- The Gophers' Men's Track Team won the Big Ten indoor track and field championship.  Read about it at this link.

- FBT has an in-depth article featuring some deep analytics for 2010 recruiting.  If you like stats, it's a must-read at this link.

- Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy scored a 48 out of 50 on the Wonderlic Test.  To put that in perspective, it is reported that only one player has ever scored a 50 out of 50.  According to EDSBS:

A 48 is twice the league average for incoming QBs, and matches the highest score for a quarterback on record, belonging to current Buffalo Bills starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard grad.

Now, McElroy may lack some of the measurables that other quarterbacks in the draft have, but if he drops to the second round the Vikings would be foolish not to pick him up.

- The Gopher basketball woes have made it into an article on The Huffington Post.  While the blame for the current season is due to many factors, I refuse to believe that Minnesota could find a better coach than Tubby Smith.  Tubby Smith is one of the premiere coaches in college basketball, and he will win have a winning team once again within 2 years.

Not much in the news for Nugs this evening, so let's watch a few videos and read about a few future Gophers.

Much has been made of the talent in the 2012 recruiting class for the State of Minnesota.  Every few years, the talent pool runs deep.  The buzz is that the 2011 Fall season will feature some talented preps who could be headed to Division 1 schools in 2012.

The recruiting services have yet to rate players for the 2012 class, so let's take a look at videos and offers for the three recruits who have already committed to the Gophers:

1. Andre McDonald - WR - 6'3 200 lbs - Hopkins

Committed: Gophers

Other offers listed: Iowa

Here's a video:

AndreMcDonald--Final.mpg (via HopkinsRoyalsFootbal)

2. Philip Nelson - QB - 6'2 212 lbs - Mankato West

Committed: Gophers

Other offers listed: none listed

I couldn't find any video of Nelson, but he appears to be a big quarterback with decent speed.

3. Nick Rallis - Safety - 6'0 200 lbs - Edina

Committed: Gophers

Other offers listed: none listed

Here's a video from his junior year:

Nick Rallis Junior Highlights Class of 2012 (via davthedvdman)

Two staples in the history of the State of Michigan are the automobile industry and the University of Michigan.  All apologies to Spartans fans, but the Maize and Blue have more name recognition across the Nation.  While recently tracking some information on Ford Motor Company stock, it occurred to me that the employment crisis in the Motor City closely mirrors the Michigan football crisis.

First, let me emphasize that in many ways Detroit has been the symbolic engine that keeps America running.  New York and California get all of the glory, but cities such as Detroit and Pittsburgh have the heart and the guts to do the hard work that actually builds and produces tangible things.  In my opinion, the recovery of Detroit's economy will be a bellwether for the recovery of the Nation.

Now, the following trends are probably coincidentally correlated since a similar trend has not occurred at Michigan State.  That being said, take a look at how closely the Sagarin ratings for Michigan football follow the jobless rate in Michigan:

Sagarin ratings are used to weight the quality of a team based upon the strength of their opponents.  Read more about Sagarin ratings here. 

I recently drove a new Ford as a rental, and I was genuinely impressed with the quality of vehicle that they are turning out these days.  I fully expect the automobile industry in Detroit to make a comeback.  the question is how much of a comeback will be made, and how long it will take.

Michigan football follows a similar parallel.  While many Michigan fans are dissatisfied with the Brady Hoke hire, I won't be surprised if he orchestrates a comeback for the program.  As with the auto industry, the question will be how much of a comeback is made and how long it will take.

I do think that one parallel between Michigan football and the Michigan economy will hold true: the definition of a successful recovery will be in the eye of the beholder.  Will a return to former glory be the expectation, or will something close to it be good enough?

A late addition to the 2011 recruiting class is defensive back Cedric Thompson. 

Read about his commitment at the Pioneer Press, the Star Tribune, and at Adam Rittenberg's ESPN Big Ten Blog.

Check out his YouTube video below:

Cedric Thompson #7 FootBall Highlights (via CalipatFootBall)

- FBT takes a look at Jerry Kill's 300 mile recruiting radius at this link.

- The Gopher wrestling team defeated Wisconsin by a score of 21-15.  The Badgers had been rated #3 in the Nation.  Read about it here.

- Adam Rittenberg of ESPN takes a look at a few of the highly touted recruits from 2007, and how they've panned out since.  Definitely worth a read at this link.

- With signing day fast approaching, the Gophers' recruiting class is currently ranked 9th in the Big Ten according to Rivals (49th overall), 11th according to Scout (68th overall), and a summary of ESPN's recruit ratings can be found at this link.  The good news is that there are now 12 teams in the Big Ten.  The best news is that there is still one day left for Kill and his staff to add a few more commitments.

- GopherSports.com has a page devoted to Signing Day at this link.

The following link is to a Dr. Saturday article that takes an in-depth look at the long term success of recruiting classes.  A can't miss read for fans of college football:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Star-Power-Judging-the-recruiting-rankings-gam?urn=ncaaf-312875

- Al Nolen will undergo surgery to insert a pin in his broken foot.  The bad luck continues for Tubby's Gophers.  Losing Devoe Joseph hurt the team's scoring ability, and without Nolen the team will be thin at point guard.

- FBT has a solid overview of the Big Ten coaching hires at this link.  A great read that puts the Kill hire in perspective.

- Gophers quarterback commit Max Shortell affirmed his loyalty to the Gophers, and dispelled rumors that he was considering a switch to Michigan.

- It is rumored that Wedley Estime has committed to the Gophers to play football.  Here's a highlight video:

So far, Jerry Kill is saying and doing the rights things to set the stage for a turnaround in Minnesota.  He has experienced assistants, an established system, and he is methodically filling the holes in the roster with the best available players that he can reasonably recruit within the span of a few months. 

While rebuilding a program after a losing season can take time, Kill isn't starting off with a bare cupboard.  The Gophers have some talented players.

Looking at the 2011 schedule, Kill could very well have an impressive first season:

USC - I doubt the Gophers will win this one, but it will be fun to watch the new-look team in action.  L (0-1)

New Mexico St/Miami (Ohio)/NDSU - If the Gophers don't win at least two of these games, there is cause for concern.  Three wins are very possible.  (3-1)

Michigan - Two new coaches, two different levels of baseline talent.  Michigan will probably win this one.  If Kill did pull this one off, Hoke is on the Hot Seat!  (3-2)

Purdue - This one could go either way, but Kill has a decent shot at a win.  (4-2)

Nebraska/Iowa - At least another year of rebuilding will be needed before a Gopher win would be anything but an upset.  (4-4)

Michigan State - An absolute toss-up, Michigan State is undoubtedly the favorite due to their success in 2010.  (4-5)

Wisconsin - Bielema's running game gives Bucky the edge.  (4-6)

Northwestern/Illinois - Both should be hard-fought games.  These games could be the difference between a 4-8 season and a 6-6 season.  (5-7)

It's far too early to analyze the 2011 season, but what do you think?  Would you be happy with a 5-7 season in 2011?

- Several sources, including the Star Tribune, are reporting that Trevor Mbakwe was arrested.

- Meanwhile, former Gopher Devoe Joseph has officially committed to transfer to Oregon.  He does know that it is the Oregon football team that is a top ten program and not the basketball team, right?

- The Star Tribune has a photo anthology of the BCS Championship at this link.  A great game to watch for football fans.  Both teams run unique and unconventional offenses that always leave the spectator guessing.

- Michigan may be closing in on Les Miles.  The coaching chronicles continue at MGOBLOG.

- If you get the chance, check out the video of the top 2011 football recruit, Jadeveon Clowney.  I've never seen anyone dominate on film quite like this guy:

Not much Gopher news this time of year that hasn't already been covered.  I'll keep today's Nugs short, with three featured items.

While the Vikings didn't fare well against the Bears, TCF Bank Stadium received some good publicity from the game.  GopherSports.com has an article about the game at this link.

Jerry Kill announced much of his staff and it looks to be a collection of experienced, seasoned coaches.  FBT has a great in-depth review of the staff at this link.

Cretin-Derham Hall may have another phenom in their football program.  Defensive tackle Jonathan Harden will likely be at least a four-star recruit, and is drawing attention from major programs.  Check out the recruiting profile of Kill's next big recruiting challenge at this link.

Jeff Horton will not be a part of the Gopher football program moving forward.  Horton has a chance to do what very, very few college coaches have done: leave his job in good standing with the fans.  Most head coaches are either let go, or leave for greener pastures.  Horton will always be remembered for the season-ending turnaround that he orchestrated.

Thomas Hammock, meanwhile, is reported in the same article to have a job with Jerry Kill's staff.  Hammock is widely considered a rising star in the coaching world, and has a reputation as a talented recruiter.  Down the stretch, he also exhibited great skill and creativity as offensive coordinator.

New head football coach Jerry Kill brings with him a staff of experienced assistant coaches and a history of winning at every program under his command.  The question still remains as to if, how, and to what extent he will win at the Big Ten level.  Until the 2011 season begins, there is no way to know with certainty how Kill will fare. 

While an uncertain science, there are two indicators that Gopher fans can watch which could indicate the direction that Kill is taking the program.

First, keep an eye on how many players transfer or leave from the current roster.  Sure, there will be a few players that leave for various reasons.  That will happen every year, and inevitably happens with most coaching changes.  A mass exodus of players transferring out of or leaving the program would indicate that Kill and his staff are not relating well to the players.  If more than a handfull of players defect, that's a bad omen of things to come.

Second, the ranking of the 2011 recruiting class relative to the rest of the Big Ten will indicate if Kill and his staff can recruit at a Big Ten level.  One of Brewster's recruits, Matt LaCosse, switched his commitment to Illinois yesterday.  There will be some defections from the recruiting class, as relationships with former coaches no longer exist.  But with an early December hire date, an experienced coach like Kill should have plenty of time to add a few players to the 2011 class that fit his future plans. 

According to Rivals.com, the Gophers are ranked 6th in the Big Ten for the 2011 recruiting class with 14 commits averaging 2.93 stars.  If Kill and his staff can maintain that rank, expect even better classes in coming years when he established his style of a program.  If he lands a few big recruits and gains in the rankings, expect a very bright future for Gopher football.  If the 2011 recruiting class falls in the rankings, well, the future may not be very bright.

There is no way to know with certainty the future for coach Jerry Kill.  Ultimately, in my opinion the realistic expectation should be seven win or better seasons.  That shouldn't be unrealistic for a Big Ten team.  Lose several key players and drop in the recruiting rankings, and Gopher fans could be experiencing the excitement of another coaching search four years from now.  Retain the vast majority of the current team and gain in recruiting rankings, and the future could be golden. 

Rumors are swirling that several candidates declined to coach the Gophers.  Many Gopher fans were expecting a flashy, fancy, polished, expensive coach to ride into town with Hollywood-style hype. 

Enter Jerry Kill. 

Fans, sportswriters, and bandwagon hopefuls were in such shock that they didn't take time to evaluate the entire situation.

What do we know about Jerry Kill? 

First, he's a real football coach who has proven for 17 years that he can coach winning teams and maintain a winning program.  He didn't have just one or two good years due to lucky breaks or somebody else's recruits.

Second, Jerry Kill survived a battle with kidney cancer in 2005.  It is doubtful that he takes anything for granted, or that he feels entitled to anything.  He knows what it means to persevere when faced with adversity.  My guess is that he's tough as nails, and will coach his players with that same level of determination and relentless focus.

Third, he used to be a high school coach.  In particular, he should know how to relate to Minnesota coaches and high school level athletes.  Is there anybody else tired of seeing Minnesota athletes find success elsewhere?  He may not land all the recruits with delusions of 5-star grandeur, but will those guys ever stay in Minnesota when the smarmy plastic people of win-at-all-cost programs come calling?

Why might Jerry Kill win at Minnesota?

Let's face it.  Minnesota will need at least several years of program building before recruiting alongside the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, USC, or SEC powerhouses.  Minnesota's best chance of winning is to pick up as many three and four star recruits as possible, and to pursue guys with the right mentality.  No primadonnas.  Tough, smart, hard-working players.  Teams such as Northwestern and Boise State have proven that you can out-coach and outsmart superior talent with the right group of middle-to-upper-tier recruits.

If anyone was going to consistently bring in 5-star recruiting classes to Minnesota, it was Tim Brewster.  Nobody worked harder at recruiting than Brewster and his staff.  Brewster was a master recruiter, and will probably remain so if his next job is at the college level.  Brewster upgraded the talent level and brought in several potential stars, but he couldn't bring in enough talent to compensate for a lack of coaching experience.  If Jerry Kill can bring in recruiting classes at least similar in ranking to those of Brewster, he may be able to mold them into an upper-tier Big Ten team within a few years.

Why do I like Jerry Kill, so far?

Minnesota is hungry for a winner.  Kill has been a winner.  So, why all the discontent?  Take an unbiased look at the last few weeks.  Twitter-crazed fans.  Numerous false leads.  False hope that a "Tubby Smith of football" considered Minnesota to be a dream job.  Talk of $5 million salaries.  In many ways, a win-at-all costs frenzy.  Is that what Minnesota is all about?

Minnesota football has a history of tough, hard-working winners like  Bronco Nagurski.  It has a history of diversity for the right reasons, not just for winning games and making money.  Minnesotans embrace tough blue-collar coaches like Bud Grant and Ron Gardenhire, and traditionally don't buy snake oil from fast-talkers with slick hair, fake tans, and white veneer teeth.

Maybe I'm wrong, but from what I've read and seen about Jerry Kill he should fit right in up here.  He's tough, determined, hard-working, and he tells jokes.  He doesn't need his ego stroked.  He coaches smart football, and all indications are that he does things the right way.

I'm sick and tired of hearing about other programs with their revoked Heisman Trophies, allegations of payoffs, and sleaze-bag coaches who use negative recruiting tactics.  Jerry Kill may be the best chance Minnesota has to not just win, but win the right way.  There will always be programs that prefer bling over brains, and silicone over testosterone.   But they're just not, nor will they ever understand, Minnesota.  Jerry Kill just might be the guy who puts together a team that kicks their primadonna asses.

If there was one game on the 2010 schedule that most Gopher fans would have chosen to win, it was Saturday's Iowa game.  TDG's own GopherNation wrote a great recap of the game and provided some amazing pictures from the field.  Looking back, there are many stories that could be written about that game. 

From Jeff Horton, to the return of Floyd of Rosedale, to Troy Stoudermire's emergence as a defensive backfield leader, to MarQueis Gray as a difference maker for a Minnesota victory (his touchdown and critical fourth down run sealed Iowa's fate), the stories are as plentiful as a Thanksgiving cornucopia. 

Our rival Iowa blog had previewed the game with a few (sarcastic) reasons that Minnesota might win the game.  Yes, they're still going to a bowl game.  And yes, they've been able to maintain a consistently upper-tier Big Ten team.  Yes, 55-0 did happen.  Still, I have to fan the flames of the rivalry.

Instead of writing about one angle of the Iowa game, or trying to summarize several stories in a single article, I've decided to try something new.  Of all the potential stories that I think are potential headliners from the game, I'll give you some of the ones that I would have chosen.  A poll can then decide what you, the fans, thought was the best story of the game.

So, pick your favorite headline for last Saturday.  If you choose "Other," please provide your idea in the comment section:

- Before we get to the football coaching search, Gopher Basketball lost last night to Virginia.  PJS captures the lowlights in this post.

***UPDATE*** - The Star Tribune is reporting that buyout costs may be the primary reason that Minnesota is having trouble landing an experienced, successful current head coach:

The question is whether Minnesota will be able to pay a significant buyout just to free a coach from his existing contract. University Regent Dean Johnson said Monday that it's "going to be difficult -- no doubt about it'' for the Gophers to pay a large buyout.

If, at this point, cost prohibits the hiring of a top coach, there should be a hefty discount on next season's tickets.  If another B-List cost-effective hire is made, I will support the Gophers from home rather than continue to pay full price to watch a program that is not committed to putting a quality product on the field.  Hopefully the announcement of the next head coach will prove the article wrong.

Minnesota's search for a new head coach has become a speculation and rumor mill extravaganza.  Several names have been mentioned as potential candidates, and there have been a few false alarms:

- First, there were reports that Brady Hoke would be the next head coach, and that the announcement could have come as early as yesterday.  Tom Dienhart now claims that Hoke is no longer interested.

- Second, an update from FootballScoop.com:  "We have just been told that Brady Hoke, Paul Chryst, Troy Calhoun, and Randy Edsall have all informed Minnesota AD Joel Maturi that they are not interested in the head coaching job at Minnesota."

- Third, a false alarm was issued via Twitter on Monday that Larry Fedora was on campus and would be named as the next head coach.  A Mississippi reporter now claims that he has not even been contacted.

- Fourth, Monday night brought with it speculation that Dan Mullen was to be named the next coach.  Now, it is reported that he's after the Miami job.

- Fifth, there is more speculation about Phil Fulmer.  We could be host to the namesake of the Fulmer Cup.

I must say that all of the commotion, and even the false alarms, made for an entertaining day on a rainy Monday.  There are two names that haven't been mentioned recently: Kevin Sumlin and Al Golden.  As of late, Sumlin's defense at Houston has looked like Swiss cheese.  Golden would be a good fit, and he has the right name for the job.

- Josh Katzenstein of the Minnesota Daily has the best headline of the week:

"Both Minnesota football teams struggling to get 'Chilly' hot"

- Enough football.  Gopher basketball is now ranked 15th in the Nation for the AP poll.  Michigan State and Ohio State weigh in at second and third place, respectively.  We're in for a competitive season of Big Ten basketball.

- Trevor Mbakwe's outstanding play in Puerto Rico earned a few accolades.  Mbakwe was named the co-Big Ten player of the week along with Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, and was also the MVP of the Puerto Rico Tip Off Tournament:

Junior Trevor Mbakwe scored in double figures for the fifth game in a row, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds to win most valuable player honors for the Gophers after leading them to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship Sunday against West Virginia.

- Even a Villanova blog is taking notice of the Gophers.

- ESPN's Andy Katz was at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, and had the following comments in his tournament summary:

I was convinced Minnesota would be a factor when I saw it practice last month. The Gophers were just too big inside with Trevor Mbakwe, Ralph Sampson III, Colton Iverson and Maurice Walker to be a fluke.

- Here is but one of the many highlights from Puerto Rico:

Wisconsin beat up on Indiana to the score of 83-20 last Saturday, and as a result drew criticism from across the country.  Despite writing for a Minnesota-biased website, for which anti-Wisconsin spin is expected, I'm going to defend the Badger coaching staff. 

First of all, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema didn't leave his starters in the game once it was lopsided.  His comments are noted in an Adam Rittenberg post on ESPN's Big Ten Blog:

"It was accusations that came from people probably that didn't see the game. If you watched it, you'd see the way it unfolded. ... In the second half, especially, we had our fourth-string center snapping to our fifth-team quarterback, and so on and so forth. And we were still able to have productive yards."

Second, Wisconsin is in fact amidst a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with Ohio State and Michigan State.  BCS rankings will decide the team that goes to Pasadena in the event of a tie.  Impressive victories may influence the voting process that determines this process.  Barry Alvarez claims that Wisconsin may in fact have an edge in the BCS rankings if there is a three-way tie at seasons' end.

Third, the hypocrisy.  Wisconsin defeated Indiana by a margin of 63 points.  Oregon defeated Portland State this year by a score of 69-0, and they beat New Mexico State 72-0.  Yet, they are the darlings of college football.  Boise State and TCU have blown out several lesser opponents, and claim their lopsided margins of victory are a necessary evil because they are disadvantaged members of the BCS process.  Is the Big Ten held to different standards than other conferences?  That shouldn't be the case.

83-20 is a ridiculous score.  Few will argue that point.  There may have been a few plays that were more aggressive than some would like to have seen, but they were by backup players.  If you're going to point a finger a Wisconsin, don't forget to point it at Oregon, TCU, and Boise State too. 

Gopher basketball defeated Siena last night 76-69, in part due to some impressive performances from young players.  Trevor Mbakwe was a force on the boards with 11 rebounds, and also had 10 points.  Freshman Austin Hollins impressed the crowd by going 3-6 from behind the arc, and Rodney Williams entertained the crowd with a few circus plays around the rim.

Gopher football fans should tune in to watch Al Golden's Temple squad this evening on ESPN2 at 7pm.  He's got to be near the top of the Gophers' coaching wish list.

So, speculation aside about whom may be interested in taking the Gopher football coaching job, what other top schools will be looking for a coach?  Right now, the top competitor is Colorado.  Arizona State is a likely addition to the list.  Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, and Mississippi are also possibilities.  Want to watch some meaningful games for Gopher football?  Root for these teams to win out their schedules and reduce the competition.

At ESPN's Big Ten Blog, Adam Rittenberg discusses the Gopher victory.  Jeff Horton is quoted in the article:

"Just the circumstances, all the uncertainty, coaches, players, all we've been through," Horton said. "I don't think people realize how hard this is. It's a daily grind to try to keep moving forward. To see it pay off for the kids and the coaches was awesome."

This win, in my opinion, was a big one for Gopher football.  It demonstrates that there is talent on this team for the next coach to work with, it rewards the players who never gave up, and it just may create some hope heading into 2011.  Personally, I'd like to see both Jeff Horton and Thomas Hammock remain members of the next head coach's staff.

Gopher Football fans aren't a happy bunch.  All of that hope stemming from TCF Bank Stadium and on-campus football seems lost.  Well, they'll get over it if the right steps are taken to fix the program.  See, the fair-weather fans were weeded out from the so-called "Gopher Nation" years ago.  If the administration and the current coaches handle this transition period, the hope of the fans will soon return.

Here's a general plan to restore some confidence in the state of Gopher Football that I'd bet most fans would like to see from both the coaching staff and the administration:

The Coaching Staff

1. The current coaching staff needs to state to the public that their primary responsibility is to prepare the team for next year.  It is the responsible course of action, and it will look better on their resumes than trying to win at the expense of developing the program responsibly.
2. Don't burn any more redshirts.  That won't help anyone for 2011.
3. Announce to the fans that you'll be ensuring that non-redshirt underclassmen will see more live action to ensure that they are better prepared for the future.  Ask the fans to accept some mistakes from young players as part of the rebuilding process, and the response from fans may be surprising.
4. Commit to shaking things up on the field.  "Sticking to what works" doesn't work.  At least give the fans some unique formations, trick plays, and exciting on-field action to watch.
5. Convince the players to wait until they can evaluate the new coaching regime before making any decisions about transferring.  It would be best for their careers to do exactly that.

The Administration

1. Accept that the next coach will need to be paid well.  I'm no financial guru, but I'll bet that at this point expenditures for a good coach will be compensated by revenue from ticket sales, merchandise sales, boosters, and maybe even bowl game revenue.
2. Encourage the next coach to evaluate the current coaches fairly.  When Brewster cleaned house in 2007, complete disarray followed when quality coaches such as Gordy Shaw were released.  In other words, keep Thomas Hammock on staff and give the others a fair shot at a job.
3. Try to hire an exciting coach.  Someone without a vanilla personality.  Maybe a little bit controversial, but not in their commitment to academics.  Someone with a personality that has enough horsepower to tow a large bandwagon.
   
4. Hire a coach who will win by playing smart football.  Most people would rather watch a team of good athletes outsmart and out-compete the competition than a team of blue chip recruits compensate for mistakes with raw talent.  Now, smart football with blue chip recruits is the ideal but that's a Catch-22.  Most top tier blue chip recruits won't join your program until you've proven you can win.  So, start with smart football.

The plan to restore hope in the program isn't that difficult.  If the price is right, I'm sure that the right coaching candidate is out there.  And if the current coaching staff commits to building the program instead of their resumes, the transition could be smooth and their resumes could be in the best possible condition.  Gopher Nation is used to disappointment, disarray, and losing.  Give them something to look forward to and you'll be surprises how quickly their hope and support will return for 2011.

After a half hour of searching, I only found a few links worth mentioning.  I'll add a poll at the end of today's Nugs that will hopefully prove a point regarding current fan sentiment.

First, Nadine Babu wrote a piece for the Star Tribune that sums up fan sentiment rather completely.  It can be read by clicking here:

I know a number of people that dropped their season tickets last year for this very reason, and many more plan to drop their tickets this year...one year into a brand new stadium. The excitement of a new venue comes once in a lifetime, and that buzz has already died down and the University of Minnesota Athletic Department has been unable to capitalized on it.

Last week, a rumor was floating around that Tim Brewster broke the glass on a trophy case on his way out the door after being let go.  According to this article, the rumor is false and he didn't break the glass of an empty trophy case.

Could this article have legs?  Scout.com's message boards and an Alabama reporter are both convinced that Phil Fulmer is the next Gopher coach.  I'd prefer going after Brian Kelly (if he gets axed by the Golden Domers after one year), Mike Leach, or Kevin Sumlin (only with an defensive coordinator).

Now for the poll:

In last night's podcast I officially endorsed Mike Leach as the coaching candidate that would give Minnesota the best chance to win.  Since recording the podcast, I came across a few videos on Gopher Hole that raise the question of Leach as a cultural fit for Minnesota.  If you play the first two videos that are embedded below while you are at work, keep the volume on low:

Would such behavior be interpreted as bravado in Minnesota, as it was in Texas?  The next video features two of his former players, who appear to hold him in high regard:

So, would Mike Leach be a cultural fit at Minnesota?  There's little doubt that while he is a great coach, he's not Minnesota Nice.

I wrote this article about a year ago, and thought this a fitting time to republish it:

If the Gopher football team loses versus South Dakota State on Saturday, there will inevitably be an emotional tidal wave of irrational exuberance demanding a new head coach.  After giving current head coach Tim Brewster only two recruiting classes to turn the entire program around and with two failed coaches preceding him, finding a new head coach would be a tough chore.  If in fact a search for a new head coach is to commence, there is but one candidate who could turn the Minnesota program into a BCS contender within one or two years: Erin Andrews. 

The case-in-point is only half comical, because while it is a farce the argument has credence:

1. The Gophers would receive national television exposure on a weekly basis.  With Erin Andrews as head coach, there would probably be a few nationally broadcast games each season on major television networks.  It's all about ratings, right?  Also, sports newscasters around the country would give Minnesota frequent coverage.  Newspapers, magazines, and blogs would all become instant experts on the University of Minnesota.
   
2. Talented recruits would commit to Minnesota.  Inevitably, there would be a certain percentage of five and four star recruits who would commit to a team that is frequently on television, plays in a major city, has one of the nicest stadiums in the country, and...oh...what recruit could say no to Erin Andrews?
3. Talented coordinators would come to Minnesota.  National television exposure, talented players, a chance to be a part of history, and an opportunity to work for Erin Andrews.  In fact, Minnesota could probably land enough talented coordinators and assistants to take care of the coaching.  Erin Andrews appears to know the basics of the game of football in her interviews, but instead could focus on recruiting and public relations while the top tier coordinators and assistants take care of the rest.
4. Ticket sales would skyrocket.  Literally, TCF Bank Stadium would be the hottest ticket in town.
   
5. Merchandise sales would skyrocket.  Maroon and gold apparel would be a nationwide sensation.  The University could generate millions (if not tens of millions) in revenue from apparel licensing alone.
   
6. Minnesota would make history.  What other hiring decision could possibly top the hiring of Erin Andrews as the first female head coach of a Division IA program?  100 years from now it would still be a college football first and a trivia fact known by the masses.

Ridiculous? Yes.  Am I Serious?  Of course not.  But then again, it just might work.

the following link replays an interview with former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach:

http://nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d0/dV/dV/d2/dE/VV2E_3.MP3?authtok=5561277325367033483_s1BKTHliHL7R0Ak0zctpqKFMMNI

The Brewster era only lasted three-and-a-half seasons, but was filled with memorable moments.  Mostly lowlights for Gopher fans, and highlights for opposing fans.

First, let me say that I applaud Tim Brewster for his efforts.  I have little doubt that he worked hard at the job every day, remained passionate about the program, cared about his players, and wanted to win.  In the end, a lack of head coach or coordinator level experience may have been the primary cause of his downfall.

That being said, let's take a lighthearted journey through the Brewster era:

1.  The Rose Bowl Turf - The Brewster era began with his promise of a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl for the newly coined "Gopher Nation."  A piece of turf from the Rose Bowl was placed in the locker room as a reminder of bigger things to come.

2.  Forgetting the Footballs - Forgetting the game balls for the trip to Florida Atlantic foreshadowed the start of a 10 game losing streak in 2007.  Gung-ho Gopher fans may have stopped to wonder about a staff that forgets the footballs.

3.  Losing to North Dakota State - The 2007 loss to North Dakota State was heralded as the most embarrassing loss in Gopher football history.  Little did Gopher Nation know that there were two worse losses yet to come.

4.  Losing to Northwestern on a last play interception-for-a-touchdown - After a 7-1 start in 2008, a last second interception that won the game for Northwestern was the impetus for a five game slide.  The "Here-we-go-again" attitude had returned.

5.  55-0 - Not only did Minnesota lose the Metrodome finale, they got rolled by Iowa on a Saturday Night.  Enough said.  Until, that is, the score for the game was "accidentally" left off of the program for the 2009 season.

More after the jump:

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Statistically, Time Brewster could still lead the Gophers to either bowl eligibility or a strong five win finish to the 2010 season.  In my opinion, either scenario would save his job.  Now, such a feat would require winning some very difficult games.  How difficult?  Let's take a look at the updated Hot Seat Magic Number Chart:

Having already lost to both Northwestern and Wisconsin, the Gophers options for a strong finish are slim.  The only way that they can lose to Iowa and reach six wins would require wins versus both Ohio State and Penn State.  Unlikely.  Even if lightning strikes and they beat Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan State are having monster seasons.  The only conceivable (yet highly unlikely) scenario would be wins versus Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois and either Michigan State or Ohio State for a 6 win season.  If that happened (please...I'm not saying it will) Brewster should deserve a shot at the 2011 season.

The list is short, and the odds are against him.  Yet, if one of these scenarios happens, do you think he deserves another shot?

22 Points.  That's the anticipated margin of victory for Wisconsin as predicted by gambling experts this evening.  That's a hefty spread.  As discussed by Jeffrick yesterday, Brewster's Gophers have lost to Wisconsin the last three years by a combined 13 points. 

I'm not saying that Minnesota should be favored to win this game.  They shouldn't.  But 22 points?  Don't bet against the Gophers on that spread.

Michigan State was able to stuff the Wisconsin running game and slow down John Clay to just 80 yards rushing.  If Cosgrove's defense can play at the same level as the Northwestern game, they can prevent Clay from running wild.  Scott Tolzien is one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the Big Ten, but Wisconsin is a run-first-pass-second team.  Slow the Badger run, and their offense won't be firing on all cylinders.

Minnesota's offense put up over 20 points against both USC and Northwestern, both quality opponents.  If the Gopher offense performs in a similar fashion to those games, Wisconsin would have to score nearly 50 points to beat the 22 point spread.  That's quite a few points for a run-first team that eats up the clock.

Now, I'm not going to predict that Minnesota will win this game.  The odds, and history, are against them leaving Camp Randall victorious.  Yet this isn't any game.  This is the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe.  The Gophers should be fired up to face their border rival. 

Historically, Kevin Cosgrove's defenses have had a difficult time defending teams with a spread offense.  Wisconsin doesn't run a spread offense, and they usually don't try too many trick plays.  They prefer smash-mouth, in-your-face physical football.  Cosgrove's defenses usually hold up well against run-first teams.  The Badgers will rack up some yards and tally some points, but I doubt the game will be a lopsided blowout.

If Minnesota is to score an upset this season, Wisconsin could be the victim.  I'd still bet on Wisconsin to win the game, but only by about 12 points.  If Wisconsin wins, I'll be very surprised if they cover that 22 point spread.

Northwestern's Lake the Posts reacts to their one point victory at this link. One commenter notes:

I'm pleased, but I'm shocked. I was sure we still wouldn't be after that performance. I'm not sure myself that we deserve to be ranked based on who and how we beat. But I guess 5-0 is persuasive. I say we just beat Purdue convincingly so we can really deserve attention.

The Daily Northwestern also reacts to the slim victory and the 5-0 start:

"There's a lot of confidence going into close games," Fitzgerald said. "We've been in so many of them now over these past few years ... With our new marketing campaign, I figured why not have it be entertaining and find a way to get people to come to Ryan Field."

One of our own authors writes an article about the Gophers' troubles over at Off Tackle Empire:

I still believe that this is a talented group of players who are plagued by rookie mistakes, but let's be honest. At the end of the day, isn't that also a coaching issue?

Iowa's BHGP has a thread started about Tim Brester's statement that this team could be at 5-0 at this link.  Frat House Sports has a similar thread at this link.  Here's a few reactions from BHGP:

Yours truly at CBS, explaining the similarity between Minneapolis and the tiny island nation of Vanuatu.

From a Minnesota fan:

sigh....

Can you guys do us a favor and win 56-0 this year?

As an aside, what will you guys do when the Gophs hire a normal coach in a couple months (it's a stretch, I realize this).

I've updated my list of former Gophers who are currently playing college football for the 2010 season.  The original post was quite popular, so I've updated the list and the notes of interest.

Every college football program in America will lose players that either don't qualify for academic reasons, transfer, or leave the team for other reasons.  Minnesota is no exception.  Many of their names are never again heard after their departure.  Ever wonder which former Gophers could still be playing for the team, and whether or not they would have added depth to the current squad?  Following is a list of former Gophers, where they are now, and what kind of season they are having so far.  Click on their highlighted school names to view their player profile pages on the websites of their current teams:

Three games into the 2010 season, a few of these former Gophers are missed.  Tim Dandridge would have been a helpful addition at safety, Sam Maresh may have helped the linebacker corps, and Brodrick Smith would have been a nice target at wide receiver.

Last Spring, I would have predicted Kevin Whaley to be the most detrimental loss.  Duane Bennett and Donnell Kirkwood have picked up the pace at running back, and Whaley is not so sorely missed.

Overall, there aren't very many standout players on this list besides Brodrick Smith of Kansas State.  Yet, collectively these players would have added depth to the Gopher squad.

Despite entering a challenging Big Ten schedule with a 1-3 record, there is still a chance that the Gophers can recover and save Tim Brewster's job.  A likely chance?  I wouldn't go that far.  Welcome to the second edition of the Hot Seat Magic Number.  By the way, I'm counting the number of wins Brewster will need to keep his job, and not the number of losses to lose it.

If the team could recover to have a 6-6 record, such improvement would require a 5-3 Big Ten record.  I'll go as far as to say that a 5-7 record, with 4 wins against the right teams, could also save his job.

I wanted to have a positive Daily Nugs for Tuesday morning, but I couldn't find any.  I tried Google, Google Blog Search, SBN, and more.  Well, Tubby's basketball team will start having more news soon and I look forward to that day.  For now, I'm stuck with either more doom and gloom or nothing at all.

- Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press names Tony Dungy as the top candidate to replace Tim Brewster.  He is the first local reporter, to my knowledge, who engages in such speculation.  I don't have my hopes up, but there is still time for Brewster to have a stellar Big Ten season and redeem himself.  A good article, but Tony Dungy accepting a college coaching job is about as likely as Urban Meyer becoming the Gophers' coach to escape the Florida humidity.

- An article over at SBN discusses Brewster's situation:

J is for Jobless: Tim Brewster of Minnesota, who pulled off a rare double by losing to both an FCS and MAC school in the same year. This week's accomplishment was the MAC leg, accomplished by allowing NIU RB Chad Spann to run for 223 yards and two TDs on just 15 carries. I'm pretty sure that's an average of 839 yards a carry when you do the math, but it would have been hard to concentrate on doing the arithmetic over the "Fire Brewster" chants echoing through the stadium on three different occasions.

- Buck Nuts discusses the Big Ten teams that may have new coaches for 2011:

The most-obvious candidate for the chopping blocks is Tim Brewster at Minnesota. If you can get past the fact that he has absolutely embarrassed the conference this year by losing to a I-AA school (South Dakota) and a MAC school (Northern Illinois) both at home - and we don't know how you could possibly gloss over that - there is even more alarming facts on Brewster's resume.

- Eleven Warriors recaps the Big Ten games of the week:

Ever want to see what it's like for an entire football team to give up on a coach? Take a trip to Minneapolis, where it once looked like an OSU road trip at night to TCF Bank Stadium could be an upset-alert type game. Now Tim Brewster's team is the laugh of the conference, after losing games to South Dakota and Northern Illinois and narrowly beating Middle Tennessee State 24-17. The Gophers did play USC tough, only losing 32-21, but it appears they have just completely folded this season. I can't see Minnesota winning more than one game at best in the conference and an 0-8 season is definitely possible. Think a 1-11 or 2-10 season ends Tim Brewster's run at Minnesota? Want Glenn Mason back Gopher fans? The answer to both of those questions is yes.

• GN NUGZ LINK - this may be a stretch for positivity, but Lindsay Whalen led Team USA in scoring in a 41 point win over Canada in the FIBA World Championships.