throw in Michigan at Ann Arbor and do realize just how many Big Ten Wins Michigan, iowa, the OSU, Nebraska and wisky USUALLY have between the five of them each and every year? I fear it is very dangerous to project teams such as Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern as being a bit weaker than they possibly may end up being. 'believe me, most years there is at least one team in the Conference that surprises a bunch of the other teams after having a pretty "down" season the year before. Right away, Northwestern comes to mind. I am sure they will be tougher next year and fare better in Conference play than they have in 2013. And, you NEVER know with Illinois and/or Purdue.

My Gophers can NOT win a game until they have played it. Neither can they lose a game until they have played it. I am optimistic for the future. But I am NOT going to place unreasonable and unachievable expectations upon my Gophers OR the 2014 Conference won-loss record almost a year in advance. Too many things (some good...some not so good) can happen during the course of the next 365 days.

I fear some people have not observed enough Big Ten Seasons to settle for just the "joy" of watching the season progress as the games are played...as the games are actually won or lost. Too many have not taken to heart the breaks...the injuries...the bounces of the ball...the calls of the game officials....the home field advantages that occur during the course of Big Ten Football (B1G now I guess).

I will go into the 2014 season hoping for the very best for my Golden Gopher Football Program and it's Coaching Staff and all the players. But, I will not be surprised by what ever may come in 2014. I hope that my Golden Gophers will compete within the Conference the way they have been competing during this 2013 Season. It has been so GOOD to watch this happen this season. I am NOT done with this 2013 season yet...and neither is my Golden Gopher Football Team. They have this game with MSU yet to complete...and then a bowl game yet to be determined!

I see a hell of a lot of people setting up a very improbable set of expectations for the 2014 Season. Sure, anything is possible...BUT...the only way possibilities become realities is to actually PLAY the games...to determine what is real and what is just some fool fan's pretend outcomes a year in advance. Anyone who doesn't think it is a TOUGH row to hoe to end the Conference Schedule with back to back to back to back games against iowa, the Ohio State University, Nebraska and wisky just may not see the hazards waiting for my Golden Gophers when they take on Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue or any other Big Ten Conference Member. The minute the team starts taking ANY Conference match-up for granted as a win is the day the team will be in trouble. I am sure Coach Kill and his Staff will NOT let our team start thinking as unrealistically as some of our fans. (I am not speaking to anyone specifically here...only making a comment based on a whole thread full of some pretty damn lofty expectations and predictions for the 2014 season by some fans currently basking in the unexpected positive results of this 2013 conference Season. I'll just appreciate what these players and these coaches are doing in 2013 and wait for the 2014 Conference Season to happen as it will happen...in the FALL of 2014! Beat MSU!

 

[Killjoy]

wren - Happy Thanksgiving! (And no I not trying to give you the bird.) I do have one small comment though, they are not your Gopher team they are our gopher team.