I posted about Kieran Johnson visiting this weekend in threads last Thursday and Friday. I recognize that not everyone reads through all comments, so I thought I'd start a thread about it. He has yet to sign any paperwork but will do so on his visit.

There were many complaints about Limegrover every year. Here's an honest review of him, with both negatives and positives.

• The biggest one was running the ball on 1st and 10 and 2nd and 9. We were far too predictable at times -- especially against teams that Limey thought we were worse than.
• The other major problem with Limegrover was managing the clock. They really did practice no huddle situations in practice. Team managers sprinting to get the ball in place, Kill and the coaches screaming "go, go, go" after every play, lineman sprinting to the line of scrimage...the whole nine yards. It's just mind-boggling that they didn't try to go no huddle with little time left in the first half in many games. @bradt42 I get that there's a time and a place and coaches have a feel for how their offense is doing. But it just didn't make sense. They even went no huddle some when they didn't need to in a couple games (TCU was one, CSU was one, there were a couple in B1G games too). Far too conservative and I've been told that not all coaches and players were satisfied with end-of-first half play calling.
• The runs and draws on third and long were frustrating too. I get it...you want to get some yards and not throw a pick... But it was too much at times.
• Route trees...At the beginning of the year, we ran way too many short out routes. It was incredibly predictable.
• Personnel groupings at times were odd with the receivers. They also had KJ Maye start out wide and Woli in the slot. When they moved Maye back in the slot, he broke out.
• Jump balls...the multiple designed jump balls to Eric Carter were very, very odd. There was also the jump ball to Miles Thomas that probably wasn't designed...but if I remember right it was a fly route and not a wheel so who knows. And when he should have used jump balls, he didn't. I don't remember Rashad Still or Nate Wozniak running a single fade in the end zone.

Positives...

• Fans wanted Limey to throw screens throughout Kill's tenure, and we finally saw that this past year. There were many quick, jailbreak, and bubble screens to the receivers. The decision to throw so many of the screens to Drew Wolitarsky was questionable, but overall the team had success throwing screens.
• Fans complained about the restricted route trees and later in the season the receivers had a more diverse route tree. Slants and vertical patterns were both missing early in the year but present later. Towards the end of the year, Limegrover kept the defense honest with his playcalling.
• Presnap motions...Limegrover did a good job of allowing Leidner to get a good read on the defense and test eye focus with all his motions.

All in all, I thought Limegrover improved significantly as a playcaller throughout the year. But we seem to say that every year. Why does it take so long for the offense to get going? I think improved playcalling will make us a one or two win better team this year. Thoughts?

anyone ever use this? Going to costa rica and looking at trying this for the first time vs. hotels...

He has very good recruiting classes for both 2015 and 2016. A huge up-swing in recruiting. But he's 0-12 in conference this year. Do the Pitino critics think that Mullin should be fired too? He can't coach a lick....right?

Officially starts this Friday. Sweet.

Locally our small town two churches coordinate, taking turns. Catholic all you can eat this week. Lutheran large walleye fillets next Friday, and so forth.

Enjoy.

MJH: any chance you can dig up who's going to be there?

And when is the combine?? Anyone

Former Gophers lineman Luke McAvoy writes first-person account about experience coming out as gay

By Joe Christensen
February 10, 2016 — 12:48pm

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Former Gophers offensive lineman Luke McAvoy wrote a story for Outsports.com, giving a heartfelt account of his experience when he came out as gay in 2014, while still part of the team.

McAvoy, a native of Bloomington, Ill., who was with the Gophers program from 2011-2014 but played only sparingly, said he had known he was gay in high school but kept it to himself, heeding his mother’s advice.


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McAvoy said he finally got the courage to tell two teammates on Feb. 9, 2014, the day former Missouri linebacker Michael Sam came out publicly. Two days later, McAvoy told those two teammates his story.

“The relief of just two people knowing was incredible,” McAvoy wrote for Outsports.com. “I felt better than I ever had. I finally could focus on what was going on around me even though I still wasn't totally out. After that night, word slowly spread. We never had a team meeting nor did I ever really announce it but people learned and I did not deny it anymore.”

McAvoy continued:

“I won't lie and say it was all perfect; some people did not take it well. However, the support, acceptance and love I felt outweighed all the negativity. There were a few teammates that did not like it and mostly they just ignored me. Others took a few conversations before we were cool. It was nowhere near the outright rejection and hatred I had feared. I think the coaches knew, but they never said anything about it. I was not really on their radar much that year since I was not a starter or key backup.

“I was a scout team player on the offensive line, nowhere close to a star player. My love of football evolved from one that revolved around actual playing time to the time spent with the team, the workouts, the banter that filled almost every waking moment. I got six plays against the University of Iowa [a big rival] my senior year, and would not trade it for the world. Those six plays made all of the 300s drills and early morning workouts worth it.

“Yet it was the acceptance from my teammates that I will remember. Being part of a family that did just about everything together for four years was amazing. Being part of a family that turned out to be so much more accepting and supportive than I could have imagined made me realize that I had nothing to fear. The only thing I should have been afraid of was what was in my own mind.”

Here’s the full story.

Matt Limegrover, the Gophers former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach who is now at Penn State, told the Star Tribune via Twitter direct message: "It didn't surprise me one bit that Luke had the courage and the self-awareness to step out of the shadows and speak up. He is honestly one of the most caring and giving young men I have ever coached. I am unbelievably proud of the man he is and am honored to have been associated with him in some small way as his coach."

Former Gophers coach Jerry Kill said he wasn't aware McAvoy was gay until he read the article. Kill said what he remembers most about McAvoy’s time at the university was how well he represented the football team.

“Luke did a tremendous amount for our athletic department,” Kill said. “He was a great teammate. He’s a giving kid, and that’s why I think he’ll be a great teacher. I’m very proud of the success he’s having.”

Also, The Daily Gopher tweeted its thanks.



Older Post
Plsek, Wipson, two others no longer on Gophers football roster

Stroker Wins Don Parker Title

Title is the third straight for Stroker on the open tournament circuit

Fredy Stroker finished his redshirt season with 13 consecutive wins

GopherSports.com
Feb. 8, 2016

Fredy Stroker won the Don Parker Open title on Saturday in Eau Claire, Wis. with a dominating 4-0 performance at 157 pounds, wrapping up his redshirt season at Minnesota with a 25-4 mark. Following his 2-2 performance at the prestigious Southern Scuffle in early January, Stroker finished the season by winning 13 consecutive matches and three straight open titles (Worthington, Duhawk, Don Parker).

Saturday's showing was arguably Stroker's strongest, start-to-finish, in any tournament this season. All four of his wins were bonus point victories, starting with a tech fall in the opening round, followed by a third-period pin in the quarters and another tech fall in the semifinals. Stroker finished with an 8-0 major decision in the finals, his first bonus point win in the final match of a tournament this season.

Perhaps most impressive, Stroker did not allow any of his four opponents to score a single point. Including the points he amassed in his quarterfinal match prior to scoring the fall, Stroker outscored the competition 47-0.

Tijani Karaborni was the only other Gopher in the Don Parker field. Karaborni went 0-2 on the day, dropping a decision on the championship side of the 174-pound bracket and losing by fall in wrestlebacks.

Match-by-match results for both wrestlers are included below.

Match-by-Match Results

157

Fredy Stroker (4-0, 1st Place)
Champ Rnd 1: Fredy Stroker tech fall Danny Harris (North Central (IL)), 16-0
Quarters: Fredy Stroker fall (6:20) Robert Rocole (Wisconsin-Eau Claire)
Semis: Fredy Stroker tech fall Sameh Almousa (St. Olaf), 16-0
Finals: Fredy Stroker maj dec Ben Cousins (Concordia), 8-0

174

Tijani Karaborni (0-2)
Champ Rnd 1: Bye
Champ Rnd 2: Jake Johnson (Concordia) dec Tijani Karaborni, 9-3
Cons Rnd 2: Javier Reyes (Luther) fall (4:16) Tijani Karaborni

This was a fairly tough regional tournament with lots of top Div. II, III and NAIA teams, as well as unattached redshirts from Power 5 schools.

Tournament Teams

1. Augsburg, MN Augsburg, MN
2. Concordia WI Concordia (WI)
3. Concordia College , MN
4. Dickinson state, MN
5. Ellsworth CC, IA
6. Lakeland, WI
7. Luther, IA
8. Milwaukee School of Engineering, WI
9. Minnesota State Moorhead, MN
10. Minnesota State-Mankato, MN
11. North Central (IL), IL
12. Ridgewater College, MN
13. Rochester, MN
14. St. Cloud State, MN
15. St. Johns (MN), MN
16. St. Olaf, WI
17. Unattached, WI
18. Unattached, MO
19. Upper Iowa, IA
20. UW-Eau Claire, WI
21. UW-La Crosse, WI
22. UW-Parkside, WI
23. UW-Whitewater, WI
24. Winona State Wrestling Club, WI
25. Wisconsin, WI
26. Wisconsin-Oshkosh, WI
27. Wisconsin-Stevens Point, WI
28. Unattached, MN

Good work Fredy!
Keep it going...and get ready to kick some ass next year!!!

Tony Nelson Wins Silver Medal in Turkey

Both Nelson and fellow Gopher alum Scott Schiller gave strong performances to Team USA at the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul



Tony Nelson put together a strong, 3-1 performance in Turkey to bring home a silver medal

GopherSports.com
Feb. 8, 2016

Gopher alums Tony Nelson and Scott Schiller donned the red, white and blue this weekend as part of Team USA at the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul and both turned in strong performances, particularly Nelson, who captured the silver medal in freestyle at 125 kilograms.

Nelson picked up three victories on his way to the championship bout, overwhelming his side of the bracket along the way. He began with consecutive 10-0 tech falls, first knocking off Recep Bolme and then Slim Trablsi. In his semifinal match, Nelson pinned Yasin Kilic in just 1:38, putting him into the finals without a point allowed. Nelson found himself fighting for the gold against two-time World champion Taha Akguel, who took the match, 10-0.

Schiller’s trip to Turkey was his first major international competition as a senior-level wrestler. He began his day with a 6-4 win over Yunus Emre Dede, but a 4-0 loss to Fatih Yasarli in the next round threatened to end Schiller’s tournament after just two matches. Yasarli advanced to the finals though – eventually claiming the gold for freestyle at 97 kilograms – which gave Schiller new life in repechage matches. He took advantage of the opportunity, defeating Emer Can Osman 10-0 before falling to Fatih Cakiroglu just one round short of a bronze medal contest.

Nelson and Schiller have hopes of representing the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Both have already clinched invitations to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City this April, a tournament which will decide who wrestles for the U.S. in Rio.

Current U student and former Mineral Point (Wis.) athlete Joey Gorgen has posted that he made the football team as a walk-on. I know he was in touch with Sawvel for a while and maybe Sherels too. I'm not sure what position he'll play and don't anticipate him being on the 105 man roster for fall camp. He's at Gibson-Nagurski with some assistants now.

Link: Film Review: Tamarion Johnson

Talked to Ruevers about his season and recruiting. Definitely feel this is a 2017 to keep an eye on. A lot of Jon Leuer to him.

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/reuvers-is-having-a-standout-season

Former Gopher247 publisher Will Henry is now on staff as an assistant recruiting assistant doing graphic design and evals. I'm very happy for Will. He's a great guy and a great football mind, so he'll definitely be an asset to the recruiting staff.

Are we ever going to hire one?

Pinellas Park (Fla.) defensive tackle Jordon Scott received an offer today.

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The rankings show for football but not basketball. I'm sure the Rivals techs are aware and working on this, right?

Iowa loving friend sent me a link, didn't realize it was Fat Pat....here is his latest:



The 52nd Super Bowl will be played in Minneapolis. The tentative date is Feb. 4, 2018, although it could be pushed back a week, if Roger Goodell and his gang of modern-day robber barons figure out a way to add a week to the schedule and many more millions to their already obscene profit ledgers.

That subordinate clause at the end there … that’s just my view of things, of course.









I’ve been in Florida the past week and monitoring the angst of Twin Cities sports followers mostly through Twitter and comments attached to articles in the Twin Cities dailies.

There’s nothing more fun on Twitter than following my radio colleague, @1500ESPNJudd, get worked up as the Wild’s remarkable slump in this calendar year has continued.

From this distance, there seems to be many more people outraged over what’s happened with Mike Yeo’s hockey club that with the other winter sports entities.

There are also more people taking shots at Sam Mitchell’s first season coaching the Timberwolves than at Richard Pitino for his astoundingly inept third season with Gophers basketball.

The excuse is the same in both basketball arenas – “We’re young’’ – although with one team (Timberwolves) there finally are glimpses of a better future, and with the other (Gophers) there is only embarrassment.

You want to argue? The Gophers lost to both South Dakota schools in a period of 3 ½ days. End of discussion.

Wait … I guess it isn’t the end:

The only previous U of M men's basketball team to reach 0-11 in conference play was L.J. Cooke’s 1923 outfit. Those set-shooters lost the first 11 in the Big Ten, and then won the season finale against Indiana.

The Gophers have Michigan in Williams Arena on Wednesday night. The Wolverines have fallen off recently, so there’s a shot, but if the Gophers lose again, there it will be -- zero-and-12 and record-shattering ineptitude.

All of the misery back home got me to thinking (admittedly, it’s dangerous when that happens). But here’s what I was wondering on the morn of Super Bowl L.:

How many of the coaches with the seven major men’s teams in the Twin Cities still will be on the job when Super Bowl LII is played here two years from now?

These are my percentages (based on good health, of course).

Mike Zimmer, Vikings: 95 percent. He’s 59 and presumably has a few years left in him. The 5 percent chance I see of Zimmer not being on the job in February 2018 is that Teddy Bridgewater turns out to be a dud and takes the whole football operation with him.

Paul Molitor, Twins: 90 percent. He’s also 59 and presumably has a few years left in him, although 162 games of a baseball season are much more of a grind than 16 games of an NFL season. The 10 percent chance I see of Molitor not being on the job in two years is that he decides there’s more to life than baseball and steps down.

And after this pair of 59-year-olds, the percentages for coaches being here in February 2018 fall off so precipitously that – well, guess which coach I have in third place?

Richard Pitino, Gophers basketball: 40 percent. There’s enough bewilderment over this season’s futility that Dean Johnson, the chairman of the University’s Board of Regents, was willing to say last week to the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he felt Pitino deserved “one more year.’’

The deal is, Pitino has lowered the bar so far, that if the Gophers go 7-11 in the Big Ten and reach the NIT next season, it will be saluted as program building – rather than woeful progress from what will then have been a fourth-year coach.

Oh, and those other job offers that Norwood Teague felt his boy Richie was receiving … don’t worry about those.

Tracy Claeys, Gophers football: 35 percent. I was all in for giving Big Country a shot, but the immediate negative impact on recruiting raises questions. The buyout is minimal and I’m guessing there will be the return of many empty seats at TCF Bank Stadium, unless the Gophers decide to paper the house with freebies.

Crowds back in the low 40s will not be tolerated, as the athletic department takes on 10s of millions of debt by building the football-centric new facilities.

Don Lucia, Gophers hockey: 25 percent. The Don is going to walk, if not after this season, after 2016-17. That’s what I heard from a couple of hockey guys and I’m going with it.

Sam Mitchell, Timberwolves: 15 percent. Sam is an acquired taste. There are indications that some of the young Woofies are having a tough time acquiring it.

Plus, I’m guessing Glen Taylor and his new partners will bring in an outside basketball guy to run the operation. And those guys always have a connection to a different coach – or, perhaps, Flip-style, want to be the coach themselves.

Mike Yeo, Wild: 10 percent. Six years. Quite a run, when considering the crises that Yeo survived. Now, if the Wild doesn’t make the playoffs, he’s gone. Or, if the Wild makes the playoffs and loses in the first round, he’s gone.

With no magic goaltender to bring in to lift the club, I’m guessing there’s a 90 percent chance that one of those two things is going to happen, and Yeo gets gassed.

The good news for Yeo is he will go promptly into the NHL’s recycled coaching bin and land elsewhere within a year.

Banham has over 40 points but tied at 85 with 3 and half to go in OT.

"Congrats on hitting 60...I don't think that's the last time we see you hit that mark"

With the 2016 class wrapped up and the 2017 class just starting, I'm happy to answer any questions that you guys have.

DB coach Jones goes to Dolphins.

I am incredibly sorry that the servers crashed yesterday. You guys have every right to be upset. I'm embarrassed and feel sick about it. For the servers to fail once again definitely makes everyone at Rivals cringe. I couldn't do anything about it but wish I could have. We feel terrible about it.

There was record-breaking traffic yesterday morning, far more than historic predictions. Under that load, there was a database issue that led to other problems. We are still in a transition period between old and new technology, but that is not an excuse. Things occurred yesterday from a technical standpoint that couldn't be projected, and for that everyone at HQ and Gopher Illustrated apologizes immensely.

I'm sure you guys were told this after the last crash and I know actions speak louder than words, but I actually don't think a Signing Day crash will happen again because all backend technology will soon be migrated over. This Signing Day obliterated all traffic expectations and exposed unique challenges for our tech team, but HQ says they've already learned a lot from the problems faced yesterday and have already begun implementing improvements across the network.

Again, I am very, very sorry.

This years team is almost unwatchable. I get that they are young but I'm not seeing any talent that will be better next year. The only 2 players that are worthy to play are Mason and Murphy. Neither are that good but there is some potential for improvement. So next year I'm thinking we could start Mason, Murphy, Lynch, Coffey, and Whoelse?

Just a thought.

Of the 20 to sign NLIs with Minnesota for the incoming class of 2016, three were from JUCO's. Will the number of JUCO players signed to Minnesota increase next year? I think so, and here's why.

Back in 2013, the NCAA decided to increase requirements for initial eligibility for NCAA Division I-bound athletes entering college on or after Aug.1, 2016. The required course requirements, test scores and minimum GPA have all changed. It's harder to become a D-I athlete, and I think more prospects will see themselves taking the two-year school route. The number of junior college players transferring to FBS schools is already steadily increasing and it isn't a coincidence.

To add, as recruiting becomes more competitive and coaches have less time to build, or rebuild, they have to weigh their options for delivering impact players to the program. Do you invest a year's worth of scholarship money (because all scholarships are one-year deals, unless you're an amazing 5-star prospect) into an incoming freshman out of high school, a three-star prospect yes, but maybe played in a not-so-talented conference, or a JUCO player, with maybe a 2 or 3 star rating, but with two years of college experience against grown men and who only played at the JUCO level because he did not initially qualify.

The JUCO players are growing in numbers. So what should the Gophers do?