Gopher Nation

The Tim Brewster era is through year three and it is time to lay all of the cards down on the table. When Joel Maturi hired an unknown tight ends coach with no head coaching experience he got himself involved in a high stakes game of Texas Hold em and Brewster is holding the cards.

The experiment has resulted in improved recruiting and talent but none of that has turned into actual results on the field. No wins over a rival, no wins over a ranked opponent, no wins in November and no bowl wins. 2010 is the year to rectify it all. Win or go home for Brewster.

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I plugged these calendars a year ago and want to do so again. If you are a college football fan, these are a must have. Click on the image in the right sidebar or click HERE to order yours.



Are you keeping an eye on the Better Trades in sports .Read sports articles to know about different players.

It is with a tinge of nostalgic sadness I am announcing that this is the end of Gopher Nation. My tenure here has been slightly shorter than that of Coach Brewster's and a day longer than that of Mr. Orlando Tubby Smith. I started Gopher Nation in a humble attempt to fill a void for Gopher fans. I don't know whether or not that mission was successful but I had fun trying.

But with that said, I am tremendously optimistic to also announce that while Gopher Nation is finished, I am moving to a new host,new partner and new domain for Gopher fans. I have joined forces with the most outstanding blogger I know. Charlie from PagingJimShikenjanski, is a dynamic blogger who has truly owned his space and is one of the best bloggers in the country. I am really excited to combine our talents and provide Gopher fans with the best online experience we possibly can.

This joint venture has been in the works for a few months and was greatly sped along by the folks at SportsBlogNation. They were kind enough to invite into their fine family and we will be blogging for them at The Daily Gopher (www.thedailygopher.com). This truly is exciting and the tools SBN has should allow us to really bring Gopher fans into the community and be your daily read for Gopher News.

I encourage you to take a look at several SBN blogs (examples of my favorites below), check out the tools available and please comment below if there is anything in particular that you would love to see. We want to fill the void for Gopher fans and provide you with as much quality content as possible, so be sure to follow us to TDG and keep us in tune with what you want to see.

So after thousands of visitors, 334 posts and 18 months of throwing out my opinions, Gopher Nation is officially shutting down and in the next few days The Daily Gopher should be kicking off.

While we're looking forward to a new and improved Gopher blog, there are some aches and pains that come along with the move. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair, but then again what in life is? Getting access to your money when you need it would be a good start. That's why we have payday loans. It's a lot easier than a move to a new web address, that I assure you. But it'll be well worth it...just wait.

Part of the fun of being a part of the Big Ten Bloggers community has been the roundtables. Someone posts a set of questions, everyone answers them on their own blog and then the original question asker gets to round up the answers in a wrap up post. I have never stepped up to host a roundtable until this one. Usually this exercise contains more pertinent and valuable information but this one is more for entertainment value than depth chart analysis.

The Rivalry Round winner of absolute MUST READ was the Only Game That Matters (link below). I strongly encourage you to read.

Participating blogs (I hope I didn't miss any)...

• Only Game That Matters (B10) - Great interview with Alex Trebec (who can't stand that fruity Ken Jennings)
• Meet Me at Kinnick (Iowa) - needs to work through his angst over Illini fans
• Varsity Blue (Mich) - spewing some hate on Michigan State
• Michigan Sports Center (Mich) - still yearns for Terrell Pryor
• Enlightened Spartan (MSU) - total dislike for Michigan plus a bonus Spaceballs reference
• Lake the Posts (NU) - would love to beat OSU (just once!)
• Buckeye Battle Cry - renames Penn State as "Third-Placers, unless Wisconsin is having a good year"
• Happy Hour Valley (PSU) - thumbs up for Arrested Development reference, thumbs down for Harold and Kumar reference
• Black Shoes Diaries (PSU) - nobody in B10 would add talent to Penn State
• Nittany Line (PSU) - huge fans of the Land Grant Trophy
• Boiled Sports (Pur) - surprisingly not a fan of the University of Indiana People from Indiana
• Off the Tracks (Pur) - enjoying the fact that Navy has a 1-game win streak over Notre Dame

Unintentionally ommitted...

• Maize and Blue Nation (Mich)
• Maize and Brew (Mich)

WRAP UP

1. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg recently ranked the top 5 rivalries in the Big Ten and there were some controversial results (Illinois v Ohio State as #3?). Clearly Ohio State vs. Michigan is the #1 rivalry in the Big Ten, but give me your next three. Your school does not have to be included in this list, but regardless of who you choose defend your picks.

After the obvious Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry there were two more that stood out. In no particular order...

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin - many appreciated this one because of it's longevity and the fact that the teams are playing for the fiercest traveling trophy in the country. Who else gets to play for a giant axe and then how many coaches let their players run around the field with it. Considering I was the only blogger participating who roots for either team it is impressive it received as many votes as it did.

Michigan vs. Michigan State - obviously received much attention from the Michigan and MSU blogs. But this rivalry was recognized by others as well as a fierce rivalry that has implications beyond the game itself.

Others mentioned were Pur/Ind, OSU/PSU, Minn/Iowa and Ill/NU

While it did not receive many votes much attention was paid to the uniquely designed Land Grant Trophy given to the winner of Penn St / Michigan St. It is a modern engineering marvel and dearly treasured by fans of both teams.

2. Obviously winning every game is important and beating really good teams sends a stronger message than beating Minnesota. Assume every team is .500 this year and the outcome of your next two games means nothing outside of pride and a year's worth of bragging rights. Give me the two schools you would want to beat (in order) and why. What makes beating School's A and B significant?

Ohio State was a rather popular choice. Not because the likes of NU, PSU, Mich, etc wanted to beat the best, but rather they just want to actually BEAT them. PSU and NU in particular come to mind because they just can't seem to beat the Buckeyes (ever).

3. Take the two teams from above that you claim are your biggest rivals and give me a new mascot for them.

Some classics include...

Illinois = Chief Bandwagoners
Michigan = GOB (from Arrested Development)
Ohio State = Sweater Vests
Michigan State = Failures
Ohio State = Convicts
Illinois = Illanoy Fighting Zookers
Minnesota = The Long Forgottens
Michigan = Cobra Kai
Indiana = Indiana University People from Indiana (my personal favorite)
Michigan = Yellow Bellies
Indiana = "a hillbilly with the sense kicked out of him"
Michigan = Tressel's Bitches

4. There are some new rules in college football this year. My favorite is the Big Ten experimental rule which states that after every win this year you get to pluck one player off their roster and bring them back to your campus. Looking at your schedule give me two players you would pluck (assuming a win), why you would take them and what would you do with them?

The BIG winner here was James Laurinaitis. Almost a unanimous pick, as everyone recognizes how talented he is and how much he would help any team in the Big Ten (damn you Mason for not keeping him in Minnesota).

After JL there obviously was Beanie Wells, Arrelious Benn, Juice Williams (PUH-LEASE) and several others receiving one vote each.

5. Brian at MGO was kind enough to post a diary entry which gives us and new coach Rich Rodriguez a list of Michigan traditions that maybe we were not all aware of. This has inspired two final questions...

5A - are there any Michigan traditions that he missed? (here is your chance for some Michigan cheap shots)

This was pretty tame with a few pics of...

5B - Are there any traditions of your school's rival that we should all be aware of?

My personal favorite was the Indiana tradition of taking aerial pictures of a full football stadium when the Hoosiers were hosting Wisconsin or Ohio State. These photos were clearly then distributed as showing the passionate Hoosier fan base, but NOW we all know better (my team of fact checkers did not take the time to verify, we are just going with it as fact!).

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That is it in a nutshell.

After some morning reading here are some of thoughts and links following the Gophers first day of practice.

Did Tim transfer with Clint? - there are multiple reports of a "calmer" and "more relaxed" Coach Brewster. While this is hard for me to believe, it must be flabbergasting for others to comprehend. But it is true and I have the quotes below to prove it. Not only is the head coach more comfortable in his surroundings but rather than hyping everyone up with talk of what may or may not happen after Jan. 1st, 2009 he's preaching one play at a time.

There are more quotes below but Kent Youngblood summed it up best...

"In one year, Tim Brewster has gone from talking Pasadena to preaching one play at a time, from pie in the sky to feet on the ground."

Adam Weber - "There is a calmness about him."
Willie VanDeSteeg - "He's taken a little step back"

Personally, I like the willingness to admit winning more than the Sun Bowl is a goal worth striving for, but exuding some form of calm and in control demeanor is exactly what a young team needs to see from their head coach.

New Guys I'm Excited to Watch

• Cedrick McKinley is getting more and more ink that he is a physical specimen who will help out that defensive line immediately.
• Simoni Lawrence is currently listed at a starting LB and he should really add some speed and coverage skills to the mid level.
• All defensive backs - pass defense was so bad last year that I'm really excited to see how Tramaine Brock, Traye Simmons and Keanon Cooper help us out in the backfield.
• David Pittman did not make the initial 2-deep but I'm excited to see how he is utilized as a play maker in this offense.
  

Working Hard Enough? - The Gopher Athletic Communication Dept is putting out a daily blog of summer practice. Andy Seely (Associate Dir of Ath Comm) is the primary typer of information and it looks like John Romo (Dir of Internet Services) will also contribute. But the most interesting piece of info they provided us with from Day 1 was this...

Each player weighs in at the beginning and end of practice to keep track of hydration and other health measures. Nobody dropped double-digit pounds, but it was close. Two Gophers lost nine pounds, while a handful of others were in the seven- and eight-pound range.

One afternoon's practice led to the loss of 7-9 pounds?!? Of course that is water weight and most of it will be put back on after some hydration and a healthy meal, but I found it rather interesting.

How the athletic training staff takes care of the athlete's bodies is incredibly high tech and is vitally important to the success of the team, I truly believe that. They and the strength training staff are two of the most unheralded but critical elements of preparing the athlete to perform at the highest possible level.

Missing Some of that 2008 Class - When all was said and done Brewster delivered nearly all of his massive recruiting class. But a couple of the key guys are not going to be Gophers this fall.

• Sam Maresh was our best defensive recruit and is not playing due to open heart surgery. Clearly not Brewster's fault, but I was looking forward to seeing him play in 2008.
• Spencer Reeves is one of the Skyline 4, which currently is only the Skyline 3. The LB has not yet qualified and the staff is anticipating he'll be at the U in January.
• Vincent Hill was expected to at the very least add depth to the WR position and possibly moved to DB to help out that thin area of need. Who knows how effective he would have been but he was a 4-star recruit and his inability to gain entrance is disappointing.
• Tim McGee was going to be a defensive line addition and also did not qualify. This one doesn't concern me as we knew at least a couple kids were not going to make it and JUCO transfers are always a bigger risk, but I'm listing him as one that got away.
  

Practice has begun today and at Brewster's 1 pm news conference the official depth chart was revealed. What is remarkable is that only seven players on the first or second string are seniors. I'll help you out with the math. 7/44 = 15.9% of the relevant roster are seniors meaning 84.1% will be returning next year. I know we thought we were young last year and this year would see some improvement but we are a VERY inexperienced team. 10 are true or redshirted freshmen with more not listed who many think will contribute in 2008 (Tate and Jacobs come to mind)

First of all click HERE for a very quick clip of Brewster's press conference.

Let us remember that there has not been a practice yet so this will surely change over the next 3-4 weeks. There are plenty of young players and newcomers who will likely have a chance to move up the list.

First year players in maroon.

OFFENSE			DEFENSE
QB	Adam Weber		DE	Willie VanDeSteeg
	Tony Mortenson			Derrick Onwuachi
RB	Duane Bennett		DT	Eric Small
	Jay Thomas			Jewhan Edwards
WR	Eric Decker		DT	Garrett Brown
	Xavier Brandon			Barrett Moen
WR	Ralph Spry		DE	Cedrick McKinley
	Broderick Smith			Lee Campbell
WR	Brandon Green		LB	Simoni Lawrence
	Ben Kuznia			Kevin Manion
TE	Jack Simmons		LB	Deon Hightower
	Nick Tow-Arnett			Rex Sharpe
RT	Chris Bunders (rFR)		LB	Steve Davis
	Ryan Ruckdashel			Nate Triplett
RG	Ryan Wynn (rFR)		CB	Marcus Sherels
	Jason Meinke			Ryan Collado
C	Jeff Tow-Arnett		FS	Tramaine Brock
	Trey Davis (rFR)			Tim Dandridge
LG	DJ Burris		SS	Kyle Theret
	Ned Tevale			Keanon Cooper
LT	Dominic Alford		CB	Traye Simmons
	Ryan Orton (rFR)			Troy Stoudermire

SURPRISES...

No David Pittman - but my assumption he is #3 at WR, CB, QB, C, LS, LT and DT (maybe I should have listed with / instead of ,)

Redshirted Freshmen missing - Anthony Jacobs and Andre Tate are not on the 2-deep and personally I was hopeful to see their names, time will tell if they contribute much this season.

Offensive Line - most notable was Ned Tevale backing up LG when many thought he'd be starting at RG. Looks like the entire right side of the line is up for grabs but currently has two freshmen starting while the left side and center are locked down.

Defensive Backfield - the big shocker is Marcus Sherels starting at CB over returning starter Ryan Collado. Sherels was hyped coming out of spring ball but I'll still be shocked to see him starting in week 1. Maybe he was made for corner and it just took some time for him to find a home. Of the top eight players in the defensive backfield 3 are new starters and 3 backups are new to the program. Looks like a wholesale effort to get that pass defense turned around.

Defensive Starters - FOUR starters who were not a part of the program in 2007 (five if you count Sherels who moved from WR to CB) and five back ups who are new to Gopher football. The battles will be fun to watch from a distance and be sure to have your roster handy for week 1 vs. Northern Illinois.

That, Gopher faithful, is your 2008 Golden Gopher initial depth chart.

Some of you may or may not know that there is a fairly large group of Big Ten Bloggers who collaborate on ideas and compliment each other on how awesome we all are. I have offered to host 2008's first roundtable and I have deemed it a Rivalry themed roundtable. If you are unfamiliar with how this works I post my answers, other bloggers post their answers on their blogs then I'll do a recap post near the end of this week highlighting the highlights. Here goes...


1. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg recently ranked the top 5 rivalries in the Big Ten and there were some controversial results (Illinois v Ohio State as #3?). Clearly Ohio State vs. Michigan is the #1 rivalry in the Big Ten, but give me your next three. Your school does not have to be included in this list, but regardless of who you choose defend your picks.

1. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin - longest played rivalry in all of NCAA football. People with short memories will tell me that Wisconsin dominates this series and is meaningless, but Minnesota leads the all time series winning 59, losing 50 and tying 8 in the 117 total games played. It is true that in recent years this has not been very competitive but this is a passionate rivalry and both team's fan bases care very much about winning Paul Bunyan's Axe. It should also be noted that this is a key game for recruiting purposes as both teams fight for each other's players on a regular basis.
   
   
2. Michigan vs. Michigan St. - In state rivalry that has some passion. This one, like the one above, has lacked competitiveness in recent years with Michigan going 15-5 in the last 20 meetings and leads 34-19-2. But also like the one above it is crucial for recruiting wars and is a game fans care about deeply.
   
   
3. Purdue vs. Indiana - the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket is usually a meaningless game on the national and even conference level. But it is hard to ignore a series that has seen 110 games played. Dominated by Purdue this series beats out a few other considered rivalries but not by much. The in-state angle and the longevity of the rivalry make this the 4th best rivalry in the Big Ten.

Rivalries considered but didn't make my cut were Ohio State vs. Penn State (dominated by Ohio State AND has few games played), Wisconsin vs. Iowa (both teams might consider this game their 2nd rivalry) and Iowa vs. Minnesota.

2. Obviously winning every game is important and beating really good teams sends a stronger message than beating Minnesota. Assume every team is .500 this year and the outcome of your next two games means nothing outside of pride and a year's worth of bragging rights. Give me the two schools you would want to beat (in order) and why. What makes beating School's A and B significant?

Wisconsin - I put this ahead of Iowa because the largest population base in Minnesota cares more about this game than the Iowa game. Much of the disdain for Badger fans is carried over from NFL loyalties where Vikings and Packer fans also don't care for each other. Wisconsin in recent years has raided some quality football players from Minnesota so this game carries more recruiting weight than probably any other game on our schedule.

Iowa - the other significant rivalry game on our schedule. If you live south of the Twin Cities this is the game that matters to you. Gopher fans are tired of Hawkeye fans filling our stadium and stealing our goalposts. Fortunately for Gopher fans this is the one rivalry trophy that has resided in Minnesota more often than not.

3. Take the two teams from above that you claim are your biggest rivals and give me a new mascot for them.

Wisconsin Favres - there are probably as many green #4's in the stands at a Badger game as there are Ron Dayne jerseys.

Iowa Drunkards - is there anything else to do in Iowa?

4. There are some new rules in college football this year. My favorite is the Big Ten experimental rule which states that after every win this year you get to pluck one player off their roster and bring them back to your campus. Looking at your schedule give me two players you would pluck (assuming a win), why you would take them and what would you do with them?

James Laurinaitis - besides the fact that he is one of the best linebackers in the country and besides the fact that we are very weak at linebacker, Laurinaitis is from Minnesota and represents why we need to keep in state players in state. The current defense would look much different with an All-American LB in the middle (although who's wouldn't) and keeping kids in state like Willie Mobley, Michael Floyd and Bryce McNeal would be easier if there was a history of the best choosing Minnesota over Ohio State, Notre Dame or Michigan.

PJ Hill - I know that we need defense worse than Pres. Bush needs approval ratings, but we also do not have a running game to truly keep defenses honest. Give us someone who can carry the ball, get first downs and keep the clock moving and that will actually help out our beleaguered defense.

5. Brian at MGO was kind enough to post a diary entry which gives us and new coach Rich Rodriguez a list of Michigan traditions that maybe we were not all aware of. This has inspired two final questions...

5A - are there any Michigan traditions that he missed? (here is your chance for some Michigan cheap shots)

Dominating the Little Brown Jug series comes to mind, but I choose to ignore that one. I believe a new tradition was started in 2007 falling in one of the best upsets in recent memory.


5B - Are there any traditions of your school's rival that we should all be aware of?

Wisconsin's tradition of the student section leaving at halftime is a personal favorite of mine. Are they bored with the game or is it already in hand? No, 2 quarters away from the bar is too much to handle, they can watch the second half at the bar right?


That is all I've got for now, check back in a few days for the recap.

Can we please format our internal hard drives and forget 2007? Today we begin to see improvement and look forward to a new regular season.

This should be a pretty active week on the blog with previews, roundtables, 2-deeps and hopefully some special surprises. Stay tuned...

This is very good, I'm not finishes so I'll put my comments in at a later time (why does work have to get in the way of blogging?).

Clem Haskins at Home in Kentucky

I know this most recent Final Four was the first Clem has attended in almost a decade. Other than that he has remained off the radar completely.