Tally of Starters Opting Out


fact of life in college sports - Seniors graduate, and your very best players will often leave early for the professional ranks.

I choose to look at this game as a preview of coming attractions - a chance to see whether some of the backups have the potential to become solid contributors.

as far as the players listed - 1 OL, 1 WR, 1 LB, 1 DE and 1 CB.

5 out of 22 starters. yes, they are all solid players - but if this cripples the team, then IMHO the coaching staff has failed to recruit and develop backups who are capable of playing in the event of an injury or other situation - like an opt-out. The Gophers have over 100 players on the roster. I would hope that more than 22 of them are good enough to play.

and from what I've read/heard, Virginia Tech has been hit much harder by the portal and opt-outs - not to mention the fact that VA Tech recently fired several coaches.

the Gophers are not facing some juggernaut. this is a very winnable game - even without the players who have chosen not to participate.
 


fact of life in college sports - Seniors graduate, and your very best players will often leave early for the professional ranks.

I choose to look at this game as a preview of coming attractions - a chance to see whether some of the backups have the potential to become solid contributors.

as far as the players listed - 1 OL, 1 WR, 1 LB, 1 DE and 1 CB.

5 out of 22 starters. yes, they are all solid players - but if this cripples the team, then IMHO the coaching staff has failed to recruit and develop backups who are capable of playing in the event of an injury or other situation - like an opt-out. The Gophers have over 100 players on the roster. I would hope that more than 22 of them are good enough to play.

and from what I've read/heard, Virginia Tech has been hit much harder by the portal and opt-outs - not to mention the fact that VA Tech recently fired several coaches.

the Gophers are not facing some juggernaut. this is a very winnable game - even without the players who have chosen not to participate.
Yeah, both teams are going to be missing key guys, just the way it is in college football today when it comes to bowl games. And you are correct that by all accounts Virginia Tech has been hit significantly harder than we have been by transfers and opt outs.

Will be a bummer if the rumored guys all sit the game out but won't be shocking by any means. The up side is that it means more snaps for some of the guys who will be back next year.
 

We'll find out soon enough. Have any of those listed actually said they are not playing on the bowl game?
 
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No. Noboday has said anything at this point.

We will see next Friday I guess.
 






Hmmm…I’m seeing the exact opposite: that it opened at 4.5 and is now 7.5 pretty much everywhere. Did you see 4.5 again last night?
Did they read it wrong? Also, I read when the bowl was announced that Virginia Tech had QBs injured. I’m guessing they will be just fine for Friday. If so, that’s a really scary thought. 😣😭
 

Did they read it wrong? Also, I read when the bowl was announced that Virginia Tech had QBs injured. I’m guessing they will be just fine for Friday. If so, that’s a really scary thought. 😣😭
Just like last year how you said we'd be blown out in the bowl?
 

I just had a longer post and deleted it.

the short version -

if the Gophers play better and coach better than the other team, they will win.

if the Gophers do not play better and coach better than the other team, they will lost.

just like every freakin' game played during the season.

this is no different.
 

I just had a longer post and deleted it.

the short version -

if the Gophers play better and coach better than the other team, they will win.

if the Gophers do not play better and coach better than the other team, they will lost.

just like every freakin' game played during the season.

this is no different.
If we score more points than the other team we will win?
 



The villain of the 2001 Purdue game was the clock operator. When they ran that option with Cupito to tie the 2005 Purdue game that allowed them to actually win later, I yelled "NOOOOOO!" until he somehow got into the end zone. Talk about a surprise play call!
If we are remembering the same game when the tackle-size kicker for Purdue tied the game as time expired in regulation, I totally agree and I think a subsequent rule change made plays like that one a thing of the past (rule mavens help me out).

A subsequent rule change also would have helped against Wisconsin during the fourth quarter that was plagued by a series of Murphy's Law events. I remember Mortensen was the QB and with about 4 minutes left he scrambled and was knocked out of bounds so the clock stopped. Correct me if I am wrong (and I may well be wrong) that currently, if that happens the clock keeps running and only stops if a play like that happens with less than two minutes. Is it different if the player purposefully runs out of bounds? Save me rules guys. At any rate, when the clock stopped I had premonitions of bad things happening and they all came to pass.
 

Just like last year how you said we'd be blown out in the bowl?
I was wrong last year. I’m not afraid to admit it if I am wrong again this year. If I am wrong, I will come on here, and admit I was wrong about the Minnesota Golden Gophers losing their bowl game.

I will also be very happy if I have to do that. However, I’m feel less confident I will have to as the game is approaching.
 



It never moved.
You are correct. The opening line was 4.5.

I was looking at the wrong chart. I simply needed to look one square ⬜ over to see the current line and it has not moved in days. I am going to blame it on lack of sleep. I was looking at the opening line. The line was and is -7.5
 


I just had a longer post and deleted it.

the short version -

if the Gophers play better and coach better than the other team, they will win.

if the Gophers do not play better and coach better than the other team, they will lost.

just like every freakin' game played during the season.

this is no different.
You should've skipped posting the short version as well
 





I was wrong about the Golden Gophers losing the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. I am happy to admit I was wrong.
 





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