Row the Boat 2023

That’s a completely preposterous statement. Ndsu does good for themselves sure but Minnesota does better and they should.

Thanks for correcting me on the numbers. I didn’t realize MN had 14. But still, how is a 1AA team (sorry can’t remember the new name for that division) that close to a Big 10 school in terms of NFL prospects.

I’m seeing Fleck has had 15 players drafted in his 6 seasons at UM, 3 last season. Northwestern had 4. Illinois had 4. Michigan for comparison had 9. So if Fleck isn’t recruiting as good as middle of the road big ten teams and he isn’t running new fangled offensive schemes that no one’s seen before, where is the fix? Is it coach? Is it NIL money and along with it recruiting? Is it facilities? Honestly asking, what needs to change because right now this is a lower third of the Big Ten West team.

Remind me, which coach prior to Fleck was better? When was the last time the Gophers were national Championship material?

I don’t think anyone in the West is running away with it ahead of the others by much. We will see shortly with Iowa… the clock management was terrible, he was bailed out by that late TD. It seems to me, when he had Tanner Morgan, they had about a zillion more RPO’s than they do today. Seems the only running by Kali is when he is running for his life. How do you slow down the edge rush… fake the handoff and run the other way once in awhile. Seems like PJ doesn’t realize, there is tape on his game plan.. it’s the same every week. Do we need to scrap and start over, No.. that’s the typical MN reaction. Nebraska is doing it right now, ask them if its fun. We have smart athletes, get a bigger playbook.

Fleck is recruiting just fine. His recruiting classes are actually quite good since hes been here, but some kids dont pan out which is normal. His rankings are generally pretty dang good within the BigTen and the class next year looks very promising provided they actually amount to anything. Anyone can look good on paper but not turn out the way you hoped they would.

The opening line for the Gophers-Hawkeyes game on Saturday favors Iowa by 4.5 points. Iowa has re-entered the top 25 and is ranked #24 after their road win at Wisconsin two days ago. They are 6-1 on the season. Minnesota has not won in Iowa since November of 1999 and they are 5-18 against the Hawkeyes the past 23 seasons since that win. PJ Fleck is 0-5 versus Iowa as head coach of the Gophers.

A pivotal matchup in the east division looms on Saturday as #6 Penn State visits #3 Ohio State.

Word is PJ would like the Bears job if it becomes available. They also have no quarterback or expectations.

So what do you have against the Bears?

3-3 after the first quarter. What a barn burner.

Apparently the total over/under for this game was 30.5 points, which is the lowest FBS total in 2 decades for any game.

I stepped away after the Iowa punt return TD. What the heck happened???

lindyrig79 wrote:

I stepped away after the Iowa punt return TD. What the heck happened???

They ruled a fair catch signal on the replay review. Clearly it was not a fair catch signal. He was pointing to the sideline. Fans throwing items on the field. Can’t say I blame them, Iowa got screwed.

A fair catch signal is above the head. Pointing to the sideline is clearly not a fair catch signal.

Stay classy Iowa fans.

lindyrig79 wrote:

I stepped away after the Iowa punt return TD. What the heck happened???

I’m watching it on silent in the woods but I think they said the returner motioned his arms like a fair catch

12- 10 rodents. Dutchy wants Fleck to get a new contract !

Dan wrote:

I’m watching it on silent in the woods but I think they said the returner motioned his arms like a fair catch

Yes, that’s what they ruled on the replay. But looking at the replay, he clearly did not indicate fair catch.

It’s possible that a fair catch signal in NCAA football is different than the NFL. If that’s the case then it’s the correct call. If the rule is the same as the NFL, that’s a really bad call that costed Iowa the game.

They don’t deserve the accolades they will get with this win. PJ didn’t even TRY to even come close to getting a TD and ran on damn near every third down play they had in Iowa territory playing PJ safe for FGs. That’s a joke of a win.

That might be the worst call I’ve seen all year. It looked to me like the punt returner was directing his blockers. He was pointing at teammates. An ugly ending to an ugly game.

SR

Steve Root wrote:

That might be the worst call I’ve seen all year. It looked to me like the punt returner was directing his blockers. He was pointing at teammates. An ugly ending to an ugly game.

SR

Yes! That’s exactly what I’m saying here.

I just looked up the NCAA rules for fair catch signal and it’s exactly the same as the NFL. The hand must be waived above the head. If that’s a fair catch signal then I grew up in a cave lol

Here is the rule:
A valid fair catch signal is defined as “a signal given by a (returner) who has obviously signaled his intention by extending one hand only clearly above his head and waving that hand from side to side of his body more than once.

Gift for the Gophers.
Iowa got shafted.
Big 10 will come out this week and say it was the right call.

I’ll take the win! Calls are not always fair, goes both ways-Have wanted that pig for years!

Yep…bad call. The kick returner was signaling to his teammates to stay away from the ball.
His hand was never over his head.

Then there’s also the fact that he wasn’t anywhere near the ball when it came down too. It was bouncing along the sideline.

I still haven’t seen the play, other than when they were reviewing if he stepped out of bounds. This is a big but, but if it was ambiguous at all then I don’t feel bad about it. As a punt returner you shouldn’t be screwing around with any arm motions that is an unfair advantage to a defense that already has tons of rules against them.

I’ll have to watch it again. But I’ve seen MN teams screwed by plenty of bad calls so what comes around goes around I guess.

I just read on twitter there is a rule that is an Invalid Signal (which is what they called apparently). It was when the returner motions a hand signal not above his head. I didn’t even know that was a rule and don’t understand why it would be.

mahtofire14 wrote:

I just read on twitter there is a rule that is an Invalid Signal (which is what they called apparently). It was when the returner motions a hand signal not above his head. I didn’t even know that was a rule and don’t understand why it would be.

That’s not what the ref said after they reviewed it though. They specifically said he called for a fair catch signal.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/watch-iowa-go-ahead-td-called-back-in-chaotic-scene-as-hawkeyes-fall-to-minnesota-in-defensive-battle/

I’m not a Iowa fan but they got robbed. How can that call be made even after being reviewed. PJ better relish the gift. If I was a betting man I would be curious what that call did for the gamblers.

Ok I just watched the play again several times per Gimruis link

I’ll stand by my comments, he has both of his arms above his shoulders. He had also been signaling late all game and so I’d say he played with fire and got burnt. Lesson learned to punt returners keep your arms down if not calling a fair catch.

The Gophers played well in the second half. They out scored Iowa 9-0 and forced 2 turnovers. Iowa was completely inept on offense and couldn’t generate anything after they took a 10-3 lead. So let’s give some credit to Minnesota here, even if Iowa got screwed on a late call.

Ok, here is their credit…….the defense played well against a team with no quarterback.

From a Yahoo sports article

“According to the NCAA rule book, “A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball. The ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery.” An invalid fair catch signal is defined as “any waving signal” by a member of the receiving team that does not meet the requirements of a valid fair catch signal.”

I think they got him for waving his left arm back and forth around shoulder height. The rule is in place, at least in part, to help prevent opposing teams from thinking the receiver called a fair catch, letting up and then having the receiver take off running because the waving was not above his head.

That was a terrible call, but apparently technically correct. A W is a W and idgaf what anyone says when neither team did anything on offense, particularly in the 2nd half. Have one TD drive either way in the second half and that call is irrelevant. Losers blame the refs.