As with every Sunday, Coach Brewster joined Sid and Dave on 'CCO. You can find the link here.
-Sounds like Coach Brewster still has a lot of confidence in Weber, despite the fact that he is experiencing a difficult time right now. The passing game is out of rhythm. Hard to blame him as Weber has done a nice job of leading this offense through a tough season. He did, however, say that he would put the quarterback that gives them the best chance of winning, no matter who that is.
-A caller asked why Brewster never puts Tony Mortensen in the game. Brewster said he doesn't believe in pulling a guy who is struggling on the field out of the game, he wants to let Weber work through those times, and show confidence in him.
-Team morale, despite the tough W-L record, still seems to be good. Coach is happy with the players effort and morale, just wishes they could get some W's.
-Sounds like Brewster asked Lloyd Carr for an explanation of why on the last play of the game he ran a pass play when they were already up 24 points, but no response.
-Sid thinks that Coach Brewster is doing a great job and supports the job he is doing. YAY!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Groundhog Day?
If you have ever seen the movie "Groundhog Day," you know that Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, becomes destined to relive a day in his life over and over and over again. As first Connors takes advantage of the situation, but eventually wants out.
If our Golden Gophers were perennial winners, I might feel more like Murray's character early in the movie. But I think it's accurate to say that most Gopher fans feel more like Phil Connors towards the end of the movie. Perpetually seeing the same results with no change in outcome we are desperate to get out of this monotony.
As I was driving away from the sports bar where I watched the Gophs take on Michigan on Saturday I started thinking to myself: "Crap, what am I going to write about THIS one?" It occurred to me that this one doesn't particularly sting any worse than the others.
Even going into the locker room at halftime down only 3 points, I was uneasy. The offense could not get ANYTHING going, and this was not going to bode well for the second half. Michigan has a good defense, but that didn't seem to be the issue on Saturday.
Weber was off, and he has been off for two weeks. Is he over-thinking things? Have the game plans that have been installed the last two weeks been more complicated? What is going on?
I really like Weber, I think he's got the tools and confidence to be a BIG TIME college quarterback. But he doesn't seem to be the free-wheeling youngster that we saw earlier this year. Maybe he's now so worried about turnovers that he can't "create" like he is used to?
I would be curious to see what the reader's opinions are...
If our Golden Gophers were perennial winners, I might feel more like Murray's character early in the movie. But I think it's accurate to say that most Gopher fans feel more like Phil Connors towards the end of the movie. Perpetually seeing the same results with no change in outcome we are desperate to get out of this monotony.
As I was driving away from the sports bar where I watched the Gophs take on Michigan on Saturday I started thinking to myself: "Crap, what am I going to write about THIS one?" It occurred to me that this one doesn't particularly sting any worse than the others.
Even going into the locker room at halftime down only 3 points, I was uneasy. The offense could not get ANYTHING going, and this was not going to bode well for the second half. Michigan has a good defense, but that didn't seem to be the issue on Saturday.
Weber was off, and he has been off for two weeks. Is he over-thinking things? Have the game plans that have been installed the last two weeks been more complicated? What is going on?
I really like Weber, I think he's got the tools and confidence to be a BIG TIME college quarterback. But he doesn't seem to be the free-wheeling youngster that we saw earlier this year. Maybe he's now so worried about turnovers that he can't "create" like he is used to?
I would be curious to see what the reader's opinions are...
Friday, October 26, 2007
Injury bug
There is just no way around it, the Golden Gopher football team has been bitten by the injury bug. The bug has been especially active on the defensive side of the ball, where we definitely do not need it.
As if this team is not talent-poor defense wasn't hurting enough, the injuries have made it even worse. And this doesn't seem to be an issue that anyone is really talking about.
Sure, a lot of the injuries have been minor, but important contributors have been missing playing time, sometimes significant amounts, and obviously the injuries don't help them out on the field when they aren't sitting.
Look at these players that have missed time on the field, or have been hampered by injury this season.
Offense:
Jay Thomas
Amir Pinnix
Duane Bennett
Jack Simmons
D.J. Burris
Defense:
Duran Cooley
Willie VanDeSteeg
Desi Steib
John Shevlin
Mike Sherels
Like I said, as if the team wasn't in enough trouble, injuries like these haven't helped. But I find it interesting that Coach Brewster hasn't offered this as an excuse. In fact, I don't see him offering a lot of excuses. This team has taken it on the chin all year long on Saturdays, then they take it on the chin in the media during the week. But Coach Brewster doesn't offer excuses or criticism, he is constantly saying that we need to do better here, here and here.
As if this team is not talent-poor defense wasn't hurting enough, the injuries have made it even worse. And this doesn't seem to be an issue that anyone is really talking about.
Sure, a lot of the injuries have been minor, but important contributors have been missing playing time, sometimes significant amounts, and obviously the injuries don't help them out on the field when they aren't sitting.
Look at these players that have missed time on the field, or have been hampered by injury this season.
Offense:
Jay Thomas
Amir Pinnix
Duane Bennett
Jack Simmons
D.J. Burris
Defense:
Duran Cooley
Willie VanDeSteeg
Desi Steib
John Shevlin
Mike Sherels
Like I said, as if the team wasn't in enough trouble, injuries like these haven't helped. But I find it interesting that Coach Brewster hasn't offered this as an excuse. In fact, I don't see him offering a lot of excuses. This team has taken it on the chin all year long on Saturdays, then they take it on the chin in the media during the week. But Coach Brewster doesn't offer excuses or criticism, he is constantly saying that we need to do better here, here and here.
The next target: Willie Mobley
There's a great piece on startribune.com today about Eden Prairie defensive lineman, and potential Gopher, Willie Mobley.
In addition to be a great player, it sounds like Mobley is a stand-up person as well. Just the kind of athletes that Coach Brewster wants to add to the Golden Gopher program. The article says that Mobley feels pressure to become a Gopher... let's hope so. And let's keep it up! Landing this kid would be HUGE for a defense that needs loads of help.
In addition to be a great player, it sounds like Mobley is a stand-up person as well. Just the kind of athletes that Coach Brewster wants to add to the Golden Gopher program. The article says that Mobley feels pressure to become a Gopher... let's hope so. And let's keep it up! Landing this kid would be HUGE for a defense that needs loads of help.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Michael Floyd with Mike Max
Mike Max interviewed Michael Floyd, who this week verbally committed to Notre Dame. You can hear the interview here.
Floyd says that the biggest reason he chose Notre Dame over the Gophers was that he enjoyed talked to the freshman at ND and is excited to be a part of re-building the program there with the young players that they have coming up.
I was surprised to hear Floyd say that he was not given very much access to the Golden Gopher freshman. It would be interesting to find out if other recruits feel the same way...
Or was Floyd going to join the Irish all along, and this is just the excuse he's using?
Floyd says that the biggest reason he chose Notre Dame over the Gophers was that he enjoyed talked to the freshman at ND and is excited to be a part of re-building the program there with the young players that they have coming up.
I was surprised to hear Floyd say that he was not given very much access to the Golden Gopher freshman. It would be interesting to find out if other recruits feel the same way...
Or was Floyd going to join the Irish all along, and this is just the excuse he's using?
Fargo Flash eats crow... talks about NDSU loss
Justin Conzemius was back on the Power Trip morning show to say that he was wrong, and try to explain why the Gophers lost to NDSU.
Stepping down from the ledge
I decided to take a full day yesterday to cool off. I read nothing about the Gophers yesterday, I wrote nothing about the Gophers yesterday, and I avoided anything on the radio about the Gophers. On Tuesday I rested.
The first places I went this morning were my fellow Gopher bloggers, to see if someone else could shed some positivity on my glum mood right now. So I checked over at Gopher Nation, and they (he/she?) did not disappoint. So thank you to the Gopher Nation blog for talking me down from the ledge this morning with your words.
You really should read the post yourself, and read the Gopher Nation blog regularly, but here is the beginning of the post at Gopher Nation that began to calm me down this morning...
"Yesterday's loss was in no way a good thing. It was embarrassing and frustrating. The 1-7 record is a combination of having no talent on defense, players designed for Mason's systems being used in another system (square peg/round hole) and some maverick calls that simply didn't work in our favor.
To declare that coach Brewster is incapable of coaching at this point is just ridiculous. Maybe he will fall on his face. Maybe in 3 years everyone will tell me what an idiot I am/was. You can rip me then and I'll take it like a man (I'll probably beat you to it). But for now I think it is short-sighted and ignorant.
Brewster's biggest mistake has been coming in and building some excitement. He clearly over-promised and severely under-delivered. Here again, I wonder what the big deal is? So what that he came in and said he wants to win and he wants to win now? Who cares that he says being bowl eligible isn't enough he wants to win a championship? I want a coach who strives for more than mediocrity."
The first places I went this morning were my fellow Gopher bloggers, to see if someone else could shed some positivity on my glum mood right now. So I checked over at Gopher Nation, and they (he/she?) did not disappoint. So thank you to the Gopher Nation blog for talking me down from the ledge this morning with your words.
You really should read the post yourself, and read the Gopher Nation blog regularly, but here is the beginning of the post at Gopher Nation that began to calm me down this morning...
"Yesterday's loss was in no way a good thing. It was embarrassing and frustrating. The 1-7 record is a combination of having no talent on defense, players designed for Mason's systems being used in another system (square peg/round hole) and some maverick calls that simply didn't work in our favor.
To declare that coach Brewster is incapable of coaching at this point is just ridiculous. Maybe he will fall on his face. Maybe in 3 years everyone will tell me what an idiot I am/was. You can rip me then and I'll take it like a man (I'll probably beat you to it). But for now I think it is short-sighted and ignorant.
Brewster's biggest mistake has been coming in and building some excitement. He clearly over-promised and severely under-delivered. Here again, I wonder what the big deal is? So what that he came in and said he wants to win and he wants to win now? Who cares that he says being bowl eligible isn't enough he wants to win a championship? I want a coach who strives for more than mediocrity."
Monday, October 22, 2007
Silver lining?
The Gophers got two more verbal commitments for next year, and one of them is a biggie. Adding our second 4-star WR recruit to the mix in 2 weeks, Brandon Green said he wants to be a Gopher over the weekend after watching the Gophers get waxed by NDSU. Apparently the loss to the Bisin didn't scare Green, or perhaps it got his mouth watering.
Green's teammate, defensive back Johnny Johnson, also made a verbal commitment to the Gophers this weekend. Johnson has not yet been given a star-rating on Rivals.
Green's teammate, defensive back Johnny Johnson, also made a verbal commitment to the Gophers this weekend. Johnson has not yet been given a star-rating on Rivals.
The hardest part
In the words of the immortal Tom Petty: "You take it on faith, you take it to the heart... the waiting is the hardest part."
That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling about the Gophers football program right now. I believe things off the field are going in the right direction, but I take it pretty hard when they aren't going well on the field, and the waiting is the hardest part of the equation.
I was thinking about it yesterday, and while the waiting is going on, I can't decide what is more difficult about being a Gopher fan right now: the losing week after week, or the fact that I have no confidence in our team to be able to make a play when it's needed.
Of course the losses hurt. But sitting in the Dome on Saturday, watching the game, it was shocking to me how much throughout the game I just didn't believe that this team could make the play needed at any given time. If it was 3rd down for the Bison, I had no confidence (with good reason) that our defense could hold them. If it was 3rd down for the Gophers, I had no confidence that they could complete a pass or run for the yardage needed for a first down.
And THAT might be the most difficult part for me right now. Like I said, of course the loss hurts, but what is even a little bit harder, for me anyway, is that I just don't even have the hope and confidence that I usually do that we might be able to pull out a win on any given Saturday.
A friend of mine, and Bison fan, told me that he still thinks the Gophers have another win in them this season. Well, I hope he's right, cause I'll be honest, this is as low as I've felt since I became serious as a Gopher fan.
That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling about the Gophers football program right now. I believe things off the field are going in the right direction, but I take it pretty hard when they aren't going well on the field, and the waiting is the hardest part of the equation.
I was thinking about it yesterday, and while the waiting is going on, I can't decide what is more difficult about being a Gopher fan right now: the losing week after week, or the fact that I have no confidence in our team to be able to make a play when it's needed.
Of course the losses hurt. But sitting in the Dome on Saturday, watching the game, it was shocking to me how much throughout the game I just didn't believe that this team could make the play needed at any given time. If it was 3rd down for the Bison, I had no confidence (with good reason) that our defense could hold them. If it was 3rd down for the Gophers, I had no confidence that they could complete a pass or run for the yardage needed for a first down.
And THAT might be the most difficult part for me right now. Like I said, of course the loss hurts, but what is even a little bit harder, for me anyway, is that I just don't even have the hope and confidence that I usually do that we might be able to pull out a win on any given Saturday.
A friend of mine, and Bison fan, told me that he still thinks the Gophers have another win in them this season. Well, I hope he's right, cause I'll be honest, this is as low as I've felt since I became serious as a Gopher fan.
Dark days...
Well, before I get to an over-emotional response to the NDSU game (as if that wasn't bad enough) we have learned today that Michael Floyd, WR recruit from Cretin-Durham Hall has made a verbal commitment to Notre Dame. This is definitely a blow to Coach Brewster's recruiting momentum, but let's be honest, we all knew it was probably going to be Notre Dame or OSU. On the bright side, at least we, most likely, won't have to play against him in the coming years.
Now, on to NDSU...
As expected, the Bison are a very good football team, and they brought every ounce of hard work and energy they had, along with about 20,000 fans to the Metrodome on Saturday. They played a very good game against the Gophers and absolutely deserved to win the game.
As I was thinking about the game later in the day on Saturday, it really started to sink in how difficult this season is. I've really been trying to stay positive and focus on the things that are going well, like recruiting and the development of some of the younger players. But on Saturday it was very hard to be positive, and with the news of Floyd, today is even tougher.
Here's what's chapping my proverbial ass today. In my opinion, the Gophers did not play poorly on Saturday. They didn't make a ton of mistakes, they didn't turn the ball over a bunch of times. The only thing the Gophers did to really shoot themselves in the foot was a few dropped passes. But they simply did not do anything to win this game. It seemed as though they were able to do what they needed to hang close the the Bison, but never enough to get over the hump.
A couple of Bison fans have admitted to me that when they were up by only 3 at halftime, they thought the Bison were in trouble. And I will admit that I did too. As poorly as we had played, we were only 3 points down, and I was starting to wonder if we might be wearing them down. We have also been a good second half team this year, and I just wondered if we were going to get it going in the second. But we just couldn't get anything worthwhile going offensively. The run wasn't working, the pass wasn't working, the Bison clearly figured out Weber's draw in the second half.
But with under two minutes left in the game, there we were with a chance to win. Brewster called for the punt block, which I think is an aggressive, but good call, because our offense was completely stagnant at that point, and there was really no reason to think they were going to step out of that funk with 1:30 left in the game.
The aggressive call bit us in the ass...
...and that's a little bit how the entire season has gone for the Gophers.
Now, on to NDSU...
As expected, the Bison are a very good football team, and they brought every ounce of hard work and energy they had, along with about 20,000 fans to the Metrodome on Saturday. They played a very good game against the Gophers and absolutely deserved to win the game.
As I was thinking about the game later in the day on Saturday, it really started to sink in how difficult this season is. I've really been trying to stay positive and focus on the things that are going well, like recruiting and the development of some of the younger players. But on Saturday it was very hard to be positive, and with the news of Floyd, today is even tougher.
Here's what's chapping my proverbial ass today. In my opinion, the Gophers did not play poorly on Saturday. They didn't make a ton of mistakes, they didn't turn the ball over a bunch of times. The only thing the Gophers did to really shoot themselves in the foot was a few dropped passes. But they simply did not do anything to win this game. It seemed as though they were able to do what they needed to hang close the the Bison, but never enough to get over the hump.
A couple of Bison fans have admitted to me that when they were up by only 3 at halftime, they thought the Bison were in trouble. And I will admit that I did too. As poorly as we had played, we were only 3 points down, and I was starting to wonder if we might be wearing them down. We have also been a good second half team this year, and I just wondered if we were going to get it going in the second. But we just couldn't get anything worthwhile going offensively. The run wasn't working, the pass wasn't working, the Bison clearly figured out Weber's draw in the second half.
But with under two minutes left in the game, there we were with a chance to win. Brewster called for the punt block, which I think is an aggressive, but good call, because our offense was completely stagnant at that point, and there was really no reason to think they were going to step out of that funk with 1:30 left in the game.
The aggressive call bit us in the ass...
...and that's a little bit how the entire season has gone for the Gophers.
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