Spartan Nation 2011 Big Ten Football Scouting Report: Minnesota Golden Gophers
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Spartan Nation 2011 Big Ten Football Scouting Report: Minnesota Golden Gophers         Â
Biggest Game:Â September 17 hosting Miami, OH
Predicted record:Â 3-9 (0-8)
Projected Big Ten Standing: Last in the Big Ten Legends Division    Â
Returning Starters:Â 14Â Â Â OFFENSE:Â 6Â Â Â Â DEFENSE:Â Â 8Â Â Â Â Â Lettermen return:Â 37Â Â Â Â
Head Coach: Jerry Kill 1st Season at Minnesota       Lifetime: 127-73
Top Assistant:Â OC Matt Limegrover
This is going to be a tough year in Minnesota. After getting rid of the carnival sideshow known as Brewster, they went after a proven winner. Like Indiana, I believe that this is a good job, but the administration doesn’t treat it as such.
Kill can flat out coach. He can also develop talent, which you have to at Minnesota. Still, he will be able to get better players at Minnesota than he ever has anywhere, and I expect him to win. Like Glen Mason? That remains to be seen, but he is a good guy that does things the right way.
I expect this to be a tough year in Minnesota, but this team will be better at the end of the year and should compete for bowl eligibility next year. I set the September 17 game when they host Miami of Ohio as their biggest because frankly, perception is reality. Brewster lost on a regular basis those games and I don’t know if Kill can beat a very talented Miami team this early in his tenure. If this game were in year three for Kill, it would be a no brainer. Losing this one will get an already angry fan base fired up…again.
He will need time. If he gets it then Minnesota will be back to competing year in and year out for a bowl.
September 3 @USC Loss
September 10 New Mexico State Win
September 17 Miami, OH Win
September 24 North Dakota State Win
October 1 @UM Loss
October 8 @Purdue Loss
October 22 Nebraska Loss
October 29 Iowa Loss
November 5 @MSU Loss
November 12 Wisconsin Loss
November 19 @Northwestern Loss
November 26 Illinois Loss
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