Who is Minnesota's next coach ?

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gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Nov 1, 2010 1:51 PM
Yeah, it was reportedly down to him, Charlie Strong, and Brewster. And for some godforsaken reason, the administration chose Brewster.

Of course, if we had Kiffin, he would've bolted within a year, leaving the Gophers with a totally different mess...
Nov 1, 2010 1:51pm
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se-alum

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Nov 1, 2010 1:55 PM
I don't like Leach's style for November in Minnesota. Fulmer & Stoops are the 2 I would go after if I were the Gophers. Patterson would be stupid to leave TCU, as he's already getting paid.
Nov 1, 2010 1:55pm
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gyea36

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Nov 1, 2010 2:01 PM
Having gone up to the Twin Cities this past weekend, I was really disappointed in the general lack of interest, let alone lack of enthusiasm, in the Minnesota football program. I would think Leach's fast paced offensive style would be best to get people excited about football again...and I think his checkered past is actually an asset to the Gophers in order to get him to go there. Leach could bring in some undersized speed guys and easily attract a qb...there are plenty of local linemen in MN to recruit, and with those great facilities and in the big ten they could bounce back quickly. I don't see Fulmer being able to be as successful recruiting in that region, let alone wanting to stay in that region if he were successful. And I don't think it's as easy to get southern kids to go up there.
Nov 1, 2010 2:01pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Nov 1, 2010 2:02 PM
gyea36;540989 wrote:Having gone up to the Twin Cities this past weekend, I was really disappointed in the general lack of interest, let alone lack of enthusiasm, in the Minnesota football program.

Go for the Buckeye game? What'd you think of the stadium/campus? I agree, the lack of interest is sad and I think that's why the admin is hellbent on hiring a big-name coach this time around. They can't squander a $300 million investment (new stadium) by hiring another no-name.
Nov 1, 2010 2:02pm
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vball10set

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Nov 1, 2010 2:04 PM
gorocks99;540975 wrote:Yeah, it was reportedly down to him, Charlie Strong, and Brewster. And for some godforsaken reason, the administration chose Brewster....
Charlie Strong? now THAT would've been a great hire!!!
Nov 1, 2010 2:04pm
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gyea36

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Nov 1, 2010 2:18 PM
Actually I had to go to a Wedding, but we drove through campus and hung out a bit beforehand, then checked out the stadium too because a friend is an employee at the university. Man I gotta say I loved it! The stadium, campus, and city were all beautiful. I say no interest too because there were very few people tailgating (maybe 10-15) 4 hrs before kickoff and then at the wedding (surrounded by Minn grads) there was no one talking about the game and no tv's in the bar even had it on, they had hockey on. I would like to see the Gophers turn it around, but was further discouraged by the article in Sunday's Star Tribune about the lack of interest.
Nov 1, 2010 2:18pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Nov 1, 2010 5:05 PM
http://twitter.com/joe_schmit/status/29405033735
The Gophers have made contact with Randy Edsall of UConn. No word if he is interested. 4 bowls in 6 years. Tom Coughlin protege.
He'd be interesting. Built UConn from the ground up, but hasn't really made it to the "next level" with his team. I see him as very much Schiano-like.
Nov 1, 2010 5:05pm
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Little Danny

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Nov 1, 2010 7:26 PM
gorocks99;540890 wrote:I gotta think a competent coach could get them to a New Year's bowl game within 5 years. If the coach makes a great effort to keep the top in-state players at home (Floyd at ND, Gilreath at Wisconsin, Sorensen at Wisconsin, Anderson at Wisconsin, Binns at Iowa, Klug at Iowa, Henderson at Miami, Robinson at Iowa State, McNeal at Clemson) there will be a nucleus of talent to build around similar to what you see at Iowa and Wisconsin. Remember, before Alvarez got to Wisconsin they were shedding fans quickly and his predecessor (Don Morton) was 6-27 over three seasons. The turnaround can be done, and there is no mythical glass ceiling for the program, as long as the support from the institution is there and the right hire is made.

Iowa and Wisconsin aren't winning with local kids. Iowa recruits well from Florida, TX and Illinois and Wisconsin recruits HEAVILY from Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. Minnesota would have to pull kids in from these states as well to succeed. When they had a nice stretch during the Glen Mason years, they got a lot of talent from Central Ohio. Seemed like half the roster played in the Columbus City League.

In this era of BCS parity, it will be tougher and tougher for the Gophers to do that.
Nov 1, 2010 7:26pm
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jordo212000

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Nov 1, 2010 8:03 PM
If Phil Fulmer is interested, it is a no-brainer. Hire him
Nov 1, 2010 8:03pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Nov 1, 2010 8:12 PM
Little Danny;541337 wrote:Iowa and Wisconsin aren't winning with local kids. Iowa recruits well from Florida, TX and Illinois and Wisconsin recruits HEAVILY from Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. Minnesota would have to pull kids in from these states as well to succeed. When they had a nice stretch during the Glen Mason years, they got a lot of talent from Central Ohio. Seemed like half the roster played in the Columbus City League.

In this era of BCS parity, it will be tougher and tougher for the Gophers to do that.

Wisconsin's starters (per the depth chart from Rivals):

QB: Tolzein (IL)
RB: Clay (WI)
WR: Anderson (MN)
WR: Toon (WI)
TE: Kendricks (WI)
OL: Carimi (WI)
OL: Wagner (WI)
OL: Moffitt (CT)
OL: Zeitler (WI)
OL: Konz (WI)

DL: Nzegwu (WI)
DL: Watt (WI)
DL: Butrym (WI)
DL: Kohout (WI)
LB: Sorensen (MN)
LB: Taylor (WI)
LB: St. Jean (FL)
CB: Brinkley (MO)
CB: Fenelus (FL)
S: Valai (TX)
S: Henry (FL)

K: Welch (CO)
P: Nortman (WI)

Out of 24 starters, 13 come from Wisconsin, 3 come from border states of Minnesota and Illinois, and 8 come from somewhere else in the country. They build around a nucleus of local talent, and bring in guys from other places to fill-in the gaps.
Nov 1, 2010 8:12pm
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Crimson streak

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Nov 1, 2010 8:52 PM
I don't see Peterson leaving Boise, he loves it there. I also don't see pattterson leaving tcu and harbough will be in the NFL in a couple years. Fulmer would be an excellent hire
Nov 1, 2010 8:52pm
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Zombaypirate

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Nov 1, 2010 9:16 PM
Minnesota needs to consider looking into the FCS ranks to take a new head coach.

Robin Pflugrad from Montana
K.C. Keeler from Delaware
Mark Farley from Northern Iowa

All these would be good coaches for the next level IMO especially Robin Pflugrad.
Nov 1, 2010 9:16pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

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Nov 2, 2010 12:04 AM
Zombaypirate;541448 wrote:Minnesota needs to consider looking into the FCS ranks to take a new head coach.

Robin Pflugrad from Montana
K.C. Keeler from Delaware
Mark Farley from Northern Iowa

All these would be good coaches for the next level IMO especially Robin Pflugrad.
That might not be a bad idea, Minny is in such sad shape (new stadium notwithstanding) they need someone that is young, hungry and committed. I'm not sure they can just buy the right coach for the program. It isn't as if going that route has hurt teams much, with OSU and Tressel, Georgia and Jim Donnan (who was horribly unappreciated) and now with Virginia and Mike London as examples.
Nov 2, 2010 12:04am
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sjmvsfscs08

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Nov 2, 2010 1:45 AM
gorocks99;541234 wrote: He'd be interesting. Built UConn from the ground up

I believe Skip Holtz deserves that credit.
Nov 2, 2010 1:45am
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gorocks99

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Nov 2, 2010 9:56 AM
^^ Fair enough. Skip Holtz built them into a good/great FCS program, but Edsall took the reigns right before they moved to FBS and improved them from 3-8 in their first season with the big boys to 9-3 in his fourth.
Nov 2, 2010 9:56am
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Nov 2, 2010 10:16 AM
I think Fulmer would be that "Tubby Smith" hire that the administration is looking for. A coach with a name and a track record to build on that would get the fans excited.

I think Leach would be a great hire if the Gophers still played in the Dome, but there's no way his offense would work in the later months in Minnesota.
Nov 2, 2010 10:16am
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gorocks99

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Nov 2, 2010 10:37 AM
Fulmer had a great go of it at Tennessee, no doubt. The questions raised in my mind about him are:

1. Was his success a result of being at UT? Could he duplicate this success at another school? Having never been a head coach elsewhere, it's tough to say.
2. Is he too old, or has he lost the fire? Sixty isn't what it used to be, but he isn't a spring chicken anymore.

I think he'd be a "name" coach that would put butts in the seats, and I wouldn't be disappointed in the least if he's announced as the next HC. That said, I would still have those questions in my mind and it would take a couple of seasons for them to fade.
Nov 2, 2010 10:37am
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Nov 2, 2010 1:02 PM
what about gus malzahn?
Nov 2, 2010 1:02pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Nov 2, 2010 1:18 PM
Malzahn is an interesting candidate. Legendary high school coach. Great offensive mind. Younger than other candidates at 45 years old. I question how connected to the Big Ten/Minnesota he would be, and how his recruiting connections would pay off, but there's no doubt the man can coach. I'd be pretty happy if he's hired at the end of the process.
Nov 2, 2010 1:18pm
fiction's avatar

fiction

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Nov 2, 2010 1:22 PM
I wonder if Mike Bellotti would be interested in going to the Twin Cities. He's probably a little older than the program might want, but it would be exciting to see him in the Big Ten.
Nov 2, 2010 1:22pm
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vball10set

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Nov 2, 2010 1:28 PM
how 'bout me? I'd love to coach those dad-gum Gophers!!!

Nov 2, 2010 1:28pm
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gorocks99

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Nov 2, 2010 1:33 PM
^^ LOL, Bobby.

Bellotti is my #1 but I'm starting to think he's a pipe dream (Colorado may be a better fit, maybe he really doesn't want to get back into coaching, maybe he's not up to the challenge). He was really successful at Oregon and has a GREAT track record of producing top assistants. If he could come to the U of M for 5 or 6 years, get the program to a better place, and hand it off to a successful coordinator, I think it'd be MORE than worth it.
Nov 2, 2010 1:33pm
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OneBuckeye

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Nov 2, 2010 2:21 PM
Went to the game saturday. There were a lot more gopher fans in the stands than I thought there would be. There were almost 0 in the stub and herb before the game. They did cheer their asses off in the first half. Also the campus was amazing one of the best in the big 10. TCF was a great small stadium, sunset over downtown was awesome, also great hospitality in TCF. There was someone in the bathrooms cleaning the each time I went in. The piss yellow jumpsuits ruined it for me. They need more retro like below. Oh yeah they need a defensive coach, if they build a team like Wisconsin and Iowa that is based on disciplined defense and excellent Oline play they can win in the big 10. I thought Glen Mason had the offensive part down but could never get there on D. MSU is also getting there, but it takes time.

Nov 2, 2010 2:21pm
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gorocks99

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Nov 2, 2010 2:29 PM
^^ Glad to hear you had a good time at the game and on campus. The improvements they've made to the campus, even since I graduated 3.5 years ago, have been superb. What's great now (besides, obviously, having our own outdoor stadium) is having visiting fans be able to experience the university. With the Dome being downtown, visitors in the past probably wouldn't have come through the U.

Surprised to hear that Sterb's was deserted, that's usually a hot spot being that it's so close to the stadium. I suppose most students probably had halloween parties to attend, plus the team being so bad keeps a lot of people away.

I too agree with your uniform assessment ... the highlighter yellow needs to go. Love the retro, Sandy Stephens-era unis you posted above.
Nov 2, 2010 2:29pm
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OneBuckeye

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Nov 2, 2010 2:32 PM
gorocks99;542252 wrote:^^ Glad to hear you had a good time at the game and on campus. The improvements they've made to the campus, even since I graduated 3.5 years ago, have been superb. What's great now (besides, obviously, having our own outdoor stadium) is having visiting fans be able to experience the university. With the Dome being downtown, visitors in the past probably wouldn't have come through the U.

Surprised to hear that Sterb's was deserted, that's usually a hot spot being that it's so close to the stadium. I suppose most students probably had halloween parties to attend, plus the team being so bad keeps a lot of people away.

I too agree with your uniform assessment ... the highlighter yellow needs to go. Love the retro, Sandy Stephens-era unis you posted above.
Sterb's was packed, just with all OSU fans. Great burgers and Curds though.
Nov 2, 2010 2:32pm