Grab An Oar, There Has Never Been A Better Time To Join Gopher Nation.
The most anticipated handshake in Minnesota history took place last Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. PJ Fleck and Jerry Kill actually took care of the formalities before kickoff, so we all could focus on the game between the Golden Gophers and New Mexico State.
And what a game it was! The Gophers dominated New Mexico State week one with a final score of 38-0. It’s worth mentioning the spread on this game was 36.5. For most Minnesotans this was a bet they wouldn’t touch with one of PJ’s oars. First game of the season, against in inferior opponent, a game you’re supposed to win against your former coach turned nemesis. All of it felt dangerous.
And then it wasn’t. The Gophers won. The Gophers covered, and this very un-Minnesotan and quite impressive feat had a lot to do with our offensive coordinator.
Coach Kirk Ciarrocca is a familiar face on the Gopher sidelines because he was the Offensive Coordinator back in 2019 when the Gophers went 11-2 and beat Auburn in the Outback Bowl to finish the year ranked 10th in the country. You could tell how comfortable Tanner Morgan looked working alongside Ciarrocca last week as he was able to consistently get both the WR and TE’s involved in the offense. And while New Mexico State may not be a great barometer, by comparison the offense last year struggled against teams like Bowling Green and Illinois.
Mo Ibrahim returned to the lineup week 1 and looked better than ever. He was running hard and showed no signs that his torn achilles tendon will limit him at all this season. The offensive line, which featured 4 new starters, created huge holes for Mo and the other RB’s while protecting their beloved QB. This Gopher offense has a chance to be the best we’ve seen in recent years.
The Gophers in the PJ Fleck era have struggled against inferior opponents, often allowing teams to stick around and sometimes losing outright. The Gophers absolutely dominated all aspects of the game against New Mexico State week one and the outcome was never in doubt. Yet another sign that this Gopher squad could be unique from years past.
Our defense also appears to be legit. This is the deepest, most athletic defense I have ever seen at Minnesota. Mix in the genius of Defensive Coordinator, Joe Rossi, and the Gophers should be in every game this season. They have athletes at all 3 levels and one of the best secondaries in the Big Ten. The defensive line rotates in 10 guys, which should allow them to remain fresh throughout the season.
At first glance, PJ Fleck deserves a ton of credit with what he and his staff have put together for his 6th Year. Former Coach Tim Brewster ruined Gopher fans as far as slogans and sayings go and that turned a lot of people against PJ in his introductory press conference. I know, I know...Fleck saying he eats difficult conversations for breakfast didn’t help, but the main difference between PJ and Brewster is PJ is a hell of a coach. Yeah, he can be over the top sometimes, but he has recruited at a level never seen here. The team has been very competitive the last few years playing important, meaningful games in November. The players in the program are staying out of trouble and representing the University in a positive way, and the team GPA has never been higher. What’s not to love?
Sitting at 1-0 this is the best Gopher team that I can remember in a long time. We have an experienced team with great skill positions and great coordinators on both sides of the both in Rossi and Ciarocca. Rossi’s defense was ranked 4th in the country last year for yards allowed. Unfortunately, it’s probably only a matter of time until Rossi is promoted to a Head Coach somewhere soon. So enjoy him now!
On the other side of the ball, Ciarrocca is hoping to bring back the magic he had last time he was wearing the offensive coordinator headset. And he has a 38-year-old QB to work with, just kidding, but Tanner Morgan isn’t short on experience as he starts his 6th season under center for the Gophers. Depth looks to be the biggest difference for the Gophers this year, as this is deepest team with athletes that I can remember. Add in a favorable schedule, and with the Big Ten Conference moving away from Divisional play next year, PJ knows this is his best chance at going to the Big Ten Championship.
If there was ever a year for you to join Gopher Nation this would be the year. I see this team going 10-2 and winning the West Division and heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. I hope you become a member of Gopher Nation this year and enjoy the ride. What are you waiting for?
