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The Daily Gopher Fix 8.13.08

Note: We're going to provide you a daily look at coverage of the Gophers around the Interwebs. Feel free to add links that you run across for discussion.

The Big Ten Network conducted an interview with Tim Brewster yesterday where he didn't say "tremendous" even once! Sweet. And, frankly, based on this television interview, Brewster seems to have figured out the expectations game. Asked what would be a successful season in 2008, Brewster basically said he couldn't quantify it in wins and losses but wanted to see improvement.

A year after giving the peanut gallery a "tremendous" amount of ammunition to fire at him after not living up to the high expectations he set for himself and the program, Brewster just might be taking strides in this area.

  • We're 17 days away from the widely anticipated season opener between the Golden Gophers and Northern Illinois. So, obviously, it was time for some trash talking from  the Red and Black Attack (NIU blog). In their post "5 teams that will hate the MAC in 2008," the blogger suggests the Gophers will go 0-2 against the MAC with losses to NIU and Bowling Green. Really is too bad I'm not confident enough in Brewster's lads to laugh off this soothsaying.
  • Another day, another Gophers football preview that takes the obvious narrative. This time it's The Sports Network's Mike Castiglione who notes the 1-11 record last year, the defense that "was more generous than the United Way," Brewster's optimism, the solid recruiting class, etc... Outlook? "The Gophers should be able to notch a few more wins, but in all likelihood, this program is eyeing 2009 as a springboard year, when the new stadium opens and the young recruits have had a chance to mature."
  • Tubby Smith's Golden Gophers will fail to make the NCAA Tournament this year, but grab a second straight bid in the NIT, according to this prognostication from Northwestern Wins.
  • Two items of note from ESPN's Adam Rittenberg today. First, Wisconsin QB Allan Evridge sat out of Tuesday's practice with a sore hammy. These things have a tendency to linger. Panic time in Madison? Second, Rittenberg looks at newcomers in the Big Ten, with short items on Brandon Green, Troy Stoudermire and Xzavian Brandon, as well as many others.
  • High expectations in East Lansing this year, so says Shannon Shelton of the Detroit Free Press. The Spartans want to take down Cal at on the road in the opener and springboard to a season that builds on last year's 7-6.
  • The Chicgao Daily Herald's John Lemon previews the Gophers football season here--with the typical narrative--but also touches on two Chicago-area Gophers: tight Jack Simmons and defensive tackle Eric Small.
  • Kent Youngblood informs this morning that redshirt freshman Chris Bunders, a 312-pound O-lineman who had eyes on a starting gig, had minor arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss about 10 days. In the next week or so I'm going to preview the Gophers' O-line (We drew straws, I won!), but for a sneak preview of what to expect from the big guys, the STrib's Kent Youngblood has a thorough look:"So right now, left to right, the starting line goes like this: Dom Alford at lackle, (Ryan) Orton at left guard, center Jeff Tow-Arnett and (Ned) Tavale at right guard. Right tackle is a tight competition between redshirt freshman Ryan Wynn and junior Jason Meinke."

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

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Looking at your home page with the links

there are a couple of sites that I think would tie in well with those are already mentioned. I have subscriptions to in my Google Reader also for which a Big 10 only blog. Also a good college football site which writes about college football in general but is run by an Ohio State fan I believe. I also enjoy which is frat boy type of outlook for college football. Note their season preview of the years best non-conference match-ups from the viewpoint of what school has the best looking female fans. And because its true should be mentioned for its integration of college football and pop culture and current world events thru the eyes of a Flordia fan. Another SEC-centric site is which does a great job of needling the fans around the SEC.

by norman dale on Aug 13, 2008 8:47 AM CDT   0 recs

links?

The sidebars, links, etc.. are all a work in progress. There are a number of sites I plan to add. Do you have links to the sites you are recommending?

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

by PJS on Aug 13, 2008 8:52 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

e-mail us

Norman, feel free to e-mail us with links to other quality blogs or stories worth looking at.

dailygopher@gmail.com

by GopherNation on Aug 13, 2008 8:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This list is TREMENDOUS

Yeah! We’re going to Pasadena! FIGHT WIN BEST!

"Bob Zook has to be the laziest man alive"

by Hawkeye State on Aug 14, 2008 10:12 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks ND

The Only Game That Matters should be on the blog roll (State of the Game) and we are aware of the rest. Thanks and like PJS said, it is a work in progress.

by GopherNation on Aug 13, 2008 9:04 AM CDT   0 recs

That interview was tremendous

FIGHT TRY TREMENDOUS WIN WIN WIN FIGHT WIN

"Bob Zook has to be the laziest man alive"

by Hawkeye State on Aug 13, 2008 9:50 AM CDT   0 recs

Brewster

More than anything, Im concerned that Brewster wouldnt guarantee doubling last year’s win total from 1 to 2…. If your not confident enough to say at this poin that we will certainly win 2 games, we have problems…

by Tbizzle on Aug 13, 2008 10:15 AM CDT   0 recs

He can't go there

Brewster can’t go around saying this team is giong to win two games or six games. He’d be setting himself up to fail to meet his own expectations. He did that to himself last year. I see him taking Tubby’s approach now, talking about how he wants to see improvement. Six wins would be improvement, but he can’t go around saying “Success in 2008 means we are bowl eligible,” or “An improvement on 2007 is two wins.”

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

by PJS on Aug 13, 2008 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What did he really say?

I’m wondering if anyone has a link to his actual press conference. I seem to remember him saying that it was their goal to win a big ten championship and go to the rose bowl. I don’t remember him saying they were going to do it last year. What’s wrong with that being his goal?

by scrib24 on Aug 13, 2008 1:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In the BTN interview..

... Brewster was asked what would constitute success this year. He didn’t talk numbers of wins or Rose Bowls. However, I think you’re right that he said that the Rose Bowl and Big Ten Title are the programs goal every year.

Having a successful season doesn’t hinge on 10 wins or Big Ten chippers. I think that’s what Brewster was saying to the BTN. And I like that line of thinking. They can be successful without reaching their ultimate goal.

I’ll see if I canf ind the link, scrib. You talking about the Media Day presser from this year?

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

by PJS on Aug 13, 2008 1:57 PM CDT   0 recs

BTN interview

I guess I was more wondering about last year, before the season started. I thought he said those were the goals of the program each year, as you eluded too. It just seems to me that everyone thinks last year he came in saying “we’re going to the Rose Bowl!” I don’t seem to remember it that way.

by scrib24 on Aug 13, 2008 2:07 PM CDT   0 recs

..

The best I was able to find was an old STrib story by Shelman where Brewster said go to the Rose Bowl “sooner rather than later.”

Anyway, I think he’s being much more careful this time around.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

by PJS on Aug 13, 2008 3:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

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