BleedGopher
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per Randy:
The debate raged Saturday night from tailgate gatherings to watering holes and to internet rant sessions, and it went something like this:
Glass half-full person: Hey, the Gophers are pretty good. They are 3-0 with three blowout wins.
Indeed, the Gophers have been impressive in outscoring their opponents by a combined 149-17 and dominating play through the nonconference season.
Glass half-empty person: But they haven't played anybody!
Yes, point taken. The teams the Gophers have played — New Mexico State, Western Illinois and Colorado — are a combined 0-10 and have been outscored 396-97. It's tough to build respect when the opposition offers so little resistance.
To bridge that gap between the half-full and half-empty crowd, the Gophers need to start playing the "somebodies" of the college football world. And at last, that happens Saturday with a trip to Michigan State for the Big Ten opener.
The Spartans were ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25 before losing 39-28 at Washington on Saturday night. They dropped out of the poll Sunday but still will present the biggest challenge the Gophers have faced so far. The Spartans were 11-2 last year, with a victory over Big Ten champion Michigan before beating Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl.
Go Gophers!!
The debate raged Saturday night from tailgate gatherings to watering holes and to internet rant sessions, and it went something like this:
Glass half-full person: Hey, the Gophers are pretty good. They are 3-0 with three blowout wins.
Indeed, the Gophers have been impressive in outscoring their opponents by a combined 149-17 and dominating play through the nonconference season.
Glass half-empty person: But they haven't played anybody!
Yes, point taken. The teams the Gophers have played — New Mexico State, Western Illinois and Colorado — are a combined 0-10 and have been outscored 396-97. It's tough to build respect when the opposition offers so little resistance.
To bridge that gap between the half-full and half-empty crowd, the Gophers need to start playing the "somebodies" of the college football world. And at last, that happens Saturday with a trip to Michigan State for the Big Ten opener.
The Spartans were ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25 before losing 39-28 at Washington on Saturday night. They dropped out of the poll Sunday but still will present the biggest challenge the Gophers have faced so far. The Spartans were 11-2 last year, with a victory over Big Ten champion Michigan before beating Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl.
Gophers football team's first big test comes this week against Michigan State
Minnesota will make its first visit to East Lansing since 2013.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!