Throughout the decade, transgressions have ranged from some Internet reporters wearing team polo shirts at events to what occurred earlier this decade at Kentucky, which banned one fan, Brian Poe, from having any involvement with the school's athletic program for 27 years. The offense: Poe, who ran a Kentucky fan Web site, inappropriately interviewed high school football prospects and circulated e-mails to his subscribers asking for help in recruiting athletes and encouraging them to contact prospects. What's more, he allowed a junior college recruit to live in his house.

Coach Tim Brewster and six players are pictured in the Bank's locker room, which is 60 yards long by 25 yards wide. It contains 120 cherry wood lockers and is the largest in professional and college football. Having spiffy digs is nice, but will this team make Minnesotans proud? The Gophers must come out of the tailspin that concluded the 2008 season, when the team lost its last five, including a 55-0 humbling by Iowa in Minnesota's final game in the Metrodome.

"All seven of my offers right now are in the Midwest. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Purdue, Kansas, Illinois ..." He blanked out on the seventh school, so I said "Iowa?"

"Yeah, Iowa."

Excitement is certainly building around the program and Brewster has recruited well, but a rough schedule that includes trips to Penn State, Ohio State and Iowa and a lack of playmakers on defense will keep Minnesota in the middle of the Big Ten pack.

Ford said he likes the fact that they have "cool weather up there," that's he's tired of practicing in the heat so much, and that he wants to "try something new." It's definitely cooler, temperature-wise at least, in Minnesota than South Florida, especially in January and February.