Traded emails with Maturi

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TheWrights03

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I traded emails with Maturi today regarding "The state of Gopher football". I expressed my displeasure over the direction the program is headed and stated that I will give it serious consideration when the time to renew my season tickets comes rather than just fork the money over.

He stated that when he looked at the schedule for 2009, he anticipated six or seven wins. And that "on paper" it was a "very tough schedule". He said he hopes I enjoyed the stadium and that the games were "mostly entertaining". He said he looks forward to 2010's "great schedule" and "hopefully, good football".

I noticed how he used his words carefully by saying "on paper" and "mostly entertaining". I am disappointed that he anticipated only six to seven wins for 2009. Clearly we should have had at least eight when all said and done. He never once mentioned Brewster even as I mentioned him over and over.

I told him I hope he understands that fans want more than just a "good schedule". His response was simple. "Understand". Translation: "Leave me alone, I'm getting bombarded with people wanting to know what is going on with this program!".
 

He was probably worried that if he mentioned Brewster by name and said anything even the least bit controversial, it would end up being posted on an internet message board somewhere. ;)
 

Where did you expect the eighth win? It certainly was a possibility, but in the world of probabilities most people on this board predicted seven wins, including me. Given that fans, even when attempting to be objective, over-project wins, I do not feel eight wins was a realistic expectation this season. I do not think it is realistic for next season. With USC on tap for the next two years, eight wins can be expected in 2011, when we can expect to have a winning record in Big Ten play. Prior to USC being on the schedule, I wanted to see the Gophers win at least 9 games in 2011, but had to downgrade that expectation with the schedule upgrade.
 


Six wins was my pick. The problem is that it became apparent that the Gophers could have won a couple more - Illinois and Iowa. The collapse of the offense in the last three games went a long way toward embittering fans - that combined with not playing Gray even for ONE series in those three games. It created a lot of frustration. If Gray had bombed, the frustration would have ebbed as the coaches would have been proven right. But what if he had made the difference against SD State or Illinois or Iowa?
 


I agree that Illinois and Wisconsin were winnable games. My three errors in predicting the season were predicting an MSU loss, an Illinois win, and a Wisconsin win, hence the projected 7-5 record. If you lumped those three games together and asked how many I expected to win, I would say one to two. We won one of them. It's slightly disappointing, but winning all three would have been surprising.
 

I agree

I agree with TheWrights03; the Gophers should have beaten both Illinois and Wisky, heck, I would even give the Gophers a 'W' in Iowa City under any other coach.
 

That in a nutshell shows whats wrong with Gopher Nation....unrealistic expectations.
Clearly 8 wins? Wisconsin and Illinois? So you're saying since we have a new stadium we should now be able to almost run the table at home?

Let's say the Gophers did win those two games and finished 8-4 and 5-3 Big Ten (but still barely beat SDSU and still didn't score against Iowa) would all the Brew bashers still be calling for his head? Because it seems to me alot of people are jumping ship over 6 points spread across Wisconsin and Illinois losses, and to me that's pathetic.
 

What if we lost all three games instead of just two? We would be out of a bowl, and Brewster's seat would be even hotter. I don't entirely disagree, but there is a flip side.
 



GoGophers2005 said:
That in a nutshell shows whats wrong with Gopher Nation....unrealistic expectations.
Clearly 8 wins? Wisconsin and Illinois? So you're saying since we have a new stadium we should now be able to almost run the table at home?

Let's say the Gophers did win those two games and finished 8-4 and 5-3 Big Ten (but still barely beat SDSU and still didn't score against Iowa) would all the Brew bashers still be calling for his head? Because it seems to me alot of people are jumping ship over 6 points spread across Wisconsin and Illinois losses, and to me that's pathetic.
Click to expand...

True, so true.
 

GoGophers2005 said:
That in a nutshell shows whats wrong with Gopher Nation....unrealistic expectations.
Clearly 8 wins? Wisconsin and Illinois? So you're saying since we have a new stadium we should now be able to almost run the table at home?

Let's say the Gophers did win those two games and finished 8-4 and 5-3 Big Ten (but still barely beat SDSU and still didn't score against Iowa) would all the Brew bashers still be calling for his head? Because it seems to me alot of people are jumping ship over 6 points spread across Wisconsin and Illinois losses, and to me that's pathetic.
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EXACTLY!!!!

+1000. This should be scrolled across the top of the main page at all times.

Thank you.
 

any other coach, really? im surprised because i watched that game and i didnt see brew throwing the ball or running the routes. if the weber that played against MSU showed up than we probably win but until we get a QB that doesnt make 8th grade throws we will continue to lose
 

A win in Iowa City?
Any coach could have won? You mean like when we were in Iowa a few years back with Maroney AND Barber (and Tapeh) for a share of the Big Ten title and proceeded to get blown out? Is that the coach you are talking about? Or are you talking Wacker? Gutey? Salem? Any other coach?
Brew already has the same number of bowl births than Salem, Holtz, Gutey, and Wacker combined.
 



GoGophers2005 said:
That in a nutshell shows whats wrong with Gopher Nation....unrealistic expectations. QUOTE]

So what you're saying is set my expectations as low as possible and then when we go 1 - 11 again, I should be happy since we won one game? Don't get me wrong, as Maturi said, to start the season it appeared to be a very tough schedule. But in the long run, there are games we gave away. Happens every year to every team, but since I am an avid Gopher follower, I don't pay attention to other teams "games they gave away". When it was all said and done, eight wins was not unrealistic.
Click to expand...
 

TheWrights03 said:
I traded emails with Maturi today regarding "The state of Gopher football". I expressed my displeasure over the direction the program is headed and stated that I will give it serious consideration when the time to renew my season tickets comes rather than just fork the money over.

He stated that when he looked at the schedule for 2009, he anticipated six or seven wins. And that "on paper" it was a "very tough schedule". He said he hopes I enjoyed the stadium and that the games were "mostly entertaining". He said he looks forward to 2010's "great schedule" and "hopefully, good football".

I noticed how he used his words carefully by saying "on paper" and "mostly entertaining". I am disappointed that he anticipated only six to seven wins for 2009. Clearly we should have had at least eight when all said and done. He never once mentioned Brewster even as I mentioned him over and over.

I told him I hope he understands that fans want more than just a "good schedule". His response was simple. "Understand". Translation: "Leave me alone, I'm getting bombarded with people wanting to know what is going on with this program!".
Click to expand...

your an idiot in my opinion! ar eyou the only guy who expected 8-9 wins?

Syrac-W
AF-W
Cal-L
NW-W
Wic-W/L either way
Purdue-W
Penn S-L
OSu-L
Mich St-L they were expected to be much better this season
Illinois-L Many thought their talent was going to lead to a 4th place finish
Sdsu-W
Iowa-L

Schedule was better then last year and if i remember correctly the majority expected a 6-7 win season and hoped for an 8-9 win season
 

6Gophers said:
I agree with TheWrights03; the Gophers should have beaten both Illinois and Wisky, heck, I would even give the Gophers a 'W' in Iowa City under any other coach.
Click to expand...

Well, maybe any other coach except Gutenkunst, Wacker, Mason, et al...
 

lakesgopher said:
your an idiot in my opinion! ar eyou the only guy who expected 8-9 wins?

Syrac-W
AF-W
Cal-L
NW-W
Wic-W/L either way
Purdue-W
Penn S-L
OSu-L
Mich St-L they were expected to be much better this season
Illinois-L Many thought their talent was going to lead to a 4th place finish
Sdsu-W
Iowa-L

Schedule was better then last year and if i remember correctly the majority expected a 6-7 win season and hoped for an 8-9 win season
Click to expand...


If you're going to take personal jabs at my intelligence level, at least use the proper form of "you're". Thanks.
 

TheWrights03 said:
If you're going to take personal jabs at my intelligence level, at least use the proper form of "you're". Thanks.
Click to expand...

im quick typing on my cell make sure to make fun of the lack of punctuation and capital letters!
 


MBAGuy said:
EXACTLY!!!!

+1000. This should be scrolled across the top of the main page at all times.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Yep! And on the "woulda, shoulda" game. Air Force, Syracuse and MSU fans are probably talking about "how in the heck could we have lost that Minnesota game". Purdue fans are whining about Oregon. MSU, Purdue and Washington fans are talking about Notre Dame losses the same way Nebraska fans are talking about the ISU and Texas games. Arkansas and Mississippi state fans are talking about Florida, Oregon and Pittsburgh can't believe that they lost to Stanford and Cincy, and so on and so on and so on.....
 

GoGophers2005 said:
Brew already has the same number of bowl births than Salem, Holtz, Gutey, and Wacker combined.
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Gutey would've gone to four bowls in six years under the current system.

Holtz took over the epic 1983 team (84-13 Nebraska) and had them 4-4 in the Big Ten in his second season and had one bowl in two years.

So under the current system, they combined for six bowls.
 

hyaluronic said:
Where did you expect the eighth win? It certainly was a possibility, but in the world of probabilities most people on this board predicted seven wins, including me. Given that fans, even when attempting to be objective, over-project wins, I do not feel eight wins was a realistic expectation this season. I do not think it is realistic for next season. With USC on tap for the next two years, eight wins can be expected in 2011, when we can expect to have a winning record in Big Ten play. Prior to USC being on the schedule, I wanted to see the Gophers win at least 9 games in 2011, but had to downgrade that expectation with the schedule upgrade.
Click to expand...

But since when does an AD get down in the mud with fans and make won / loss predictions? More game playing.
 

TheWrights03 said:
So what you're saying is set my expectations as low as possible and then when we go 1 - 11 again, I should be happy since we won one game? Don't get me wrong, as Maturi said, to start the season it appeared to be a very tough schedule. But in the long run, there are games we gave away. Happens every year to every team, but since I am an avid Gopher follower, I don't pay attention to other teams "games they gave away". When it was all said and done, eight wins was not unrealistic.
Click to expand...

There are always games close games that could have been won, unless you go undefeated. Heck, going into the season, I realistically thought we could win 9 games, with the only losses coming to Cal, PSU, and tOSU. Maybe we pull an upset, I mean, we only lost to Cal by 14 and were in the game in the fourth quarter. We stayed close to PSU and tOSU for a half. Three major upsets were unlikely, but why not? There was a chance. We should be 12-0 and getting screwed out of a shot at the National Championship.

Anyhow, your comparing my 7 win projected season (and being okay with six wins) with a 1-11 season is comparable to making the 12-0 record out of your 8-4 expectation.
 


hyaluronic said:
There are always games close games that could have been won, unless you go undefeated. Heck, going into the season, I realistically thought we could win 9 games, with the only losses coming to Cal, PSU, and tOSU. Maybe we pull an upset, I mean, we only lost to Cal by 14 and were in the game in the fourth quarter. We stayed close to PSU and tOSU for a half. Three major upsets were unlikely, but why not? There was a chance. We should be 12-0 and getting screwed out of a shot at the National Championship.

Anyhow, your comparing my 7 win projected season (and being okay with six wins) is comparable to making the 12-0 record out of your 8-4 expectation.
Click to expand...

Let me ask you this, are you please with the program at this point and have you seen an improvement over Mason? (God, this is going to create a firestorm of people complaining about "negitivity" on the boards, but whatever. Disclaimer: I am disappointed in the program in it's current state due to a lack of offense, it's hard not to be. On the other hand, I was very happy with the defense this year.)
 

An 8 win season wasn't unrealistic....but you used the word 'clearly' in indicating we should have won 2 more.
And then when the Gophers didn't win that number its the end of the world and we should start over? That is where we get unrealistic.
 

TheWrights03 said:
Let me ask you this, are you please with the program at this point and have you seen an improvement over Mason? (God, this is going to create a firestorm of people complaining about "negitivity" on the boards, but whatever. Disclaimer: I am disappointed in the program in it's current state due to a lack of offense, it's hard not to be. On the other hand, I was very happy with the defense this year.)
Click to expand...

I feel the program is at about the same level as it was under Mason. However, with Mason, I felt we had reached the pinnacle of achievement under him as a coach. With Brewster, I feel there is still the chance for improvement. Mason had no upside left, Brewster has plenty. Let's see how those curves look in a couple years.

On a side-note, we completely revamped our offense and defense. One has worked well, the other has not. Basically we traded strengths, for better or worse. Of course, with Mason, I expected that we would always have a terrible defense, with Brewster, I still believe the offense can become potent.
 

hyaluronic said:
I feel the program is at about the same level as it was under Mason. However, with Mason, I felt we had reached the pinnacle of achievement under him as a coach. With Brewster, I feel there is still the chance for improvement. Mason had no upside left, Brewster has plenty. Let's see how those curves look in a couple years.

On a side-note, we completely revamped our offense and defense. One has worked well, the other has not. Basically we traded strengths, for better or worse. Of course, with Mason, I expected that we would always have a terrible defense, with Brewster, I still believe the offense can become potent.
Click to expand...

I agree. I don't think Mason was going to build a Championship team. I still have doubts regarding Brewster for obvious reasons.
 

Year 1: Disaster, 0-8 in the Big Ten. Payback's a bitch for firing one of the most experienced coaches in the Big Ten that turned around a hopeless program and replacing him with an NFL positions coach with no HC experience.

Year 2: Very Easy Schedule, 7 wins, mostly just beat teams that were bad

Year 3: Very Difficult Schedule, 6 (7?) wins, beat a few decent teams with .500+ records

Like it or not, Brewster has made progress. You can hate him if you want. You can say "I expected 8 wins" all you want. But that's pie-in-the sky B.S. If the Gophers had finnished 8-4 with this schedule they would easily be ranked right now.

Is anyone stupid enough to have expected this to be a Top 25 program in 2009?
 

Goldmember said:
If the Gophers had finnished 8-4 with this schedule they would easily be ranked right now.
Click to expand...

And if they finished 4-8 with this schedule?

8-12 (.400) in his first 20 games....6-11 (.353) in his last 17 games.
 

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