Brewster needs to be fired!

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Let's go Jack Rabbits! If win #6 to be a bowl team is over SDSU board up the whole program.

[JBMasterAngler]

I am 100% against any team scheduling against a D1-AA team. It's the norm now that strength of schedule doesn't matter in the BCS anymore. But yeah, it is pretty pathetic that we have to rely on a win against SDSU and losses to other teams to make a bowl run.

[timjones]

Almost three years and your 6-17 in your conference. Big deal, so they went to a bowl game last year. No team should ever get to a bowl game going 3-5 in your conference. Pathetic! It doesn't do any good to bring in top players if there is no one to coach them.

[Big Dave2]

Almost three years and your 6-17 in your conference. Big deal, so they went to a bowl game last year. No team should ever get to a bowl game going 3-5 in your conference. Pathetic! It doesn't do any good to bring in top players if there is no one to coach them.

You can't seriously think he is bringing in top prospects do you? He is only bringing in the top prospects that are not wanted at Michigan, Ohio st.,Texas, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, and the list goes on and on............................

[so haaad]

Unfortunately Brewster doesn't have the name clout that a Tubby Smith does. So even though he can talk the talk and rah-rah this and rah-rah that, most of the top national prospects will still be hard to convince to come to Minnesota. It seems that Brewster is going after: lesser-known recruits that show "potential", kids looked over by the top schools like BigDave said, or kids that are athletic but projects. I really think the U needs to get someone like a Tony Dungy or another respectable, likable big name involved in recruiting, coach or personal development of players.

Big Dave, is this going to be the year for your Tide? Or are you waiting until AFTER the conference championship game to make your prediction.

[zepman]

Coaches in the upper tier will not come to Minnesota unless they need a three year paycheck...then they're gone to somewhere else. See Lou Holtz.

Gophers ARE recruiting very solid players but they're still young. No, they are not going to compete with USC, Notre Dame, Florida etc...as far as recruiting classes...but few programs can claim this status. They are, however, competing very well with the second tier (3 and 4 star) guys as compared with other schools. It takes time and recruiting is the only way to get Minnesota out of the hole they've been in for 50 + years now. I'll take a sub-par coach who can recruit over a coaching whiz who'll be gone in 2-3 years anyday.

The head coach is more of an administrator than a coach...those responsibilities are left up to the coordinators and position coaches. Picking the right people for these positions is the head coaches decision and this is where Brewster is failing. He needs to surround himself with better coordinators/coaches to off-set his lack of experience.

Wisconsin holds the blue-print on how to REALLY turn a program around. Stability in the coaching staff and a long run at recruiting the right players...year after year after year etc...Alvarez struggled at first too, but he stuck with his plan and it put the Badgers at the top of the Big 10 year after year. He BUILT a whole new program...something the Gophers are trying to do now.

[so haaad]

Very nice post, Zep.

[Big Dave2]

Big Dave, is this going to be the year for your Tide? Or are you waiting until AFTER the conference championship game to make your prediction.

I hope this is the year!

IMO unless one of the top 3 teams has a meltdown, the BCS champ game will be between the winner of the SEC champ game and Texas. I think that my Tide has a better chance than last year of beating Florida. Florida just looks a tiny bit more beatable than they did last year.

I'm picking the Tide to win the SEC and beat Texas in the BCS championship game to give Alabama theier 13th National Championship!

[JBMasterAngler]

I predict 2 key upsets that will allow TCU to play for the national title.

[Big Dave2]

I predict 2 key upsets that will allow TCU to play for the national title.

That's a BOLD prediction.

[CJH]

Good post, Zepman!!!

[so haaad]

Should be interesting to see how the team responds tomorrow after last weekend's meltdown. It will also be interesting to see if Brewster and the other coaches make any changes.

[JBMasterAngler]

Obviously I want the gophers to win, but deep down inside there will be a part of me that will be cheering the jack rabbits on Losing 2 out of 3 games to a 1AA team may be the fastest way to get brewster out of here!

[JBMasterAngler]

What a joke! There is nothing about this game that the gophers should be proud of. They couldn't score an offensive touchdown against south dakota state?!?!?! The jack rabbits were 2 missed field goals away from winning this game. It's really sad that the gophers are actually gonna go to a bowl game now. It's normally good for a team to get that extra month of practice, but this is an exception, because now they get that extra time to be coached by brewster Lot's of empty seats, and lot's of booing of our offense.

Someone in the stands had a sign that said "got dungy?" We could only be so lucky.

[elkrivermn]

Ya think they miss Decker?

[GFNER]

Brewster as a recruiter: A

Brewster as a coach:F

Good talent but I blame the lack of disipline(too many penalties)and the terrible game plans on coaching! These kids just seem totally unprepared for college ball. Give him one more year then replace him with another coach nobodys heard of. You can have the best talent in the country but if you can't coach 'em......

[Coach Dog]

You give him an "A" for recruiting?

[CJH]

Obviously they are missing Decker and it has hurt them losing their best player half way through the season, two years in a row.

Today was ugly. Nothing to be proud of here and NOT good enough. If you want to fill the seats, then play good football!!! Stop scheduling 11AM games too, you'll get more students there. Make it at least 1PM so they've had time for breakfast!!!

[Bryce]

Maybe an A for self promotion?

I would suggest that the rodents drop out of the Big Ten and join a conference with the Dakota schools but what's the point of switching cellars?

[JBMasterAngler]

11 am start times don't have anything to do with it...none of the other schools have any problem packing the stands.

On paper brewster's recruits look good coming out of high school, but so far they haven't done much. The best players are all seniors from the mason era. So I'll be generous and give brewster a B on recruiting.

You bring in all the best players from around the country, but if they're given krap for coaching, they just won't do much.

[zepman]

Gophers defense is good enough to finish in the top tier of the Big 10. Their offense is really bad...and is being led by a regressing q-back who'll be back for a senior season. Ughhhh!! Lot's of decisions to be made in Gopher land this comming off-season.

Still lot's of really good players from around our "region" that are playing at high levels for both NDSU and SDSU. Good kids who are being passed over by the "U" and comming back to punch them in the mouth. I bet that feels great!

[Juneau4]

Your never going to have a good offense when you keep changing the offensive co-ordinator every year. Defense is quicker to adjust with changes but the offense needs stability in the program.

[so haaad]

The linebackers and d-backs played alright for the most part and the d-tackles played ok at times too. But the same glaring issues remain game after game, it's like a broken record. On defense, the DE's have NO pass rush. On offense, the running game is non-existent. Also, Weber is lost out there and is providing NO leadership. He had less than 100 yards passing in this game which is ridiculous. Part of the blame again lies with the offensive line. A few members of the starting O-line once again showed they don't belong on the field, starting with right tackle. They gave up four sacks. M. Gray didn't play much, and every time he is in the game it's a running play. Why not just redshirt the kid if you aren't going to use him as a QB??? If there was ever a time to see what the kid can do in a game situation, this was the perfect game to do it. This is poor coaching and recognition by Fisch, as well as Brewster for not getting his off coordinator and O-line coach to make some switches.

[blackdog1101]

Yeah, at this point Brewster needs to be handed his walking papers. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but after yesterday, it's time.

[LMITOUT]

In the three games against the D1-AA teams from the Dakotas, Brewster's so-called Big 10 team has been outscored (and arguably out coached) 47-49.

Not sure how that little tidbit can be used as a positive recruiting tool, but I bet Brewster can spin it somehow....