The next great Fleck team

[Schnauzer]

I think a lot about the 2018 season. The Gophers were coming off a shaky 2017 as Fleck's year 0 and had faded, followed by some rough outings in 2018 where I said to myself it might be time to admit Fleck isn't going to work out. But, Along came an upset of Purdue on a very cold semi-snowy day and an overall turn around that ended with a huge win over Wisconsin and another upset over Georgia Tech in a bowl game. Suddenly things looked up. It was pretty clear Tyler Johnson was a star, the running back position was stacked, and the new QB Morgan was hitting receivers by the end of the season. I distinctly remember being optimistic for 2019 and when all the prognostications came out with their typical "We'll just slot the Gophers in at the bottom/mid area of our predictions, like always" - I kept thinking, "just you wait and see" and I was actually right as 2019 was a historic year.

I've waited for that level of optimism since and I feel like things have settled into an off season ritual of thinking the Gophers will be okay next year but not great. I guess I had a lot of optimism for 2020 but that ended up being the goofy covid season. I'm in that same mode again, thinking 7-5ish with potential for a bit better if everything goes right or also possibilities of .500 if injuries and bad surprises spring up.

Anyone see a 2018 style awakening on the horizon?

I guess a couple recent seasons could have rivaled 2019 had some weird losses like Purdue, Northwestern, and Bowling Green had been avoided and 2019 itself had some magic in the other direction with the string of tight wins to start that season that would have made it look different if there would have been losses in place of wins over Fresno State, Georgia Southern, etc.

 

[mngg11]

I see it every year, man. Hope springs eternal. We're one or two impact players clicking away from another big run. Just need the pieces to fall into place.

 

[BleedGopher]

I think a lot about the 2018 season. The Gophers were coming off a shaky 2017 as Fleck's year 0 and had faded, followed by some rough outings in 2018 where I said to myself it might be time to admit Fleck isn't going to work out. But, Along came an upset of Purdue on a very cold semi-snowy day and an overall turn around that ended with a huge win over Wisconsin and another upset over Georgia Tech in a bowl game. Suddenly things looked up. It was pretty clear Tyler Johnson was a star, the running back position was stacked, and the new QB Morgan was hitting receivers by the end of the season. I distinctly remember being optimistic for 2019 and when all the prognostications came out with their typical "We'll just slot the Gophers in at the bottom/mid area of our predictions, like always" - I kept thinking, "just you wait and see" and I was actually right as 2019 was a historic year.

I've waited for that level of optimism since and I feel like things have settled into an off season ritual of thinking the Gophers will be okay next year but not great. I guess I had a lot of optimism for 2020 but that ended up being the goofy covid season. I'm in that same mode again, thinking 7-5ish with potential for a bit better if everything goes right or also possibilities of .500 if injuries and bad surprises spring up.

Anyone see a 2018 style awakening on the horizon?

I guess a couple recent seasons could have rivaled 2019 had some weird losses like Purdue, Northwestern, and Bowling Green had been avoided and 2019 itself had some magic in the other direction with the string of tight wins to start that season that would have made it look different if there would have been losses in place of wins over Fresno State, Georgia Southern, etc.

I sure hope you're right. Like most fan bases, we all tend to overrate our team in the off-season. Some report will come out of spring ball that a transfer is blowing up, offense looks as good as ever, rinse and repeat. And I'll buy in because I'd rather be an optimist and be wrong than a pessimist and be right.

Huge to have most of our big pieces back from last year and we did seem to have a good portal haul.

The program needs a legit breakthrough season again. We need to beat Iowa. It's time (for both).

Go Gophers!!

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I see it this season. And I said that before last season started.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I see it every year, man. Hope springs eternal. We're one or two impact players clicking away from another big run. Just need the pieces to fall into place.

Right there with you as I am always optimistic things will break right for the program.

Exciting thing about 2026 is we kept the majority of our key pieces, added some nice potential and most importantly Drake looked like he could be be the real deal last year in his first season starting.

If Drake has a big off season and DT can find a way to stay healthy the offense has potential to take a big step up and the D looks solid as well.

 

[Some guy]

Honestly if the run game comes back while we have competent QB play, it could be any season.

I think the gophers have competent QB play. But we have not run the ball consistently since 2022

 

[gopherbadgerman]

I sure hope you're right. Like most fan bases, we all tend to overrate our team in the off-season. Some report will come out of spring ball that a transfer is blowing up, offense looks as good as ever, rinse and repeat. And I'll buy in because I'd rather be an optimist and be wrong than a pessimist and be right.

Huge to have most of our big pieces back from last year and we did seem to have a good portal haul.

The program needs a legit breakthrough season again. We need to beat Iowa. It's time (for both).

Go Gophers!!

Agree most fans do.

Until the Gopher talent level rises they will continue to be a middle of the pack team. PJ has outperformed the relative talent level most of the years he has been here. Unless a big donor come forward and they find a ton of money I would bet they continue on being an 7 or 8 win team and around .500 in the B10, and with the resources the team has I think that is pretty good.

I am hopeful the defense will be good and Taylor stays healthy. If those two things happen I think a 9 win season is possible. I do not have much faith in the WR's or the run blocking, but anything can happen.