Maturi admits the opening this year of TCF Bank Stadium, a model college football facility, has raised expectations for success. Brewster has a conference record of 6-18 in three seasons. The Gophers haven’t won a Big Ten title since 1967. Every school in the conference has been to the Rose Bowl since 1962 when Minnesota last made the trip to Pasadena.
His program can do better, Maturi said. He believes it’s reasonable to expect the Gophers to be in late season pursuit of a conference title every six years or so. Acceptance of the program by the public will also be contingent on playing in more prestigious bowl games than the ones regularly visited by Mason’s and Brewster’s teams. “I think that’s the hope and expectation (top January bowl games) of getting to the next level,” Maturi said.
Predictions of a drop off in season tickets for next year is something Maturi hopes he doesn’t see. His department, already having lost considerable revenue by the alcohol ban at the stadium, doesn’t need another hit. He believes the Gophers will sellout the stadium again next year, in part because of a marquee schedule that includes Southern California, Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa.
Some supporters of the program would argue that the job of building up Gophers football, including filling the stadium, is made more difficult by a perceived negativity in the local press. The negativity can impact not only fans but local recruits, according to the theory. Other Big Ten schools may face friendlier home town media.
But there’s certainly nothing negative about Brewster’s approach to his job. If ever there was an optimist and people person it’s Brewster who treats others with respect, regardless of who they are.
“He is just the eternal blind optimist,” Maturi said. “That’s really his being. Everybody is the best. Every recruit is the best. Every assistant coach is the best. Every this is the best. And that wears on some people and some people don’t like to hear that but that’s really who he is. And when you learn that about him, and you accept that about him, you kind of measure the statement and you kind of measure this and you measure that and you move on. At least that’s just the way I am.”
Maturi, who believes Brewster has grown and improved as head coach, doesn’t want Brewster to change the way he is or the way he relates to his players who come together at the end of practices and yell, “Big Ten champs, Rose Bowl!” Then Maturi said: “I don’t know if he’s ever going to win a championship here. None of us do. But he is for real. That is who he is. That ain’t going to change. And I keep telling him, don’t change. Because he is who he is.”
The optimist will say Brewster wins his bowl game and receives an extension from Maturi in January. With two years remaining on his present five year contract, Brewster will welcome the extension and the message it sends to potential recruits who must commit to the Gophers or some other school by early February.
Maturi was asked if the Gophers can get beyond the mediocrity of the Mason era that included a Big Ten record that was 16 games under .500. “I am hopeful,” he said. “Our won-loss record doesn’t indicate that yet and that’s how we’re all measured. … I believe we have more better players in our program than we have had so I believe it can happen.”
Maturi looks at the faltering offense and talks about how hard the staff is working to improve production. He reflects on a season in which the Gophers were sometimes impressive and mostly competitive. He looks back and talks about being a few plays, “not miles,” away from even better results.
Some day Maturi and everybody with an interest in Gophers football will make a final judgment about the hire he made in January 2007 after letting Mason go. “If it doesn’t work people will say it’s an unbelievable mistake,” Maturi said. “I am proud of the people I’ve hired. I still believe strongly in Tim Brewster and I still believe strongly that some people some day are going to look back and say, ‘Good hire
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