Notice the projected winner of the Big Ten according to this link...

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/conference-bids

Javan Hawes visited Minnesota officially last weekend. I talked to him this week about his visit, his thoughts on the boycott, and more: https://minnesota.rivals.com/news/hawes-recaps-visit-talks-boycott

St Johns destroyed Syracuse tonight 93-60.

Any update on the turf toe injury?

I hope it's not something that lingers all season.

Might be wise to sit him against Arkansas State. Get him healthy for the B1G schedule.

Arkansas State is the 2nd opponent the Gophers have played from the state, this year, as they played the Arkansas Razorbacks earlier.... Also the 4th and last Sun Belt Conference team that the Gophers will have played in non-conference. As far as preseason Sun Belt conference polls, the Gophers played UT Arlington who is predicted to win the conference, Georgia Southern was predicted to finish 4th, and Louisiana Lafayette was predicted to finish 7th in the Sun Belt...... Arkansas State is predicted to finish 10th....The Gophers have soundly beaten the other Sun Belt opponents in preconference.

They have a first year coach in Grant McCasland. McCasland was an assistant at his alma mater, Baylor, before taking the Arkansas State job this year.. He replaced John Brady who resigned after being with Arkansas State for 8 years after having some success as the successor to Dale Brown at LSU. Brady was in contract negotiations, last year, for an extension but after talking things over with his family and friends in the business, decided he wanted to hang up the whistle..

McCasland has a career as a coach since he graduated from Baylor in 1999. He was a successful JC coach and you will see a junior college flavor on the Akansas State Red Wolves roster.. His main assistant, Russ Hodge, is also a former JC coach. McCasland also had a short and successful stint as head coach at D2 Midwestern State... He is an upbeat personality and has a few wins, already, that will get your attention. They won the Maui Classic-Mainland this year by beating Georgetown, Army, and Chattanooga along the way. Their losses were to North Dakota State, where they were in foul trouble, as well as TCU and Alabama. So they have impressive wins(Georgetown and Chattanooga) plus a couple of tough losses to teams that had length and athleticism.. They are 9-3 entering the game against Minnesota.

The grounds crew will have some work to do between now and Tuesday.

Last night they played the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium in rainy conditions, and it tore up the grass field pretty good.

Anything to slow down the Pirate's up tempo offense is good for Minnesota. So fellas, don't fix up the field TOO MUCH.

Link: Claeys talks Holiday Bowl

Fisher signed with Arkansas just now. His finalists were Minnesota, Arkansas, and Michigan State.

I posted yesterday that I thought Texas was the leader if the offer was committable, which was uncertain, and it turned out to be uncommittable. Arkansas had been Fisher's favorite for a while, but there was question if the offer was committable there as well, because they only had one outside linebacker spot left and really wanted Thomas Johnston. He turned out to be a take for them and will now be a Razorback.

Luckily the Gophers have young outside linebacker talent now on the roster, plus a very solid commit in Bryson Jackson.

Looks like MSU had a pedophile and serial sexual molester physician on staff (what an SOB!!!).

An MSU female athlete reported an assault by this physician to the University. Their EOAA office did not find that this case was an assault as the alleged victim "did not know the nuances of a medical procedure".

Far cry from what we've experienced at the U.

BTW, as a Christian I pray that this man repents and seeks redemption. As a physician and a father I want to kick the living s$&@ out of this man.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Contract negotiations between football coach P.J. Fleck and Western Michigan University are ongoing, the coach confirmed Monday, and it's not as simple as just signing your name.

Fleck held a pre-Cotton Bowl press conference at the Radisson Plaza Hotel to talk to reporters about the team's preparation and confirmed that he and athletic director Kathy Beauregard continue to hammer out details of a new contract.

"It's not as easy as 'here's a piece of paper, sign this real quick,'" Fleck said. "Maybe that was a standard contract back in the day when you get your first job, but I want to take care of my assistants, I want to take care of Western Michigan University and I want to make sure everything's fair for both people, but there are ongoing talks."

Fleck said his focus remains on preparing his team for the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2, 2017 and if he needs to choose one topic to focus on throughout the day, that preparation comes first.

http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2016/12/pj_fleck_contract_negotiations.html

I have footballs signed by two ex-coaches, Tim Brewster and Tracy Claeys.

I've sent an email to Justin Wilcox asking for an autographed football.

Are we going to get resolution on the additional 5 players prior to Tuesday? Have appeals been submitted?

MJH...feel free to move to Dinkytown if need be...


If you are flying Delta between now and the end of the year, whether it be for the Bowl game or for general Holiday Travel, I have Delta Drink Tickets I'm looking to sell off before they expire on 12/31/16. I get them as part of the Delta SkyBonus Business Program, but I have way more than I can use.

Beers cost $5, and Cocktails/Wine cost $7 normally. I'm looking to sell in increments of 10 for $30.00. $3.00/drink for us math majors!

Email me at daniel.hanks@hotmail.com and we will see if we can meet up if this makes sense for you.

They've allowed a totally false narrative to be sent out across the entire state. The Strib says the 'report' has damaging info which changed the players' minds. A total lie. But now it's being repeated by everyone. Sure, most people are naturally against sports and like to pile-on no matter what. Trolls. It's all political bull. But Kaler and Coyle are doing NOTHING to set the record straight. They are pure trash in my opinion. No character, no honesty, no backbone. They couldn't care less about the football program....and sadly that's a fact.

Here is my lens people. Y'all know me. Here is what we are looking at IMO

10 Football players behaved poorly
1 cheerleader behaved poorly
1 AD provided no leadership....behaved poorly
1 coach....waffled like a politician.Behaved poorly
1 President showed no presence..behaved poorly
EEOC? 5 woman/1 man....maybe behaved poorly, maybe just did their job

We don't know how this will shake out but....there is one thing I know.

Cheerleader (protected-name not mass distributed
President (if he leaves/golden parachute)
AD (protected....I just got here, walked into a buzz saw-can move on)
Coach- at the very least will be a DC some place for the rest of his career.
EEOC- nothing! They are the major player
And will all leave unscathed. We don't even know their names.

10 players? There is a scenario in all this, where the only people affected will be these young kids and their families. Potentially for a long time even though no crime was committed. Their names will be connected to this forever with a simple
google search, already off to a bad start.

People! Trust me! It's hard out hea. I've got my popcorn ready.

I'm afraid I already know how this story ends.

We will watch it together. Light on the salt, heavy on the butter.

Forecast for San Diego on Tuesday is sunny. High 61. Low 50. Light winds.

Team departs Friday. Practice Saturday at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2016-17/release/release_20161220aaa.pdf
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2016-17/release/release_20161220aaa.pdf

A very well written piece which gets to the heart of the matter:

http://www.insidesources.com/minnesota-football-boycott-shows-title-ix-excesses/

Link: Walker talks Gopher interest, GSU commitment

There's still a reasonable chance Minnesota takes a bigger back like Walker, even with two running backs already committed.

We will still support the Gopher football program. We will continue purchasing our season tickets. We will continue to tailgate in Lot 37. We will still attend events supporting the Gophers. We will still wear our maroon and gold with pride. We will still promote the University of Minnesota.

When the going gets tough, REAL Gopher fans will rally to the cause.

Go Gophers!!
Ski-U-Mah!!
We HATE Iowa!!
F*ck Bucky!!

Go4Roses and Mrs. Go4Roses

ESPN's crawl states that Rutgers has been served a letter of notification from the NCAA that their football program has violated numerous academic, recruiting and drug testing policies. Wonder if Kill knew about this before he signed on.

Per the Stib., Mike Freeman from Hennepin County to review EOAA report. Guys, this is good news. Obviously, this report has many flaws. I wish no harm on the young lady but that report was total BS.

I kinda understand how hard it is to lose loved ones.. My Christmas experience in Minnesota felt like "magic" when I was a kid. Snow and nothing but fun and laughter. I was born and lived my first few years in the lower middle class section not far from the state fair grounds in Falcon Heights. Not a lot of money in the family but a TON OF LOVE, MUSIC, AND LAUGHTER.. I promise you could not have enough money to trade me for those experiences with 30-40 people crammed into a small house with all smiles on faces and food for an army. Fantastic memories. Afterwards, going sledding near Highland Park around Christmas, getting White Castle hamburgers and hot chocolate after, then spending a lot of time making MORE great family memories

My Grandpa and Grandma were major reasons for that. Honestly, when I came back to visit from Ohio and crossed the St Croix river on Highway 94 from Wisconsin into Minnesota, I would just about cry in excitement.. I was home, in my mind. Well, my grandparents passed away in St Paul within a year of each other around 2001-2002 and it is hard to come back to the area without remembering those great times. I am grateful my parents are still alive and doing well but remember the emptiness of that first holiday without my grandparents. AND THAT IS AS AN ADULT!! Cant imagine going through losing a parent as a child(much tougher, I am sure). Tough as the holiday was bittersweet to say the least.

NOW TO YOU GUYS... Many of you have lost parents, long ago, and many your brothers and sisters. The absolute toughest would be to lose a mate or a child, I am sure.. You are in my thoughts and prayers.. Losing my grandparents is nothing compared to losing a child or a mate.. Losing parents can't be easy either but its something everyone will face if they don't go to the grave before them. Just know that someone is thinking about you during this time of the year, especially if you lost any of these close relatives recently within the year.. First holiday without them. Not easy and everyone grieves differently.. Some move on quickly but others it hurts for decades.. Some never really get over it... Just know that I pray those memories stay real and with you.. Helps us stay grounded and realize what is really important, in the grand scheme of things... Try to create more good memories. I am sure those loved ones that have passed would surely have wanted you to do that, in their honor.

Although virtuousness is a quality that I would ascribe hesitatingly to almost anyone on the Board, patience IS a virtue and you two have shown some above and beyond.

I, on the other hand, promised next to nothing and up until now, have delivered little. That being said: