Golden Nugz 12.31.09 - it's the final countdown

by GopherNation on Dec 31, 2009 7:42 AM CST in Golden Nuggets

I just put that title hoping you would get that song stuck in your head, please let me know if it worked.

Well it is game day and it is the last day of 2009. Bring on the Cyclones and please bring on 2010.

If you are looking for a great "look back" article on Gopher football recruiting head over to Gopher Illustrated where Matt goes back to 2002. He looks at each Gopher recruiting class telling us who the star of the class was when signed, who was the biggest surprise and who was the biggest bust. I don't want to copy and paste the whole thing but here is the class of 2005 as an example...

Signing Day Star - Alex Daniels - picked Minn over Oklahoma and Ohio State

On the Field Star - Eric Decker - duh

Biggest Surprise - Eric Decker - lightly recruited 2-star who nearly went to St. Johns

Biggest Disappointment - Otis Hudson - OL who eventually transferred to Eastern Illinois

It is a fun read if you are a subscriber. If not, now might be the time to sign up. Part One and Part Two.

The Cyclones got a visit from Larry Fitzgerald at practice the other day. Their coach, Paul Rhodes, was Fitz's offensive coordinator at Pitt. This link also emphasizes how Iowa State doesn't want a second guaranteed loss by adding us to their schedule.
Tubby is starting to get offensive about getting PF-Trevor Mbakwe back on the court and out of court.
Tempo Free Stat scatterplot. This is a good looking graph for Gopher fans.
So what was Westbrook's secret to having a great game against Penn State? Apparently it was eat breakfast, shoot at the Barn for 8 hours, play Penn State. I'm not sure this routine is sustainable for the next 17 games considering he didn't eat for 12 hours but he might be on to something.

That's all I have for you. Enjoy the Insight Bowl and enjoy your New Year's Eve.

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Paul Rhoads better save his job and lose the bowl game

The last three coaches who beat the Gophers in bowl games have all been fired. Get the message?

Al Groh
Mike Leach
Mark Mangino

by Garrick on Dec 31, 2009 8:56 AM CST reply actions

interesting

though Mason lost the Insight and still got fired.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Dec 31, 2009 9:00 AM CST up reply actions

Gnation

it worked and I will be cursing you all day!!! To counter that mid-80’s “Countdown” I will dig out some Tom Waits, Van Morrison, or The Replacements from that time-period. That should nuetralize it. Seriously, I think (contrary to others) that these bowl practices and this game in particular, are huge. I will be very disappointed and extremely pessimistic (Brewster era) if the U doesn’t win this one.

by Texas Gopher on Dec 31, 2009 9:09 AM CST reply actions

YES

try this LINK.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Dec 31, 2009 10:17 AM CST up reply actions

Texas

Do you watch European Soccer? In Europe, at the end of most seasons, the best teams play for the title (UEFA Champions’ League, Europa League). Most other teams arrange end-of-season friendly (exhibition) matches which are little more than excuses to make money and let players get a little practice. No one remembers the result.

Look at college football – Alabama and Texas are playing for a title. A few other bowls might matter based on history (Cotton, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar, Rose). The rest? Exhibition matches that are excuses for schools and localities to make money. The practices might be useful, but the result of the game doesn’t matter one bit (see – 2008 Ole Miss Cotton Bowl for a good example of overrating bowl games’ importance).

by JG2112 on Dec 31, 2009 10:17 AM CST reply actions