Gopher Basketball
This
It´s an understatement to say that the Gophers-Hoosiers gridiron battles have been short on memorable moments. Both programs have been fighting mediocrity for years and even when one program has a strong stretch, the other lays dormant (except of course 1967, when Indiana´s blue moon arrived at the same time as Minnesota, keeping the Gophers out of the Rose Bowl). Anyway, I went into the SI Vault for this 1984 article, back when Lou Holtz brought a great deal of excitement to the campus. The article actually doesn´t spend too much time on Holtz, but rather gives a historical perspective on why the Golden Gophers suffered such a steep decline from their glory days in the first half of the 20th century. We all know what occurred with Holtz, but I gained a new appreciation for the job Glen Mason did while here after finishing this article.
New Deal in Gopherland
Dinkytowner already posted this over on the basketball board, but in case you missed it, Jeff Goodman had a nice write-up on Tubby and his recent recruiting success with the “U”.
Goodman on the Gophers
There´s not too many teams for whom the Gophers can have this headline written about in recent times “” let´s hope the inhospitality continues.
Gophers look to continue domination
(side note here-we complain about the lack of coverage that the Gophers receive in our local press, but from the looks of it, Indiana football would think they arrived in New York City if they received our attention. It was mighty difficult tracking down any football info this week from the Indiana papers and it should be noted, Bloomington´s daily newspaper is one of those dinosaurs out there that charges to look at their articles online)
That
The reason Indiana´s not paying attention to its football team? Well, basketball season begins practice later this month. A lot of attention is being paid to Indiana´s plea for no sanctions from the Kelvin Sampson era, but I found this article in the IU newspaper interesting. Knowing Tom Crean´s history for roster turnover and recognizing that there is sure to be upcoming preps worth salivating over, if this kid isn´t looking elsewhere, well one of the Hoosier commitments should be.
Hoosiers scholarship bank is full
I think it´s our duty to despise everything Badger related, but I will say after reading this article I came away with admiration with power forward Marcus Landry. Although one can question the wisdom of having three children at such a young age, I don´t think anyone can question Landry´s commitment when so many of his peers would never consider making the sacrifices he has.
Landry and his family
I sure hope the pipeline to Madison for our top instate talent has been choked off now that Tubby´s settled at the “U”. I have an uneasy feeling though that Jon Leuer and Jared Berggren will be a pain in our sides over the next 3-4 years.
Minnesota talent across the border
I found these comments from Gopher fans most hated coach pretty comical. If he´s complaining about the press in Madison, could you imagine him in the Twin Cities? He could always head down to Bloomington, Indiana they wouldn´t bother him there.
Bielema sweating the press
Last week, I posted an interview from Indiana´s current basketball coach. This week, I present an interview from the coach who looms over Indiana. I thought most of the questions were softballs, but I did find Bobby Knight´s comments on the current state of college basketball interesting and accurate.
Bob Knight interview
Speaking of former Big Ten coaches. . .do you ever wonder when Tommy Amaker might just choose another profession? It seems every step this guy makes is the wrong one. He continues to ruffle feathers at Harvard.
Amaker in the spotlight again
I hadn´t read this anywhere else recently, and found it buried in a Rochester Post-Bulletin search. It seems that the information in this article could lead to uglier and more public embarrassment for the Iowa Hawkeyes athletic department. Not very good times down in Iowa City.
Hawkeyes´problems mount
We have the likes of Pat Reusse, Dan Barreiro, and Chad Hartman in the Twin Cities; on the other end of the spectrum we have Paul Finebaum with the Birmingham Press-Register. I have to say, the Crimson Tide sounds like the most unstoppable team since. . .well the USC Trojans, two weeks ago. Wouldn´t you just love to see a Kentucky win this Saturday?
Roll, Tide Roll! It´s October and the Saban bust is being cast
I know several posters on this board who have firsthand frustrations with the U of M´s marketing department over the years. However, I don´t believe the “U” has ever done this:
Another way to sell tickets
Look, the SEC dominates another football poll!
Those lovable SEC coaches
I think this streak will soon be over, now that they´ve moved past having a plumber as their head coach. (note-College of Marin lost a heartbreaker this past Saturday to tie the record, if they lose on Saturday, they will have the record all to themselves)
College of Marin closing in on the record books
Other
This will be the second Lou Holtz mention in this column and a much harsher analysis than he received in 1984. Shortly before I left the country, I heard Jason Peter, former Nebraska Cornhusker, recovering drug addict, and current talk radio host in Lincoln on the Jim Rome show. The conversation turned to Peter´s younger brother, a prep football standout who had committed to Notre Dame but then was paralyzed in a swimming accident. Suffice to say, Peter´s not a Lou Holtz fan. One side of the story, but pretty raw emotions directed towards Holtz.
Lou Holtz should avoid Jason Peter
Obviously, I´m a big sports fan, otherwise I wouldn´t be hanging out on this board and other sports boards way too much during the day/week/month. However, this article in the Washington Post caught my eye and added a little more disgust to the priorities that sports receive over other matters in life. My guess is that this school could use that money wisely in some other fashion.
Forget new textbooks, we´re gonna be on TV!
Wow, who would of thunk that Ichiro´s teammates would want to do this to him? The Mariners refuted this anonymous player´s claim, but it´s probably best everyone´s started their off-season.
Bad times in the Emerald City
In a very short time, I´ve become a big fan of D.J. Gallo, creator of sportspickle.com and a contributor to ESPN´s page 2. I was unaware of him until I started this column, but in three weeks, I´ve posted his stuff twice. This time it is his weekly NFL recap, done in a tongue in cheek fashion that is so sorely lacking in this sport where everyone takes themselves oh so seriously.
DJ Gallo´s NFL recap
You want to hear some awful music? Of course not, but the cringe factor attached to some of these covers is so strong, one is drawn to it just as a seventh grader is drawn to his buddy´s invitation to “smell this”. A few thoughts: I´ve heard it said that only sexy women can be pop music superstars, and to that, I say look at Celine Dion; I´m a huge fan of Halle Barry, but she better keep her Academy Award in a safe, otherwise I think they might take it away from her for her acting in this Fred Durst video; and what should I be more embarrassed by, that I grooved to a Milli Vanilli cassette tape back in high school, or that I rocked out to a Limp Bizkit CD in my twenties?
Nails on the Chalkboard
War and Peace, Internet style
I´m sure Paul Newman´s death has been covered ad nauseum in the States, as it is receiving notice all over the world (I was surprised to see it on the front page of Lima´s Sunday paper). I thought this feature from Esquire probably would probably offer a little something different than what we´ve been reading in the press. Although I´m not a big fan of the author´s style, I do think it gives the reader a pretty honest look at who Paul Newman was.
Newman in the Twilight
You Tube Clip of the Week
Coincidentally last Friday I was surfing through the net, decided to start looking for this week´s clip, and thought that it might be cool (no pun intended) to link to a scene from the movie that gave me my handle here on the GopherHole. I was very happy to find my favorite scene from the movie uploaded-it´s not as famous as a couple other scenes, but we find out how Luke gets branded Cool Hand and it is the epitome of why I loved Paul Newman movies. On Saturday I read that Newman had passed from this Earth. If you haven´t seen this movie yet, it comes with my highest recommendation.
Sometimes nothing is. . .
On that note
I leave you with a home movie from Bob Marley. I hope by the next time you read my column, the Gophers are sitting at 2-1 in conference and bowl conversation is occurring in earnest. See you then!
Redemption Song
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