Let’s get positive. When I need a better perspective on the Gophers there’s only one man to turn to for help. New coach Tim Brewster is 24-7 intent on building a great future for Gopher football. No reports of pessimistic prognostications can slow his enthusiasm and determination.
I plopped down on the couch in Brewster’s office and asked for relief from the doom and gloomers. “As I’ve told you before, I think that’s tremendous fuel for our fire,” Brewster counseled. “Our football team, I think, thinks they’re better than that. I think they’re better than that. They were a bowl team last year. There’s no reason for us to be in the bottom of the Big Ten and I certainly think our guys, when the dust settles, won’t be.”
What about the inexperienced quarterbacks and offense not being able to execute? “There’s a process that we’re growing through offensively,” Brewster said. “But I think whoever we decide is going to be the starting quarterback for us will be a winning quarterback for us. He will be a winner and, hey, we’re evolving as an offense, we’re evolving as a defense. But I think we think we will be a very good football team September the first against Bowling Green.”
Where will the Gophers finish? “Well, obviously our goal is to win the Big Ten championship,” Brewster answered. “That is our stated goal. That will be the goal every day of every year I am here, is to win the Big Ten championship. Is that possible? Certainly it’s possible. Without question in my mind, I believe 100 percent (that) if these kids get close enough, if they get committed enough to each other, buy into blind loyalty to this program we can win a Big Ten championship this year.”
So take that, Street and Smith’s, Athlon, Sporting News, and all the rest of you magazines! (Oh, and go Iowa on September 22 against Wisconsin!)