rawphenomenon
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Hello Gopher friends!
Just thought I'd open up some dialogue with some questions and comments I have for you guys. I'm excited about the game and we as a fan base are really pleased with the opponent. I know you guys are disappointed in the bowl venue and the matchup but take solace in the fact that another team is thrilled for an opportunity to play you guys. I can tell you that it's better than the other way around.
#1) Tell me about your team. I unfortunately haven't seen much of your team this year. Harder to catch them since I don't get the Big Ten Network. I saw them a lot when I lived in Iowa a few years back. I know that traditionally, you guys have always had a stable of great running backs. I remember cheering for you guys back when you had Maroney and Barber splitting snaps. Fun team to watch.
As far as our team, our savior of a coach, Doug Marrone, led us back from obscurity only to leave us for the NFL. We were coming out of the worst stretch in our entire history. We graduated our entire offense from last year and have struggled this year. We had one of the top 2-3 backs in the ACC this year but he seems to have been black-balled by the OC for some reason. The OC is new and he is supposed to be a recruiting guru. I think that he has went away from the rather boring but effective power run game to try to impress potential recruits, and it has hurt. He also has our stud running back splitting carries with 3 other guys. Our receivers couldn't get separation from talented cornerbacks all season long, so if you guys have good ones, our passing game is in trouble. Our QB is a surprisingly adept runner for being very slow (probably about a 4.8-4.9 forty time): he had 90 yards on the ground against BC and NC State. Our offensive line is solid, but they have a penchant for false starts.
On defense, we love to sell out on blitzes. If we show blitz, we are blitzing. I've never seen them call one off or fake one. We have a tendency to bring the house on every play. Teams that have burners like Clemson and Florida State, punish us with their speed against the ensuing man coverage on the outside. I hope you guys don't have burners. I am still recovering from Eric Decker and his 42 catches and 500 yards (eyeball estimates) he picked up that one day in the Carrier Dome. Our guys like to hit hard too. We injured Wake's top player Campanero. We injured BC's top player Williams. We even injured Clemson's top player in Sammy Watkins. They sell out for the big hit. This leads to teams being shell-shocked (Maryland, NC State, Wake) and it also leads to many missed tackles (Georgia Tech, Florida State, Clemson). Our corners are dependable. Our best one got injured for season earlier in the year. Our second best one replaced him but had some strange esophageal injury in the Florida State game where he was coughing up heaps of blood. Our safeties like hitting hard but are undisciplined as one could possibly be. We had 2 weeks to prepare for Clemson and I want to say that their first 6 plays had 5 blown coverages. Our guys bite on playaction like nobody's business.
Also worth noting, we commit a ton of penalties. I don't know how much of that is a "Welcome Yankee" from the ACC refs and how much is legit. Syracuse fans do complain about the refs though, so don't be surprised if you see that
#2) Syracuse and Minnesota used to be kindred spirits, along with Tulane and a few others who had domed stadiums. I remember being in Minneapolis back in the summer of 2009 and there was quite a bit of buzz around town about it. How do you guys like it? What would you change? Do you miss your dome?
The reason I ask is that a lot of Syracuse fans want the Dome gone. I don't know why, especially considering what we saw with the Lions-Eagles game this past weekend. Syracuse is the snowiest city in America. The Dome nullifies that little fact. It's got great sight lines all around and is somewhat iconic. People around here seem to think if we had an open air stadium that all our problems would be solved and the gridiron messiah would waltz through the doors. So since you guys have lived it, what do you think?
#3) How about that Rutgers team?
During our time in the Big East, I dare say that there was another team that we held in higher contempt. Their coach Schiano played dirty (victory formation knee dives). Their fan base was unbearable. Although to be fair, we reciprocated when we could. What are your thoughts about adding them? They bring nothing to the table in any sport whatsoever. And setting foot in Jersey just makes me feel dirty.
How about Maryland?
#4) How do you feel about your chances after the Big Ten division realignment occurs? From initial glance, it appears that your road gets much easier to the championship game. You get rid of Michigan State and Michigan, and pick up Purdue, Wisconsin, and Indiana. I would think that favors you immensely. If you guys do a permanent crossover opponent, maybe you lobby to get Rutgers.
A lot of our fans are clamoring for an ACC division realignment with all the Northern schools in a division and all the Southern schools in another one. You could name the divisions Union and Confederacy and then have the championship game be called The Civil War. I think that would be cool. Although Swofford would never allow that as that would merely be a reconstitution of the old Big East and the old ACC; an association rather than an integration.
On that note, any of you history buffs? Back when we were in the Big East, I would always say that the conferences represented the theaters in the Civil War. The Big East (New York, Pennsylvania, New England) locked in an even battle with the ACC (Virginia, Carolinas, Georgia). The Big Ten (The Midwest with Sherman and Grant) rolling over the SEC (Vicksburg campaign, etc.) before turning East and ending the war. Kind of nerdy but it fits.
#5) Who is your biggest rival? I always thought it was Wisky but when I lived in Iowa, it seemed like it was Iowa. Now I'm hearing stuff about Nebraska.
#6) In your opinion, who has the worst fan base in the Big Ten? My guess would be Ohio State, although that mantle will be lost when Jersey State joins.
#7) How is Kill doing? I remember seeing the headlines about him earlier in the year but nothing since. This seems to keep happening with him. Is he going to be alright?
#8) I made this post 4 days before the bowl was announced. It was a bittersweet announcement that we were invited to the Texas Bowl
#9) I met my lady five years ago in Minneapolis. We have been together since and now have 3 little ones.
Just thought I'd open up some dialogue with some questions and comments I have for you guys. I'm excited about the game and we as a fan base are really pleased with the opponent. I know you guys are disappointed in the bowl venue and the matchup but take solace in the fact that another team is thrilled for an opportunity to play you guys. I can tell you that it's better than the other way around.
#1) Tell me about your team. I unfortunately haven't seen much of your team this year. Harder to catch them since I don't get the Big Ten Network. I saw them a lot when I lived in Iowa a few years back. I know that traditionally, you guys have always had a stable of great running backs. I remember cheering for you guys back when you had Maroney and Barber splitting snaps. Fun team to watch.
As far as our team, our savior of a coach, Doug Marrone, led us back from obscurity only to leave us for the NFL. We were coming out of the worst stretch in our entire history. We graduated our entire offense from last year and have struggled this year. We had one of the top 2-3 backs in the ACC this year but he seems to have been black-balled by the OC for some reason. The OC is new and he is supposed to be a recruiting guru. I think that he has went away from the rather boring but effective power run game to try to impress potential recruits, and it has hurt. He also has our stud running back splitting carries with 3 other guys. Our receivers couldn't get separation from talented cornerbacks all season long, so if you guys have good ones, our passing game is in trouble. Our QB is a surprisingly adept runner for being very slow (probably about a 4.8-4.9 forty time): he had 90 yards on the ground against BC and NC State. Our offensive line is solid, but they have a penchant for false starts.
On defense, we love to sell out on blitzes. If we show blitz, we are blitzing. I've never seen them call one off or fake one. We have a tendency to bring the house on every play. Teams that have burners like Clemson and Florida State, punish us with their speed against the ensuing man coverage on the outside. I hope you guys don't have burners. I am still recovering from Eric Decker and his 42 catches and 500 yards (eyeball estimates) he picked up that one day in the Carrier Dome. Our guys like to hit hard too. We injured Wake's top player Campanero. We injured BC's top player Williams. We even injured Clemson's top player in Sammy Watkins. They sell out for the big hit. This leads to teams being shell-shocked (Maryland, NC State, Wake) and it also leads to many missed tackles (Georgia Tech, Florida State, Clemson). Our corners are dependable. Our best one got injured for season earlier in the year. Our second best one replaced him but had some strange esophageal injury in the Florida State game where he was coughing up heaps of blood. Our safeties like hitting hard but are undisciplined as one could possibly be. We had 2 weeks to prepare for Clemson and I want to say that their first 6 plays had 5 blown coverages. Our guys bite on playaction like nobody's business.
Also worth noting, we commit a ton of penalties. I don't know how much of that is a "Welcome Yankee" from the ACC refs and how much is legit. Syracuse fans do complain about the refs though, so don't be surprised if you see that
#2) Syracuse and Minnesota used to be kindred spirits, along with Tulane and a few others who had domed stadiums. I remember being in Minneapolis back in the summer of 2009 and there was quite a bit of buzz around town about it. How do you guys like it? What would you change? Do you miss your dome?
The reason I ask is that a lot of Syracuse fans want the Dome gone. I don't know why, especially considering what we saw with the Lions-Eagles game this past weekend. Syracuse is the snowiest city in America. The Dome nullifies that little fact. It's got great sight lines all around and is somewhat iconic. People around here seem to think if we had an open air stadium that all our problems would be solved and the gridiron messiah would waltz through the doors. So since you guys have lived it, what do you think?
#3) How about that Rutgers team?
During our time in the Big East, I dare say that there was another team that we held in higher contempt. Their coach Schiano played dirty (victory formation knee dives). Their fan base was unbearable. Although to be fair, we reciprocated when we could. What are your thoughts about adding them? They bring nothing to the table in any sport whatsoever. And setting foot in Jersey just makes me feel dirty.
How about Maryland?
#4) How do you feel about your chances after the Big Ten division realignment occurs? From initial glance, it appears that your road gets much easier to the championship game. You get rid of Michigan State and Michigan, and pick up Purdue, Wisconsin, and Indiana. I would think that favors you immensely. If you guys do a permanent crossover opponent, maybe you lobby to get Rutgers.
A lot of our fans are clamoring for an ACC division realignment with all the Northern schools in a division and all the Southern schools in another one. You could name the divisions Union and Confederacy and then have the championship game be called The Civil War. I think that would be cool. Although Swofford would never allow that as that would merely be a reconstitution of the old Big East and the old ACC; an association rather than an integration.
On that note, any of you history buffs? Back when we were in the Big East, I would always say that the conferences represented the theaters in the Civil War. The Big East (New York, Pennsylvania, New England) locked in an even battle with the ACC (Virginia, Carolinas, Georgia). The Big Ten (The Midwest with Sherman and Grant) rolling over the SEC (Vicksburg campaign, etc.) before turning East and ending the war. Kind of nerdy but it fits.
#5) Who is your biggest rival? I always thought it was Wisky but when I lived in Iowa, it seemed like it was Iowa. Now I'm hearing stuff about Nebraska.
#6) In your opinion, who has the worst fan base in the Big Ten? My guess would be Ohio State, although that mantle will be lost when Jersey State joins.
#7) How is Kill doing? I remember seeing the headlines about him earlier in the year but nothing since. This seems to keep happening with him. Is he going to be alright?
#8) I made this post 4 days before the bowl was announced. It was a bittersweet announcement that we were invited to the Texas Bowl
#9) I met my lady five years ago in Minneapolis. We have been together since and now have 3 little ones.
