For me, I have been following Gopher fb since the Wacker years (I know that will cause anyone to have a negative attitude towards gopher fb). During that time, we never had any reason to get our hopes up as we were perennial cellar dwellers. However, starting with Mason, there was steady improvement with the program that lead to people getting excited. This excitement culminated in the 2003 Michigan game. A game I thought we had in the bag going into the 4th qtr. Most of you know what happened (for those that don't, look it up on the Internet). However, that loss was devastating. That was a game we should have won and gone onto the Rose Bowl. But alas, in typical gopher fashion, we blew the lead and did not go to the Rose Bowl. Then some years later we had the Wis. game, where there was no way to lose, except fumble the punt snap and have Wis. recover the fumble in the end zone. Guess what, in typical gopher fashion, that is exactly what happened. Then there was the Insight Bowl, where we were crushing Texas Tech going into half time. Then the second half starts, and in typical Gopher fashion, we blow our huge lead and lose the bowl game. Leading to Mason's termination.
Along comes Brewster. He has a rough first season, but hey, it is his first season so that should be expected. In his second season, we get off to a great start. Heading into our game against NW on Nov. 1, we are 8-1 with our only loss to OSU. NW was by no means a power house or great team. In fact, their starting qb was out, putting the odds even greater in MN's favor for a win. NW plays MN tough, but MN looks good. The game looks like it is going to end in a tie and go into OT, which should favor MN since they seemed to be the better team. However, in typical MN fashion, an Adam Weber pass deflects off Eric Decker's hands leading to an INT for a TD, leading to a NW victory. MN did not win another game that season. From there Brewster's tenure went into a tailspin leading to his termination.
Now under the Kill, he struggled mightily his first season. No big deal, this program was a dumpster fire when Kill took over. The second season, we saw marked improvement, with a 6 win season and a bowl appearance, which we lost. By all accounts, the season was a success. Last year we saw even greater improvement over 2012, with a record of 8-2 (the two losses to MICH and Iowa (trophy games)) heading into the game against Wis. We lost this game and did not notch another win for the rest of the season.
Now this year, we start off strong (albeit against a weak schedule), rattling off 6 six wins and one loss against a real team, i.e. TCU. Many people on here leading up to that game claimed we had a legitimate shot at winning and many on here were predicting a win. We get blown out and all of a sudden everyone is down playing how good we are. Many are making excuses that TCU is a really good team and we are young and that we really did not have a chance. Nevertheless, excitement was building going into the TCU game and that loss did reduce, but not deflate, the excitement for the Gophers as the Purdue game had great attendance. We then go on a nice winning streak, ending with a squeaker against Purdue (not a very good team based on its record). Although we beat Purdue it was an ugly win and causes concern for those of us that have watched these gophers for many years. However, it is a win and we are 6-1 creating lots of excitement among the gopher faithful and the casual fan (which the program desperately needs).
We go into Ill, a team by any measure is one, if not the worst fb team in the big 10. Minnesota coming in with its 6-1 record and a strong running game against a defense that cannot stop the run should handle this game no problem. Many people here expecting our backups to get plenty of reps in the 3rd qtr. due to MN's domination. However, in typical MN fashion, we struggle and with a lead in the dwindling minutes of the 4th qtr, Cobb coughs up the ball for a scope and score leading to MN's defeat.
So as you can tell, MN has been down this road many times before. Build up excitement, then have a huge let down that the program cannot recover from for the rest of the season, leading to apathy towards gopher fb. I am not predicting that it will happen again this season, but I will not be surprised if it does. I am also not saying that Kill cannot break the MN curse, but I am not willing to anoint him as MN's savior yet.
However, with this history, you should be able to understand that when MN loses a game it should, by any measure win, it creates frustration among some of us gopher fans. I will give Kill the benefit of the doubt to a certain point, but the longer he gets into his tenure, the less doubt I will give him. He is in year four, so my doubt level is dramatically less than year 1 and I would like to see us win the easy games. The man is making over 2 million a year, it is not too much to ask him to win the games he should.
