STrib: Gophers excited for chance to play in 'lower-tier' bowl

[BleedGopher]

per Joe:

For recruiting purposes, Claeys will have an easier sell if the Gophers finish 6-7, compared to 5-8 with another bowl loss, this time against a Mid-American Conference opponent.

“We’re going to come out here and play not like we’re a 5-7 team but like we’ve won every single game,” senior cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun said. “We’re going to leave it all on the field.”

Quarterback Mitch Leidner will be a senior next fall, so he leads the group of returning players looking to use Motown as the launching point for a 2016 turnaround.

Leidner had four consecutive 250-yard passing games before his four-turnover game — three interceptions and a fumble — in the Wisconsin loss on Nov. 28.

Individually, Leidner had strong showings in his two previous bowl games. He passed for 205 yards against Syracuse in the 2013 Texas Bowl and 258 yards against Missouri in last season’s Citrus Bowl.

“Obviously, the losses are things I remember,” Leidner said. “Getting a win would be a great feeling, and I think that would be a great springboard for us moving forward.”

http://www.startribune.com/gophers-excited-for-chance-to-play-in-lower-tier-bowl/363609011/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Spoofin]

Sweet. Our players want to win.

 

[MNVCGUY]

So glad it is finally game day as the press leading up to this one has gotten pretty dull. The practices were a springboard to next year, the final result of the game today will have zero impact on what happens on the field next season. As to the line in the story about the team being an easier sell at 6-7 vs. 5-8....I guess in terms of saying it out loud one sounds slightly better then the other but I highly doubt the coaches are using the record this season as any part of their sales pitch to recruits other than to say something to the effect of "we were under .500 last year so if you prove you can help us win right away you will see the field as a true freshman."

Hopefully the team plays well this afternoon and is able to send the seniors out with a victory.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

The game doesn’t mean anything except to lose would give us yet another one of those great program distinctions in that we would surpass Ball St. as having lost the most consecutive bowl games. A loss coupled with having blown the biggest lead ever in a bowl game would suck. Just when you think the 50-year mountain of crap couldn’t get any higher there is always this possibility. Please, just win this bottom feeder bowl so that this program doesn’t suffer any more embarrassing honors.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

People keep talking about this bowl game as an embarrassment. Having Nebraska score 83 points in a game is an embarrassment. Compared to that, playing in a minor bowl game is not worth all the angst that people are experiencing.

Nebraska went to a bowl game with a 5-7 record. (and won). I think that program will be able to survive the "embarrassment" of playing in a bowl game with a losing record.

Bottom line, for me - this game is an opportunity for the Gophers. Let's see if they can take advantage of it.

 

[GopherOhana]

84 pts, so a lot worse than 83. the UoP loss is the worst for me. both on our field

as for the string of bowl losses, i'd rather my team lose in a bowl game than make no bowl at all

agree, lets see if the players can take advantage of today