Minnesota vs. USC?
This is more of a complaint rather then commentary. I know we go through this every few weeks or so, but I have the day off and I've been watching Media Day on BTN and I just finished listening to Tim Brewster speak. I wasn't aware of this, but Minnesota is going to be playing a Home-Home with USC. Why is it that a annually bottom-cellar team has the balls to schedule USC, while we are still putzing around with ND and our directionals? I'm fine with the schedule for rebuilding this year, but it seems as though we have no desire to bump it up in the upcoming seasons. Has anyone heard any rumblings of top teams we may have a crack at schedule-wise?
I'll take this one.
2007 - Oregon.
2008 - Utah.
Notre Dame is a traditional power. We're not "putzing" around. They are Weis'ing around.
Do some spelunking around here and you'll find that the AD is trying to find a high-profile opponent to open 2010.
And, as a Gopher season ticket holder, I'm looking forward to seeing the Song Girls 20 feet away from me.
Yeah, I know we are on the look out for 2010, but I'm more concerned with the idea that Minnesota has the gall to take on USC. It seems as though its an inevitable loss for them, but they want to thrust themselves into the national scene and I admire that. ND is nowhere near USC, and though I love to hate them and have that rivalry renewed in prominence, it still is less appealing overall.
When you look at the Oregon and Utah games, I feel it was a different attitude when we scheduled those. We were a top 5 team in 2007 going into the season, so Oregon in our mind was mid to upper level Pac-10 team that we thought would be a struggle, but a W in the end. Who knew that we would be ripped apart by spread attacks in our first 2 games.
As for Utah, I don't think anyone expected them to be as good as they were.
Have fun with those games up North. I assume the new stadium should be ready for those games upcoming.
If they win it looks great. It's not like they have anything to lose. It's not like they are going to be playing for NC or anything anytime soon so yeah why not take on a high profile opponent out of conference.
And as someone else already said we've taken out Oregon, Utah and ND in the past few years.. Last I checked Utah finished kind of high last year.
get a free scrimmage on August 22nd. It should be awesome. If people care enough here I'll post a few pictures from inside. The place in beautiful.
Regarding USC, you mustn't forget that SC is in on Seantrel Henderson's recruitment. I'm sure Pete Carroll told him he'd be able to play at the new ballpark even if he didn't end up a Gopher. Same thing that Rich Rod and Tressel can say.
I would like to see some pictures. The 3D rendering I saw looked beautiful. Football does not belong in a dome.
JG - as a gophers season ticket holder, how do you make sure to see Michigan games? Also, do you ever come out to Majors with the TC alumni club?
by 40
was illegal in Minnesota and California...
guess not.
is akin to Christians vs Lions. And no, I am not referring to those who don the Honolulu blue.
The Ducks sure seemed like a top-tier team to me in '07. They were unstoppable that year till Dixon blew out his knee. I thought he was going to win that Heisman that year till that happened.
We generally play one decent Mid-Major or one middle to bottom end BCS team, along with ND. That's a pretty decent schedule. Look at Bama, they play... uhhhhh VT.
Florida? They play FSU.
Texas's best OOC opponent this year is... Louisiana-Monroe?
The rest of their schedules are chalked full of teams that make Western Michigan look like a good game to watch.
Man, I'd love to see USC play at Minnesota in late October and watch as their MNC dreams flit away yet again.
Also: 'Bottom-Cellar Teams', like OSU?
...the USC - Minnesota game next year is, I believe, September 10th. Minny should get a little GameDay love for that.
To quote your post: "Why is it that a annually bottom-cellar team has the balls to schedule USC, while we are still putzing around with ND and our directionals?"
I don't think anyone here considers Michigan an "annually bottom-cellar team" so your argument loses traction.
Further, a traditionally mediocre program has nothing to lose by scheduling national powers because they are expected to lose. Pretty much every year, there is only one or two undefeated BCS conference schools left at the end of the year, so where is the incentive to schedule a tough OOC game that you could potentially lose? Your best shot at making the national title game is to destroy the teams on your OOC schedule and run the table in conference.
he was referring to Minnesota as the bottom cellar team i do believe
Correct, in no way was I referring to UM as bottom cellar.
I get that, but during the press conference Brewster mentioned it as a recruiting tool. It seems as though with the ability to see every game on TV now, and the hype that we've created around these OOC games that it may be a way for RR to keep us fresh in our top prospects minds. These kids want to be in the spotlight each and every week, and those are the people who can get us the NC. OSU has been doing it ever since Tressel's rise and look how their recruiting and B10 prominence has been established (minus their inability to win bowl games). This is more where my argument was headed.
Minn was know for a super patsy non-conf traditionally? Guess I can look that up.
That's in the back of a lot of people's minds because they were one of the most recent I-A teams to lose to a I-AA opponent (UND, I believe?)
Is that why people think our schedule is weak too? Here are the last four years for Minn. I would take our scheduling instead of this. I think the ideal would be two BCS non-conf and two cupcakes(Alternate Home-Away series so you get 3 home non-conf).
2008 - Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Montana State, Florida Atlantic
2007 - Florida Atlantic, Bowling Green, Miami (oh), North Dakota State
2006 - Kent State, Cal, North Dakota State, Temple
2005 - Tulsa, Colorado State, Florida Atlantic (only played 10 regular season games)
Under Glen Mason, yes. Under Brewster, who knows?
In what universe?
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!
We have RIVALRY with NOTRE dame. university OF. they are OUR big name OOC game. Welcome to CFB, c. 2009.
Childish response, I'll respond in kind..... @SSHOLE
OK, I know not everyone is super impressed with ND, mostly because they've had a couple down years, but realistically they are a top tier team if not very close, and you know they'll get their shit back together. VERY few big programs play more than one tough OOC game (many don't even play one) and we have had multiple the last couple years. Before OSU started their stretch with UT and then USC, they played all no ones. PSU, who do they play? We are at or above the bar for teams in our caliber.
Syracuse and Temple!
But seriously, they did play Oregon State last year and will play a one-and-one with Alabama beginning in 2010. I think they also agreed to play Virginia in a one-and-one but who knows how good they'll be then.
Your point still stands, we are definitely at or above par. Utah and ND certainly are worthy opponents. One point that is true though, is that we haven't played a big OOC game away (excluding ND as noted in another post) since Oregon in 03. I can't wait to find out who this mysterious one-and-one opponent is.
Because Minnesota is a crappy program desperate for publicity, and it doesn't mind scheduling two near-guaranteed losses. The Gophers also have a real problem selling tickets, unlike us.
at USC's upcoming schedules. I found it interesting that they play Hawaii 3 of the next five seasons with two of those on the road (2010,2013). I guess they don't have nice enough weather for Petey and the kids in SoCal anymore.
I look forward to watching the USC Trojans pound the Univer$ity of Minne$ota Golden Geauxfur$ into the ground where they belong. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever cheer for those dirty bastards.