Loss like this one to Maryland? Same day, maybe a couple of hours. This Gopher team wasn't going to do anything meaningful this year. We weren't going to suddenly win the conference for the first time in my lifetime with a longtime walkon QB leading the way. This season was always about hopefully seeing some things to be excited about for the future and hopefully 1-2 unexpected high points (win over Wisconsin finally? at least end the losing streak at Kinnick? Get the Jug back?). I am never going to reminisce about a 7-5 team so what did this game really mean?
Now how about the losses to PSU and Iowa to start last season? Those were crushing and really pissed me off for the rest of the season. To get that cakewalk schedule, lose to PSU in a game you should of won...then come HOME in your B1G HOME OPENER and lose against an Iowa team that was fresh off a loss to NDSU to basically end your season? A season that you had pointed to for at least a full year? BRUTAL
The Vikings loss on Sunday was much worse than the Gophers. The Vikings had a legit chance to make the playoffs this year and Green Bay is all kinds of banged up. If they just manage to beat Detroit at home they are 3-1, tied with the Pack, and going in to Chicaqo with a great chance to be 4-1 and 2-0 in the division. That's with their backup QB out. Instead, they drop about 5 interceptions, miss a chip shot field goal, and fumble the ball three times to essentially hand the game over to Detroit. Even worse than that, they lose their impressive rookie RB to an ACL tear and we may have already seen the very best of Dalvin Cook's NFL career. Despite what many bizarrely think, there's no guarantee an athlete that relies on explosiveness will ever be the same after an injury that significant.
Losses I am still not over: 1. '98 NFL Championship Game- it literally took multiple miracles to lose that game 2. '97 Final Four- if only Eric Harris was healthy and we might still win if that charge was called correctly. I don't think anything can "make up" for those losses, they will just haunt me for life as will the decisions made by Red McCombs starting with firing Dennis Green/hiring Mike Tice that combined with his epic cheapness closed a window that was open to compete for championships.