STrib: Despite striking similarities, Gophers say they're a different team from 2017

BleedGopher

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per Randy:

But when the Gophers open the Big Ten season Saturday at Maryland — the same opponent but different venue as last year’s conference opener — they’ll aim to put any comparisons in the past and forge their own identity for 2018.

“This season has nothing to do with last season,” said Fleck, whose 2017 squad fell 31-24 at home to Maryland, a loss that began a three-game slide in a 2-7 Big Ten season. “It’s an extension in a way, but it’s really not. There’s so many different faces.”

It’s understandable that Fleck wants this year’s team to write its own story. He’s raved about how cohesive this team is, and how the immediate impact of several true freshmen — most notably quarterback Zack Annexstad — bodes well for the future. And his players, especially the upperclassmen, see how important winning the Big Ten opener can be.

“Last year’s [Maryland] game was definitely a defining moment in our season,” senior safety Jacob Huff said. “At the start of the Big Ten [season] last year, a lot of the young guys, the new guys didn’t understand how that was going to impact the team. This year, we do understand that because all those guys are back.”

http://www.startribune.com/despite-...they-re-a-different-team-from-2017/494014681/

Go Gophers!!
 




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