It still amazes me that people think this program is at a place to have "expectations". The Gophers went 5-4 in the B1G last year with the easiest schedule they have had in my lifetime: 4 of their 5 conference wins came against teams with first year head coaches and staffs (Maryland, Rutgers, Illinois) or an interim head coach (Purdue). Unless I missed a game, the 5 teams the Gophers beat in the B1G only won games against each other and 1-8 Michigan State. They lost to both of their rivals.....AGAIN and much of the previous staff ended their careers at 2-4 against Iowa and 0-6 against Wisconsin. The best win of the last 6 years occurred against a Nebraska team ranked in the 20's.
I want to see this program do well, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe it is/was close to breaking through and there's a reason for higher expectations. The Oregon State game is a perfect example, It seems like a lot of people are expecting to win that game. The Gophers were trailing going in the 4th quarter at home against Oregon State last year in the first game of the season. The Gophers got two huge forced fumbles from Devers in that game to set up their first two touchdowns. Now the Gophers will be on the road, and they will be the one starting the inexperienced QB (OSU gave a transfer QB his first start at Minnesota). I wouldn't have felt confident about this game if Claeys was retained. As we reach the B1G season, PJ will be the first year coach with the new staff and its probably a good idea to lower expectations. I still can't believe people listened to Brewster and thought he was talking about going to the Rose Bowl immediately. Anyone who followed the program new that he wasn't inheriting much talent and Claeys/Kill certainly seem to have left more than Mason, but the similarities in lack of experience/depth/quality at the QB/OL/WR positions is very similar (much better shape on defense obviously).