BleedGopher
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per Shipley:
After losses to Purdue, Illinois and Penn State, the Gophers (4-3 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) won’t play in the 2023 Rose Bowl and it’s a bummer because the planets seemed to be aligning for Minnesota – sixth-year stars at tailback, receiver and quarterback, plus a West Division schedule that doesn’t include crossover games against Michigan or Ohio State. So, let’s not pretend the Gophers have not already frittered away an opportunity that might not come again for years. With UCLA and Southern Cal set to join the Big Ten for the 2024 season, Fleck’s job only gets tougher.
But let’s not pretend Minnesota’s season is over, either. While the Gophers has proven they will have their hands full in each of their last five regular-season games, they also have shown enough to prove they can beat any of them — including Iowa and Wisconsin. Minnesota hasn’t beaten both of its border rivals in the same season since 1990.
Be honest here, Tiger. If you believe eight or nine wins and a bowl game is a disappointing college football season, you’re rooting for the wrong program. With the NCAA rapidly relaxing its rules, and the Power Conferences consolidating power, the college football template is pretty much set. That doesn’t mean Minnesota can’t make serious noise every few years. Those are the magic seasons.
“I told our team (Sunday), we’ve got five total games left guaranteed, right? And we can still play our best football,” Fleck said.
That’s true, but they had better start on Saturday, because to make this one special, they need to run the table.
www.twincities.com
Go Gophers!!
After losses to Purdue, Illinois and Penn State, the Gophers (4-3 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) won’t play in the 2023 Rose Bowl and it’s a bummer because the planets seemed to be aligning for Minnesota – sixth-year stars at tailback, receiver and quarterback, plus a West Division schedule that doesn’t include crossover games against Michigan or Ohio State. So, let’s not pretend the Gophers have not already frittered away an opportunity that might not come again for years. With UCLA and Southern Cal set to join the Big Ten for the 2024 season, Fleck’s job only gets tougher.
But let’s not pretend Minnesota’s season is over, either. While the Gophers has proven they will have their hands full in each of their last five regular-season games, they also have shown enough to prove they can beat any of them — including Iowa and Wisconsin. Minnesota hasn’t beaten both of its border rivals in the same season since 1990.
Be honest here, Tiger. If you believe eight or nine wins and a bowl game is a disappointing college football season, you’re rooting for the wrong program. With the NCAA rapidly relaxing its rules, and the Power Conferences consolidating power, the college football template is pretty much set. That doesn’t mean Minnesota can’t make serious noise every few years. Those are the magic seasons.
“I told our team (Sunday), we’ve got five total games left guaranteed, right? And we can still play our best football,” Fleck said.
That’s true, but they had better start on Saturday, because to make this one special, they need to run the table.
John Shipley: Gophers’ next one-game championship is a must-win
Minnesota can still make this season something special, but the Gophers will have to run the table.
www.twincities.com
Go Gophers!!
