Profiles of the Big 10: Minnesota Golden Gophers
by Jon Johnston on May 11, 2010 8:41 AM CDT
in Conference Realignment
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PrintI've been living in Minnesota for almost 22 years now (nearly to the day!) and over that span, I've certainly learned a lot about Big 10 football. I was a Gopher season ticket holder for three years during the Jim Wacker regime I finally gave them up because I was tired of having Minnesota fans tell me to sit down and shut up. I enjoyed going to the games, and the seats were good, but those Gophers fans - it's like they think they're going to an opera.
The end result of flirting with Minnesota fandom was an even greater appreciation (obsession) for Nebraska football.
The biggest thing to like about Minnesota is that the Huskers will beat them consistently. Minnesota's worst loss in their school history was the 84-13 at the hands of the 1983 Husker team. A few years back I ran into a couple of guys who played in that game who told me that they did everything they could not to score, including making plays up in the huddle.
Minnesotans are nice people, hence the "Minnesota Nice" phrase they throw around to make sure everyone stays nice and polite, but they never really say what they're thinking. It causes a passive-aggressive nature - they'll treat you well at the game, but then try to kill when you turn your back or run over you in the parking lot when no one is around.
Minnesota has a nice, shiny new stadium which only opened this past season. It's a huge upgrade from the Metrodome, which has to be the most stale place evah to watch a sporting event. The bad news is that it only holds 50,000, and since it's new it'll be less likely that Gophers fans will give up their tickets.
Believe it or not, Minnesota has the edge in wins against Nebraska. The two teams have met 51 times, Nebraska winning 20, losing 29 and tying two. Minnesota established themselves in the early years of football, and it was Nebraska that wanted to play them more often to make a name for themselves. Of the first 13 games between them from 1900-1913, Nebraska won only two. From 1940-1949, the Gophers had a ten-game win streak. Since then the tables turned as Nebraska rose to prominence and Minnesota faltered. Minnesota's last win against Nebraska came in 1960. Since then, the Huskers have won 14 straight, the last coming in 1990.
I doubt that Minnesota football can ever return to the greatness it once had. I swear there's something in the state's constitution requiring them to rush three and drop eight when they're ahead by more than 10 points. And with Kevin Cosgrove in charge of the defense, you know they're never going to be that good.
It's no coincidence that the Gophers last Rose Bowl was in 1962, just around the time the Vikings came into existence. Since then the state has become a Vikings state and the Gophers second-ran. The best athletes in the state recognize this and routinely flee to other states.
The bottom line - a Minnesota-Nebraska yearly game would be a win-win for both teams. Nebraska would win all the games, and Minnesota would win the tax revenues, something the state needs badly to get it out of it's massive debt.
The same falls true for non-revenue sports. Nebraskans would travel to see Minnesota - Nebraska volleyball matches as well as women's basketball and every other sport in-between. Traveling to Minnesota has the added attraction of going to the Mall of America. The MOA has 40 million people visit every year. That's more than Disney World, which has about 25 million visitors annually. And no, I'm not going to take you there unless you're willing to pay me handsomely.
One thing Nebraskans have in common with Minnesotans - hating Iowa. Rather than me come up with a suitable trophy, I'll leave that up to the comments section.
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"but those Gophers fans - it's like they think they're going to an opera"
everyone knows why the stadium only seats 50,000, they were sick and tired of Iowa and Wisconsin having home games there.
I went for the 55-0 Metrodome send off party, Gophers fans were horrible even before the game started. I sat next to a Minnesota couple who said I was too loud clapping for their band during pregame and who gave me the evil eye every time I cheered for Iowa (up till the second quarter when they gave up, they left after the first half).
Minnesota has the worst aumni base in the country. Their student section isn’t horrible (Indiana’s is far worse) but the alumni act like they would rather be anywhere else and leave alot of empty seats. Our fans may not be saints but we at least show up and cheer for the team.
The good news for Nebraska fans (and Iowa and Wisconsin fans) is that another bad season will likely take the novelty of the new stadium away and we can go back to outnumbering them in Minneapolis again.
http://victorypolka.blogspot.com/
not very "nice" Jon
apparently the Minnesota niceness hasn’t rubbed off on you.
And slow down on the non-rev sport domination (pardon me if this is the only argument I have). Director’s cup standings would disagree (and we sucked in hockey this year) and state that we are relatively close.
And I’m glad that now Iowa fans can come on and agree with you. They love ripping Minnesota football, as if dominating on the field isn’t enough, the baffling inferiority complex kicks in. Some should tell them that Minnesota fans aren’t nice to Hawkeye fans because they are the most obnoxious in the conference.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
Uh...not really
Did you read the Michigan post? I’ve been to East Lansing as well, and was harrassed visciously and to no end…even as the Spartans beat the Hawks. I mean, they are just a few clicks from Detroit, so you do the math.
Jackasses exist everywhere (Except Lincoln..hehe), but Iowa City doesn’t take the Big 10 ass-cake by far. They do have a certain inferiority complex however…..that’s for sure.
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"
GO BIG RED!
I didn't say meanest or most viscious
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on May 11, 2010 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed.
Obnoxious behavior is pretty rampant in Hawkeye land…
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"
GO BIG RED!
by Brian Speers on May 11, 2010 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions
IOWA...is a place for liars :)
I am a teacher and I always tell my students not to lie… why? Because they may get sent to IOWA. After all, that’s where liars go!
So Minnesota, I look forward to joining you in hating the Idiot’s Out Wandering Around… er I Owe the World an Apology and In Omaha Without Asking
I joke I joke… but I can see a new fun rivalry brewing!
-HuskEric
50K is probably about right for Minny
Having lived in St. Louis Park for a couple of years myself, like all big cities, they just are not passionate about the gophers. Esp. a campus like Minnesota that is just off of downtown. Personally, I think this is the drawback of having college campuses in big cities. There is no sense of community, at least 2/3rd of the students commute, and it is drown out by the NFL, NBA, and NHL. And the Twins if they are still in contention by fall.
Granted, a stadium on campus should help, but its alot better to be #1 in 800K Omaha than #6 in 3 Mil Twincities.
C'mon Jon - You'll love the Big 10/12/14/16
Nice coverage of the goophers. You have them spot on.
You will love the switch, just because you’ll get to beat up on Minny-soda every year. That is why they exist. The goophies can’t get it right. The administration does not support the program, the alumni that remember winning football are all dying off, and the students are apathetic. Let’s see, on a nice fall day in Minnesota, should I go fishing, hunting, biking canoeing, partying, etc.?
As for what you might have in common with Minnesota, you should be careful. There might be two things – hating Iowa and losing to Iowa! See ya Sunday, big guy!
I don't know about a trophy name
But whats the over/under on the number of “Hey Kevin, I Hope You’re Taking Notes” signs?
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
LMAO
Well I don’t think that the number will ever reach outrageous numbers since there is no way that they keep him around that long but that is a great idea for a sign. However, I am still firmly against going to the Big 10 even if NU-Iowa would be a fun rivalry.
As for a trophy, I think the only logical answer would be something involving corn.
Ah keep it up.
Alright, I grew up in Lincoln and am a proud University of Minnesota graduate. Hopefully by joining the Big Ten, UNL will amp up their academics.
Why do you have so many Academic All-Americans? The coursework is EASY.
Yes Nebraska has a stronger football program than Minnesota. No, Minnesota is not a cake walk. I’m not a fan of our current coach, but over the past decade, the Gophers have been average to above average at football.
Look to Indiana if you want surefire wins.
I would leave it to Nebraskans to site the Mall of America as the greatest reason to visit Minneapolis/St. Paul. You’d be out of place in the more sophisticated cultural attractions anyway.
To whomever said that Minnesota is commuter school must be stuck in the ’80s. There are probably twice as many students that live within a mile of campus than even GO to Nebraska. Minnesota has a far better campus atmosphere than Nebraska. On top of that, a much more beautiful campus with the Mississippi River and looming downtown skyline.
The new stadium is fantastic, and you will love the sight lines and amenities.
And what was up with the volleyball reference? Minnesota has been in 3 Final Fours in the past 7 years. It will definitely be a raucous match up.
Regardless, welcome to the Big Ten if you do indeed join. If you want to partake in Big Ten tradition and cash, you might not want to start by knocking on a founding member.
There are probably twice as many students that live within a mile of campus than even GO to Nebraska. The new stadium is fantastic, and you will love the sight lines and amenities.
Yet, look at how the piled over each other to get into the goofer spring game 2010:
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