STrib: Gophers have better team, but face bigger clashes

[BleedGopher]

per Joe:

After spending three years in the Legends Division with Michigan State, the Gophers have moved to the Big Ten West with Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois and Purdue. Throw in inter-divisional games against Ohio State and Michigan, and Kill wasn’t surprised his team was a preseason pick to finish fifth in the West.

“People look at our schedule, and they probably say they’ve got one of the tougher schedules in the Big Ten, if not the [toughest],” Kill said. “Last year, there wasn’t anybody in the country who figured we were going to win eight games. So you’ve got to continue to earn respect.”

Fans appear to have more respect for this year’s squad. According to the Gophers, they’ve sold 3,611 student season tickets (up from 2,138 at this time last year) and the non-student season ticket total is 28,152 (up from 27,981 last year).

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/269490281.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[ruppertflywheel]

Would love to see.student sales reach the 10,000 level, but I would guess it will be in the 5,000-6,000 range.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I think the tougher schedule bit is getting really overplayed, especially if we just consider the conference schedule. Obviously, out of conference, adding a road game at TCU is tougher. However, as far as B1G play goes, 5 of our opponents are the same as last year. Of those 5, Wisconsin and Nebraska move to the road, but Northwestern comes to TCF, and Michigan and Iowa take place at the same venues as last year. We lose a road game against the defending B1G champ and replace it with a home game against the defending B1G runner-up. We lose a road game against 3-5 Indiana and replace it with 1-7 Illinois. We also lose a home game against 4-4 PSU and replace them with 0-8 Purdue. Collectively, including the B1G championship game, the 3 teams off the schedule (MSU, PSU, and Indiana) were a combined 16-9 last year. The 3 teams we are replacing them with were a combined 9-16.

Recap: 8 B1G opponents: 5 same as last year, 3 new opponents who are weaker than the 3 they replaced. This year's conference schedule is easier than last years. The addition of a real opponent in out of conference makes the OOC schedule tougher, but let's not forget that they were a 2-7 Big 12 team last year. If we finish with a worse record this year, its not because the schedule got tougher, its because we didn't play as well. My prediction is going to be 9-4. Losses to OSU, Nebraska and Michigan. We beat either Wisconsin or win the bowl game.

 

[TrapperDoo]

If this team is truly better, and I believe they are, our record goes 9-4, stretching to 10-3. JK is a winner and Minnesota is gaining respect.

 

[TrapperDoo]

Remember the interviews with poor JK back in 2011. Reporters were asking him after the Michigan thumping "what do you do now?" He just righteously stated, "we go back to practice. You got an alternative?" This dude deserves success. He will get it.

 

[die hard gopher]

If this team is truly better, and I believe they are, our record goes 9-4, stretching to 10-3. JK is a winner and Minnesota is gaining respect.

I agree 100%

 

[Gophers09]

I think the tougher schedule bit is getting really overplayed, especially if we just consider the conference schedule. Obviously, out of conference, adding a road game at TCU is tougher. However, as far as B1G play goes, 5 of our opponents are the same as last year. Of those 5, Wisconsin and Nebraska move to the road, but Northwestern comes to TCF, and Michigan and Iowa take place at the same venues as last year. We lose a road game against the defending B1G champ and replace it with a home game against the defending B1G runner-up. We lose a road game against 3-5 Indiana and replace it with 1-7 Illinois. We also lose a home game against 4-4 PSU and replace them with 0-8 Purdue. Collectively, including the B1G championship game, the 3 teams off the schedule (MSU, PSU, and Indiana) were a combined 16-9 last year. The 3 teams we are replacing them with were a combined 9-16.

Recap: 8 B1G opponents: 5 same as last year, 3 new opponents who are weaker than the 3 they replaced. This year's conference schedule is easier than last years. The addition of a real opponent in out of conference makes the OOC schedule tougher, but let's not forget that they were a 2-7 Big 12 team last year. If we finish with a worse record this year, its not because the schedule got tougher, its because we didn't play as well. My prediction is going to be 9-4. Losses to OSU, Nebraska and Michigan. We beat either Wisconsin or win the bowl game.

Yeah, think perhaps the fact that on paper we got the toughest cross over draw of any of the West teams, especially relative to the rivals, plays into the feeling that it's a really tough BT schedule.

 

[GopherHomer]

I think the tougher schedule bit is getting really overplayed, especially if we just consider the conference schedule. Obviously, out of conference, adding a road game at TCU is tougher. However, as far as B1G play goes, 5 of our opponents are the same as last year. Of those 5, Wisconsin and Nebraska move to the road, but Northwestern comes to TCF, and Michigan and Iowa take place at the same venues as last year. We lose a road game against the defending B1G champ and replace it with a home game against the defending B1G runner-up. We lose a road game against 3-5 Indiana and replace it with 1-7 Illinois. We also lose a home game against 4-4 PSU and replace them with 0-8 Purdue. Collectively, including the B1G championship game, the 3 teams off the schedule (MSU, PSU, and Indiana) were a combined 16-9 last year. The 3 teams we are replacing them with were a combined 9-16.

Recap: 8 B1G opponents: 5 same as last year, 3 new opponents who are weaker than the 3 they replaced. This year's conference schedule is easier than last years. The addition of a real opponent in out of conference makes the OOC schedule tougher, but let's not forget that they were a 2-7 Big 12 team last year. If we finish with a worse record this year, its not because the schedule got tougher, its because we didn't play as well. My prediction is going to be 9-4. Losses to OSU, Nebraska and Michigan. We beat either Wisconsin or win the bowl game.

Our schedule is tougher this year. We will probably be favored in no more than 5 games this season. I think people are underrating just how improbable and exciting last season was. We basically shocked the world with all our upsets, but I guess that's not enough for some. To say we will repeat that, is asking a lot. 2016 is our breakout year...we just need to keep improving until then.

 

[die hard gopher]

TCU is equivalent to SJSU with Fales. OSU at home is equivalent to @MSU. The Iowa and Michigan games should be about the same as last year. Wisconsin's losses at receiver and on D counteract the fact that it is an away game and then some. Illinois is significantly easier than Penn State and Purdue is significantly easier than IU last year. Northwestern will probably be better but it is also a home game this year so really the only game i see as more difficult than last year is Nebraska and thats just because it's an away game.

 

[GopherHomer]

TCU is equivalent to SJSU with Fales. OSU at home is equivalent to @MSU. The Iowa and Michigan games should be about the same as last year. Wisconsin's losses at receiver and on D counteract the fact that it is an away game and then some. Illinois is significantly easier than Penn State and Purdue is significantly easier than IU last year. Northwestern will probably be better but it is also a home game this year so really the only game i see as more difficult than last year is Nebraska and thats just because it's an away game.

I completely disagree with TCU being equal to SJSU. That was arguably the Gophers most dominating performance last year. I don't think SJSU is a two year removed from a Rose Bowl victory. We should be 6-10 point underdogs in the TCU game. Everything else you say is somewhat fair - which says more to the historic effort we gave last season. Last season was a very tough schedule, and we beat the odds - this year is a little bit tougher (with 2015 being ridiculous). We will win 5-7 games this year...so if you want to have a positive feeling about this version of Gopher football, you better get used to that fact. Expecting 8+ wins is just a recipe for the typical Gopher hating that infects the typical Minnesotan.

 

[Governor Sibley]

I have this sneaking feeling Nebraska will want to pound us.

 

[GopherHomer]

I have this sneaking feeling Nebraska will want to pound us.

Agreed. We are not winning @ Nebraska this year. I don't get people's extreme optimism for this year. Our road games at Nebraska, Michigan, and Wisconsin are basically guaranteed losses. That combined with the OSU game, our ceiling is obviously 8 wins. I love our team, but I would say Illinois has a better chance of beating us that we do any of the previously mentioned four games.

 

[jaymil]

Agreed. We are not winning @ Nebraska this year. I don't get people's extreme optimism for this year. Our road games at Nebraska, Michigan, and Wisconsin are basically guaranteed losses. That combined with the OSU game, our ceiling is obviously 8 wins. I love our team, but I would say Illinois has a better chance of beating us that we do any of the previously mentioned four games.

Disagree with you about the Michigan game. We'll be underdogs but they're beatable.

 

[die hard gopher]

I completely disagree with TCU being equal to SJSU. That was arguably the Gophers most dominating performance last year. I don't think SJSU is a two year removed from a Rose Bowl victory. We should be 6-10 point underdogs in the TCU game. Everything else you say is somewhat fair - which says more to the historic effort we gave last season. Last season was a very tough schedule, and we beat the odds - this year is a little bit tougher (with 2015 being ridiculous). We will win 5-7 games this year...so if you want to have a positive feeling about this version of Gopher football, you better get used to that fact. Expecting 8+ wins is just a recipe for the typical Gopher hating that infects the typical Minnesotan.

They went 11-2 the previous year and Fales was easily the best QB we faced last year and was a projected first rounder at the time. He lit us up. I was a lot more worried about that game than i am about TCU this year. 2 years removed from a Rosebowl victory doesn't sound so impressive when you win 4 total games. I'd rather play them than IU this year. I don't see us being underdogs in that game. I would not be thrilled with another 8 win season and i would be very disappointed with 7 wins or less. I was actually expecting 5 wins in 2012 and 8 wins last year. To be honest i don't see how it was that big of a shocker when we returned 10 starters on O and 7 on D going into last year. Any time you return that many guys you are bound to see an increase in win totals.

 

[die hard gopher]

Agreed. We are not winning @ Nebraska this year. I don't get people's extreme optimism for this year. Our road games at Nebraska, Michigan, and Wisconsin are basically guaranteed losses. That combined with the OSU game, our ceiling is obviously 8 wins. I love our team, but I would say Illinois has a better chance of beating us that we do any of the previously mentioned four games.

People are optimistic because we return 9 starters on O and 7 on D plus we just singed the best recruiting class in the Kill era with to quite a few guys expected to contribute right away particularly at the skill position that will provide much more explosiveness that we lacked last year. Also how in the hell is Michigan a guaranteed loss? We had a better overall record and even conference record than they did last year and return more guys from last year yet somehow it is a guaranteed loss? They just werent a very good football team last year and we probably could have beat them had we played them later in the season. Also is their any reason why we wouldn't be able to rush for nearly 300 yards on Nebraska next year that let us do it last year. Its not like they return their whole roster. Wisconsin also graduates their entire front 7, best DB and their top 4 receivers. I don't see how that can be a guaranteed loss when we were 2 plays away from beating them.

 

[hungan1]

Let's hope a much improved Leidner stays healthy, and likewise the rest of the team. Key injuries late in the season last year disrupted the team's momentum.

 

[hungan1]

They went 11-2 the previous year and Fales was easily the best QB we faced last year and was a projected first rounder at the time. He lit us up. I was a lot more worried about that game than i am about TCU this year. 2 years removed from a Rosebowl victory doesn't sound so impressive when you win 4 total games. I'd rather play them than IU this year. I don't see us being underdogs in that game. I would not be thrilled with another 8 win season and i would be very disappointed with 7 wins or less. I was actually expecting 5 wins in 2012 and 8 wins last year. To be honest i don't see how it was that big of a shocker when we returned 10 starters on O and 7 on D going into last year. Any time you return that many guys you are bound to see an increase in win totals.

Should be worried about the effects of heat and humidity?

 

[jaymil]

TCU's defense will be so much better than SJSU's last year and it isn't close. That game no doubt will be tougher. Fales was a stud but it didn't matter because we dominated them in the run game and kept the ball. I don't see that happening against TCU. Plus it's on the road.

 

[bemidjigopher]

Disagree with you about the Michigan game. We'll be underdogs but they're beatable.

Agreed like every year scUM is overrated, don't know which week we play them, but wouldn't be shocked if we were the favorites by then. Iowa also loses their three studs at LB, so they'll have a tougher timer time stopping our ground attack. We will have a tough time with their offense as well, but if we win the possession battle we win the pig. As for Wisconsin, they're a young team this year, it is at the end of the year, but they lost alot on defense. Will be underdogs, but I like our chances better this year than I did at the start of last year.

 

[die hard gopher]

TCU's D is no doubt better than SJSU's or Texas Tech's D but it is still just as bad of a match up with them being a smaller, faster Big 12 D not designed to stop power Big Ten teams like us. We will run right at them just like Wisconsin did in the Rosebowl. Losing Fields will help a lot too.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Jerry Kill's biggest challenge is not improving the offense - improving the defense - or improving the special teams.

Jerry Kill's biggest challenge is finding a way to make the average fan believe that this REALLY is a different Gopher team. As the comments on here indicate, even people on a Gopher fan site - who are self-professed Gopher Fans - are still skeptical. Some of us have gotten used to being disappointed by the Gophers, and we're afraid to get our hopes up, for fear of being disappointed again.

I could see this season going either way - it could be a break-though year - or fall short of expectations. Honestly, as I sit here today, I have no idea which way it will go.

 

[Section2]

Jerry Kill's biggest challenge is not improving the offense - improving the defense - or improving the special teams.

Jerry Kill's biggest challenge is finding a way to make the average fan believe that this REALLY is a different Gopher team. As the comments on here indicate, even people on a Gopher fan site - who are self-professed Gopher Fans - are still skeptical. Some of us have gotten used to being disappointed by the Gophers, and we're afraid to get our hopes up, for fear of being disappointed again.

I could see this season going either way - it could be a break-though year - or fall short of expectations. Honestly, as I sit here today, I have no idea which way it will go.

That's simple. Dominate the non conference. If the offense plays well and moves the ball consistently in the non conference, and Mitch plays well, people will be excited and start to believe. Beat TCU and then Michigan and the buzz will build to a roar.
As the only (sadly) example, I think about our final 4 hoops team, which started building buzz winning the Puerto Rico tourney.

 

[GopherInPittsburgh]

“The University of Minnesota is one of the fastest-improving programs in this conference,” Dantonio said at Big Ten media days in Chicago. “I think [Kill’s] an excellent coach and motivator, and I think his players love him. I think they’ve really got things going like this.”

Dantonio finished the thought with an upward hand motion, and that’s exactly what Kill wants as his fourth year as Gophers coach begins with Friday’s first practice.

But Dantonio referenced something that transcends individual players, a toughness factor the Gophers showed in their 14-3 loss in East Lansing last year — Michigan State’s closest Big Ten game of the season.

“Their tailback did a nice job running the football; is he back?” Dantonio said, nodding after being told David Cobb does indeed return after rushing for 1,202 yards as a junior. “He’s a good player. The offensive line was very physical. They’re very well-coached.”

Best part of the article.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Our schedule is tougher this year. We will probably be favored in no more than 5 games this season. I think people are underrating just how improbable and exciting last season was. We basically shocked the world with all our upsets, but I guess that's not enough for some. To say we will repeat that, is asking a lot. 2016 is our breakout year...we just need to keep improving until then.

Why is it tougher? 5 conference opponents are identical, the other 3 we have next year are almost inarguably weaker than the 3 teams we replaced, and the big out of conference scare was a 2-7 Big 12 team. We might not be favored in more than 5 games this year, but were we favored in more than 5 last year? If I recall, we were favored in the four OOC games, PSU, and a tossup against Iowa.

 

[Unregistered User]

We will run right at them just like Wisconsin did in the Rosebowl.

Uhm...wisky lost that game.

 

[die hard gopher]

Uhm...wisky lost that game.

TCU had the #1 total D in the country and Wiscy still totaled 226 on the ground.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Why is it tougher? 5 conference opponents are identical, the other 3 we have next year are almost inarguably weaker than the 3 teams we replaced, and the big out of conference scare was a 2-7 Big 12 team. We might not be favored in more than 5 games this year, but were we favored in more than 5 last year? If I recall, we were favored in the four OOC games, PSU, and a tossup against Iowa.

The more I think about it too, I don't think it is that much different either. In the conference, we play Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Nebraska who we played last year. We replace Michigan St., Penn St. and Indiana for Ohio St., Illinois and Purdue.

Eastern Ill should be better than Western Ill, but still a game we should win easily. San Jose St. will be worse this year. Middle TN St. is probably no better than UNLV was last year, especially since they lost their QB and top two WR. TCU will be a tough game regardless of their record last year.

It might be tougher than last year, but not by a lot. Things can change, obviously.