Q&A: Frank Ragnow on Gophers: "I like them a lot." Updates Recruiting, Talks Twitter

[GopherHole Staff]

Q&A: Frank Ragnow on Gophers: "I like them a lot." Updates Recruiting, Talks Twitter

Frank Ragnow on Gophers: "I like them a lot." Updates Recruiting, Talks Twitter & More
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/322196?referrer_id=388419

Frank Ragnow, a 6-6, 300-pound senior tackle/defensive end from Chanhassen, is the top available Minnesota player. He recently visited Minnesota and Florida State and is considering several possible visits in January. Gopher Hole caught up with Ragnow after Chanhassen's 71-59 basketball loss to Eden Prairie Friday to learn the latest on his recruitment.

Gopher Hole: You were down at Florida State and Minnesota recently. What were those two visits like?

Frank Ragnow: Minnesota was a lot of fun. I have seen everything at Minnesota. I have been there double digit times, but I haven't really had a chance to spend time with the players, so it was really nice to hang out with Maxx Williams, Mitch Leidner and some other guys. They are good guys and that really helped Minnesota because it is your team that you are going to be hanging out with the most. As much as your coaches are there, it is your teammates that you are going to be playing with.

Gopher Hole: How about Florida State?

Frank Ragnow: Florida State. It was fun. I mean it's Florida State. They are a national championship team. Coach Fischer was gone. He was in New York, so I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but it was good to send some time with the players. It was good to get a weekend away. I was alone, so it was good to see what it is like to get a weekend alone. It didn't really bother me, so that is good. It was just a good time.

Gopher Hole: Florida State is usually good, but this year, they are really, really good. Does that make it even nicer to be recruited by a team that is playing for the national championship?

Frank Ragnow: Yes. You wake up every day and like "Wow. The number one team in the country wants me to play football for them." It is the most humbling thing ever. It helps them a lot. They are not just good now. They have got recruits coming and they are young, too. They are going to be good for awhile.

Gopher Hole: They just got a couple of offensive lineman commitments. Do you follow who commits to where?

Frank Ragnow: You got to. You have got to follow that. I have been talking to them. They have let me know that no matter how many more commits, that they are taking me aside and they have an offer for me no matter what, which is really awesome thing to have so I can take my time, look at all my schools, but you have to look at that. They are bringing in a lot of guys this year, but it is an opportunity to compete.

Gopher Hole: What other visits do you have planned for January once the quiet period is over?

Frank Ragnow: I've got nothing really set right now, but I have Wisconsin, Ohio State, Miami and Ole Miss. Those four are trying to get the last two visits. I think that Wisconsin will get one and we'll see about the other one.

Gopher Hole: Do you have a date for the Wisconsin one yet?

Frank Ragnow: Nothing set right now.

Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about when you are going to try to decide on a school. The signing date is in early February. Are you hoping to do it before then or would you do it that day?

Frank Ragnow: It might have to be that day, but hopefully before that. It depends on when I get my visits in and when I am ready. I don't really know yet, so when I am feeling it, I am ready to go.

Gopher Hole: Have you heard anything more about playing in one of the All-Star Games?

Frank Ragnow: I am going to play basketball. I just decided to play basketball.

Gopher Hole: Was that a hard decision?

Frank Ragnow: No. It is cool to be nominated and everything. It is a humbling thing, but I would rather spend my time with my teammates. I have to leave right away in June to go play football, so I want to spend as much time as I can with my high school.

Gopher Hole: I know that you have been going through the recruiting process for awhile. Do you still like it or are you looking forward to making that announcement?

Frank Ragnow: I can't wait to decide. It gets a little irritating because it is all you are talking about a lot and I love football, but sometimes I just want to relax, but it is still the coolest thing in the world. I have got coaches like Urban Meyer, Brad Bielema, Jerry Kill, Jimbo Fischer, wanting to talk to me, so it is the most humbling experience ever.

Gopher Hole: What about the reporter-side of it. Do you get tired of people calling you?

Frank Ragnow: It gets a little. I like the reporters, but the weird calls from random states. That will get you. That is a little weird. I just ignore the calls.

Gopher Hole: Like who calls?

Frank Ragnow: I get calls from Massachusetts and I just ignore it, so I don't know.

Gopher Hole: Do you get much interaction from people on Twitter?

Frank Ragnow: It is funny seeing the fans. I can tweet something basically like "I like hot dogs" and they will respond say "Pig Sooey for Arkansas" or "Be a hometown hero for the Gophers." It is funny.

Gopher Hole: Do you enjoy that part of it, though?

Frank Ragnow: I enjoy it. It is kind of weird sometimes, but it is funny. I like it, yeah.

Gopher Hole: You mentioned Minnesota and getting to be with the players. What is your feeling about Minnesota right now?

Frank Ragnow: I like them a lot. I like them a lot. There are in it until the end, no matter what because I like Minnesota a lot. I just want to look at all my options and see what school is best for me.

Gopher Hole: Obviously, you are going to have a great pick, no matter where you go. Is it going to be hard though to tell some of those schools no?

Frank Ragnow: Oh, yes. You build some good relationships with these guys. Coach Limegrover and I have a great relationship, We talk every day. Coach Pittman of Arkansas. Great. Coach Brewster (Florida State). Coach Luke at Ole Miss. They are always talking to me and you build a relationship with them. It is going to be tough saying no to some of those schools, especially because it is a wonderful opportunity everywhere.

 

[GameDay]

How come you guys avoid contractions when typing up the responses of recruits? It kind of makes it a bit awkward to read, because to be honest, no high school kids are saying... "IT IS really a great school" "I AM really enjoying the whole process" for example. "It's and "I'm" are what these kids are saying in the interviews, so why not just type it up that way? It makes more sense, at least to me. (I know, weird to bring up, it's just a fettish of mine here on GH)

 

[Dr.Don]

How come you guys avoid contractions when typing up the responses of recruits? It kind of makes it a bit awkward to read, because to be honest, no high school kids are saying... "IT IS really a great school" "I AM really enjoying the whole process" for example. "It's and "I'm" are what these kids are saying in the interviews, so why not just type it up that way? It makes more sense, at least to me. (I know, weird to bring up, it's just a fettish of mine here on GH)

BFD. It's a fettish of mine to bitch about menial things.

 

[Governor Sibley]

Sounds like a really nice kid!

 

[JoeDirt]

Sounds like a really nice kid!

Yeah he does, Would be such a quality addition to the team. Here's to hoping he chooses to wear the M!

 

[#2Gopher]

I don't even know him and I feel like I do base on his comments. Great guy and he would be a great addition to his home state.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

BFD. It's a fettish of mine to bitch about menial things.

Yeah, I like women that swear. We all got our things.

 

[gopherMD]

Florida St has signed 3 OTs including a 4 star,as well as 2 OGs and a center. Their starting OTs are juniors and a top reserve OT is a true freshman. They have also signed 2 DTs. Minnesota has signed a 2 star OT, a 3 star C and a 2 star DT. Ragnow could compete with those players I have no doubt. He would be another in a long line of Florida St players. That said the list of Minnesota HS stars who have gone elsewhere and flopped is not short. He could be a 4 year starter at Minnesota IMO after a redshirt year and be a key cog in the resurgence of Minnesota Gopher football.

 

[hungan1]

Florida St has signed 3 OTs including a 4 star,as well as 2 OGs and a center. Their starting OTs are juniors and a top reserve OT is a true freshman. They have also signed 2 DTs. Minnesota has signed a 2 star OT, a 3 star C and a 2 star DT. Ragnow could compete with those players I have no doubt. He would be another in a long line of Florida St players. That said the list of Minnesota HS stars who have gone elsewhere and flopped is not short. He could be a 4 year starter at Minnesota IMO after a redshirt year and be a key cog in the resurgence of Minnesota Gopher football.

If you are a really good player, you can compete anywhere. Why not play for your home state in front of your friends and family? I understand the allure of big name coaches calling & the idea of playing away from home.

But, he has a huge opportunity here to contribute to a rising program where he can say "I was a part of the rise to prominence". Be a big fish in a little pond. You'll get recognized better and the UoM is a better stage for the next level.

This goes for both Jones & Ragnow. I hope and pray that it will be a ver Merry Christmas for the Gophers indeed!

 

[everybody knows my name]

How come you guys avoid contractions when typing up the responses of recruits? It kind of makes it a bit awkward to read, because to be honest, no high school kids are saying... "IT IS really a great school" "I AM really enjoying the whole process" for example. "It's and "I'm" are what these kids are saying in the interviews, so why not just type it up that way? It makes more sense, at least to me. (I know, weird to bring up, it's just a fettish of mine here on GH)

If the interview was conducted via instant message, as many interviews are these days, keep in mind that people type differently than they speak. Most people are a lot more formal in a written format than they would be when speaking.

 

[Deleted_User]

BFD. It's a fettish of mine to bitch about menial things.

+1 ... and then laugh about it.

 

[Section2]

I'm not sure humbling means what frank thinks it means.

 

[PartoPitinosPosse]

If you are a really good player, you can compete anywhere. Why not play for your home state in front of your friends and family? I understand the allure of big name coaches calling & the idea of playing away from home.

But, he has a huge opportunity here to contribute to a rising program where he can say "I was a part of the rise to prominence". Be a big fish in a little pond. You'll get recognized better and the UoM is a better stage for the next level.

This goes for both Jones & Ragnow. I hope and pray that it will be a ver Merry Christmas for the Gophers indeed!

I don't think young players really understand how beneficial it is to stay home at Minnesota. I think they too often only look at short term benefits and not at the long term and I am not sure that they understand what really is or would be the most beneficial for them in the short term even. But I am old school, so I don't think the same way as these young people today, and maybe I am wrong and they are right?! It's really hard to say one way or the other and I don't know that someone could prove one way or the other whether I am wrong or right?

 

[maroonedinCA]

I don't think young players really understand how beneficial it is to stay home at Minnesota. I think they too often only look at short term benefits and not at the long term and I am not sure that they understand what really is or would be the most beneficial for them in the short term even. But I am old school, so I don't think the same way as these young people today, and maybe I am wrong and they are right?! It's really hard to say one way or the other and I don't know that someone could prove one way or the other whether I am wrong or right?

Here's an idea: explain how it is more beneficial to stay home at Minnesota? I want Frank too but you can't just say it'll be beneficial for him to stay home in Minnesota without explaining how.

 

[PartoPitinosPosse]

Here's an idea: explain how it is more beneficial to stay home at Minnesota? I want Frank too but you can't just say it'll be beneficial for him to stay home in Minnesota without explaining how.

Fair enough.

I think the main benefit is the safety net in place being at your home school. Far more people will know who you are, and will actually care about you as a person and not just as a player. And this is the hard reality of the world. Are there Gopher fans and Minnesota people that only care about people if they actually play for the Gophers?! Sure, I am sure there are people like that here. But I believe that a higher percentage of Minnesotans actually care about the players as people than at other places, and then if that player is a home town boy, then there is the added benefit of having direct family, some extended family possibly, good friends, and also casual friends at school with them, and/or in or near the area that can be there for the player when they need something or someone.

The long term benefit is how people who stay home and play for the home team are viewed by Minnesotans and especially Gopher fans. Those Minnesotans and Gopher fans have the idea that they should be shown appreciation and gratitude for their choosing and playing for the Gophers. I'm not saying this dynamic doesn't exist at other schools as well, but how many people want to live in Madison Wisconsin after they graduate college, for example. How many of the schools that recruit against us, are located in cities with tens of thousands of good jobs like the Twin Cities?! There are a few, but honestly, not that many.

That's the 2 main benefits.

 

[kandj]

Fair enough.

I think the main benefit is the safety net in place being at your home school. Far more people will know who you are, and will actually care about you as a person and not just as a player. And this is the hard reality of the world. Are there Gopher fans and Minnesota people that only care about people if they actually play for the Gophers?! Sure, I am sure there are people like that here. But I believe that a higher percentage of Minnesotans actually care about the players as people than at other places, and then if that player is a home town boy, then there is the added benefit of having direct family, some extended family possibly, good friends, and also casual friends at school with them, and/or in or near the area that can be there for the player when they need something or someone.

The long term benefit is how people who stay home and play for the home team are viewed by Minnesotans and especially Gopher fans. Those Minnesotans and Gopher fans have the idea that they should be shown appreciation and gratitude for their choosing and playing for the Gophers. I'm not saying this dynamic doesn't exist at other schools as well, but how many people want to live in Madison Wisconsin after they graduate college, for example. How many of the schools that recruit against us, are located in cities with tens of thousands of good jobs like the Twin Cities?! There are a few, but honestly, not that many.

That's the 2 main benefits.

Not sure about point two. People here have torched the like of Adam Weber, Spencer Tollackson, Blake Hoffarbor, Kris Humphreys, and others in the past. We are a fickle bunch- maybe no more so than other states, but certainly no better.

 

[bemidjigopher]

Not sure about point two. People here have torched the like of Adam Weber, Spencer Tollackson, Blake Hoffarbor, Kris Humphreys, and others in the past. We are a fickle bunch- maybe no more so than other states, but certainly no better.

Humpheries was justified, when it came to his father, Monson should've fired on principle for how he let those two control the team.

 

[otisflowers]

Fair enough.

I think the main benefit is the safety net in place being at your home school. Far more people will know who you are, and will actually care about you as a person and not just as a player. And this is the hard reality of the world. Are there Gopher fans and Minnesota people that only care about people if they actually play for the Gophers?! Sure, I am sure there are people like that here. But I believe that a higher percentage of Minnesotans actually care about the players as people than at other places, and then if that player is a home town boy, then there is the added benefit of having direct family, some extended family possibly, good friends, and also casual friends at school with them, and/or in or near the area that can be there for the player when they need something or someone.

The long term benefit is how people who stay home and play for the home team are viewed by Minnesotans and especially Gopher fans. Those Minnesotans and Gopher fans have the idea that they should be shown appreciation and gratitude for their choosing and playing for the Gophers. I'm not saying this dynamic doesn't exist at other schools as well, but how many people want to live in Madison Wisconsin after they graduate college, for example. How many of the schools that recruit against us, are located in cities with tens of thousands of good jobs like the Twin Cities?! There are a few, but honestly, not that many.

That's the 2 main benefits.

lots of people want to live in Madison which is why it is rated one of best cities in the country year after year. Your argument is really dumb considering the majority of the best programs in he country are smaller towns vs larger metro areas. I am one of thousands of Madison grads in the twin cities that make your town more interesting. You don't have to choose either or. Go to Madison for a great college experience and come up to the twin cities to watch the badgers dominate the gophers every other year. It is one of my favorite parts about living here. . Merry x mas!

 

[Spoofin]

Fair enough.

I think the main benefit is the safety net in place being at your home school. Far more people will know who you are, and will actually care about you as a person and not just as a player. And this is the hard reality of the world. Are there Gopher fans and Minnesota people that only care about people if they actually play for the Gophers?! Sure, I am sure there are people like that here. But I believe that a higher percentage of Minnesotans actually care about the players as people than at other places, and then if that player is a home town boy, then there is the added benefit of having direct family, some extended family possibly, good friends, and also casual friends at school with them, and/or in or near the area that can be there for the player when they need something or someone.

The long term benefit is how people who stay home and play for the home team are viewed by Minnesotans and especially Gopher fans. Those Minnesotans and Gopher fans have the idea that they should be shown appreciation and gratitude for their choosing and playing for the Gophers. I'm not saying this dynamic doesn't exist at other schools as well, but how many people want to live in Madison Wisconsin after they graduate college, for example. How many of the schools that recruit against us, are located in cities with tens of thousands of good jobs like the Twin Cities?! There are a few, but honestly, not that many.

That's the 2 main benefits.

These seem like things YOU would look for and find important. As I tell my kids... Different strokes for different folks.