Spartan Nation 2010 Big Ten Football Scouting Report: Minnesota Gophers

 

The Gophers will struggle in 2010 in what should be the last year for Brewster.

Biggest Game:Â November 13 @Illinois

Predicted record:Â 3-9 (0-8)

Projected Big Ten standing: 11th      

Returning Starters: 11 OFFENSE: 9 DEFENSE:  2 Lettermen return: 38   

Head Coach: Tim Brewster 4th Season at Minnesota Last Season: 6-7 SN Predicted 5-7 Lifetime: 14-24 

Top assistant:Â Ronnie Lee/Kevin Cosgrove Co DC

This is a program in ruin. Brewster can’t keep staff as they jump ship almost as soon as they arrive. Multiple people directly involved with the program have said that he and his AD have gone long periods of time without even speaking.

Brewster tried a power play acting as if other schools wanted him when none did to get an extension. Instead, he got lucky to be back, and it is easier now for Minnesota to fire him. This is a sleeping giant program in the Big Ten and should and could be a very good program. It won’t be until Brewster is history and they finally make a wise choice. Firing Mason now looks like the stupidity that it was and I feel bad for fans of Minnesota.

Last season’s loss by MSU at Minnesota was the only game in the Dantonio era that I thought as an embarrassment. The Spartans had a Gopher team plagued by mistakes and couldn’t capitalize.

I said that Illinois was the biggest game because it is their best shot at a Big Ten win.

Brewster will be done at the end of the year, and then the real burden is for the AD to stop acting like a low tier program and get a great coach. I know of three successful division one coaches that think this is a sleeping giant and would love the job. Let’s see if they can find these proven winners or if they get sold a bill of goods like the last time.

September 2 @Middle Tennessee State WIN

September 11 South Dakota WIN

September 18 USC LOSS

September 25 Northern Illinois WIN

October 2 Northwestern LOSS

October 9 @Wisconsin LOSS

October 16 @Purdue LOSS

October 23 Penn State LOSS

October 30 Ohio State LOSS

November 6 @MSU LOSS

November 13 @Illinois LOSS

November 27 Iowa LOSS