In the Twin Cities market, every single team has a hard-core fan base that feels "their" team doesn't get enough media coverage compared to other teams.
From my perspective as a guy in his 60's who has been reading the TC papers since high school, the Vikings are the #1 team in the Twin Cities market, and it's not even close. #2 depends on which team is in season - AND which team is having a good year.
For better or worse, TC fans are front-runners and bandwagon-jumpers. They love to follow the "hot" team - but as soon as it stops being the "hot" team, they jump ship and look for the next "hot" team. Over the last 45+ years, I've seen the North Stars, the Twins, the Kicks, the Wild and Gopher hoops all take turns as the "hot" team.
Gopher FB has had a few brief moments in the spotlight. A little buzz during the Lou Holtz years, and, of course, the Michigan Game. (the Friday night 4th-quarter horror). That was the moment that could have been. If the Gophers win that game, I think it changes the public attitude toward the Gophs. But losing that game - and the manner in which it was lost - solidified the "same old Gophers" mindset that gets trotted out every time the FB program has a setback. In my nearly 50 years as a Gopher FB fan, that one game, I believe, had the single biggest impact on public perception of the program.
