Impressions?

A win is a win is a win. 1-0 let's open the Vault next week! Things to
work on, hmm...yes, lots. That is still a bad SYR team, and we are
lucky to get out w/a W. D stepped it up in 2H, that was nice to see.
Offense had success on ground, but Weber was garbage. I think you have
to give Gray some chances next week, just see what it looks like. Not
pulling the plug on AW yet, but that was pathetic. Let the hype begin
for AF. Testing this out from my phone as an email to see if it works.
Have a good Saturday!

Sent from my iPhone

Back at full strength...always were

Bomb is in - I have his picks listed below (although he lists VT twice, so I'm waiting on team #15)

UTAH, ORE, MN, OHIOST, PSU, PUR, MICH, WF, OKST, ND, OK, WASU, VT, FSU, +1 more

After one evening here's how we sit:
MH: 2-0
JG: 1-0
MC: 2-1
GR: 1-1
JR: 1-1
MK: 1-1
MR: 1-2
AW: 0-2

I think it's still anyone's game this week! Good luck!

WEEK 1 - Picks are in!

Before we get into it - we're down to 7 guys. I've heard nothing from Bomb as far as picks or $$$, so he's out. If you have an 8th man for us let me know and I can send him over everything. Worst case - the mystery partner misses out on this week and we give him an average win total and he starts next week. If you have someone who is interested, get the word out. If not - we're 7 deep, which is better than nothing.

3 hours from kick-off...here's who we're all watching this weekend.

JR: NCST, BOISE, MN, OHIOST, TOL, WF, NEV, UAB, OHIO, A&M, NILL, UTEP, CMU, OLE, RUT
JG: BOISE, MN, AKR, USC, WMU, GEO, ND, ILL, BYU, TEX, NILL, UCLA, ALA, WASH, FSU
MR: BALLST, UTAH, BOISE, MN, OHIOST, PUR, TN, USC, MICH, GEO, CLEM, TEX, ALA, CMU, WASH
MK: NCST, BOISE, MN, OHIOST, WMU, BAY, OKST, UCONN, BYU, NM, TEX, EMU, WASU, WASH, MIA
GR: NCST, BOISE, MN, PSU, OKST, MIZZ, NEB, OK, UCLA, ALA, MARY, LSU, OLE, RUT, FSU
MH: SC, BOISE, MN, UK, NAVY, WMU, GEO, ND, MIZZ, BYU, WIS, ALA, LSU, OLE, MIA
MC: NTEX, UTST, ORE, UK, TOL, MDTN, NEB, TEX, WIS, EMU, UCLA, IDAHO, UTEP, LSU, FSU

Now - for the fun part...my predictions and harrassment. Please feel free to add your own commentary, it's worth more before the games start than after you've already watched someone go down in flames.

THURSDAY NIGHT
5 big ones tonight - plus a couple games without spreads like the much anticipated Cyclone-Bison battle tonight.

- 3 of us went NCST tonight, clearly following my THUR Night rule right off the bat. MH likes Spurrier and the Cocks tonight...I'm a little scared of this pick, but I can't break tradition.

- nobody bet on TROY-BGU game, one of only 3 games on the slate without any action. I had TROY marked on my card, but didn't include it in the final 15.

- MR vs. MC in an under the radar battle tonight - Roe has BALLST, Corcoran has NTEX. I side with MC on this one. BALLST lost pretty much everything from LY, NTEX has sucked for quite a while but they have a stud new Fr QB 9coaches kid) who should keep them within 3 TD's tonight.

- Game 2 of the MR vs. MC showdown: ROE has UTAH vs. CORCORAN's UTST team. This time I side with ROE...UTAH will be looking to make a statement and show the world that they can do it again in 2009.

- The final game of the evening features MC vs. the WORLD...6 of us are on BOISE on the smurf turf, which is always the correct bet. MC jumped on the DUCKS who lost to BOISE last year in Eugene and are breaking in a new coach tonight...

Nobody bet on the FRI game of Tulsa at Tulane...so we can all lick our wounds on FRI night and mentally prepare for the first Saturday of the season.

SATURDAY

- MH and MC love Kentucky as a road fav...I don't think highly enough of the Wildcats to bet on them against anyone on the road.

- MR is drinking the Lane Kiffin Kool-aid and took the Vols to cover 28 in week 1.Is this the same TN team that averaged 17 ppg last year...we'll see

- JG and MR are buying on Matt Barkley and loving the Trojans -35...it should be pretty close to that, I just am reserving my USC vibe until after I see how the kid does in week 1.

- JG, MK, MH all jumped on the "DickRod Cheater-gate" scandal and took WMU to cover the 11 at the Big House. MR shockingly continues to pick DD Fav's and went with MICH and all 3 of their QB's.

- 5 people are playing in one of the biggest games of the week - GEO at OKST. OKST is MK's lock of the week...so we know what that means...bet GEO big! GR joins MK's optimism with Team Gundy - I lean GEO. I didn't bet on it, but this is a very good Bulldog team and they play defense, which OKST is still trying to figure out.

- I know a lot of you wanted to take it, but I was the only one that actually did take it...NEV over ND. Yeah, ND is better but you forget that they still have Chuck running the show. The talent was great last year too, and we saw what that produced...SYR beat this team! NEV runs a weird offense and will score some points - they stop nobody, but I think they cover.

- Battle of STL: JG likes the over-hyped Illini and GR and MH like Mizzou. This club lost a lot, but they have kind of reloaded. Points should be coming all night, so I'll lean to ILL and Juicy.

- 4 jumped into the BYU at OK pool: 3 on the side of the Mormons. I saw a stat last night that BYU has 36 married guys on their team. That's probably more than most NFL squads! Sooners are loaded again, but I don't think they score like they did in 2008 - give me the Mormons in a cover.

- 4 also took the Horns to cover the largest posted spread of the week (-39.5). They shouldn't have a problem scoring, but will they run it up enough to cover this? Yes.

- A couple of the newbies don't know the rules...if you're not betting against WIS/IOWA, then pick a different game. J/K, but how can you put yourself into the position where you have to pull for these god awful teams. MH and MC took the Beckys, JR and JG took NILL. Becky is down, not because I hate them but because they really are not going to be good this year.

- 4 picks in the game of the week: all went for ALA over VT. My numbers are telling me to pick ALA, but my gut leans toward VT. I just have a hard time betting against this team in situations like this. Should be a great watch.

- I was the only one passing on the LSU-WASH game this week. We have 3 for LSU and 3 for WASH - this is what a good point spread is supposed to look like! I think WASH is much better than 2008 (0-12), and in a shocker they cover the 15 at home against the Tigers.

- Finally, we have 5 players in the Labor Day game of MIA-FSU. 3 for the Noles, 2 for MIA. This line is right on the money and this game always seems to come down to a FG. I'll go with FSU at home, but the hook scares me on this one.

DOG OF THE WEEK
TOLEDO +12 at PUR - I've said it before, but I think PUR is worse than IND this year and will be in the basement. TOL should be on the up and up and will cover this week and might just win outright.

WEEK 1 HEISMAN PICK(s)
I thought about this one last night. I think the easy and standard answer is Colt McCoy, but that's no fun. So here's a guy I think might be sneaky Heisman Guy this year:

Julio Jones. I know it's tought for a WR to be the man, and his QB is questionable, but his team should be a good and he is impossible to stop.

NATIONAL TITLE PICK
FLA is the obvious choice here - but I really have gone sour on them. They will likely get there, but it feels too much like USC 2005 to me. So I had to come up with a new pick to beat FLA in the title game. So here it is...TEXAS. Yeah, big flip-flop, huh? I kept the same 2 teams, but I'll give a 1 loss TEX team the W over an undefeated FLA team in 2010.

Finally - the moment you've all been waiting for...GOPHERS vs. SYR Official Prediction!

GOPHERS at SYR
Homersota optimism is almost running through all of us (MC, WTF?) The other 6 all took the GOPHERS this week making them our lock of the week overall...scary, yes...fun, yes.

As I've mentioned about 60 times on this blog, SYR is terrible. The have a PG playing QB, a brand new coach with new schemes, a ton of new players who are playing prominent roles, lack of size on both lines. There really isn't anything that this club has on their side besides being at home. Gophers come in hoping to just avoid over-looking the Orange and not getting caught thinking about the big one on Sept. 12th. Yet they come in as only a 6 point fav, which is pretty close to what I expected - however, I don't think this one will be close.

The defense will control this game. Yes, these are the same Gophers, but our defense should actually be better than 2008. Why? Because we have mostly everyone back and we should have at least a competant offense, which was lacking last year. I think we blitz Paulus early and often - maybe enought to get him out of the game. We have size up front to stop their running game cold, then it becomes tee-off time on the old PG. This is going to lead to very bad things for the 'Cuse - minimum of 3 TO by the bad guys will lead to a nice lead and victory for the Gophs. The offense should work the ground game in, but still be primarily a passing attack and taking advantage of the lack of defense for SYR. Decker gets a coupld TD's and the GOPHERS win in a laugher...38-13. rah-rah-rah for ski-u-mah!

1-0 let's do it. Enjoy the evening, and the weekend. I'll be posting updates now and then - I haven't really decided what game days/night will be like yet.

And most importantly - don't forget your Gopher Kool-Aid for Saturday morning...I'd recommend starting by at least 10 am so you can be properly prepared for the start to the best 3 months of the year. Go Gophs!

Waiting on Picks from...

MIKE ROE
MIKE CORCORAN
BOMB

please send the picks over sometime in the next couple of hours and we'll be set to go for week #1.

Why did I cut the sleeves off...because it looks awesome!

It's the eve of the start of the 2009 College Football season, and the Twins are showing everyone why they should have stopped paying attention 3 weeks ago...Nathan gives up 2 bombs then walks 2 and we're down 4-2 going into the 9th. Nice work guys.

Before we get into the stuff that matters - how about "Batting Stance Guy"...how did you manage to talk FSN into paying you for this gig? Seriously, I'm sure this won't last more than this season, but this guy deserves a sales job somewhere for turning this into an actual season long job. This sounds like a "real man of genius" commercial waiting to happen.

On to the heart-wrenching sad news of last night. The future 3 time Heisman winner Mr. Jewel Hampton will be dundee for the entire season with knee surgery. I'm not one to hate on guys and cheer for injuries, but when you play for the least liked team in the history of sports I guess you deserve it. So the Hogeyes are down to a former walk-on named Paki (I guess he's a local Iowan...hmmm) must have been a big Busch Lite bender night when they named that guy. *shocker Cuddy just struck out again* Anyway, after this guy they have a red-shirt freshman and 2 other true freshman that have both been banged up w/injuries throughout camp. I think the RB position is very overrated in NCAAF, but there have to be some serious questions being asked in Hogeye land with a depth chart like that. Think anyone is looking for a refund on the Pasedena hotel deposit that was made earlier this year? Now, if we can just get an OL or 2 or even just Stanzi to go down...then it could be a really fun year. My pick, or maybe just my hope...Iowa loses one in the daring Iowa Gauntlet series they have to start the year vs. UNI or ISU. UNI might be better than ISU actually this year, but for some reason Iowa can never figure it out when they play in Ames.

Okay - enough on the enemy. We've got a game in about 69 hours! Depth chart was released, not a lot of shockers on this one. The great thing, and unusual thing for this club, is that we are starting 9 seniors and 2 juniors on D. Remember the last 2 years when the starters and especially the 2-deep was littered with at least 40-50% underclassmen. Keanon Cooper and Michael Carter are the only 2 freshman on the 2-deep on defense - these guys are 4 star recruits, so they should be cracking the 2-deep. You can definitly see the depth being built, this should be the best defense we've seen in the Brewster tenure.

The offense has no real surprises. It looks like the 3 headed RB monster will be the way that we start, but I really like Bennett if he's fully recovered from the ACL of last year. Eskridge doesn't do much for me, but I think Whaley could make a big play or two that sparks some interest for that running game. We are loaded at WR - Decker, Green, Stoudermire will start and Ha-yo!, McKnight, and true frosh Bryant Allen round out the top 6. The Kuz will likely be #7, but hopefully we don't have to get to that point in week 1.

My favorite inclusion on the depth chart for week 1 is the most excited Spring Game 2008 player I've ever seen (he didn't actually play, just jumped up and down and played to the crowd a lot)...Logan U'u. He's a Sr, and he's been moved to the #2 FB position. Greatest name ever.

We'll save the full prevew for tomorrow, but I'm still waiting on picks from 4 of you guys. PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND THEM OVER TOMORROW MORNING.

In other news, massive injury and defection issues this week for OKST...this can't help your odds against a GEO team that I think might be better than them anyway. ALA might be without Julio Jones and starting HB Coffee. This will not help this team score points against the always dangerous Hokies in week 1. It sounds like it is in the hands of the NCAA right now, I like the Hokies with the points regardless of whether or not they play.

Remember when MIA-FSU week used to be a big deal. I don't think I've seen anybody say anything about that game this week. I've seen more discussion around the UCONN-OHIO game than the MIA-FSU game this week. How the mighty have fallen. Maybe it's time for JG and MK to adopt new national teams that can stay a little more relevant?!?!

And finally, in a game that doesn't have an actual line because it involves an FCS team. The Florida Gators are the largest favorite this week in the history of football. A USA Today guy posted a line of -73 for FLA over Charleston this week. Yes, -73. This sounds like the Mike Roe special right there - I mean how can anyone not take the points in that one? Sad thing is, with all the National exposure around this, Urban Meyer being the arrogant guy that he is, will probably go out and win 88-7 and call it a cover. I like Meyer, and he's an unreal coach, but he's a little too high on himself sometimes I think. My question is this: does FLA score more this week against Charleston or in a couple of weeks against TEN and Urban's new best buddy Lane Kiffin? I don't think the dogs will be called off in that one like they are sure to be this week.

Large preview for the weekend coming tomrorow with a summary of all the picks, some crazy predictions, and plenty of BS.

Let's close it out in style with verse 2 from "Down"

Rise. Life is in motion. I'm stuck in line.
Rise. You can't be neutral on a moving train.
One day the symptoms fade. Think I'll throw these pills away.
And if hope could grow from dirt like me. It can be done.

Solid Pat Forde article - hilarious

Can you tell that football season is here...post #3 for the day. This is hilarious, a must read. I typically don't like this guy a whole lot, but this is some good comedy. And it gives you more reasons to jump on board with Twitter to get classics like this from a Ball State coach..."players off today...unlike Michigan." Kick 'em when there down, I love it. Also, I think I will add a crying coach counter to the site to replace the TCF Countdown...currently at 2 after DickRod started sobbing yesterday after getting caught. I think he sees the writing on the wall and his tenure will end within the next 12-18 months. Maybe we'll do some side bets on who the next coach to cry is...#1 Greg McMackin sobbing about calling a guy a fag, #2 DickRod crying about cheating and getting caught, #3? any guesses.

Best case scenario - Gophers 2009...courtesy of ESPN.com

I seriously got a chill up my back reading this today. I didn't bother reading or pasting in the "worst case scenario" because everything is too positive right now. If this doesn't get you excited for Saturday then nothing well. If you haven't seen it...enjoy:

BEST CASE


"The run game resurfaces, the defense plays takeaway and Minnesota restores its tradition in a new on-campus stadium.

Despite a change in offensive philosophy, Minnesota revives its run game and balances things out by attacking defenses with a deep and talented wide receiving corps, led by Eric Decker and Hayo Carpenter. Junior quarterback Adam Weber stays healthy, limits interceptions and operates the new scheme flawlessly with help from backup MarQueis Gray. The defense continues to pile up takeaways, replaces its lost pass-rushing production and does a better job of finishing games. Return specialist Troy Stoudermire sizzles and Minnesota replaces its starting kicker and punter.

Minnesota never wants to see the Metrodome again, but the team looks at ease in the Carrier Dome for its opener against Syracuse. Cedric McKinley makes Greg Paulus wish he'd stuck to hoops by sacking the Orange quarterback four times. The Gophers roll 41-10 and return home to open TCF Bank Stadium. Freshman linebacker Sam Maresh, who returned to football following open heart surgery last summer, leads the team onto the field as a deafening roar greets the players. Despite the emotions of the stadium opener and a tricky opponent (Air Force), Minnesota keeps its composure and improves to 2-0.

Heisman Trophy candidate Jahvid Best leads Cal into the Twin Cities on Sept. 19, but Minnesota running backs Duane Bennett, DeLeon Eskridge and Kevin Whaley end up stealing the show, piling up 285 rush yards against the Bears. Best turns in a typical performance, but the Gophers catch Cal's defense napping and win a shootout, 41-38. Entering the Top 25 for the first time, Minnesota visits Northwestern, a team that has dealt it back-to-back heartwrenching losses. This time, Minnesota prevails in dramatic fashion, as a Decker touchdown pass from Weber wins the game in overtime.

Minnesota reclaims Paul Bunyan's Axe the next week, as safety Kim Royston, a transfer from Wisconsin, knocks the 'W' decal off John Clay's helmet on a big hit. The Gophers improve to 6-0 with a homecoming blowout of Purdue before stumbling on the road against Penn State and Ohio State.

Heading into the home stretch, Minnesota splits against Michigan State and Illinois but crushes South Dakota State to improve to 8-3. The Gophers then head to Iowa City and avenge a 55-0 loss as Decker has a big day at Kinnick Stadium. The loss drops Iowa to 6-6.

At 9-3 and ranked in the Top 25, Minnesota moves on to the Outback Bowl, builds a huge lead against Georgia and doesn't blow it for its first Jan. 1 bowl victory since 1962. Decker wins the Biletnikoff Award, cornerback Traye Simmons is a finalist for the Thorpe Award and head coach Tim Brewster receives a lengthy contract extension."

The 'Dome' - the full, painfully true story

Well, it's 3:18 AM and I'm wide awake for some reason - and I was thinking of a great blog idea. So here I am.

First, let's pretend it's 1982 and there is a new state of the art stadium being built in downtown Minneapolis. It's going to host games for the Vikings, Twins, and of course Gophers Football...flash forward 27 years to present day and 2 clubs are on their way out while the final remaining team is trying to find a way out anyway that they can.

The Dome provded a huge home-field advantage for the Purple and for the Twins throughout many successful years over that 27 year run. But with as many great things and good karma as it brought those two, it went the complete opposite way for the Gophers. So you might be asking yourself, "what happened? why didn't the Maroon and Gold experience the same great results that the other two 'home' teams have over the last quarter century?"

Well, when the brain-trust decided to move off campus and inside for NCAA Football, the gods of this great sport threw a curse over the Maroon and Gold that would not be lifted until September 12, 2009. Many rare and sometimes bizarre demons were cast upon the lowly HHH Dome and are finally be exorcised in 2 weeks.

Some expert ghost hunters were sent in to clean out the place and report back the findings recently, here are some of the rare species that they found:

1. RIVALRY KILLERIOUS
This spirit ensures that you will not win games against your rivals at home - there were a few exceptions through the Dome's life, but this explains a lot of the troubles we've had with the Hogeyes and Becky throughout the last 27 years. And it works hand in hand with the 2nd ghost on the list...

2. FANBASEIOUS KILLERIOUS
This demon ensures that 1/2 the crowd for rivalry games will be from the opposition, which pretty much negates and even reverses the "home-field" advantage at times. It also controls your average fan's age and moves the dial upwards from ~35 to about ~60, which continues to kill the home field advantage.

3. BO AND WOODY-IOUS
This hybrid spirit of the 2 former legends at the 2 biggest schools in the B10 were so angry at the move that they made it impossible to beat MICH and OHIOST throughout the entire 27 year existence in the Dome...don't piss off the legends of the game. The Gophers proved it to be possible that they could beat these teams throughout the last few years, however none of those wins came in the Dome...coincidence?

4. 400+ LOSERSOUS
Something that was once thought to be impossible was proved to be very much a reality over and over again throughout our dome run. "Run the ball to win...unless you are cursed, then you're just f'd." When you control the game and run for 400+ yards but still can't manage a victory you know there are other worldy forces working against you.

5. DEFENSIVIOUS MATADORIOUS
The incredible amount of bad defenses was driven by this little guy. He ensures that no matter how well you play on the other side of the ball, your defense can always even things up. The 31-0 OHIOST half time lead and the god-awful MICH game come to mind when I think about this one. But he did not work alone...

6. ATHLETIOUS MUST PLAY OFFENSIOUS
This one made it impossible for the Gophers to play any solid athelete who could potentially carry, catch, or throw the ball on defense. No matter how stacked we were or how buried this guy might be on the depth chart - this spirit made it impossible for us to recruit anyone to play defense. It implanted the Mason-mantra of "why should I try to recruit defensive players when I can fill that side with walk-ons and gimme recruits and try to just outscore everyone." Makes sense, right?

7. REVOLVING-IOUS DEFENSIVECOORDINATOR-IOUS
Mason went through at least 6 in his 10 years, Brew is on his 3rd in 3 years...this isn't normal people. Evil spirits are at work once again, just to make sure that our squad really has no chance on D.

8. BIG-GAMEIOUS SUCK-IOUS
Can you remember the last big game the Gophers won in the Dome? Anybody? Me neither. All the marquee wins I can come up with were on the road (ILL 2008, MICH, OHIOST, PENNST)...coincidence?


9. 55-donutious
This evil bastard reared his head for the final Gopher 'dome game' ever. Once you experience something this bad, the spirits realize they have done their job and you know that the curse is on the way out. This was a fitting end to a 27 year run that really never had a chance. We have a tough enough time playing against our opponents on Saturday, much less playing against the unbeatable super-natural world as well.

The great thing about this is that all of these spirits die on 9/12/09 with the proverbial death of the dome. Does this mean that the Gophers will never lose a home game again...no. But it does level the playing field and give our favorite club a chance once again when playing at home - this couldn't be said for the last 27 years of misery.

11 days until the exorcism - whether you are in the bleachers around 6pm on that fateful night or just watching on your couch you will be able to hear, feel, and see the change that this program will undergo that evening. This will be the last mention of these horrible demons and the heartache that they have caused us over the last 27 years - as far as I am concerned and as far as the college football gods are concerned, we have a clean slate. Our past missteps have been paid for, and it's a new page in Gopher history...finally.

Welcome to 2009 and the New Minnesota Golden Gophers.