quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

Tell you what a sucker I am. First half, about midfield and we are up still. Green comes in and I actually thought for a minute that we finally throw the ball and it's going to be huge. What a maroon I am

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

Tell you what a sucker I am. First half, about midfield and we are up still. Green comes in and I actually thought for a minute that we finally throw the ball and it's going to be huge. What a maroon I am

As you have been saying for some time now, Green needs to do something other than keep the ball out of the wild cat. Wisconsin, the fans and everyone watching on TV knew what was going to happen. Then Fleck followed it up by punting and the mojo was lost, never to return.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

I don't consider Wisconsin the big boys. They didn't impress me as a team that should have been out of our league at all. I was actually rather unimpressed with Wisconsin. Unfortunately, I was incredibly unimpressed with the Gophers. That was about as bad as they have played all year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

The Badgers beat the Gophers the way they always do, by being stronger and better up front. We got man handled for the most part, and there was absolutely no running room or time to pass all day. Against the lesser teams we were able to control the line, but we showed yesterday that we have a ways to go before we can play with the big boys.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

The Badgers beat the Gophers the way they always do, by being stronger and better up front. We got man handled for the most part, and there was absolutely no running room or time to pass all day. Against the lesser teams we were able to control the line, but we showed yesterday that we have a ways to go before we can play with the big boys.

Our big Oline couldn't generate anything in the rushing game. Big pussies.

Badgers blitzed all day and we failed to pick up 90% of them and didn't set up screens/quick hitters to counter

Refs stunk. William's PI'd Johnson big time on those two plays to the EZ when the game was still in the balance.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

The Badgers beat the Gophers the way they always do, by being stronger and better up front. We got man handled for the most part, and there was absolutely no running room or time to pass all day. Against the lesser teams we were able to control the line, but we showed yesterday that we have a ways to go before we can play with the big boys.

Our big Oline couldn't generate anything in the rushing game. Big pussies.

Badgers blitzed all day and we failed to pick up 90% of them and didn't set up screens/quick hitters to counter

Refs stunk. William's PI'd Johnson big time on those two plays to the EZ when the game was still in the balance.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Lots of ways to look at what's happened this year
I see ONE quality win so far
The weak schedule is starting to be a reality right now.
The most important thing is, where does the program go, and how are they seeing it?
Because there's tons of work to do yet, to get to the lofty heights we THOUGHT we were already at.
We were never a #7 team in the country. We better plan to be, and we better know how we will eventually get there.
Unfortunately, we lose a lot of good players this year.
Fleck's incredible recruiting prowess will be put to the test from here out.
I was very happy that there were a couple HUGE CFB games, that took the focus off our game once the bubble burst.
Helped smooth over some of the embarrassment. The rest of the B10 had to be going … "whew, knew they weren't getting that good"
Like I said, the real work starts today. Are we happy with being better, or are we hungry now that we see how much fun being a legit contender could be.
The nation and the networks have treated us VERY well during the good times this season.
Now that they will go away, you have to work in anonymity again, to better yourselves. Should be fun to watch and see how it goes.
We were definitely still "out-programmed" Saturday.
There's a level of "elite" even int he B10 that we are not at, yet. Iowa and Wiscy made sure we understood that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Lots of ways to look at what's happened this year
I see ONE quality win so far
The weak schedule is starting to be a reality right now.
The most important thing is, where does the program go, and how are they seeing it?
Because there's tons of work to do yet, to get to the lofty heights we THOUGHT we were already at.
We were never a #7 team in the country. We better plan to be, and we better know how we will eventually get there.
Unfortunately, we lose a lot of good players this year.
Fleck's incredible recruiting prowess will be put to the test from here out.
I was very happy that there were a couple HUGE CFB games, that took the focus off our game once the bubble burst.
Helped smooth over some of the embarrassment. The rest of the B10 had to be going … "whew, knew they weren't getting that good"
Like I said, the real work starts today. Are we happy with being better, or are we hungry now that we see how much fun being a legit contender could be.
The nation and the networks have treated us VERY well during the good times this season.
Now that they will go away, you have to work in anonymity again, to better yourselves. Should be fun to watch and see how it goes.
We were definitely still "out-programmed" Saturday.
There's a level of "elite" even int he B10 that we are not at, yet. Iowa and Wiscy made sure we understood that.

The difference is that those two have been at this level for years. We're the upstarts in the group. They have a been there done that, know how to do it again culture, that we still lack.

All in all, I don't know how we can look at this season as a failure in any way. The Gophers were picked to finish second to last and they finished within a win of the Big Ten championship game.

The question now is whether this is another step on the path to legitimacy or a crescendo to be followed by a drop off and start over process. As you said, if Fleck's recruiting prowess bears fruit, the Gophers could have similar opportunity next year and maybe even finish it off better than this year.

As to Fleck's coaching, he seems to able to coach players up in practice, but his game planning and in game decisions need work.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

All in all, I don't know how we can look at this season as a failure in any way. The Gophers were picked to finish second to last and they finished within a win of the Big Ten championship game

I don't.
It's been a blast.

I've stayed very calm on these losses. I took heat weeks back for saying we hadn't won anything until we beat these last two opponents.
We're getting closer. And that's what my comments today were meant to convey.
As you say, it takes time to become one of those teams who can compete with anyone. It's our first year knocking on that door.
My point was simply, it's easy to fall back. Sure hoping we don't.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Lots of ways to look at what's happened this year
I see ONE quality win so far
The weak schedule is starting to be a reality right now.
The most important thing is, where does the program go, and how are they seeing it?
Because there's tons of work to do yet, to get to the lofty heights we THOUGHT we were already at.
We were never a #7 team in the country. We better plan to be, and we better know how we will eventually get there.
Unfortunately, we lose a lot of good players this year.
Fleck's incredible recruiting prowess will be put to the test from here out.
I was very happy that there were a couple HUGE CFB games, that took the focus off our game once the bubble burst.
Helped smooth over some of the embarrassment. The rest of the B10 had to be going … "whew, knew they weren't getting that good"
Like I said, the real work starts today. Are we happy with being better, or are we hungry now that we see how much fun being a legit contender could be.
The nation and the networks have treated us VERY well during the good times this season.
Now that they will go away, you have to work in anonymity again, to better yourselves. Should be fun to watch and see how it goes.
We were definitely still "out-programmed" Saturday.
There's a level of "elite" even int he B10 that we are not at, yet. Iowa and Wiscy made sure we understood that.

The difference is that those two have been at this level for years. We're the upstarts in the group. They have a been there done that, know how to do it again culture, that we still lack.

All in all, I don't know how we can look at this season as a failure in any way. The Gophers were picked to finish second to last and they finished within a win of the Big Ten championship game.

The question now is whether this is another step on the path to legitimacy or a crescendo to be followed by a drop off and start over process. As you said, if Fleck's recruiting prowess bears fruit, the Gophers could have similar opportunity next year and maybe even finish it off better than this year.

As to Fleck's coaching, he seems to able to coach players up in practice, but his game planning and in game decisions need work.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bstinger

Wisconsin is probably the better team but I'd like to see us play them in good weather. Our strength going in was our ability to throw and the conditions did NOT do us any favors.

Soft schedule, sure, next year doesn't look that hard either. No OSU or PSU. Odd that Iowa and Wiscy are early games next year. Expectations are raised, can they better their best? Will definitely miss the Sr's but the cupboard isn't bare. Hit the weights boys, can't be shoved around next year like we were against Hawkeyes and Badgers.

Fleck has some in game improving to do for sure.

Win the Bowl game and keep rowing all winter.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bstinger

Wisconsin is probably the better team but I'd like to see us play them in good weather. Our strength going in was our ability to throw and the conditions did NOT do us any favors.

Soft schedule, sure, next year doesn't look that hard either. No OSU or PSU. Odd that Iowa and Wiscy are early games next year. Expectations are raised, can they better their best? Will definitely miss the Sr's but the cupboard isn't bare. Hit the weights boys, can't be shoved around next year like we were against Hawkeyes and Badgers.

Fleck has some in game improving to do for sure.

Win the Bowl game and keep rowing all winter.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Badgers got stuck earlier by Ohio State
I expect it again
Their clutch method of covering won’t be overlooked in this game