Link: Hank Ekpe wants the Axe

I am thankful to all of you diehard Gopher fans!! I say that in all reverence to those who have been Gopher fans for all these years.. I definitely don't take that for granted that all of you will be here next year. Thankful to our admins as well as the interesting posters on this board, whether I agree with them or not. Some may pass on by this time next year as some of us are starting to get older. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. But you have been faithful to the Maroon and Gold besides the fact you have established lifelong friendships at the games you attend or experiences you have shared. That is an awesome thing to be thankful along with your families and other friends.

To those who have more years behind you than in front of you... I ask that you provide a lesson in thankfullness to those younger in your family.. It starts with being an example of thankfullness.. A thankful heart is a joyful heart.. I truly believe that and it has served me well. Having good friends and family is such a blessing.. I am thankful I have my parents on this Earth, everyday. Many of you have lost a loved one over the past year, so to you I offer my condolences but encourage you to be thankful for the time you had with them. Things can be replaced but people cant, I realize.... How fortunate we are to have warm places to live, jobs to provide, freedoms to experience so many things, while living in towns that are safe in relative comparison to the rest of the world... If we think about it, we are probably ABUNDANTLY blessed with more than we can manage or even deserve. I am thankful for the success of our Gopher programs though I would love to say I am thankful for the national championships in all sports. Take time today to be thankful for the people and great things in your life.. You might find it will replace all the crappy things we all seem to think about on a daily basis. GO GOPHERS!!!!!

A woman has an affair with Bo Ryan....and is now suing the school, alleging they didn't properly investigate Ryan's misuse of school funds.

"As a direct and proximate result of defendants' (school officials) actions, Van Ert has suffered severe emotional and physical distress and illness, loss of privacy, harm to her reputation, loss of business and has incurred substantial damages and legal fees."

Van Ert, 42, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees.

Thoughts? Do you feel sorry for her? Do you blame the school? Should the taxpayers compensate her?

I can't wait to hear the pablum-puking feminist liberal crying about this one. Saying that she has been harmed and is not in it for the money. And how I'm such a terrible person for not supporting her.

opie...I'm driving Thru De Soto...it looks pretty gay

Link: Wooden remains interested in Minnesota

Right now, I think Jakyle Holmes is the running back hearing the most from Minnesota. Wooden's not the top target, but he's an option and someone the staff offered way back in June. There's a decent chance Holmes is a slot receiver at the next level so that may change the running back recruiting dynamic a little bit too. Caleb Huntley is another running back name to know about.

What happened to our Gopher Athletic fans?

I was at the St Johns game, football game hockey game and last nights game vs Arkansas.

I watched 4 wins, from teams with winning records, and each game was horribly attended. Not poorly, but awful, like half the seats or more were open in all 4 games. You didn't see this when Brewster was here, or Monson-Molinari. You don't see Mariucci that empty when they had the terrible teams from 07-2011.

Where did all the Gopher fans go?

Link: Rallis talks stopping the run, Wisconsin prep, and more

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Well, I promised I would come back and weigh in on this and here I am. Please watch this video, and if you still think the protesters are the ones in the wrong, then it's time for you to look in the mirror.

Our fellow citizens were out protesting in 20 degree weather last night. The police attacked them with rubber bullets, tear gas, in addition to a seemingly endless onslaught of hoses and water canisters.

This is totally barbaric.

Old guys like me often doze off in their recliners around 8 PM, wake up around ten-thirty, go to bed, and then lay awake half the night. Last night I got to thinking about who the is oldest poster among the gaggle of old farts that lurk around here. Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, I will be exactly 77 years and six months old. Can anybody top that?

Link: Behind Enemy Lines: Wisconsin

Tip-off is in about 22 minutes. You can read EJ's preview here.

Vegas has the Gophers by five, which is quite a bit since Arkansas is a decent team. They went 9-9 last year in the SEC and should be better this year.

Recruits here are Race Thompson, Daniel Oturu, and Jarvis Thomas.

Do you think our first Black President will pardon O.J. and a lot of Black inmates?

Has the Gophers at #31 (up 5 spots from last week). Also discusses the merits of keeping Claeys vs. hiring Fleck. (sorry no link)

Local guy to Vandy--Nico Bolden

We've seen good Mitch and Bad Mitch over the past 4 years, but he has been at his WORST against the skunks.

In 2014 he was bouncing passes at KJ Maye, he finished that game 5 of 18 for 95 yards with a costly fumbled exchange late in the 1st half with Cobb.

In 2015, he was 16 for 37 for 223 yards, 1 TD, 3INT's and a lost fumble in his own territory.

If Mitch can go 15-23 with 180 yards 1 TD and 0 INT's and fumbles, this game is our. He just needs to be serviceable Saturday, and "manage" the game. He's been on this team for like 8 years, and I've been a critic forever, but want nothing more than to see him carrying the Axe early Saturday night.

Link: Blaine's Max Bautch considering PWO offer

On B1G network. Down 10 to IPFW with 9 minutes to go.

Link: Claeys talks Wisconsin and Axe Week

Game's about to start, follow along here. Tips off at 8 on BTN.

Check out E.J's preview of the game here:
St. John's Preview

I talked to Landrews tonight about his recruitment and where things stand right now. Check it out:

https://minnesota.rivals.com/news/landrews-gives-a-recruiting-update

This is a special class for many reasons.. Some high character guys that worked through difficult times.. Who do you think we will miss the most next year??

Mitch?? As frustrating as he has been, he has still been the leader on this team.
Wolitarsky?? Clutch receiver that is going to be tough to replace.
Pirsig??? A leader on the o-line
Travis?? I think one of the most talented leaders and I think he will play on Sundays.
Myrick?? Another fast guy that could catch on an NFL roster

I know coffey has been maybe the best freshman in the big ten so far and is a major difference maker. But having curry and lynch in the middle defensively and rebounding i believe is the biggest difference in this team. Curry needs to work on his offense but he is a great passer too for a big guy. Lynch is my biggest surprise. He is a monster down there. Way better offensively than i imagined. I know he will face some bigger boys in big ten but i believe he will hold his own. Also you have a guy like konate that is a very servicable 3rd big.

JUCO QB or grad transfer?

JUCO WR or grad transfer?
True frosh good enough to play asap?

JUCO DE?

JUCO S coming in

Do we add a JUCO CB or do we feel good enough about Hardin, Buford, Shenault, Durr, Thomas, Creighton? I would think adding one older player to this young group would be helpful

We did offer an athletic JUCO TE

We have pretty solid depth most everywhere else

Link: Best pictures from Minnesota's win over Arkansas

Link: Arkansas postgame quotes

Can also find full presser notes here.