2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers Additional Info

BB73 · Oct 22, 2009

2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers Additional Information

Coaching Staff

Head Coach:

Official School Bio - Tim Brewster

Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Tim Cross - Assistant Head Coach-Defensive Line
Kevin Cosgrove - Co-Defensive Coordinator
Jedd Fisch - Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach
Ronnie Lee - Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Backs
John Butler - Assistant Coach - Linebackers/Special Teams
Tim Davis - Assistant Coach - O-Line/Running Game
Thomas Hammock - Assistant Coach-Running Backs
Richard Hightower - Assistant Coach-Wide Receivers
Derek Lewis - Assistant Coach-Tight Ends
Clint Cosgrove - Defensive Graduate Assistant
Jim Jackson - Offensive Graduate Assistant
Jordan Gigli - Defensive Quality Control
Tony Sorrentino - Offensive Quality Control Assistant
Dan O'Brien - Director of Football Operations
Daniel Berezowitz - Recruiting Coordinator
Josh Sternquist - Assistant Recruiting Coordinator
Mark Hill - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Will Peoples - Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Ed Lochrie - Head Football Trainer
Chris Ashton - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Adam Buchalski - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Ryan Grooms - Director of Equipment Operations
Adam Myers - Assistant Equipment Manager
Mike Schaaf - Director of Video Services
Greg Davis - Assistant Video Coordinator

Recruiting

Starters Returning:

17 (Offense 9, Defense 8, Special Teams 0)

Notable Returners: QB Adam Weber, RB DeLeon Eskridge, RB Duane Bennett, WR Eric Decker, WR Brandon Green, TE Nick Tow-Arnett, LG Dom Alford, OG DJ Burris, C Ryan Wynn, RG Ned Tavale, DE Derrick Onwuachi, DT Eric Small, DT Garrett Brown, LB Simoni Lawrence, LB Lee Campbell, CB Traye Simmons, S Kyle Theret, CB Marcus Sherels

Starters Lost: 7 (Offense 2, Defense 3, Special Teams 2)

Notable Losses: TE Jack Simmons, WR Ralph Spry, DE Willie VanDeSteeg, LB Deon Hightower, S Tramaine Brock, PK Joel Monroe, P Justin Kucek

Incoming Recruits:

2010 Verbals

Scout.com - #31 class - 1-4*, 9-3*, 9-2*, 2-1*, 0-N/R - 2.43* average
Rivals.com - #30 class - 2-4*, 15-3*, 3-2*, 0-1*, 1-N/R - 2.95* average

Josh Allen C 6-3 260 Cedar Hill, TX - 2*/3*
Lamonte Edwards LB 6-2 215 Woodbury, MN - 3*/4*
Matt Eggen OT 6-5, 285 La Crosse, WI - 2*/3*
Zac Epping DT 6-3 275 Kenosha, WI - 2*/3*
Jimmy Gjere OT 6-7 270 New Birghton, MN - 4*/4*
Chris Hawkins WR 6-2 175 Channelview, TX - 3*/3*
Marquise Hill WR 6-0 165 St. Louis, MO - 3*/3*
Darnell Kirkwood RB 5-9, 190 Delray Beach, FL - 2*/3*
Mark Lenkiewicz OT 6-5 240 Tinley Park, IL - 3*/3*
Antoine Lewis CB 6-0 185 Maywood, IL - 3*/3*
James Manuel S 6-2 190 Indianapolis, IN - 3*/3*
Dwayne Mitchell LB 6-2 220 New Orleans, LA - 2*/2*
Tom Parish QB 6-4 200 Hartland, WI - 3*/3*
Jabari Price CB 5-11 170 Pampano Beach, FL - 3*/3*
J.D. Pride QB 6-1 187 Minneapolis, MN - 1*/2*
Jonathan Ragoo OT 6-6 320 Miami, FL - 2*/3*
Kip Smith K 6-1 205 Broomfield, CO - 3*/3*
Willie Tatum LB 6-3 205 Pickerington, OH - 2*/3*
Josh Taeaufa DE 6-2 265 Lake Dallas, TX - 1*/3*
Allen Veazie CB 5-11 160 Houston, TX - 2*/N-R
Doral Willis OG 6-1 325 Pahokee, FL - 2*/2*

2009 Recruiting Class

Scout.com - #46 class - 1-5*, 2-4*, 10-3*, 7-2* - 2.85* average
Rivals.com - #39 class - 0-5*, 3-4*, 15-3*, 2-2* - 3.05* average

Moses Alipate QB 6-6 228 Bloomington, MN - 3*/3*
Bryant Allen WR 6-0 165 Maplewood, MO - 3*/3*
Josh Campion OT 6-4 260 Fergus Falls, MN - 3*/3*
Hayo Carpenter WR 5-11 175 Santa Clarita, CA - 5*/4* - JUCO
Michael Carter CB 5-10 175 Pampano Beach, FL - 3*/4*
Matt Garin DE 6-4 220 Apple Valley, MN - 4*/3*
Kendall Gregory-McGhee TE 6-4 220 Aurora, CO - 3*/3*
Ra'shede Hageman TE 6-6 265 Minneapolis, MN - 4*/3*
Eric Jacques DT 6-2 285 Pampano Beach, FL - 2*/3*
Victor Keise WR 6-2 170 Coconut Creek, FL - 2*/3*
Kerry Lewis S 5-9 175 Lancaster, TX - 3*/3*
Hasan Lipscomb RB 5-11 190 Houston, TX - 3*/4*
Brooks Michel OT 6-7 280 Carmel, IN - 3*/3*
Ed Olson OT 6-6 270 Mahtomedi, MN - 3*/3*
Dan Orseske K 6-3 195 Chicago, IL - 2*/2*
Nick Rengel DE 6-3 225 Sartell, MN - 2*/2*
Joe Searcy DE 6-1 280 Grand Prairie, TX - 2*/3*
Brent Singleton S 6-0 195 Plantation, FL - 3*/3*
Kenny Watkins CB 6-0 195 Bloomfield, MI 2*/3*
Jeff Willis OT 6-6 350 Scranton, PA - 2*/3* - JUCO

2008 Recruiting Class

Scout.com - #28 class - 6-4*, 11-3*, 12-2* - 2.79* average
Rivals.com - #17 class - 7-4*, 17-3*, 5-2* - 3.07* average

Xzavian Brandon WR 6-2 170 Atlanta, GA - 2*/2*
[strike] Tramaine Brock DB 6-0 180 Perkinston, MS - 3*/3* - JUCO [/strike]
Terrell Combs ATH 6-2 252 Lexington, KY - 2*/3*
Keanon Cooper DB 6-0 190 Dallas, TX - 3*/4*
Tim Dandridge DB 6-1 175 Detroit, MI - 3*/3*
Jewhan Edwards DT 6-1 338 Philadelphia , PA - 2*/3*
Deleon Eskridge RB 5-11 181 San Mateo, CA - 2*/3*
Ryan Grant LB 6-1 215 Eden Prairie, MN - 2*/2*
MarQueis Gray QB 6-4 220 Indianapolis, IN - 4*/4*
Brandon Green WR 6-0 167 Chicago, IL - 4*/4*
[strike]Vincent Hill WR 6-0 190 New Berlin, NY - 4*/4* [/strike]
Johnny Johnson DB 5-9 Chicago, IL - 2*/2*
Brandon Kirksey DE 6-3 250 St. Louis, MO - 3*/3*
Eric Lair TE 6-3 210 Houston, TX - 3*/3*
Simoni Lawrence DB 6-1 207 Upper Darby, PA - 3*/3* - JUCO
Sam Maresh LB 6-2 240 Champlin, MN - 3*/4*
Cedric McKinley DE 6-5 245 Perkinston, MS - 2*/3* - JUCO
Da'Jon McKnight DB 6-3 190 Dallas, TX - 2*/2*
John Nance ATH 6-4 185 St. Paul, MN - 2*/2*
David Pittman ATH 5-11 195 Pasadena, CA - 4*/4* - JUCO
Spencer Reeves LB 6-1 193 Dallas, TX - 3*/3*
Shady Salamon RB 5-10 175 5 St. Paul, MN - 3*/3*
Rex Sharpe LB 6-3 245 Yuma, AZ - 4*/3* - JUCO
Traye Simmons DB 5-11 175 Visalia, CA - 4*/4* - JUCO
[strike]Brodrick Smith WR 6-3 200 Garden City, KS - 3*/3* [/strike]
Troy Stoudermire ATH 5-10 163 Dallas, TX - 2*/3*
Gary Tinsley LB 6-1 220 Jacksonville, FL - 2*/3*
Kevin Whaley RB 5-9 166 Virginia Beach, VA - 3*/3*
D.L. Wilhite ATH 6-4 235 Lexington, KY - 2*/3*

2007 Recruiting Class

Scout.com - #59 class - 1-4*, 7-3*, 15-2*, 1-1* - 2.33* average
Rivals.com - #57 class - 1-4*, 9-3*, 14-2*, 0-1* - 2.46* average

Duane Bennett RB 5-9 191 Fairview Heights, IL - 2*/2*
[strike]Clint Brewster QB 6-1 187 Denver, CO - 4*/3* [/strike]
Chris Bunders OL 6-3 306 Maple Grove, MN - 2*/3*
[strike]Justin Chatman ATH 5-9 162 Mesquite, TX - 3*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Marc Cheatham WR 6-2 210 Oakland, CA - 2*/2* - JUCO [/strike]
[strike]Durrell Clark-James DB 6-0 195 San Francisco, CA - 3*/3* - JUCO [/strike]
Ryan Collado DB 5-9 164 Cincinnati, OH - 2*/3*
Trey Davis OL 6-2 275 Farmington, MN - 3*/3*
[strike]Serge Elizee DT 6-1 310 Visalia, CA - 3*/2* - JUCO [/strike]
[strike]Tray Herndon WR 5-10 166 Jacksonville, FL - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Harold Howell ATH 5-8 160 Jacksonville, FL - 2*/2* [/strike]
Anthony Jacobs DE 6-2 265 Northfield, MN - 2*/4*
Collin McGarry TE 6-4 230 Stillwater, MN - 2*/2*
Ryan Orton OL 6-4 265 Eden Prairie, MN - 2*/3*
[strike]Shane Potter DB 6-1 195 Clearwater, MN - 2*/2* [/strike]
Eric Small DE 6-2 275 Joliet, IL - 2*/2* - JUCO
[strike]Ralph Spry WR 5-11 171 Auburn, AL - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Andre Tate' RB 6-2 215 Mendota Heights, MN - 3*/3* [/strike]
Kyle Theret DB 5-11 185 Denver, CO - 2*/2*
[strike]Curtis Thomas DB 6-1 190 Aldine, TX - 3*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Jimmy Thompson WR 6-1 180 Hayward, WI - 2*/2* [/strike]
Logan U'u LB 5-11 230 Oakland, CA - 3*/3* - JUCO
[strike]Damien White WR 6-0 170 Culver City, CA - 1*/2* [/strike]
Ryan Wynn OL 6-5 240 Plymouth, MN - 2*/2*

2006 Recruiting Class

Scout.com - #62 class - 4-3*, 14-2*, 1-1* - 2.16* average
Rivals.com - #62 class - 8-3*, 11-2*, 0-1* - 2.42* average

Dominic Alford OL 6-2 308 Skaker Heights, OH - 2*/2*
[strike]Tommy Becker LB 6-2 230 Plymouth, MN - 2*/3* [/strike]
Andy Brinkhaus OL 6-4 270 Bloomington, MN - 2*/2*
Garrett Brown DT 6-2 286 Fairfield, CT - 2*/3*
R.J. Buckner DB 5-11 190 Keller, TX - 2*/2*
D.J. Burris OL 6-2 273 Kenton, OH - 2*/3*
[strike]Brylee Callender RB 6-0 195 Quincy, CA - 3*/3* - JUCO [/strike]
Lee Campbell LB 6-3 220 Naples, FL - 2*/2*
[strike]Duran Cooley DB 6-2 205 Los Angeles, CA - 1*/2* - JUCO [/strike]
[strike]Willie Dyson DE 6-3 220 Kirkwood, MO - 3*/2* [/strike]
Eric Ellestad K 6-3 180 Brooklyn Park, MN - 2*/2*
[strike]Ben Fischer WR 6-2 180 Wausau, WI - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]E.J. Jones ATH 5-11 185 Edwardsville, IL - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Robert McField DE 6-6 225 St. Louis, MO - 2*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Sean McWhirter DE 6-4 245 Maple Plain, MN - 3*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Josh Robertson DB 5-11 175 Scranton, PA - 2*/2* -JUCO [/strike]
[strike]Terrence Sherrer RB 5-11 197 Cincinnati, OH 2*/3* [/strike]
Adam Weber QB 6-2 200 Shoreview, MN - 3*/3*
[strike]Mike Wey LB 6-3 230 Oak Creek, WI - 2*/2* [/strike]

2005 Recruiting Class

Scout.com - #56 class - 1-4*, 4-3*, 12-2* - 2.35* average
Rivals.com - #62 class - 1-4*, 9-3*, 7-2* - 2.65* average

[strike]Mike Chambers WR 6-1 185 Cuyahoga Falls, OH - 2*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Boyd Coleman CB 5-10.5 175 Marietta, GA - 2*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Alex Daniels S 6-2 225 Columbus, OH - 4*/4* [/strike]
Eric Decker WR 6-3 185 Cold Spring, MN - 2*/2*
[strike]Otis Hudson OL 6-5 295 Barrington, IL - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Dominic Jones CB 5-9 185 Columbus, OH 2*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Marcel Jones QB 6-3 210 Inver Grove Heights, MN - 2*/3* [/strike]
[strike]Keith Massey WR 6-1 192 Columbus, OH - 2*/3* [/strike]
Michael McKelton S 5-11 172 Royal Palm Beach, FL - 2*/2*
[strike]Chris Menson TE 6-6 240 Solon, IA - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Troy Reilly TE 6-7 235 Stevens Point, WI - 3*/2* [/strike]
Ryan Ruckdashel OL 6-6 265 Apple Valley, MN - 3*/3*
[strike]Jason Sekinger OL 6-10 310 Galloway, OH - 2*/2* [/strike]
[strike]Matt Stommes DE 6-7 235 Eden Valley, MN - 2*/2* [/strike]
Nedward Tavale OL 6-2 301 St. Paul, MN - 3*/3*
Jay Thomas RB 6-0 180 Oakdale, MN - 2*/3*
Nate Triplett LB 6-3 225 Delano, MN - 3*/3*

[strike]No longer on roster [/strike]

Behind the Numbers

Why is it so hard to hate Purdue? Even though Ohio State was about to tie a certain school's record for consecutive conference road wins (17) and it was PURDUE that foiled that bid - most OSU fans just can't hate Purdue. Even though Ohio State just went SIXTY (60) games without losing to a team that failed to make it to a BCS bowl (assuming USC makes it this year) and it was PURDUE that bracketed BOTH ends of that streak with a loss - most OSU fans still cannot hate Purdue. We hate TSUN. We hate Wisconsin. We hate PSU fans. We, for the most part, have a hard time hating Purdue.

As we look forward to Saturday, we find the same relationship with Minnesota. Maybe that's because that they are the only conference team left on Ohio State's schedule that ranks lower than the Buckeyes in the statistical categories in which the Bucks are at their worst (except of course for pass offense).

Not only is Minnesota the only team in the conference behind the Buckeyes in Total Offense; they are WAY behind.

Ohio State: 331 ypg
Minnesota: 293.7 ypg

Then there is passing efficiency, where the Buckeyes don't exactly shine, but the Gophers lag by more than 10 points. And while the Bucks are 9th in the Big Ten in first downs with 120, the Gophers are 11th with 102. Those respective conference rankings also apply to 3rd down percentage, where the Gophers are one of only 2 teams in the conference with a worse number than the Buckeyes' 38.5%.

A notable exception in this trend is that Ohio State is second to last in the Big Ten in Punt Returns at 4.1 yards per attempt. The Gophers, conversely, are first in the conference at 19 yards per attempt. Even here though, the Gophers aren't really that impressive, as their numbers are skewed by the small sample size. Minnesota has returned only 3 punts all year, a shockingly low number and fewest in the conference. In contrast, the Buckeyes have returned 19 punts this year, the most in the Big Ten.

Perhaps worst of all for Minnesota is that they are ranked dead last in the conference in rushing offense and next to last in rushing defense, making them a very good match-up for any team coached by Jim Tressel.

Earlier this year, Ohio State posted consecutive shut-outs. This week, the Gophers find themselves in serious danger of being on the other side of that coin. Shut out last week by the Nittany Lions, they are in serious danger of repeating the feat against the Buckeyes. Perhaps the conference's best offensive player, Eric Decker, can save them from that fate. But when a team has only one credible threat, the Buckeye defense has a history of shutting the team down if not out.

The only questions are:

Has the Buckeye Defense grown so tired of carrying the offense that they will continue to deteriorate, much like the 2004 defense and like several Florida State teams of the past decade?
Will the Buckeye Offense continue to stop themselves, regardless of the quality of the opponent?
Depending on the answers to the first two questions: Will either team score?

The numbers from Saturday will answer those questions, but no numbers could reliably predict those answers. The answers to those questions lie within the Buckeyes themselves.

The Lighter Side

Ohio State fans seem divided in to two camps this week, on the heels of a loss to Purdue. Depending on which camp you're in, you probably view the other side as one of these two:

or

It's time to take stock in what is going on with Ohio State football.

Blackjack

One man sits at a blackjack table and plays the percentages, while another man at the table plays his "gut instinct" relying more on lady luck. The crowd gathers to watch what's going on. We'll call the first man "Jim" and the second man "Les". Jim is quiet, reserved, calculating and sober. Les is jovial, hooting it up, drawing attention to himself, but in a "I'm a good time pirate" kind of way, it's clear he's been drinking, but he's just having fun.

Jim gets a 10 and a 4, Les gets a 9 and an 8, while the dealer turns up a 6. Jim knows that the dealer has a "bust card" and because of this, he knows the probability is that the the dealer is most likely to go over 21 and as a consequence, as long as Jim doesn't take a card, his chances of getting the W are better than if he hits. Les, on the other hand, can't leave well enough alone. The game isn't played to get 17, it's played to get 21. If you get 21, well.. you can't be beat, right? So Les takes a hit. He pulls a 4. 21! Lucky Les does it, risking his bet against the odds. He raises his arms in victory and the crowd pats him on the back for his "balls out" approach which paid off. He's all smiles and the crowd that's gathered is actually having a good time too, just watching Les take risk after risk.

Now, the dealer turns over his down card, and sure enough he was hiding a 10. Just as Jim had anticipated, the dealer has to hit and is, in all probability, going to draw a 6 or bigger. Sometimes the dealer draws a 5 and Jim loses, but Les gets a push. Sometimes the dealer draws a 4 and while Jim still loses, Les wins. But, most times, the dealer draws a 6 or bigger, and both Jim and Les win. But, lost in this is that Les was a moron for hitting 17 in the first place.

Over time, Jim and Les sit at this table and play their systems - cautious Jim thinking about probabilities and percentages. Lucky Les goes with his gut and thinks about "the show" and "looking good." At the end of the evening, Jim's sitting on a stack of 80 $100.00 chips, while Les long ago ran out of cash hitting 18 because he "felt a 3 coming" The crowd that had gathered loved Les' flamboyance, and when he won hands it was exciting. No one paid a lot of attention to Jim. All he did was what the "book" told him to, where's the fun in that? And besides, sometimes Jim lost hands he could have won if he simply let loose a little bit and took a hit despite the risk in doing so. He could have been better, he could have been more flashy. Sure he won, but no one had a good time watching him.

The point here, folks, is simple. You have a plan, a philosophy, that is designed to work more often than not. You stick to that plan and you win over the long haul. Maybe you don't win as big. Indeed, I've seen players walk up to the blackjack table, lay down a grand, get 21 and then leave. But, most of the times those guys lose, and go away saying "Well, just not my night, I guess." But, over the long haul, Jim's the better card player - even though he lost some hands he probably shouldn't have.

Ohio State lost to a team it probably shouldn't have in Purdue. Tressel's plan, his philosophy, like the blackjack player standing on 14 against a 6, is designed to win most of the time. But, sometimes it doesn't work. Purdue beating Ohio State was akin to a hand I remember from my blackjack days. I was dealt 8-3 and the dealer had a 6. I knew that I should double down my bet, get my 1 card, and reap the rewards of what was all but a certain victory. The dealer turned over a 9 to me - I had 20 and felt real good. The deal then turned over a 6, giving him 12. He drew an ace, 13. He drew another ace, 14, he drew a 2, 16! I was in great shape. He then drew a 5, and I lost. I shouldn't have lost. I did everything right, "by the book" and was in great shape. But, everything went right for the dealer, and wrong for me. It was a statistical anomaly. But, it happened and I lost real money - worse, I lost 2 times as much money as I might have because I doubled down!

But, you know what? It happens. And I played another hand, and I stuck to my "system." I walked out of the casino that night with a couple hundred bucks in my pocket that I handn't walked in to the casino with. I lost a bad game, but had a successful night nonetheless. Don't let the Purdue loss fool you - Ohio State football can still end the season "successful" They still have "money to play with" as they control their own destiny even still - if the Buckeyes win out, they'll be playing in a BCS bowl, even though they lost to Purdue. Sure, they won't walk away with the grand prize this year - there will be no BCS National Championship. You're just going to have to come to peace with that fact, I'm afraid. 119 other schools out there will also have to make this realization at some point or another. Do the percentages and maybe you'll see that expecting (not hoping for, expecting) a National Championship ever year is pretty unreasonable.

2004

The Lighter Side can't help but notice a parallel with the 2009 team to the 2004 team. In 2004, Ohio State returned only 2 offensive linemen off of a team which had underperformed the previous season. Some notably names of O-Linemen who were in the mix in 2004: Kirk Barton, freshman, Doug Datish, sophomore, T.J. Downing, sophomore, Nick Mangold, junior, Steve Rehring, freshman, Rob Sims, junior. There was a QB controversy, with two elite 11 QBs, now both redshirt sophomores, fighting for the starting job. Troy Smith would eventually win that job. On the edges, Ohio State sported the likes of freshman Ted Ginn, Jr., redshirt sophomore Santonio Holmes and redshirt freshman Anthony Gonzalez in the slot. While Lydell Ross was the senior RB, the Buckeyes worked in freshman Antonio Pittman a little bit too.

In short, there was a whole lot of potential on that team - and as time went on, and those players grew up, they lived up to that potential for the most part. In 2004 these guys were rated #7 in the nation and lost to Northwestern - something that no Ohio State team had done since 1971. Only 2 weeks prior, the Buckeyes had barely beat a pretty bad Marshall team on a last second FG. After the Northwestern game, the young Buckeyes took it on the chin, losing to Wisconsin and then the following week got completely dismantled by Iowa 33-7. I don't know if you remember, but it wasn't a particularly fun time to be a Buckeye.

What was the deal with this offense? There was the occasional flash of brilliance, like Zwick hitting Holmes for 80 against Marshall, Ted Ginn housing Michigan State all by himself, and the like, but then there were times when they couldn't do anything right. Why was Lydell Ross getting carries when he'd get tackled by a slight breeze? Why were we considering giving the ball to a QB with a questionable attitude who didn't do anything but run? What was up with THAT pass?

And then, in a game against 2004 Purdue - a 24-17 loss in which Troy Smith had 3 interceptions - something looked like it might have finally clicked. Smith went on to have one of the greatest games of all time the following week, beating Michigan 37-21, and Ohio State went on to win 24 of the next 27 games they'd play, culminating in the 2007 BCS Championship game in which the Buckeyes were considered nothing short of a juggernaut. Never mind how that game turned out, or that it ushered in the place we fans are today. Just make note of it. It was the Purdue game in 2004 that began the run to the 2006 National Title miss. Perhaps it's fitting that it would be a Purdue game that would provide the book-end to the consequences of that miss.

In any event - take a look at this year's roster. A young O-Line, talented but unproven wide outs, a QB who has all the athletic ability in the world, but a questionable head on his shoulders in game situations. Resemble anything I've been talking about?

Maybe I'm more like the figure playing his music as his town burns depicted above than I am the like the alarmist foul. Could be. Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure Ohio State football will be just fine. Patience, people. Troy Smith didn't win the Heisman against Purdue in 2004, and he didn't go from beating Michigan 37-21 to unquestioned reliability just like that. It took time. It took a plan. It took patience.

No, I didn't like 8-4 in 2004 any more than the next guy. But, I sure did like 2005 and 2006, even if they didn't quite bring home the crystal. If Ohio State is able to turn the corner in a loss to Purdue again, like they did in 2004, I'm reasonably confident I'll like the rest of this season, 2010 and 2011 quite a bit too. Unlike 2004 - 2009 isn't over but for the Michigan game. Once again, Ohio State controls its destiny in the Big Ten even still. So, I propose that we get on with winning it and save this ridiculous talk about getting rid of people or moving certain QBs to WR to some other fan base. The Buckeyes might drop a game they have no business losing once every 2 or 3 years (Northwestern 2004, Illinois 2007, Purdue 2009), but the man sitting at the blackjack table that is major college football is raking in his winnings over the long haul. Bet on it.

Traditions & Opponent Perspective

Minnesota fans expect a lot, like most Big Ten fans, since their school is so rich with history and tradition - including a tradition of winning. After all, the Golden Gopher football team has been crowned national champions six times, ranking them seventh all-time in recognized football national championships. Also, to date, the Minnesota Gophers are the only football team to win three consecutive national championships (1934, 1935, and 1936). Although the past few years have been rough on Gopher fans, Buckeye fans feel a natural connection with the U of M team, as both schools have a rivaly with Michigan.

Why Maroon and Gold? In 1880, the University of Minnesota was preparing for spring graduation, and for the previous 29 years, different graduation colors were used every ceremony. In the spring of 1880, President Folwell began a tradition of common school colors at the University. He asked an English instructor, Mrs. Augusta Smith, to select proper colors to use for graduation ribbons and other occasions. She chose maroon and gold, which made a favorable impression on the students and faculty in 1880. As the years passed and without any kind of formal action, maroon and gold became the official school colors.
Ski-U-Mah! This famous Minnesota phrase, pronounced SKY-YOU-MAH, is more than 115 years old. In 1884, two Minnesota rugby players tried to think of a fitting team yell. They used the word "Ski", a Sioux battle cry meaning "victory," and combined it with "U-Mah" (representing the University of Minnesota and rhyming with "rah-rah-rah") to create a team cheer. The phrase stuck and was incorporated into both official school songs, "Hail Minnesota" and more commonly in the "Minnesota Rouser."
The "Minnesota Rouser" is one of two official school songs at the University of Minnesota. It was written in 1909 by Floyd M. Hutsell in response to a contest sponsored by the Minneapolis Tribune. The contest was judged by the University President and the Governor of Minnesota, with the winner receiving $100. (One fan noted that one of the losing songs was later rewritten and became "On Wisconsin." We have not verified this, but that's hilarious if true!) The rouser is sung at Gopher sporting events, along with the other official University song, "Hail Minnesota."

Minnesota, Hats off to thee!

To thy colors, true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah! Rah! Rah! for Ski-U-Mah,
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah for the U of M.
[Repeat]
M - I - N - N - E - S - O - T - A!
Minnesota!
Minnesota!
Yeaaaaaaah Gophers!

The Gopher mascot is a tradition as old as the state. Minnesota was tabbed the "Gopher State" in 1857 after a satirizing cartoon, depicting nine Gophers with the heads of local politicians pulling a locomotive, was published. The story was over legislative action for a $5 million railroad proposal in western Minnesota. Later, the University picked up the nickname. The "Golden" adjective has not always been a part of the Gopher nickname. During the 1930s, the Gophers wore gold jerseys and pants. Legendary KSTP-AM radio announcer Halsey Hall coined the term "Golden Gophers" in reference to the team's all-gold attire on the field. From 1932 through 1941, Minnesota compiled an impressive record, losing only 12 games and winning seven Big Ten titles and five national championships. A true Goldy began his illustrious career as U of M mascot in the 1940s, but the story of the famed gopher begins almost a century earlier.
Chosen to be Minnesota's official animal in 1857, Goldy's ancestors were the first of their kind to receive such an honor. That same year, Minnesota was declared the Gopher State. Taking advantage of the natural connection, Clarence Spears, U of M football coach, named his team the Gophers in 1926. Several years later, Bernie Bierman's champion football team was coined the "golden swarm," a reference to their gold-colored jerseys, and the team soon became the "Golden Gophers."

U of M's trophy games are:

The Little Brown Jug - Oldest of college football's 57 trophy-game traditions, Michigan and Minnesota play for it each year. The tradition started in 1903 when Michigan coach, Fielding Yost left his jug in Minneapolis following a tie in which the fans rushed the field, and Minnesota made him win it back. The five-gallon jug is painted with the victories of the two teams.
Floyd of Rosedale - Since 1935 the Gophers and the Iowa Hawkeyes have fought to win this bronze pig.
Paul Bunyan's Axe - Minnesota and the Wisconsin Badgers have passed this trophy back and forth since 1948, although it records the two teams' encounters since 1890. The first game in the series, a 63-0 Gopher victory in 1890, is printed on the handle near the axe's head. The results of every successive game line the handle in red ink.
Governor's Victory Bell - The newest of the four trophies, the bell was created to commemorate the 1993 entrance of Penn State's Nittany Lions into the Big Ten.

A tradition at the University of Minnesota since 1914, Homecoming features annual events, such as student sports and philanthropy competitions, lip sync performances, a bonfire, pep fest and parade, the traditional Gopher homecoming football game, and more.
The University of Minnesota Marching Band was founded in 1892 as the University Cadet Band, with 29 members. In 1910, the first formations and halftime show were presented during the Gopher football season. Included in the formations was the first "Block M". The current Block M is now a symbol of the University. With more than 300 members, the "Pride of Minnesota" performs at all home football games and at an annual indoor concert at Northrop Auditorium.
Jim Mitchell, a former drum major, was the first black drum major in the history of the Big Ten.
Another band tradition: the Swinging Gates, a staple of the pregame show. The colors are marched down the field as the band "swings" around.
According to Gopher fans, playing in the Metrodome had taken away much of the atmosphere/traditions. The band used to march down University Avenue past the frat houses to Memorial Stadium, and that tradition has picked up again with the opening of on-campus TCF Bank Stadium in 2009.
One fan noted that "nobody can match what Minnesota has going on on the sidelines during football games." Their dance team has won four straight national championships, and Goldy annually finishes in the top 5 among college mascots.
When the Gophers get a first down, the PA announcer will say "And that's another Golden Gopher ..." with the fans finishing it off by yelling "first down!" and doing the arm motion. One fan groaned, "of course, you might not see Gopher fans do it more than a couple of times against the tOSU defense on Saturday."
They also have a mini-cannon that is set off after touchdowns.
After every score, the band plays a Superman-type song and Goldy wearing a U of M flag cape gets lifted on a large platform above the male cheerleaders. He then leads everyone in clap where he does a pushup for every point they have scored.
The student section will often chant "Spin Your Head" to Goldy at random points in the game and Goldy then "loosens" his head and spins it in a complete 360. According to one Gopher fan, "It sounds kind of lame on paper, but the students go crazy for it."
The fans hold up their shoes in the air before the team kicks any extra points or field goals.
Cheerleading is a Gopher tradition, especially because they invented it in 1898.

Historical Data

University of Minnesota: Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) Founded 1851

Football 1st Season: 1882

Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (on-campus, a.k.a. "The Bank" and "The Gopher Hole")
Constructed: 2009
Seating Capacity: 50,805 (expandable to 80,000)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Conference: Independent from 1882-1895, Big Ten Conference since 1896
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Mascot: Gopher (Goldy)
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 18 Big Ten Titles: 1900*, 1903*, 1904*, 1906*, 1909, 1910*, 1911, 1915*, 1927*, 1933*, 1934, 1935*, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1960*, 1967* (*=Co-Champions)
Consensus All-Americans: 32 (27 different players as of 2009)
College Hall-of-Famers: 21
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 6 (Bobby Bell, Carl Eller, Bud Grant, Bronko Nagurski, Leo Nomellini, Charlie Sanders)
Award Winners: 1 AFCA COY, 1 Eddie Robinson COY, 1 Bear Bryant COY, 1 Heisman, 3 Outlands, 1 Rimington, 1 Mackey, 1 Socrates and 1 Thorpe Award
National Championships: 6 Recognized National Titles (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960), 5 unrecognized titles.
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-14 years, Coaches-9 years

Records

All Time: 640-460-44 (.579)

Bowl Games: 5-8-0 (.385) Most recently a 42-21 loss to Kansas in the 2008 Insight Bowl.
All Time vs the Big Ten: 321-349-27 (.480) versus current conference members, regardless of when the games were played.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 7-41-0 (.146) Most recently a 34-21 loss to the Buckeyes in 2008 in Columbus.
Coach's Record: Tim Brewster, 2007-present, 12-20-0 (.375)

2008 Season: 7-6-0 (.538)
Aug 30 - W vs Northen Illinois, 31-27
Sep 06 - W at Bowling Green, 42-17
Sep 13 - W vs Montana St, 35-23
Sep 20 - W vs Florida Atlantic, 37-3
Sep 27 - L at Ohio State, 21-34
Oct 04 - W vs Indiana, 16-7
Oct 11 - W at Illinois, 27-20
Oct 25 - W at Purdue, 17-6
Nov 01 - L vs Northwestern, 17-24
Nov 08 - L vs Michigan, 6-29
Nov 15 - L at Wisconsin, 32-35
Nov 22 - L vs Iowa, 0-55
Dec 31 - L vs Kansas, 21-42, Insight Bowl, Tempe AZ

2009 Schedule
Sep 05 - W at Syracuse, 31-27
Sep 12 - W vs Air Force, 20-13
Sep 19 - L vs California, 21-35
Sep 26 - W at Northwestern, 35-24
Oct 03 - L vs Wisconsin, 28-31
Oct 10 - W vs Purdue, 35-20
Oct 17 - L at Penn St, 0-20
Oct 24 - at tOSU, Noon ET
Oct 31 - vs Michigan St, 8:00 pm ET
Nov 07 - vs Illinois, TBA
Nov 14 - vs South Dakota St, TBA
Nov 21 - at Iowa, TBA

Links

Official Sites:

Official School Site - University of Minnesota
Official Alumni Site - University of Minnesota Alumni Association
Student Newspaper - The Minnesota Daily
Official Athletic Site - Gopher Sports
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference

Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Gopher Sports (Scout)
Message Boards - Gopher Illustrated (Rivals)
Message Boards - Gopher Hole (Independent)
Blog - CP Balls
Blog - Where I Stand
Blog - MNSG Sports - Gophers
Blog - Minnesota Sports Track
Blog - Paging Jim Shikenjanski
Blog - Gopher Nation
Blog - Minnesota Golden Gophers
Blog - Gopher the Roses
Blog - Gopher Sports Blog
Team Page - NCAA
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - AOL
Team Page - CSTV
Team Page - ATSH2H
Team Page - Covers

Local News Sources:
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Local News
Twin Cities (Pioneer Press) - Local News

Preseason Rankings and Watch Lists

Unranked in AP and Coaches Preseason Polls

Biletnikoff - Eric Decker
Maxwell POY - Eric Decker
Davey O-Brien - Adam Weber

Link to 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers Game Preview

Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data

2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers Additional Info

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Loves Buckeye History