BleedGopher
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per Greder:
Matt Simon is new to the Gophers coaching staff, but as a fan, he has lived through the highs and lows of the program and knows the associated stereotypes.
The Farmington native was a high school junior when he sat in one of the Metrodome’s blue seats to watch the Gophers’ last victory over the Badgers in 2003. He recalls Minnesota kicker Rhys Lloyd’s 35-yard field goal as time expired in the 37-34 victory over Wisconsin.
“I remember those moments as a kid, and that was something that hit home and was always something that I wanted to be a part of,” said Simon, now 31 and the Gophers’ wide receivers coach.
Simon was offered a preferred walk-on spot by then-Gophers coach Glen Mason but instead went to Northern Illinois, where P.J. Fleck was his position coach. He caught 96 passes for 1,660 yards from 2004-2008 and got a taste of the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.
Simon was on staff at Northern Illinois in 2010 and was the tight ends coach at St. Thomas in 2011. After a stint at Rutgers, he joined Fleck’s staff at Western Michigan in 2014 and made the transition to Minnesota when Fleck was hired as head coach in January.
“Matt Simon, I think, is one of the hot, young, up and coming coaches in our profession, I really believe that,” Fleck said. “… Now he’s here at the University of Minnesota, where he belongs.”
http://www.twincities.com/2017/08/27/gophers-coach-matt-simon-uniquely-qualified-to-recruit-state/
Go Gophers!!
Matt Simon is new to the Gophers coaching staff, but as a fan, he has lived through the highs and lows of the program and knows the associated stereotypes.
The Farmington native was a high school junior when he sat in one of the Metrodome’s blue seats to watch the Gophers’ last victory over the Badgers in 2003. He recalls Minnesota kicker Rhys Lloyd’s 35-yard field goal as time expired in the 37-34 victory over Wisconsin.
“I remember those moments as a kid, and that was something that hit home and was always something that I wanted to be a part of,” said Simon, now 31 and the Gophers’ wide receivers coach.
Simon was offered a preferred walk-on spot by then-Gophers coach Glen Mason but instead went to Northern Illinois, where P.J. Fleck was his position coach. He caught 96 passes for 1,660 yards from 2004-2008 and got a taste of the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.
Simon was on staff at Northern Illinois in 2010 and was the tight ends coach at St. Thomas in 2011. After a stint at Rutgers, he joined Fleck’s staff at Western Michigan in 2014 and made the transition to Minnesota when Fleck was hired as head coach in January.
“Matt Simon, I think, is one of the hot, young, up and coming coaches in our profession, I really believe that,” Fleck said. “… Now he’s here at the University of Minnesota, where he belongs.”
http://www.twincities.com/2017/08/27/gophers-coach-matt-simon-uniquely-qualified-to-recruit-state/
Go Gophers!!
