Saturday’s Gophers game in Fort Worth against TCU would probably never have been scheduled if Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson had come to Dinkytown years ago.
Before Tim Brewster took over as Gophers coach in January of 2007 it’s believed that Patterson was interested in the Minnesota job. If Patterson had been hired here it’s doubtful the Horned Frogs would have wanted to play against the man who left them.
Patterson, who had been the defensive coordinator at TCU before succeeding Dennis Franchione in late 2000, was turning heads in the college football world back in 2006 with his revival work at TCU—a private school and like Minnesota not the easiest place to win. In 2006 TCU was 11-2 and had the second-ranked total defense in the country, and the season before upset No. 5 ranked Oklahoma in Norman.
Word is Patterson had interest in possibly coaching the Gophers starting in 2007 and succeeding Glen Mason as Minnesota head coach. “I had no part of that but that’s my understanding,” said Dave Mona.
Mona, however, was a consultant to Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi in late 2010 when a replacement for Brewster was sought. That season Patterson coached the Horned Frogs to a 13-0 record, No. 2 national ranking and Rose Bowl win in January of 2011. “His name was on the (candidates) list but he let it be known he was very happy where he was,” Mona said. “He was quickly on and off the list.”
Brewster was let go in mid-October of the 2010 season and that gave the Gophers a lot of time to review candidates. One of those candidates was Jerry Kill—the last man interviewed. “We got an early start (considering candidates) but Jerry gummed it up a little bit because he wouldn’t talk to us when his team was still playing, and so that’s when he wound up last,” Mona said. “He was highly recommended.”
Patterson may have been among those who recommended Kill, the head coach at Northern Illinois before accepting the Gophers job. The two men have known each other for many years. In the late 1980s it was Patterson who succeeded Kill as linebackers coach at Pittsburgh (Kansas) State. When Patterson married his wife Kelsey, Kill was part of the wedding party. “I don’t know if Jerry considers he’s got a closer friend in the coaching ranks than Patterson,” Mona said.
When Patterson was taking over as head coach at TCU he thought about hiring Kill who was the boss at Emporia State but soon on his way to another head job. “He had offered me a job as the offensive coordinator there (TCU), but I also had an opportunity to go to Southern Illinois,” Kill said.
Friendship aside, Saturday’s game in Fort Worth is important business for both programs. The Horned Frogs, who built their major success under Patterson while a member of nonpower conferences, have struggled in 2012 and 2013—their first seasons in the Big 12. TCU was 2-7 in league games last season, 4-8 overall, and Patterson isn’t used to those kinds of records. His winning percentage of .733 ranks seventh nationally among active coaches.
The Gophers have improved their win total every season under Kill. Although Minnesota is 2-0, the Horned Frogs are expected to be the most competitive of the Gophers’ four nonconference games and the only road test before going to Michigan on September 27 to open the Big Ten schedule.
TCU has only played one game, a 48-14 victory over Samford. The Horned Frogs had a bye last week and extra preparation time for the Gophers.
Worth Noting
Gophers tight end Maxx Williams said that despite Mitch Leidner’s knee injury, he expects the redshirt sophomore quarterback to start Saturday’s game at TCU.
Kill didn’t promise Leidner will start but admires his quarterback’s toughness. “He’s a tough son-of-a-gun, and that’s straight up,” the coach said.
Leidner talks to Jordan Lynch, another quarterback known for his courage who played for Kill at Northern Illinois. “I don’t know what they talk about, but evidently it’s pretty good,” Kill said. “So we’ll see how it goes.”
Steven Richardson, the Gophers 6-foot, 285-pound true freshman defensive tackle, strength tested this summer comparable to Ra’Shede Hageman when he played for Minnesota. Hageman, a second round NFL Draft choice this past spring, was 6-6, 311 pounds when he played defensive tackle for the Gophers and probably the team’s strongest player.
Richardson is generously listed at 6-foot. His short stature presents a problem to blockers. “He’s just so strong and athletic,” said defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys. “He can run (too).”
Jeff Jones, the former Washburn four-star running back and 2013 state Mr. Football winner, is enrolled in classes at Minnesota and has the full benefits of a Gophers athletic scholarship even though he isn’t academically eligible to practice or play this fall. He needs to achieve a 2.5 GPA or better to be eligible to train with the team next winter, a source told Sports Headliners.
Former Gophers women’s cross country and track coach Gary Wilson will be inducted into SUNY Cortland’s C-Club Hall of Fame this weekend. Ex-Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi and his wife Lois will attend the induction at Wilson’s alma mater in Cortland, New York.
Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel will see his former boss on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has coached New England to three Super Bowl wins, used Cassel as a quarterback replacement for the injured Tom Brady in 2008.
In the September 8 issue of Sports Illustrated Dan Patrick interviewed Cassel and asked, “What kind of things did Belichick say?”
Cassel answered: “Cassel, What in the (bleep) are we doing here? Did you not see the three-technique? Are we going to have to send a letter to your mother about why you’re in the hospital because you can’t see a blitz coming?”
The Vikings report the Patriots game is sold out, although some tickets could be returned from the Patriots’ visiting team allotment. Single seats only remain for the Falcons game on September 28 and Lions October 12.
Former Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff, who is a 2015 senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will sign autographs at tomorrow’s CORES luncheon in Bloomington beginning at 11:15 a.m. Lou Nanne will be the speaker at the luncheon. Reservations are no longer being accepted.
Congratulations to McGregor High School football coach Bob Staska who won his 100th career game last Friday. His record is 100-68 in 17 seasons.