What grade would you give to the 2012 Gopher football season?

[AEmerson40]

As an established, elite armchair quarterback. I give this team a C- due to the fact that we beat the teams we were suppose to beat. If Kill didn't lose AJ Barker and threw away that $800,000 against a team that we would've pulverized, then it would have been a C.

Next year, if we follow the trend that Kill has going right now, we should be able to make it to the Rose Bowl, or at LEAST get 10 wins. Here are the following records of the 3rd year that Kill coached:

Southern Illinois: 10-2 (6-1)
Northern Illinois: 10-3 (8-0).

Failure to meet these standards, then I want Kill OUT of here.

This is a joke right?

 

[AEmerson40]

Winning about half of your games gets you a C. Grades aren't awarded on the basis of performance-versus-expectation.

It seems almost totally pointless and redundant to grade on any other basis. We went 6-7. That gives me a better idea of the results of this year than someone saying they were a C team, so why grade that way? We should grade the job that the coaching staff and players did in the context of where the program is at, which is what employers do. And why would an A and B be even an option if we weren't grading on a performance-expectation basis? Obviously we'd be a C AT BEST. I'd give them a C- or D+ on a result basis, but no one cares.

 

[westcoastgopher11]

B, B+ if they had won the bowl game.

Were right at my expectation of 6-6.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I give it a B+ if I am evaluating improvement. We took a couple big steps, getting back to bowl eligibility, winning the ones we should.

D+ if I am evaluating performance as a B1G program. We won 25% of our conference games which is horrendous (we were in the crapper because of Brewster, not saying this is Kill's fault). We could not beat a 2-6 Iowa team. We did not win a trophy. Our out of conference schedule was pretty bad so no real bonus points there. One of our wins was against an Illinois team who exceeded expectations every time the lined up on the correct side of the football. I am happy with the direction we took to get hear, but only winning six games and then losing the bowl game got Mason fired (even though he had an out of conference loss to a tougher team than we had on the schedule and a 3-5 conference record, including a dramatic win against a ranked rival to get to the bowl game). I am not saying we should not have fired Mason, I am saying that 6-7 was unacceptable as recently as 2006 and if we settle in as a perennial six-ish win team (especially if we are collecting four free ones by dodging the major conferences in out of conference play), I won't be satisfied.

Our schedule is tougher next year, so if we can keep improving our win total, no one can claim the team is not improving. We should be able to find three conference wins. We have 2-6 Iowa at home next year. We have perennial bed-wetters Indiana on the road. This team needs to steal one we "shouldn't win". We have been on the wrong side of enough of those that we need to end up on the right side, and the B1G gives us plenty of chances. Despite our best efforts (and the $800,000 we spent on dodging UNC), we have a competent but beatable opponent in out of conference as SJSU loses their coach and a lot of senior players. I will be perfectly content with a 7 win team next year.

 

[JSaluki080]

B

They did what everyone expected at the BEGINNING of the season. 6-6 and bowl elegible.
Also, they nearly won the bowl game against a favored opponent.

Next year they must be 7-5 with at least 3 B10 victories to maintain the B grade.

 

[howieramone]

B

They did what everyone expected at the BEGINNING of the season. 6-6 and bowl elegible.
Also, they nearly won the bowl game against a favored opponent.

Next year they must be 7-5 with at least 3 B10 victories to maintain the B grade.

+1

 

[McGopherFan]

I agree with DD on this one.

I went with B-/C+. B- because we won the games we should have, though not always pretty. C+ because of the Bowl Game loss.

Overall, the Gophers exceeded my preseason expectations of a C.

 

[hungan1]

When everything will matter the most is in year four & five when all of Kill's recruiting classes are in place.

Getting off topic here - It is tough to win in football in MN for various reasons as previously mentioned on numerous posts here.

We need to attract top notch football coaches (respectfully, this is not a knock on Kill) & players. Unless we can attract some legitimate game changing blue chippers, I don't see the Gophers being able to be at the level of Ohio State ever. Recruiting two and three stars players and then working and coaching them up alone will not get you to the promised land very fast.

Sure, there has been many reasons opined here. Being geographically challenged. Competition for fan base dollars from multiple revenue sports in the Twin Cities market. Re-laying out the area of the football stadium to make it more fan friendly. Not having an integrated academics/rehabilitative/practice facilities in the levels of Nebraska, OSU, ISU, etc... The list goes on.

None of this matters until we get full commitment from top to bottom. It starts at the top with President Kaler & AD Teague, their ability to garner financial backing, and their planning prowess.

If none of this happens, I can envision the Gophers improving only into a middle of the pack team in the B1G. This is fine if all we want is for the Gophers to be competitive and not be a cellar dweller. We reap what we sow.