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twinsfan -> RE: Gopher Football (12/3/2015 2:44:14 PM)
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The 5-7 Gophers appear headed to a bowl game.
Without enough 6-6 teams, the NCAA said Monday, the remaining spots will go to five-win programs with the best Academic Progress Rate. Considering the scenarios, the Gophers are at least tied for the 80th and final bowl spot.
Before the NCAA set its new guidelines, Gophers coach Tracy Claeys said a bowl berth would benefit younger players and give most of his seniors one last chance to suit up.
"I think it would be great news," Claeys said.
Currently, five spots are left to be filled, with three 5-6 teams -- Kansas State, South Alabama and Georgia State -- able to lock up bids with sixth wins Saturday. All three teams are big underdogs.
The top 5-7 team in APR is Nebraska (985), so the Cornhuskers are bowl eligible. Next is Missouri (976), but its athletics director has declined, citing a focus on finding a coach.
Kansas State's APR is tied with Missouri's, so the Wildcats likely will go to a bowl game, win or lose Saturday. So as of now, if the three 5-6 teams win, the Gophers are tied with San Jose State for the 80th spot with matching APRs of 975.
Claeys said Monday that his team is prepared for the possibility of a bowl game, adding, "but at the same time, they know that there are some odds to getting that done."
The selection of teams will include honoring conferences' partnerships with bowls. The Big Ten has affiliations with 10 bowls and eight teams with six or more wins.
Three bowls have the option to take teams from the ACC.
Lower-tier destinations could be the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 28 in Detroit, the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26 in New York and the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 29 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Two ESPN analysts projected Monday that the Gophers could play in the Quick Lane Bowl. ESPN listed Central Michigan and California as possible opponents. On Sunday, CBS Sports projected the Gophers to be playing North Carolina State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The bowl lineup will be announced Sunday. Until then, Claeys said, the Gophers will wait.
"We are going to continue to lift weights and condition and move that way and hear in a week for our situation," Claeys said.
Former offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover, who was fired Sunday along with quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski, said he's confident the remaining coaching staff -- graduate assistants Trevor Olson for the offensive line and Adam Weber with the quarterbacks -- would do well.
"If the bowl game came up, the remaining guys on the staff would do a great job," Limegrover said.
Limegrover is a stand-up guy.
Gophers will go to a bowl I'm sure. That's good.
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