beat Iowa

MINNESOTA OFFENSE:


MINNESOTA DEFENSE:

GEORGIA TECH OFFENSE:

GEORGIA TECH DEFENSE:

• Suspensions: TGR heard about the suspended players a couple weeks ago, but Minnesota obviously does not want their names revealed, so I didn't make any changes to this depth chart other than Cashman/Greene. But I will say there are two players that are in these graphics that I believe are on the suspended list.
• With Dunlap starting and Donnell Greene out, I slid Blaise Andries to left tackle and put Curtis Dunlap at left guard. I'm not actually sure that this is how the offensive line will look, but that makes the most sense to me.
• Minnesota likely won't use their traditional front against Georgia Tech's flexbone, but I didn't edit the formation for the sake of simplicity (and I'm sure Rossi will use several different looks).

Oturu Claims Big Ten Freshman of the Week


Brad Rempel

MEN'S BASKETBALL | 12/24/2018 12:00:00 PM

Daniel Oturu has been selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday. The Woodbury, Minn., native has posted three consecutive double-doubles, including the Friday night win over North Carolina A&T.

Against the Aggies, Oturu finished with a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. Oturu was 9-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 at the free throw line, with four rebounds coming on the offensive end. He also finished with two blocks.

Oturu had double-double performances in the prior two games, wins over Arkansas State (19 points, 12 rebounds) and North Florida (13 points, 11 rebounds). So far this season, the Cretin-Derham Hall product leads the Gophers in blocks (2.0 bpg), a figure which ranks third in the Big Ten, is second in rebounding (7.9 rpg; B1G- 9th) and fourth on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg).

He is the second Gopher to win the award this season, joining guard Gabe Kalscheurwho was named top freshman for the week of November 26.

Oturu and the Gophers return to action in six days, hosting Mount St. Mary's in the non-conference finale on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...turu-claims-big-ten-freshman-of-the-week.aspx

I saw that Alabama had three players suspended. I wonder if the press down there hounded Saban as bad as our press does PJ. To be fair Saban did name the three players but did not release why they were suspended.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The rest of the column is at this link:

https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/...an-shuffled-around-on-gophers-offensive-line/

DETROIT — The Gophers will have a new-look offensive line when they face Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field on Wednesday.

With senior Donnell Greene opting for season-ending knee surgery in preparation for a shot in the NFL, the Gophers will move redshirt freshman Blaise Andries from right guard to Greene’s left tackle spot. They will insert true freshman Curtis Dunlap at right guard.

“Curtis hasn’t started yet, so we think he’s becoming a really good player in practice, but in the game situation, his first bowl game, getting his first start, we’ll see,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said Monday. “We could always move Blaise back to right guard and put (Sam) Schlueter at left tackle. We’ll play it by ear as we keep going forward.”

Andries, a four-star recruit from Marshall, Minn., has started all 12 games at right guard, and Schlueter, a redshirt sophomore from Victoria, Minn., has five starts at right tackle and two at left when Greene was injured or being discipled...

HELP FOR HUNGRY
Gophers players had just heard about how the potatoes and apples they would pack in meals Monday at Gleaners Community Food Bank would help families in five counties in southeastern Michigan. That’s when Fleck had a question.

He wanted to know how many pounds Georgia Tech had packed earlier in the day. Once those numbers were relayed, a competition commenced.

Georgia Tech packed 12,030 pounds of potatoes and 4,685 pounds of apples, with Minnesota exceeding those marks with 19,500 pounds of potatoes and 5,255 pounds of apples....

BRIEFLY
A Quick Lane Bowl spokeswoman said Monday that “based on distribution numbers, we are expecting more than 24,000” fans at Wednesday’s game. When Minnesota beat Central Michigan, 21-14, in this bowl in 2015, attendance was announced at a very inflated 34,217 fans.

Since wont get a chance tomorrow to post Christmas wishes to my fellow slackers, thought i would jump the gun and do it now (did not see the "official" thread yet).

Peace and Joy to you and your families this Christmas season.

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Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech
Gophers to battle Jackets for Motor City Supremacy



FOOTBALL | 12/25/2018 10:19:00 AM

GAME NOTES (PDF)

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Minnesota earned a bowl berth - its 20th in school history - with a 37-15 win at border rival Wisconsin on Nov. 24. The Gophers reclaimed Paul Bunyan's Axe with the win and beat the Badgers for the first time since 2003 and won at Wisconsin for the first time since 1994. Minnesota will play Georgia Tech, from the Atlantic Coast Conference, on Dec. 26 in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. This will be Minnesota's second appearance in the Michigan-based bowl, as the Gophers beat Central Michigan, 21-14, on Dec. 28, 2015.

2. The Gophers are 7-12 in Bowl Games, but have won their last two. In addition to beating Central Michigan 21-14 in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl, the Gophers also posted a 17-12 win against Washington State in the 2016 Holiday Bowl. Prior to 2015, Minnesota had lost its previous seven bowl games. The Gophers seven bowl wins have come in the following bowls: 1962 Rose Bowl (beat UCL 21-3), 1985 Independence Bowl (beat Clemson 20-3), 2002 Music City Bowl (beat Arkansas 29-14), 2003 Sun Bowl (beat Oregon 31-30), 2004 Music City Bowl (beat Alabama 20-16), 2015 Quick Lane Bowl (beat Central Michigan 21-14) and 2016 Holiday Bowl (beat Washington 17-12).

3. Seven members of this year's team played in the Quick Lane Bowl when the Gophers beat Central Michigan in 2015. Running back Rodney Smith started for the Gophers and rushed 15 times for 74 yards. The following players also saw action in that game: Shannon Brooks (15 carries, 65 yards), Jacob Huff, Julian Huff (3 tackles), Payton Jordahl (starting long snapper), Antonio Shenault and Blake Cashman. Smith and Brooks will not play in this year's bowl game, as they are injured. Cashman has elected not to play in the Quick Lane Bowl as he prepares for a professional career.

4. Minnesota won two of its final three games to earn a bowl berth. In addition to beating rival Wisconsin in the final game of the season, the Gophers also topped Purdue (held Boilers to season low 233 yards and 10 points) 41-10. Minnesota's lone loss in its last three games was a 24-14 setback to Big Ten West division champions Northwestern. Minnesota last won its final game of the regular season in 2011 when it beat Illinois 27-7 at home. Minnesota has never won its final game of the regular season and a bowl game in the same year. A bowl victory would mean that Minnesota would win three of its final four games of the year, which is something the Gophers have not done since 2006 (beat Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa to end the regular season before losing to Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl).

5. Minnesota is 7-12 in its 19 played bowl games, but nearly every game has been closely contested. Fourteen of the games have been decided by 10 points or less and 12 were decided by one score. Minnesota has scored 418 points (22 ppg ave) in 19 bowl games and has allowed 421 points (22.1 ppg ave).

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/12/25/football-quick-lane-bowl-minnesota-vs-georgia-tech.aspx

From Nick Falato: https://minnesota.rivals.com/news/film-room-georgia-tech

Merry Christmas to all!

Tujautae Williams picked up a tremendous Christmas present less than 72 hours before most families gather around the tree. Minnesota issued him a scholarship offer on Saturday.

They joined Texas Tech, DePaul, and New Mexico as high major programs who have offered along with Milwaukee, Detroit, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Northwestern State, Buffalo, UIC, Utah State, and Florida Atlantic.

Williams says he is also hearing from Tulsa, Gonzaga, Miami, Virginia Tech, and Georgetown.

The 6-foot-6, 175 pound senior spoke with The Gopher Report Sunday night and told us how the Minnesota relationship came about.
"They have been recruiting me since July. Coach (Rob) Jeter saw me when I was playing in the NY2LA Tournament. He spoke with me about two weeks after the AAU season was over and told me he liked me and was interested."

Since then, Williams and Jeter have built a solid relationship. In fact it is on good enough footing that Jeter can be brutally honest with the recruit when need be.

"Coach Jeter tells me what I can do for the program, " Williams admitted. "He is brutally honest with me. He tells me the good and bad. He likes my versatility, how I come off ball-screens, and that I play fast. He also tells me I need to work on my shooting."

Coach Jeter was in Chicago last night to see Williams and his Rezin Orr Academy squad defeat North Community High 84-58. Jeter was impressed enough that he offered Williams immediately after the game. Williams said he really wasn't surprised because of the persistence of Jeter.

"They have seen me play five times, so I knew they were for real after they came that many times. Coach (Richard) Pitino is coming in next month, so I'm excited about that."

Williams hasn't seen Pitino in person, but added the two have spoken on the phone. Williams already has had previous experience with the university which has led to knowledge about the basketball program.

"I have a cousin that went there. She liked it a lot. When she would come back home, she would always tell us how great it was. That's when I started liking them. I've watched them play a lot. I like the way they play and the pick and rolls they do with the wings."

That style fits what Williams does according to his own self assessment.

"I can play multiple positions. I can play anywhere from the point guard, to the shooting guard, to the small forward. I'm really good in transition and off ball-screens. I'm very versatile. I can also guard multiple positions."

Scott Burgess of Prep Hoops Illinois has covers the Chicago area heavily, and has seen Williams play a number of times.

"He is a 6-foot-6 small forward from Orr who played as a role guy last year, and has stepped up this season into a feature player. Williams is a long and lanky wing who is a plus athlete and attacks with force off the bounce. He is a much improved passer. His jumper needs to get better consistently from three to max out his upside."

Williams told us he is will take his visits after the season is over. Rezin Orr is currently 8-4. The regular season concludes on January 26, and then the high school playoffs begin immediately after. Williams plans on taking full advantage when the visits do occur.

"I'm looking for a good fit. Academics are important. I also want a safe environment and a place where I have good relationships."

S&P+ and the Fremeau Efficiency Index (FEI) are algorithm-based. Pro Football Focus (PFF) is human judgement-based.

Vegas line: Georgia Tech by 5.5
Massey: Georgia Tech No. 44, Minnesota No. 57
TeamRankings prediction: Georgia Tech by 3.5 with a 37.9% chance of Minnesota victory
S&P+: Minnesota by 2.4 with a 56% chance of Minnesota victory
ESPN NumberFire prediction: Georgia Tech by 9.7
ESPN FPI prediction: 39.5% chance of Minnesota victory

Computers all over the place with their lines for this game.

From Schofield: https://minnesota.rivals.com/news/film-room-tanner-morgan-and-the-passing-game

Merry Christmas Vikings!

Not a bad number. The Wynn LV even has GT giving 4.5.

We've all read about how tough GT is to prepare for because of that Offense. Probably why GT fans were almost unanimous in not only their distaste for Detroit, but in wanting to play a more "name" school. They thought they could knock them off.

Gopher fans should remember that Mason's Offense with that blocking scheme was pretty tough for teams that were seeing it for the first time. Just remember he lost his first 2 as a Gopher HC and overall went 3-4 in them while he was here.

Hope the Gophers give Paul Johnson a sad send-off Wednesday night.

Merry Christmas everybody.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/

http://reviewjournal.sportsdirectinc.com/odds/ncaaf.aspx

just got notice from Delta warning us that weather could impact tomorrow travel plans. not sure exactly in which aspect, leg of trip. always something.

And this was at the top of the list!!!!


Ok. Now this is funny.No matter how you look at it.

1. 
   Dear PJ Claus, all I want for Christmas is: Killitoris
   Captain Dundee, Today at 7:16 AM

If the Senate doesn't come through with 5
Billion dollars to fund the wall, which
Trump said: "Mexico will pay for the wall "
There's a 6 point bipartisan bill to keep the Government open that he is completely being a tempermental childish dick about.
Trump leaves for a two week vacation at
Mara Largo. Throw in the Secretary of Defense quiting over the Middle East policy fueled by the Syria debacle gives you what we've in the White House right
now. A total goat f--k.

Still seems to be a lot of debate on the board about when Williams will sign. Media and mods are all saying in February though...

Please football gods, don't let this be a harbinger of the Gopher-G Tech game.

Have faith, have faith, have faith.......

So what will the OFF. and DEF. line-ups look like given that GREENE, CASHMAN won't be playing?

Also- saw somewhere a comment that said Dunlap could/would play in the bowl game and would not lose his redshirt. Any info on whether he will get any playing time to gain some type of experience going into next year?