I know this 6 game winning streak is awesome! Best thing I've witnessed in forever but I feel a few of you need to be pulled back into Minnesota.
The Vikings were the last unbeaten team in the NFL and failed to make the playoffs.
The 2004? Timberwolves were on their way to the NBA finals when Sam I Am hurt his leg.
Farve threw an interception in 2009.
The Vikes have lost 4 Super Bowls and were favored in at least 2 of them.
*****************
We are not used to being fans of a front running team and have feasted on underdog status for years. Please help remind our current Gopher players of past letdowns when it had appeared they had turned the corner and reached the next level.
Saturday against Penn State won't be easy. Nebraska won't be easy. But we will be decided favorites in both games. Anything less than maximum effort will deflate this balloon as quickly as the 5 game losing streak when we were tied for the conference lead.
Gophers, please don't overlook PSU and Nebraska! You've earned everything you have achieved this year. Nothing will be handed to you now.
Go Gophers!!
You bring up only professional teams who let down Minnesota fans. Guys who our pro teams PAID to come here. Guys whose hearts may not be 100%?
I'll point out to you COLLEGE examples of Gopher teams that did NOT disappoint us.
Men's Golf team that barely got past the 2nd round of the NCAA tourney, and the program was going to be dropped, but they came back in round 3 and 4 and ended up winning the Natl Title, which inspired donations to come in and save not only their program, but the women's golf and men's gymnastics team as well.
The Men's hockey team that made a run all the way to the Championship game a couple of years ago, when no one thought they were that good.
The Women's hockey team that went into the NCAA tourney as the underdog, well, at least not the favorite, but they beat the favorite and won a surprise Natl Title, basically garnering the program the legitimate status of a DYNASTY, as that surprise win helped them to win 4 Titles in 5 years, with a runner up finish the one year they didn't win.
The women's hockey team back over 10 years ago, that made a surprise run into the Frozen Four and finished as runner ups.
The 1989 and 90 Men's BB teams that both made runs deeper into the NCAA tourney than either were thought capable of doing.
The 1997 Men's BB team that came out of a weak Big Ten that had underperformed as a conference the previous couple of years, and that many did not believe would do much in the Big Dance, that made it all the way to the Final Four.
The Women's Cheer program, that after winning 4 titles in a row in the early part of the 2000s, suffered through a 2-3 year period that had them finishing not even close to winning the title, but came roaring back to the top of the sport and has won at least 1 Title every year now for what is it, 6, 7, 8 years in a row now? They've won so many I've simply lost count.
A women's VB program that is getting to the point that Final Four runs are becoming almost the expectation.
Their run 2 years ago came out of nowhere for most, as the season before the team didn't even make the tourney. Much like this year's Men's BB team. But they didn't come anywhere near making the tourney, so no, I'm not saying its a direct correlation, I am not saying that our Men's BB team will make a run to the Final Four, at least not this year. But I wouldn't be shocked to see them get to the Elite 8.
We had a Women's Soccer team that played hard all season and won them a Big Ten Title.
We have a women's Softball team that has been getting better and better every year and is up to #11 in the polls after a record 9-0 start.
We have a Men's Gymnastics team that is ranked #5
We have an injury plagued Women's Hockey team that pulled off back to back ties against the #1 ranked team in the country last week and are ranked #4.
We have a Men's Hockey team that has played its way up to a #4 ranking.
The Men's Tennis team has cracked the Top 25 poll and the Baseball team is getting votes for the Top 25.
And there are other Top 25 teams I haven't mentioned.
And several of our sports teams are climbing in the ACADEMIC rankings, and winning acclaim or awards for their academic achievements, including our football and basketball teams.
Why is it all some Minnesota fans seem to focus on is the negatives? They look only at pro sports and the big 2, mens bb and fb as the only measure for success of Minnesota sports.
Oh, but they forget to mention the success of the Lynx. And this year, the Wild, #2 team in all of the NHL, just a point out of being #1.
And they seem to forget that we are a SMALL MARKET. No city/state has such a small population and SO MANY sports teams.
I just get so sick of the negativity.
