HOMEGROWN GOPHERS
Oct. 20, 2017
Two full buses of Andrew Stelter fans loaded up in Owatonna, Minn., bright and early on Sept. 16 and headed toward Minneapolis to see the Gophers play Middle Tennessee. It’s a tradition that has been taking place the past four years.
“They were just full of family, friends, people from my church and a lot of other places from home,” Stelter recalled. “I couldn’t ask for a better community of support.”
The support Stelter has is not uncommon for local players. The Gophers have 43 players from Minnesota on the current roster. One of those is Brandon Lingen, 2015 All-Big Ten honorable mention tight end, who always dreamed of wearing the Maroon and Gold.
“I was always a big Gopher fan. I would go to games whenever I could and always followed them really closely,” Lingen said. “I grew up watching guys like Dom Barber, Marion Barber, Laurence Maroney, Adam Weber and all those guys.”
When Lingen got his offer to come play at Minnesota he almost said yes right on the spot.
“I committed within 24 hours,” Lingen said. “This is where I wanted to be. The next morning, I think I called even before I went to school that day.”
Adekunle Ayinde walked on to Minnesota and later earned a scholarship. He was determined to do whatever it took to be a Gopher.
“My whole family went to Minnesota so it was kind of a big deal for me to go here,” Ayinde said. “Not a lot of people even expected me to be able to play here so it has meant a lot to me to be able to come here and have the opportunity to play and on top of that get a scholarship. Even if they didn’t want me I was going to come here and do everything I could to play here.”
Ayinde’s family was thrilled when he decided to stay close to home. The Blaine, Minn. native always feels a sense of comfort during game days at TCF Bank Stadium.
“My immediate family comes to every home game. I usually have a good five to six people that always come to the game,” Ayinde said. “It is reassuring even when we lose. It just puts life into perspective because at the end of the day you still have people who love you and support you whether you win or lose.”
Not only did Stelter, Lingen and Ayinde make their dream of being a Gopher come true but they have all been big time contributors. Stelter has played in more games than any other player on the defensive side of the ball, having seen action in 44 games.
“My first game was against Eastern Illinois and I went in during the first drive,” Stelter said. “It was just a dream come true. I had never played in front of a crowd like that. It was nuts and an absolute blast. There has been a lot of lasts this year. Hopefully there will be a couple more firsts moving forward.”
It took Ayinde longer to see his first game action, but his first step onto the field for the defense was a big one to start his redshirt sophomore season.
“We played TCU who was the No. 2 team in the country,” Ayinde said. “The atmosphere was just crazy. It was a packed house. It was kind of an unexplainable feeling. Just like a big physical and mental high.”
Lingen has had some huge games throughout his career including 100-yard receiving games against Michigan and Iowa as a sophomore but it was a memory from his freshman season that stuck out the most.
“We beat Iowa,” Lingen said unable to hold back a smile. “We beat them pretty good that day. I remember running across the field and holding the pig. I didn’t realize how heavy that thing was.”
A moment like that is something every young Gopher fan dreams of being a part of someday. It is why head coach P.J. Fleck has made it a mission to lock up recruiting within a six to eight hour radius of the Twin Cities. For Stelter, Lingen and Ayinde it should be a no brainer for Minnesotans to stay.
“Minnesota nice is a real thing,” Lingen said. “Just talking to people on the street or getting stopped by somebody anywhere and having a good conversation with them is something I love about Minnesota and something you don’t see anywhere else.”
Even long after their collegiate careers the Minnesota natives plan to lay down roots in the area. If there isn’t an opportunity to play in the NFL than Stelter will be going to graduate school for physical therapy, Lingen hopes to open up a business in the Twin Cities area and Ayinde already has a few job offers lined up right by home.
“Minnesota has taught me a lot of things. There is so much opportunity here,” Ayinde said. “This is a great state just to come and build a family.”
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102017aad.html
Oct. 20, 2017
Two full buses of Andrew Stelter fans loaded up in Owatonna, Minn., bright and early on Sept. 16 and headed toward Minneapolis to see the Gophers play Middle Tennessee. It’s a tradition that has been taking place the past four years.
“They were just full of family, friends, people from my church and a lot of other places from home,” Stelter recalled. “I couldn’t ask for a better community of support.”
The support Stelter has is not uncommon for local players. The Gophers have 43 players from Minnesota on the current roster. One of those is Brandon Lingen, 2015 All-Big Ten honorable mention tight end, who always dreamed of wearing the Maroon and Gold.
“I was always a big Gopher fan. I would go to games whenever I could and always followed them really closely,” Lingen said. “I grew up watching guys like Dom Barber, Marion Barber, Laurence Maroney, Adam Weber and all those guys.”
When Lingen got his offer to come play at Minnesota he almost said yes right on the spot.
“I committed within 24 hours,” Lingen said. “This is where I wanted to be. The next morning, I think I called even before I went to school that day.”
Adekunle Ayinde walked on to Minnesota and later earned a scholarship. He was determined to do whatever it took to be a Gopher.
“My whole family went to Minnesota so it was kind of a big deal for me to go here,” Ayinde said. “Not a lot of people even expected me to be able to play here so it has meant a lot to me to be able to come here and have the opportunity to play and on top of that get a scholarship. Even if they didn’t want me I was going to come here and do everything I could to play here.”
Ayinde’s family was thrilled when he decided to stay close to home. The Blaine, Minn. native always feels a sense of comfort during game days at TCF Bank Stadium.
“My immediate family comes to every home game. I usually have a good five to six people that always come to the game,” Ayinde said. “It is reassuring even when we lose. It just puts life into perspective because at the end of the day you still have people who love you and support you whether you win or lose.”
Not only did Stelter, Lingen and Ayinde make their dream of being a Gopher come true but they have all been big time contributors. Stelter has played in more games than any other player on the defensive side of the ball, having seen action in 44 games.
“My first game was against Eastern Illinois and I went in during the first drive,” Stelter said. “It was just a dream come true. I had never played in front of a crowd like that. It was nuts and an absolute blast. There has been a lot of lasts this year. Hopefully there will be a couple more firsts moving forward.”
It took Ayinde longer to see his first game action, but his first step onto the field for the defense was a big one to start his redshirt sophomore season.
“We played TCU who was the No. 2 team in the country,” Ayinde said. “The atmosphere was just crazy. It was a packed house. It was kind of an unexplainable feeling. Just like a big physical and mental high.”
Lingen has had some huge games throughout his career including 100-yard receiving games against Michigan and Iowa as a sophomore but it was a memory from his freshman season that stuck out the most.
“We beat Iowa,” Lingen said unable to hold back a smile. “We beat them pretty good that day. I remember running across the field and holding the pig. I didn’t realize how heavy that thing was.”
A moment like that is something every young Gopher fan dreams of being a part of someday. It is why head coach P.J. Fleck has made it a mission to lock up recruiting within a six to eight hour radius of the Twin Cities. For Stelter, Lingen and Ayinde it should be a no brainer for Minnesotans to stay.
“Minnesota nice is a real thing,” Lingen said. “Just talking to people on the street or getting stopped by somebody anywhere and having a good conversation with them is something I love about Minnesota and something you don’t see anywhere else.”
Even long after their collegiate careers the Minnesota natives plan to lay down roots in the area. If there isn’t an opportunity to play in the NFL than Stelter will be going to graduate school for physical therapy, Lingen hopes to open up a business in the Twin Cities area and Ayinde already has a few job offers lined up right by home.
“Minnesota has taught me a lot of things. There is so much opportunity here,” Ayinde said. “This is a great state just to come and build a family.”
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102017aad.html
