They seem to get better every week. That’s a good sign. They have beaten everyone on the schedule. Fleck is a little different. As long as he appeals to good recruits, who cares. When was the last time we even cared about Gopher FB this late in the year? I’m enjoying the hell out of it.
This team continues to impress. They are beating the teams they should beat and quite handily.
Remember when the Gophers would consistently lose games to “inferior” opponents or barely beat them? They are stomping them right now.
It will be an intriguing matchup against Penn State. I dont know if they have the horses to beat them, but, I know right now, no one should be overlooking them.
All right. As one of Minnesota’s leading snake oil skeptics…
First, credit where credit is due. Fleck and the Gopher players have managed to accomplish the second rarest feat in Minnesota sports: They have taken the what is by most accounts the second or third weakest schedule in program history and actually managed to WIN the games anyway. An awesome accomplishment.
And yes, it’s been fun to watch or listen to the MOST of these games. Those non con games were a little painful, but still, a very entertaining season so far.
If you look at the way the sun, moon, and stars have aligned for the Gophers schedule this year, not only have they managed to beat the perennial weak teams, both NC and B10, but they have also lucked out in terms of encountering some traditionally strong teams like Nebraska when they are down and out. And at the same time, the luck continues with no Ohio State, no Michigan, no Michigan State to mess up the clear run of 8 totally winnable games.
I must say to the Gophers and Fleck, well done. The winnable schedule was there and they won 8 “should win” games, which is always dangerous for any team and two times as dangerous for Minnesota teams.
Now… Is Fleck as a coach good or just good-n-lucky? We’re about to find out. All of these next 4 real-world games should feature the gophers staying at least in the game if Fleck and this team are for real. There is absolutely no excuse for going 0-4 through the rest of the schedule if you want to claim this team has really improved under Fleck.
IMO there are 2 key games that are the “are they for real” tests. Northwestern and Iowa. I’m not saying the Gophers have to or even should win both, but there is no excuse for big losses to these teams if the Gophers are for real.
And then there’s the very real chance of absolutely devastating Wisconsin for a finale to the season. If the Gophers can’t get up for this game and make it really, really hard on the Badgers, it would be hard to say this team was for real. The game for the Axe IS the Gopher’s bowl game, I don’t care what bowl they go to after that, it’s of way less importance to the program.
And of course, as I predicted, Fleck’s name is appearing on shortlists for his next job now that he’s demonstrated, ummm, the ability to beat 8 weak teams.
Can somebody please tell me why coaching contracts allow the coach to break the contract as soon as they have the chance? Why can the University NEVER say sorry, buddy, you’re under contract for x more years? How can these contracts ALWAYS be one-way deals?
Grouse
All right. As one of Minnesota’s leading snake oil skeptics
I appreciate you acknowledging that 
. I wasn’t a big fan of the Fleck hire initially as he sounded like Brew 2.0, but Brew never won and always underperformed. And anyone paying attention knows going 8-0 against anyone is an incredible accomplishment for the U, to downplay that is just sour grapes imo. I agree with you about the home stretch, and seeing how good the Gophers really are. If I had to bet it’d be 2-2 or better, WI, NW and Iowa are very winnable games for this team. PSU would be a big upset, but stranger things have happened at Happy Valley too!
Can somebody please tell me why coaching contracts allow the coach to break the contract as soon as they have the chance? Why can the University NEVER say sorry, buddy, you’re under contract for x more years? How can these contracts ALWAYS be one-way deals?
The contracts are written with certain out’s for the coach, either to specific schools should they be available or general buyout $$ amount. So the school would be violating the contract to say sorry you can’t go. They aren’t one way deals either, as schools regularly cut ties and end up paying out a lesser amount than the contract stated to fire a coach too.
Right now the Gophers seem to be in a position where they can’t get any respect no matter what they do. If they lose, well they’re the “same old Gophers”. If they win, then it’s assumed that the team they beat must be bad. By that definition any team they beat must be a “cup cake”, and an 8-0 record becomes meaningless because they “didn’t play anybody”. Maryland clobbered them the last two years and this year the Gophers win huge. The Gophers beat the crap out of Illinois who then upsets Wisconsin, but Illinois and Maryland must be bad because after all the Gophers beat them, right? It’s a circular argument.
No doubt the next four games are going to show how much the Gophers have progressed this season. I personally don’t think they’re going to win all four; however it’s been a heck of a year. They have a winning streak, let that sink in. They’re ranked higher than Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and K-State. Discussions about BCS playoffs on ESPN.com includes mentions of the Gophers. This is all good stuff, and personally I think it’s been fun.
S.R.
Right now the Gophers seem to be in a position where they can’t get any respect no matter what they do.
I don’t know about a lack of respect, it seems to me that a #13 national ranking is about right or maybe even a little bit generous, again considering the overall strength of schedule and also keeping in mind that some of those early hair on fire wins on the NC schedule were not exactly convincing shows of top-25-worthy force.
Maryland clobbered them the last two years and this year the Gophers win huge. The Gophers beat the crap out of Illinois who then upsets Wisconsin, but Illinois and Maryland must be bad because after all the Gophers beat them, right?
This is not the Maryland team of the last 2 years, this is 3-5 Maryland and 2 of the 3 were against some real NC mismatches. IMO, if someone can argue that they get no respect, it’s Illinois who are only 4-4 but with a much tougher schedule that includes MI and MI ST, so IMO the win over WI looms that much larger. IMO IL gave the Gophers the toughest win of the season thus far.
I won’t deny that if the Gophers come out of these last 4 games even with some convincing LOSSES, I would take it as a sign of progress. But realistically, the Gopher’s yardstick as far as legitimacy comes down to the results of the next 4 games all against high-quality opponents.
Grouse
IMO, if someone can argue that they get no respect, it’s Illinois who are only 4-4 but with a much tougher schedule that includes MI and MI ST, so IMO the win over WI looms that much larger. IMO IL gave the Gophers the toughest win of the season thus far.
The Gophers beat Illinois 40-17. Illinois lost to Eastern Michigan (and NEB and MICH), Eastern Michigan has gone on to lose to the perpetual juggernauts out of Toledo, Ball State, Central Michigan and Kentucky.
“The Gophers beat Illinois 40-17. Illinois lost to Eastern Michigan (and NEB and MICH), Eastern Michigan has gone on to lose to the perpetual juggernauts out of Toledo, Ball State, Central Michigan and Kentucky.”
College football is always interesting. Imagine how Notre Dame or Oklahoma fans feel. Or Clemson…how can they win every game and keep falling in the rankings?
Look at it this way…We’re watching the Gophers closely over the next 4 games to see where they end up. How long has it been since the Gophers were in the mix at this point in the season? Big games for the Gophers in November? Inconceivable!
S.R.
Brought my son to his first gophers game this last saturday, Maryland forgot to show up. But we met Diggs who sat on Maryland’s sideline. Sat 50 yard line 4 rows up. In the sun. Was awesome
20191026_134312.jpg
Brought my son to his first gophers game this last saturday, Maryland forgot to show up. But we met Diggs who sat on Maryland’s sideline. Sat 50 yard line 4 rows up. In the sun. Was awesome
I was in sec 105 on the MD side 4 rows up as well. Took my wife to her first game.
AA652DAD-A902-456B-A956-FAB314E90391.jpeg
Brought my son to his first gophers game this last saturday, Maryland forgot to show up. But we met Diggs who sat on Maryland’s sideline. Sat 50 yard line 4 rows up. In the sun. Was awesome
Neat pic, and sounds like an great experience. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
Brought my son to his first gophers game this last saturday, Maryland forgot to show up. But we met Diggs who sat on Maryland’s sideline. Sat 50 yard line 4 rows up. In the sun. Was awesomeI was in sec 105 on the MD side 4 rows up as well. Took my wife to her first game.
We were in 112. Not to far from u
Looks like the gophers are now ranked #13. Not bad. When was the last time that happened?
Meanwhile I’m not sure where the badgers are ranked. My internet is down so maybe someone can look it up. FWIW, the strength of their remaining schedule keeps getting tougher. 
I’m on the bandwagon!
-J.
Applications are always accepted!
15686B8B-BF47-481C-A0FA-023DB5A37453.jpeg
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>walleyewizard wrote:</div>
Applications are always accepted!I’m on the Boat!
-J.
Sounds like there is still plenty of room in the boat since they can’t sell out that itty bitty stadium.
Will be there on Saturday if anybody wants to meet up at the tailgate
Looks like the the Goph’s will be rowing the boat for a while to come. 7 Year Extension reached!
Looks like the the Goph’s will be rowing the boat for a while to come. 7 Year Extension reached!
Nice! That is great news for the program.
Smoke and Mirrors all the way to the top baby!
Nice! That is great news for the program.
Smoke and Mirrors all the way to the top baby!
I agree. I am going to lose my mind if this team somehow makes the bowl playoff which is not out of the realm of possibility if they somehow beat Penn State and then take care of the rest of their schedule.
Penn State is going to be very tough. All we need is 1-0 for this season. Go Gophers.
While I think the money is ludicrous, it’s a positive to have some consistency. I don’t think PJ is as good as he thinks he is, but he’s the best coach we’ve had in a long time. You gotta pay market value if you don’t want to start over every 2-3 years.
Go gophs.
You gotta pay market value if you don’t want to start over every 2-3 years.
Go gophs.
Right, he was paid like 11th in the Big Ten so this should certainly bring him in line with others.
There’s really no consistency to giving him contract extensions. The last one prior to this they gave him was right after they lost 38-0 against Northwestern. So now they give him one for starting 8-0. Bunch of morons running that athletic department over there.
There’s really no consistency to giving him contract extensions. The last one prior to this they gave him was right after they lost 38-0 against Northwestern. So now they give him one for starting 8-0. Bunch of morons running that athletic department over there.
Considering the last AD before this one got fired for sexual harassment, and the one before that gave us Basement Brew, I’d say Coyle is a step in the right direction.
Consistency? They’ve consistently had pj’s back and put their money where their mouth is with this contract.
The “U” spends my money like a drunkin sailor on leave. What ever happened to proving oneself before getting paid?
Now that scrimmage season is over he better makes sure that boat gets rowed the next 4 games.
The problem with coaches contracts is they mean nothing. The gophers had no choice to extend and try to keep him but he can leave whenever he wants.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m firmly on the boat and I hope PJ stays. But, let’s not fool ourselves that this locks him into staying here. If they end up 10-2 he’s going to get offers from a couple of big time schools that can buy out his contract. USC will be at the top of the list.
PJ really knows how to work the system. He goes 8-0 against one of the weakest schedules in the country and then gets his money right before they have to play anybody. It will be another classic blunder from the UMN if he goes 1-3. But who knows if he goes 3-1 then maybe the UMN finally got it right.
It doesn’t matter who comes out of the West because they will get embarrassed by OSU.
PJ really knows how to work the system. He goes 8-0 against one of the weakest schedules in the country and then gets his money right before they have to play anybody. It will be another classic blunder from the UMN if he goes 1-3. But who knows if he goes 3-1 then maybe the UMN finally got it right.
It doesn’t matter who comes out of the West because they will get embarrassed by OSU.
My thoughts exactly.. Wait until he plays a couple of teams that are worth something. Here’s a little stat I searched up after last week. The TOTAL Record of the teams the Gophers beat AT THE TIME THEY played them is…….
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
12 Wins
24 Losses
Their 3 ranked teams left on their schedule are:
20 Wins
4 Losses
And then they have Northwestern at 1-7.
I am pulling for the Goofs as much as anyone but I am also a realist, anyone want to bet me that they finish the season 2-2?
the whole idea of him signing a 7 year contract is a joke, other than the first year $10 million buyout killpill, he’s on a year-to-year contract based on the team’s performance (if they do better, he threatens to leave and gets a raise) rinse and repeat (I guess the positive is that if he’s doing that, the team must be winning)
This Saturday’s game is setting up like another MN sports letdown game with all the hype, god I hope these guys break that trend!
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