http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/35106959.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU
Interesting move by Brewster to bring in what he is calling a running game coordinator. It definitely can't hurt since the Gophers run offense and red zone offense were completely futile. The spread offense does not work in the Big Ten, at least not with the players the Gophers currently have, so making adjustments to it seems logical. We'll see if any of the changes are noticeable in Detroit against Ball State on December 26th.
Speaking of Detroit, wow are the Lions abysmally bad. I was worried about the Vikings game against them next week since that is only winnable game they have left, but how in the world could anyone (including the Vikings) lose to them. Thanks for the two free wins Matt Millen.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
106-80???
Did I see that right? The T-Wolves beat Detroit on the road by 26 points?!?! The Vikes win by 18 in an outdoor road game. The Goofs lose by 55 in a shutout on senior day in a quazi home game. Quite a weekend. What next, is the Dow going to erase it's losses for the year?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Must Win
Why is it that the Vikes always get themselves into must-win situations throughout the season if they want to make the playoffs? It probably has a lot to do with the fact that they are perpetually a mediocre team.
They have another must-win scenario tomorrow against Jacksonville since they already have five losses and they will not win at Arizona and win probably not win the final game at home against the Giants. Sadly in the last few years the Vikes have wet the bed in games that they need to win. Even though the game is in Jacksonville (whose fans are about as passionate as T-Wolf fans) they should be able to take care of business since the Jags come into the game with a 1-4 record at home. However, we have said that before.
They have another must-win scenario tomorrow against Jacksonville since they already have five losses and they will not win at Arizona and win probably not win the final game at home against the Giants. Sadly in the last few years the Vikes have wet the bed in games that they need to win. Even though the game is in Jacksonville (whose fans are about as passionate as T-Wolf fans) they should be able to take care of business since the Jags come into the game with a 1-4 record at home. However, we have said that before.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Goodbye Metrodome
I saw this article on startribune.com ranking the top 5 losses in Gophers history while at the Metrodome since the game Saturday against Iowa will be the last game the Gophers will play there. Check it out:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/34813109.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiacyKUU
Notice that you will not find the top five wins. It's also interesting that all of the heartbreaking losses have been in the last eight years. I suppose it was hard to find a heartbreaking loss in the late 80's and 90's when you were blown out every time. Hopefully, the Golden Goofs can close it out in style.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/34813109.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiacyKUU
Notice that you will not find the top five wins. It's also interesting that all of the heartbreaking losses have been in the last eight years. I suppose it was hard to find a heartbreaking loss in the late 80's and 90's when you were blown out every time. Hopefully, the Golden Goofs can close it out in style.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Another Disappointing Day
Unfortunately a football game is four quarters long. If they just played two the Gophers would have improved to 8-3, instead they find themselves at 7-4 in the midst of a three-game slide. I have never coached football so this is easy for me to say but the Gophers play with very little discipline and mental toughness which always seems to cost them in close games. Is that a result of the coaching or just lack of judgment by the players? They also have a horrible track record when they fall behind in games. Bad things happen to them and then they snowball, which is what happened to them again in Madison today.
To be perfectly honest, I was shocked that they almost pulled off the win, even if Wisconsin is far from an impressive team. Our offensive line once again didn't show up and made if difficult for the Gophers to move the ball consistently. That is the strange this about this Gophers team, the O-line is usually their biggest strength (and for a lot of previous teams their only strength). As this season has wore on the O-line has proven to be their biggest liability.
Hopefully they can play a complete game against Iowa and get to 8-4 and thus avoid having to go to the Motor City Bowl where Ball State or Central Michigan will be salivating to beat another Big Ten team (if you count IU as a Big Ten team).
In other positive news, the T-Wolves managed to blow another game when taking a lead into the 4th quarter for the fourth time this season to drop to 1-7 overall. At least Brandon Roy only outscored Randy Foye 24-10.
I am debating changing the name of the blog to Fire Wittman Now, but then everyone would stop reading it, including myself.
To be perfectly honest, I was shocked that they almost pulled off the win, even if Wisconsin is far from an impressive team. Our offensive line once again didn't show up and made if difficult for the Gophers to move the ball consistently. That is the strange this about this Gophers team, the O-line is usually their biggest strength (and for a lot of previous teams their only strength). As this season has wore on the O-line has proven to be their biggest liability.
Hopefully they can play a complete game against Iowa and get to 8-4 and thus avoid having to go to the Motor City Bowl where Ball State or Central Michigan will be salivating to beat another Big Ten team (if you count IU as a Big Ten team).
In other positive news, the T-Wolves managed to blow another game when taking a lead into the 4th quarter for the fourth time this season to drop to 1-7 overall. At least Brandon Roy only outscored Randy Foye 24-10.
I am debating changing the name of the blog to Fire Wittman Now, but then everyone would stop reading it, including myself.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tubby Keeps At It
National signing day in college b'ball was today and Tubby was able to get the another solid recruiting class to come to the U. The experts like the four guys that signed, Scout.com has the class ranked #11 (2nd in the Big Ten behind IU) and Rivals has it ranked #22 (3rd in the Big Ten behind IU and Illinois). Two of the recruits are ranked in the top 100, Royce White (#54-Scout and #19-Rivals) and Rodney Williams (#32-Scout and #95-Rivals). What is impressive about that is they are both from Minnesota. You know that is all because of Tubby. Monson would not have gotten either of those guys.
The Gophers are shaping up to be solid next year since the only two seniors on this year's team are role players, Jamal Abu-Shamala and Jonathan Williams. While it is still way too early to make predictions, they should be able compete for a Big Ten title.
It will be interesting to see how this year's recruiting class (ranked #23 by Rivals and #27 by Scout) fares in the Big Ten. The two Juco transfers, Paul Carter and Devron Bostick, look pretty solid as well as the kid from Canada, Devoe Joseph. The two big guys, Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson, are a little raw but will get experience in a hurry since Williams is out for 4-6 weeks. Hopefully they can make a run at a tourney berth but you know they will have RPI issues since the 2nd best nonconference opponent on the schedule is an Ivy league team (Cornell).
The Gophers are shaping up to be solid next year since the only two seniors on this year's team are role players, Jamal Abu-Shamala and Jonathan Williams. While it is still way too early to make predictions, they should be able compete for a Big Ten title.
It will be interesting to see how this year's recruiting class (ranked #23 by Rivals and #27 by Scout) fares in the Big Ten. The two Juco transfers, Paul Carter and Devron Bostick, look pretty solid as well as the kid from Canada, Devoe Joseph. The two big guys, Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson, are a little raw but will get experience in a hurry since Williams is out for 4-6 weeks. Hopefully they can make a run at a tourney berth but you know they will have RPI issues since the 2nd best nonconference opponent on the schedule is an Ivy league team (Cornell).
Sunday, November 9, 2008
MN Sports Weekend
The Minnesota sports scene was about three feet away from having an absolutely abysmal weekend. To recap:
The Gophers got completely embarrassed on ESPN with a no show performance against a 2-7 Michigan team. To top it off, Penn St. got beat so the Big Ten will only get one BCS team, meaning that the Gophers have a 0% chance of going to a January bowl game. However I do hear that Detroit is beautiful at the end of December.
The T'Wolves got blown out by a bad Sacromento team then lost another game after taking a lead into the 4th quarter against Portland, dropping their record to 1-5 to start the season and further solidify their status as NBA also-ran. It's sad when the opposition can sleepwalk through the first three quarters, wake up in the fourth, and still get an easy win.
The Wild also got shutout on Saturday night to drop their record to 2-4 in the last six games (I put that in for dramatic effect) so that brought us to the Vikes/Cheeseheads game on Sunday.
In true Vikings fashion they were in complete control of the game, but in the time it takes to go to the bathroom and clean up lunch they found themselves down by four and Childress looked like his puppy had ran away. However despite themselves they defied all logic and pulled back ahead riding the back of the aptly name superhero AD. Of course they tried to still give the game away by letting the Pack get to the 40 on the kickoff and subsequently into their territory. Then Mike McCarthy decided that they didn't need to get any closer for what would have been the winning field goal and waved the white flag (Crosby's field goal would have been good from anything less than about 45 yards). All Viking fans can only say thanks Mike, you kept the season alive, at least for another week. As fans that's all we ask for.
The Gophers got completely embarrassed on ESPN with a no show performance against a 2-7 Michigan team. To top it off, Penn St. got beat so the Big Ten will only get one BCS team, meaning that the Gophers have a 0% chance of going to a January bowl game. However I do hear that Detroit is beautiful at the end of December.
The T'Wolves got blown out by a bad Sacromento team then lost another game after taking a lead into the 4th quarter against Portland, dropping their record to 1-5 to start the season and further solidify their status as NBA also-ran. It's sad when the opposition can sleepwalk through the first three quarters, wake up in the fourth, and still get an easy win.
The Wild also got shutout on Saturday night to drop their record to 2-4 in the last six games (I put that in for dramatic effect) so that brought us to the Vikes/Cheeseheads game on Sunday.
In true Vikings fashion they were in complete control of the game, but in the time it takes to go to the bathroom and clean up lunch they found themselves down by four and Childress looked like his puppy had ran away. However despite themselves they defied all logic and pulled back ahead riding the back of the aptly name superhero AD. Of course they tried to still give the game away by letting the Pack get to the 40 on the kickoff and subsequently into their territory. Then Mike McCarthy decided that they didn't need to get any closer for what would have been the winning field goal and waved the white flag (Crosby's field goal would have been good from anything less than about 45 yards). All Viking fans can only say thanks Mike, you kept the season alive, at least for another week. As fans that's all we ask for.
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