Minnesota Gopher Football

Minnesota Gopher football fans are not holding their collective breath as the college football world sorts out the bowl picture as the season closes this coming Saturday. In fact, most would probably prefer that Gopher football ceased operation after a 5-7 season. If the Gophers make a lower tier bowl there is little chance a large contingent of fans will travel with the team to the two projected destinations -- Detroit or New York City. And you really cannot blame them.  Cold weather destinations, awful cities, and MAC or ACC opponents that don't really make fans grit their teeth. What a difference a year makes.  Remember the New Year's Day Citrus Bowl in Orlando? As one who attended all but the Ohio State, Northwestern and Purdue games, my reflections on Gopher football are as follows: Nineteen seconds spelled the difference between a 6-6 season and the 5-7 mark.  With a first and goal and 19 seconds and a timeout left against Michigan on Halloween Night --...

The 2015 Gopher defense will be the best it has been in more than 20 years.  Mark my words. It will improve on takeaways (24), passing defense (141) and points allowed (24.15) this coming season. It would be nice if the run defense could get under the 200-yard mark, too. That will be tougher. All three segments of the defense look to be improved. Despite playing probably the top two ranked teams in the nation in TCU and Ohio State in 2015, Minnesota’s defense should shine due to experienced and able linebacking and secondary play. The linebacker position, despite only one signed in the 2014 recruiting class, looks strong for the Gophers in 2015. We have starters Jack Lynn, Nick Rallis and Devondre Campbell back.  Rallis went down early last season with a knee injury but will return and probably be given sophomore status.  Lynn will be a junior.  Campbell is 6-5, 241 and the longest armed linebacker in the BIG.  He could have a really special se...