I think this deserves its own thread. Minny won't have starters for Saturday's game
Receiver and returner Demetrius Douglas announced his decision on Twitter, writing he first decided to not play when the Big Ten canceled its season in August. While the conference reversed that call, Douglas stayed on his course.
Douglas may not be the only departure for the Gophers before they face the Wolverines. Coach P.J. Fleck declined to get into specifics on Monday
One of the other names potentially in question is offensive lineman Curtis Dunlap Jr. Earlier this off-season, Dunlap put his name in the transfer portal. He was there about 24 hours before removing his name. The 6-5, 345-pound lineman was one of the top players of Fleck’s 2018 recruiting class. Dunlap started 12 games at right guard last season for the Gophers, and earned All-Big Ten Honorable mention honors as a redshirt freshman. There is rumor that he tore his ACL.
Fleck on Monday was also asked about the status of offensive lineman Daniel Faalele and linebacker Braelin Oliver. Faalele participated in spring practice after not playing in the Outback Bowl, and Oliver reportedly got hurt during spring football. Fleck declined comment on both, and didn’t offer specifics on more potential players opting out due to COVID-19 concerns. The Big Ten's return-to-play plan includes strict health protocols and rapid testing to keep student-athletes as safe as possible.
https://www.fox9.com/sports/more-gophers-opt-outs-coming-p-j-fleck-not-offering-specifics
October 19th, 2020 at 5:41 AM ^
Ill take it.
October 19th, 2020 at 5:44 AM ^
I was wondering if this explained the shift in the betting line, but the article is from October 6th. Perhaps some of this has already been confirmed behind closed doors.
October 19th, 2020 at 10:29 AM ^
From what I read yesterday, the betting line didn't shift. The early line was offshore and the line that come out yesterday was a Vegas line. Which makes sense if true. The ESPN line we were all looking at yesterday switched 4 points in 30 minutes.
October 19th, 2020 at 5:51 AM ^
Interesting news - hopefully we don't have anyone else unavailable besides those we already know.
#BRINGBACKOPPONENTWATCH
October 19th, 2020 at 6:47 AM ^
I think it deserves TWO threads...............
interesting and topical news - thanks for sharing it
October 19th, 2020 at 6:52 AM ^
Just win, baby!
October 19th, 2020 at 6:56 AM ^
Ah, embedded the link this time, better
October 19th, 2020 at 7:26 AM ^
But, does it deserve *two* threads?
Now that is the question.
October 19th, 2020 at 7:26 AM ^
I like how we've made a clean transition from calling each other racists and antarchists if you have a differing political (or other) opinion right into football talk and all being friends again.
I'm just having a moment of levity folks don't let it get to you :)
As far as this post, dang, feels like a whole lot of mysteries rolling out on that field for both teams this week.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:04 AM ^
Great point, and yes it does feel really good to actually have football talk taking place.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:07 AM ^
It's just kind of funny how vicious some things got and I get it (to a degree) it was/is a complex time in politics and with the virus etc. But it's also funny how over the weekend and today it's all football and good friendly discussion.
It's nice lol.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:29 AM ^
It's all because the Lions won!
October 19th, 2020 at 9:50 AM ^
Does this mean that next week we will get back to insults and name calling after the Lions lose?
October 19th, 2020 at 8:37 AM ^
If someone was called a racist they were likely being racist and that doesn't fall under the category of politics it falls under the category of being a bad human.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:12 AM ^
I don't disagree, but I'd add on that it's better to call actions/comments/policies racist rather than people. Calling people racist is unproductive and can also be used with the same toxic group dynamics. There are people who call others racist to show how not racist they are and suffer from the same fixed mindset approach.
I feel like we'd all be better off if we use the term bigot for someone who does racist things with intent and could get feedback on our actions in a less emotional manner.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:37 AM ^
Yep - You can't have a constructive conversation if you are hurling insults and not listening.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:56 AM ^
What do you have against Eugene Levity? Is this a Jewish thing? Racist! ( /S big time)
October 19th, 2020 at 10:38 AM ^
Sports are the great uniter as we band together to smite a common enemy and our differences seem small.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:07 AM ^
Anything that helps our DL get to Morgan quicker is fine by me. We NEED to hit him early and often. Get him 'afraid' early like we did to Clausen every year.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:31 AM ^
Just come home with the Jug
October 19th, 2020 at 10:17 AM ^
Exactly this.
After Saturday, we don't play the Gophers until we again travel to Minnesota in 2023, and we don't host this historic rivalry at all through 2025. Unless both teams somehow end up winning their respective divisions and meet in a B1G Championship Game, that's it between the two teams.
I really do miss the days when this game was a yearly event. Since nearly a whole century ago thru the 1998 season it was yearly. And from then until Rutgers and Maryland were force-fed into the conference by Jim Delaney, the 2 schools faced each other every season except '99, '00, '09, and '10.
Beginning in 2016, though, we now rarely see the Gophers. There's something seriously wrong when the recent and future schedules looks like this: no Little Brown Jug game in 2016, '18, '19, 21, '22, '24, and '25. Worse yet, the only game between the two in Ann Arbor since 2014 thru 2025 happened in 2017. I repeat, in 2017. And thru 2025, no visit by Minnesota shows up on future schedules.
Will we maybe finally host the Golden Gophers when the 2026 season rolls around?
Or better yet, can we just tell Rutgers and Maryland "bye-bye"?
October 19th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Would a hypothetical big ten championship game between the two also be for the jug? Probably, right?
October 19th, 2020 at 11:46 AM ^
I don't see why not.
To play Minnesota with both the Little Brown Jug and the B1G Championship on the line would be truly epic.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:37 AM ^
I like that UMinny is missing some starters, especially a guy that was a B1G Hon Mention OL as a true freshman, that's a serious honor! But I didn't want him (or anyone else) to miss the game because of a torn ACL - I hope he recovers quickly and fully (if that is the issue).
Just win the game.
October 19th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
Well Both sides are missing starters -Nico, DPJ , Aubrey Solomon, Ambry and Uche would’ve been quite helpful too. Bateman v Ambry was going to be a great matchup.
October 19th, 2020 at 10:54 AM ^
I realize Solomon was a 5 star, but sometimes you just have to let it go. The recruiting services miss or the kid has issues outside his control. I've watched him for 4 weeks now and although he played better this week, that mostly means he played past the first quarter.
He would have been better than a converted fullback but only for a dozen plays a game.
October 19th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
What???
Only Nico and Ambry were even on the team going into the fall. Both said they weren’t coming back as soon as the season was announced. That’s completely different from losing players that have been practicing with the team since fall camp started.
I’m sure the Bateman vs Gray + Hill’s safety help matchup will be great too.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:48 AM ^
Should be an easy dub if they don't field a team.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:52 AM ^
That article is from 10/6 and those comments are not from this morning.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:22 AM ^
There is no confirmation of any of this on the interwebs. Roster released on the 15th includes the subject linemen.
https://gophersports.com/sports/football/roster
Dunlap would have been deleted if not enrolled in the University, so at least he is still eligible. It is still possible that he opts out.
Nico and Dylan still show on our roster.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
Says that he opted out, not that he is turning pro.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
He pulled his name out of transfer portal soon after he put it in.
https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/curtis-dunlap-jr-reportedly-pulls-name-out-of-transfer-portal/
October 19th, 2020 at 10:50 AM ^
Portal tease
October 19th, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
Pull out game strong. For a college kid, especially an athlete, this is important.
October 19th, 2020 at 11:46 AM ^
It says that in the OP: Dunlap put his name in the transfer portal. He was there about 24 hours before removing his name.
October 19th, 2020 at 8:55 AM ^
gamesmanship
October 19th, 2020 at 8:57 AM ^
Ace and Brian made no mention of this on their West preview if I recall correctly, so this would be an interesting twist in the lead up to the game if true.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:10 AM ^
Faalele tilts the field.
October 19th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
Literally.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
In the event clarification is needed - updates regarding Big Ten opponents ARE on topic always.
October 19th, 2020 at 9:46 AM ^
See if crg will do Opponent Watch threads.
October 19th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
I don't recall. Do the opponent watch happen in the preseason? I would think maybe once during the week leading into the season. As far as I know, they are in the plans and just haven't been published yet.
October 19th, 2020 at 10:18 AM ^
I don't think those are huge pieces. The ones that matter are Morgan, Ibrahim, Autman-Bell, & Bateman. As long as they have those they will be fine...or at least as fine as they can be. I still think they will have some trouble with our d-line and I'm not convinced they have the talent on d to stop us, but so much depends on the o-line & QB play we get, so we'll see about that.
October 19th, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
"Minny" is not a thing. Neither is "Wiscy". Please stop using these terms. That is all.
October 19th, 2020 at 11:58 AM ^
-1 for being incorrect
October 19th, 2020 at 1:48 PM ^
Ahhhh yes. The "I know you are but what am I" retort. Brilliant! I retract my incorrectness.
No. No I do not.
October 19th, 2020 at 11:03 AM ^
Sucks to think we need this to have an advantage against friggin Minnesota! Although the big Olineman not being there won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. That’s a massive man.
October 19th, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
Very enlightening post. Some players from Minnesota may or may not play. I feel like some compensation is warranted.
October 19th, 2020 at 11:19 AM ^
please please please don't say 'minny.' i'm begging all of you.