Bud Grant was once asked, "What makes a great football coach." Grant replied, "Great players."
All roads to winning the Big 10 West in football go through Wisconsin. For fifteen years or so, the Badgers have beaten the Gophers head-to-head because they have had better players. And they have done so under four different head coaches.
In 2017 Minnesota returns five players (Carpenter, Smith, Brooks, Richardson and Celestin) who were named to All-Big 10 football teams last year as either second team, third team or honorable mention honorees. Wisconsin returns twice as many players in these category.
Of greatest concern is where those Badger players align on that team. Three are offensive lineman, three are defensive lineman (and Wisconsin plays a three-player front), two are defensive backs, one is a tight end and another is a wide receiver.
Until Minnesota recruits the breadth and depth of talent that Wisconsin has for over two decades, the Gophers will win few, if any, Big 10 West championships. Kill-Claeys were 0-6 against Wisconsin with most of the games not being that close. This is why Fleck's recruiting this year and going forward is so important.
All roads to winning the Big 10 West in football go through Wisconsin. For fifteen years or so, the Badgers have beaten the Gophers head-to-head because they have had better players. And they have done so under four different head coaches.
In 2017 Minnesota returns five players (Carpenter, Smith, Brooks, Richardson and Celestin) who were named to All-Big 10 football teams last year as either second team, third team or honorable mention honorees. Wisconsin returns twice as many players in these category.
Of greatest concern is where those Badger players align on that team. Three are offensive lineman, three are defensive lineman (and Wisconsin plays a three-player front), two are defensive backs, one is a tight end and another is a wide receiver.
Until Minnesota recruits the breadth and depth of talent that Wisconsin has for over two decades, the Gophers will win few, if any, Big 10 West championships. Kill-Claeys were 0-6 against Wisconsin with most of the games not being that close. This is why Fleck's recruiting this year and going forward is so important.
