Tanner Morgan appreciation thread

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GopherLady

GopherLady

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I'll start - beyond being a good QB, he's been a class act. He's been here through Covid, injuries, losing his father, and so much more adversity.

He stepped aside and you could see him supporting and coaching AK when he was playing. Now he's stepped up like no time has passed, and is leading this Gopher team on the field once again.

I could honestly go on and on about this kid/man, but would love to hear what you think about what Tanner has given this program!
 

Regardless of where you stood on who should be starting games at the end of the year, Tanner is awesome.

He was a class act when he lost his job to ZA and came back.
He is one of the all time winningest QBs at the U while he started.
He has been a class act on handing the baton to Athan.

I think we'll see him around the program sooner rather than later.
 


GopherLady said:
I'll start - beyond being a good QB, he's been a class act. He's been here through Covid, injuries, losing his father, and so much more adversity.

He stepped aside and you could see him supporting and coaching AK when he was playing. Now he's stepped up like no time has passed, and is leading this Gopher team on the field once again.

I could honestly go on and on about this kid/man, but would love to hear what you think about what Tanner has given this program!
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Truth. Total class act.
Would have him on a team any day.
 



2019 is my favorite season ever so far. Tanner was the maestro for it. Even though he's been a bit of a shadow of himself since then, the kid is tough, a hard worker, and a leader. He's been everything we've needed at qb to develop the program from our historical mediocrity to the point we're at - a team that's been regularly getting 8+ wins. I hope we keep going up and I hope we'll look back fondly at Tanner being the guy who started our return to the big time. A guy can dream!
 






I have to be honest, when Zack Annexstad was injured, I was worried. He had won the starting job and I figured was the better option than Morgan, so I was skeptical. Then he went out and beat Indiana with that touchdown pass.

He went on that season to go to Camp Randall, win the Axe for the first time since 2003, and then led the team to a Quick Lane Bowl win. What a ride from there, 2019 was a blast, watching Morgan and company shred defenses and win the first New Year's Day bowl since the 60s.

He had his struggles, 2020, 2021 and 2022 all had their rough moments for Tanner. Morgan kept fighting, though, led the team to another Axe win and a bowl victory in 2021. Then this year, not going how we hoped, but stepping into this game and winning one more bowl game before riding off into the sunset.

He may not have been the best QB ever at Minnesota, but there were a lot of special moments and plenty of victories, including 4-0 in the post season. Thank you Tanner, it was a great ride.
 






I remember a game vs Indiana and a Purdue game many years ago. Not big crowds, but LOUD and into the game unlike past years.


Tanner throwing the ball and converting long 3rd downs completely changed the crowd from "Oh no what is going to happen?" to "Oh man what are they going to do?!?!!?"
 

Thanks, Tanner, for the memories! Clearly a class player that rubbed off on to the other guys.
 

Grade A human being. Helluva leader and humble. Overall, a very solid QB for the Gophers. Yes, there were times I wished he played better, and I'm sure he does, too. But he stabilized the QB spot on a team where we may only realize the benefits later on down the road. Teams generally need to establish stability at the QB position before they can really take off imho. He did things the right way, and set a good example. Hard to measure that in straights W's and L's.

I don't know if he makes an NFL roster. I'll cheer for him wherever he ends up. Personally, I think he'd make a great coach someday, and whether that is next year or 10 years from now, I hope to see him roaming the sidelines again, preferrably for the Maroon and Gold!

Anytime he makes a return to Huntington Bank, I will gladly give him a standing 'O.
 

If AK has a longer term injury, can he still petition for a 20th season? Was nice knowing the QB would be competent/capable coming off the bench - most programs don't have that. 2019 was magical.
 

Love the kid, if he wants coaching is in his future. Cannot wait for the press conference in 2040 when he is named the next Gopher Head coach!
 

It's nice to see Morgan get well-deserved accolades here on Gopher Hole.

One quality of Tanner's that may not have been mentioned: he was pretty durable (at least until concussions this season). He almost always answered the bell and was ready to go on game day.

I remember a Bud Grant interview in which he was asked about all the great Viking players he coached; what were the reasons for their success? Bud pointed out that players like Marshall, Eller, Page, Tarkenton, Winston, Hilgenberg, Tingelhoff, Yary, etc. were extremely durable. They played every game. You can't make the Hall of Fame if you can't stay on the field.

Tanner Morgan was pretty durable.
 

Tanner is what college athletics should be about. He always put the team first; represented the University well; and got the most out of his abilities. I hope he stays involved with Gopher football in some capacity. Glad he was able to go out on a win that he had a big hand in.
 





Lot of fun moments to watch on the field. By all accounts a great guy, I have no doubt he'll be very successful in life
 


GophersInIowa said:
Not the perfect or best player. But he is big reason for the success we’ve had. I hope he comes back as a coach some day.
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I wrote in another thread the other day that I wonder if the Mike Sanford Experience just discombobulated Morgan somewhat. Of course, we blame OCs when maybe it was the Head Coach setting the offensive tone.

I'll always remember the game-winning bomb he threw to Bateman to break a 31-31 tie and beat Indiana in his first start as a Gopher. Played within himself, but could rise to the occasion.
 

50PoundHead said:
I wrote in another thread the other day that I wonder if the Mike Sanford Experience just discombobulated Morgan somewhat. Of course, we blame OCs when maybe it was the Head Coach setting the offensive tone.

I'll always remember the game-winning bomb he threw to Bateman to break a 31-31 tie and beat Indiana in his first start as a Gopher. Played within himself, but could rise to the occasion.
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I'm strongly in the "Sanford messed everything up" boat. Similar thing happened to Weber with four OCs in five years. I think with consistency Weber could've been more than what he ended up being, which was still a pretty good qb.
 

mngg11 said:
I'm strongly in the "Sanford messed everything up" boat. Similar thing happened to Weber with four OCs in five years. I think with consistency Weber could've been more than what he ended up being, which was still a pretty good qb.
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His dad got sick and died. He got married. Johnson and Bateman were no longer around. Sometimes a kid catches some magic like he did in ‘19, and then for whatever reason the magic goes away.
 


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