NCAA Football FanHouse

Gophers Stopping Victoria's Secret Attempt to Sell Gopher Stuff

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:05:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Fans, Minnesota

(Gratuitous Gisele photo to the right. You're welcome.)

Victoria's Secret is a place where you can buy ... well, you probably already know. No need for an explanation.

On their website, you will find section that leads you to the PINK Collegiate Collection. On that page, there is a list of 33 colleges who have licensed apparel available.

Among the list of 33 is the University of Minnesota. However, someone at the school has apparently decided that it's not a good place for Gopher gear to be sold.

Seriously.

"We are not making a judgment in regards to Victoria's Secret," said University spokesman Dan Wolter. "We just don't feel it is in our institution's best interest right now."

Wolter said there was not enough discussion about how the company's image could affect the University's reputation and that upon review, "it was simply determined we should opt out of it."

It's not like we're talking about Gopher lingerie. Victoria's Secret has a shirt, sweats, a hoody, and a tote bag (read: purse) available. Perhaps the university was offended by the prices. The tote bag alone runs $24.50. Yikes.

I don't know what the problem is. It's not like the stuff in the PINK collection is at all explicit, and I'm curious why the university thinks this is any kind of image issue. Frankly, the women's tank top that the university sells in their online store, Goldy's Locker Room, shows more skin than anything Victoria's Secret is selling with Goldy Gopher on it.

Evidently, Victoria's Secret hasn't gotten the message. Either that, or they don't care. As of this writing, the Gophers gear was still available through their website.

Illinois, Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin were the only other Big Ten schools listed. Oddly enough, none of them have asked to be removed. Meanwhile, Ohio State fans are boycotting this fine corporation over their exclusion*.

In case you're wondering how this happened, Victoria's Secret got the okay from the Collegiate Licensing Bureau, and did not have to deal directly with the schools to start this collection. The school has asked the bureau to be taken off the website.
(* - That sentence might not be true.)

Latest Victoria's Secret' Photos

Victoria's Secret Celebrates 10 Years of The Victoria's Secret Angels With The Launch of the New Dream Angels Demi Bra in NYC on April 17, 2008.Miranda Kerr Celebrates 10 Years of The Victoria's Secret Angels With The Launch of The New Dream Angels Demi Bra...Victoria's Secret Store - Herald Square.New York, NY United States.April 17, 2008.Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com..To license this image (15733091), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks attends the Louis Vuitton gala opening of the "ÃÂ(C) Murakami" exhibition at The Brooklyn Museum on April 03, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Victoria Secret Swim Cover Model Marisa Miller unveils The Victoria Secret Swim 2008 Collection at Victoria's Secret Store, Herald Square in New York on April 2,2008.Victorias Secret Unveils The Swim 2008 Collection.Victoria's Secret Store, Herald Square.New York, NY United States.April 2, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (15691022), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Models wearing Victoria Secret Swim 2008 Collection at unveiling The Victoria Secret Swim 2008 Collection at Victoria's Secret Store, Herald Square in New York on April 2,2008.Victorias Secret Unveils The Swim 2008 Collection.Victoria's Secret Store, Herald Square.New York, NY United States.April 2, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (15691046), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Victoria Secret Swim Cover Model Marisa Miller(Center) with Models, unveils The Victoria Secret Swim 2008 Collection at Victoria's Secret Store, Herald Square in New York on April 2,2008.Victorias Secret Unveils The Swim 2008 Collection.Victoria's Secret Store, Herald Square.New York, NY United States.April 2, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (15691045), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Gophers Stopping Victoria's Secret Attempt to Sell Gopher Stuff originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Worst Moments in Big Ten Football History #10: The Death of Jack Trice, 1923

Mark Hasty — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, Big 12, NCAA FB History, Iowa State Football

FanHouse is counting down the ten best, ten worst, and ten weirdest moments in Big Ten football history.

ABOVE: Iowa State University's Jack Trice Stadium is the only Football Bowl Subdivision stadium named after an African-American.

It might have been an unfortunate accident of the sort which happened in the early days of football, before the players took the field in modern-day suits of armor.

It might have been an ugly, racially motivated attack which went further than its perpetrators intended.

It might have been a murder.

After 85 years, it's almost impossible to say just what happened on October 6, 1923, in Minneapolis. What is beyond dispute is that Jack Trice, the first African-American athlete at Iowa State, was trampled by at least three Minnesota players while executing a roll block. Though he did not appear seriously injured at the time, Trice suffered severe internal injuries and died two days later.

At the time, Trice's teammates and friends didn't think the trampling was intentional. Minnesota fans weren't so sure. They began chanting "We're sorry, Ames!" shortly after the play. (In the Midwest, it's common to refer to universities by their locations instead of their names.) When you look at what life was like for an African-American college athlete in the 1920s, you can't help but be a little suspicious.

Trice was welcomed at Iowa State, where he enrolled to follow hishigh school coach, but he and the rest of the school's African-American students couldn't find housing in Ames until a local Masonic lodge took them in. Trice didn't play football his freshman year, focusing instead on his studies and his performance in track and field. His big break came in the opening game of the 1923 season against the highly-regarded Golden Gophers.

Trice couldn't even stay with his teammates on that road trip; the team hotel was segregated. But really, the Cyclones were lucky the Gophers would even play them. Several other teams refused to play Iowa State because the team was integrated.

Trice hurt his shoulder on the second play of the game but refused to come out. He also insisted he was fine after the trampling incident, but since he couldn't even stand, he was taken out of the game and directly to the hospital. (I suppose, given all the other difficulties Trice faced, he was fortunate to find a hospital that would examine him.)

On the trip back to Ames, Trice began fading.

Was it murder? Was it a racially motivated attack gone too far? Was it just a severe misfortune? So much time has passed it's impossible to tell. A 2007 article in the Iowa State Daily is ambiguous on the topic. The university's alumni association at least implies that Trice's injuries were deliberately inflicted. Steven L. Jones, who has written a book on Trice, says the answer is unknowable.

Because it's unknowable, I couldn't put this moment at #1 on my list, where any deliberate, racially motivated murder would belong. But I can't leave it off, either, even though the real story here is more about Jack Trice and Iowa State than it is about the Big Ten. There comes a time after every tragic death, whether it's an accident or not, when you must forget how the lost person died and remember more how he or she lived. Jack Trice knew he was blazing a trail, and he was unafraid. If ever someone deserved to have a stadium named after him, it's Jack Trice.

Worst Moments in Big Ten Football History #10: The Death of Jack Trice, 1923 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brewster's Kid Doesn't Want to Play for Him

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Recruiting, Minnesota

Gophers coach Tim Brewster hasn't exactly had a good time lately.

He dismissed a highly-touted 2007 recruit from the team. Word leaked out that his highly-rated 2008 recruiting class may spring a leak. He made a really dumb comment in the newspaper. One of his top players in that class announced that he needs open-heart surgery.

The latest news: His own son is transferring.

"Clint Brewster has decided to transfer. I respect and admire Clint's decision to further his education and play football elsewhere."

Brewster, listed at 6-1, 195, originally made a verbal commitment to Illinois, but changed his mind after his father took over as Gophers coach. There has been no word on which schools he is considering.

Maybe Clint Brewster isn't good enough to play big-time college football. Ron Zook thought he was, but even the really good recruiters occasionally swing and miss.

But this can't be considered a good thing for Tim Brewster. If your own son bolts from your program, what kind of message does that send to everyone else? To be fair, however, you have to think Clint Brewster was going to get every shot at the starting job for the Gophers, no matter how fair Tim Brewster wanted the competition to be. If he couldn't win that job, his odds of starting for a different BCS school seem low.

Brewster's Kid Doesn't Want to Play for Him originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gopher Recruit to Have Open Heart Surgery

Brian Cook — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10

Minnesotan Sam Maresh was a four-star linebacker who signed with the home-state Gophers last year. His signing is probably Tim Brewster's second-biggest accomplishment (recruiting or otherwise) in his dismal first year at Minnesota, with the first being the inexplicable acquisition of Indiana dual-threat quarterback and Army All-American Marqueis Gray.

Maresh was a real threat to step directly into the starting lineup on Minnesota's beleaguered defense. Unfortunately, now Maresh has bigger things on his mind:

Sam Maresh, a top Gophers football recruit from Champlin Park, needs open heart surgery to repair or replace his aortic valve, his father, Bill, said this morning in an e-mail to the Star Tribune. The defect could potentially be career-ending.

Sad. Gopher Nation has a comprehensive recap of the situation, with extra details on the likely outcomes.

Gopher Recruit to Have Open Heart Surgery originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Brewster: Um, What?

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Coaching, Minnesota

It's no secret that Tim Brewster's first season at Minnesota was an unmitigated disaster.

Not only did his Gophers not win a Big Ten game, but they posted the worst record (1-11) in school history. They lost to I-AA (er, FCS) North Dakota State. They lost to Florida Atlantic. They almost lost back-to-back home games to MAC teams.

Not much to be proud of here.

To make matters worse, Brewster's highly-rated 2008 recruiting class may lose some players because of eligibility problems, and his prized find in 2007 has already been sent away.

While there is little chance that this year's Gophers will be worse than last year's, it's hard to imagine that Brewster is going to lead this team very far after the debut season he had.

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press did a pretty nice interview with Brewster, and while there are some interesting points made about the future of Gopher football, the coach also managed to show his completely irrational side.

"That one-win season very easily could have been a six-, seven-win season, easily," Brewster is quick to say. "We lost six games by a total of 23 points. We were in three overtime games. But to me, in the building of the program and understanding this process, it was what it was.

"Obviously, the 1-11 record last year was the toughest thing we had to handle; it was extremely tough on all Gopher fans, particularly me. But I really believe this with all my heart: the two steps we took back last year in wins and losses, we're going to make up for and step forward in the very near future.

Hilarious.

We almost won a bunch more games. Followed by a derivative of the classic "It is what it is".

Walters also intelligently asked Brewster to address the way he stormed into the Twin Cities (non-stop talk about how good the team was going to be) versus the quiet confidence Tubby Smith brought to the men's basketball program.

"I don't know that was an overhype at all," he said. "This is who I am, so I've got to be who I am. What I wanted to do was raise the level of expectations of the fans and people of this state. I wanted the people of this state to think, 'hey, yes, we can; yes, we will.' I think they've lost that some. I think people in this state, people who backed the Gophers, had really lost a little bit of their optimism toward winning a championship and taking the Gophers to Pasadena. So I wanted to re-establish that as, hey, this is the mind-set.

"Now, never one time did I ever say last season we're going to the Rose Bowl, this season we're going to the Rose Bowl. This is what we want to do, this is the expectation level of our team, and I want it to be the expectation level of our fans."

I really want to support Brewster. He brought a lot of enthusiasm into a program that was lacking it under Glen Mason. I do think he makes a legitimate point in this interview when he talks about being a different person with different credentials than Smith.

However, you can't ignore results. Smith kept his mouth shut and led his team to a 20-win season (albeit against a soft non-conference schedule that would help keep the Gophers out of the NCAA Tournament). Brewster never stopped talking, and he got to watch the Gopher football team suffer two of the most embarrassing losses in its history.

Yes, the Gophers should have won more games. They also shouldn't have had to win nail-biters against the likes of Florida Atlantic and North Dakota State. And need I remind you about the horrific collapse that cost them the Northwestern game? Or how they let a Wisconsin freshman romp for 250 yards on Senior Day at the Metrodome?

Minnesota was the only Big Ten team to permit opponents to top five yards per carry rushing (5.88, to be exact), and they let quarterbacks hit 64% of their passes (worst in the Big Ten). They sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times in 12 games. In other words, the Gophers team had three fewer sacks than Vernon Gholston did.

But, yeah, they're right on the cusp of something special.

(Thanks, SMQ!)

Tim Brewster: Um, What? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Brewster's Recruiting Class Has Issues

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Campus, Minnesota

No one takes Sid Hartman seriously anymore.

Actually, some of us never started.

However, Sid (who writes for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, by the way) has enough of an audience that he can't throw this kind of note in his regular column and get away with it.

The big question about the Gophers football team's highly ranked recruiting class is how many of the players haven't passed their entrance tests or don't have the credits to gain admission to the university. The scholarships given to recruits include money for enrolling in summer school. Some people, who should be in the know, report that coach Tim Brewster is not happy with some of the decisions that the school's admissions office could make. More than a couple of the top recruits might not be admitted.

Shocking. Dude coaches a team to the worst record they've ever had (1-11), then recruits his tail off, only to find that at least a few of his recruits struggle to become eligible.

So much for that third-best class in the Big Ten, right Rivals?

The "all-talk" label really isn't going away from Mr. Brewster anytime soon, because fans here don't like it when they hear about players struggling to become eligible. After all, this ain't Ohio State*.

(* - A group of Michigan fans paid me very handsomely to type that last line. Sorry. I'm a sucker for the greenbacks.)

(Fist bump: Paging Jim Shikenjanski)

Tim Brewster's Recruiting Class Has Issues originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minnesota AD Admits It Is All About the Money

Charles Rich — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Campus

Well, not everything in college football. In this case, Minnesota AD Joel Maturi is referring to the new 'Gopher Points' program for deciding who gets to pay for what seats in Minnesota's new football stadium.

"Sure there has, but people are passionate about it; people who have been sitting on the 40-yard line don't want to pay anything extra," Maturi said. "I don't like it when my taxes go up, either. There has been an honest and open reaction, and I'm respectful of that.

"When people say to me 'It's about money,' I say to them, 'You're right, it is.' It's not that I like it; it's just the reality of what big-time college sports has become."

It is reality. Nearly every major football (and basketball) program has been moving to this system. There are the ticket prices and then there are the mandatory donations that escalate depending on how good the seat locations are. Then there are the 'tie-breakers' to determine who gets the seats based on which interested party has given more money to the athletic department and earned more points.

Minnesota AD Admits It Is All About the Money originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 29 May 2008 23:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gophers Speedster Dismissed From Team

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, Minnesota

When big-talking Minnesota football coach Tim Brewster brought Floridian Harold Howell into the Gopher program last year, there were many superlatives from the coach.

Brewster called Howell "electrifying" and intimated Howell would be a big-time difference-maker for Minnesota.

One year later, Howell is gone.

Brewster dismissed Howell from the program Tuesday after one rocky season. The school announced the dismissal in a three-sentence release, saying Howell violated "academic and team guidelines."

A school spokesperson said Brewster had no further comment. A person who answered Howell's home phone hung up without comment.

No one is saying exactly why Howell left, but it's safe to say he won't be missed much on the football field. While he had some nice kick returns, he showed no ability to break tackles, and he had trouble with ball security.

His ballhandling skills were so poor that Brewster planned on moving Howell to cornerback this season. Sure, most teams would love to have cornerbacks who can make interceptions, but Brewster will take anything. The Gophers could line up four traffic cones in the secondary this season and still show improvement on defense.

Gophers Speedster Dismissed From Team originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Moments in Big Ten Football History #1: Minnesota's Title Run

Mark Hasty — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, Heisman, NCAA FB History, Minnesota

FanHouse is counting down the 10 best, 10 worst, and 10 weirdest moments in Big Ten Football history, starting with the 10 best.

Above: Minnesota halfback Bruce Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1941

1. Minnesota wins five national titles in eight years: You may be forgiven if you're snickering at the fact that my pick for the top moment in Big Ten football history (a) happened roughly seventy years ago, and (b) involves the Minnesota Golden Gophers. You may be forgiven, but you're wrong to snicker.

In the past one hundred years of college football, the Gophers of the 1934-1941 era are the only team to win five national championships in eight years (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, and 1941) as well as the only team to win three titles in a row (1934-1936). You'd think that somewhere along the line Michigan, Alabama, Southern Cal, or Oklahoma would have had a comparable run, but they haven't. Coach Bernie Bierman's Gophers stand alone in college football history as the dynasty above all other dynasties. So why haven't you heard about them before?

Given the Gophers' recent epic run of futility, it's hard to imagine that at one time they were so dominant. It's like discovering that Army used to be a football powerhouse. Even more amazing is that Bierman's Gophers accomplished what they did with such a minimum of legendary names. Five Gophers from the title-run era are in the College Football Hall of Fame. Apart from 1941 Heisman winner Bruce Smith, you probably can't name any of them without using a search engine. (Just so you know, Bronko Nagurski was long gone from Minneapolis by 1934.)

The Gophers would win another title under coach Murray Warmath in 1960 and would win the Rose Bowl in 1962--the last time, by the way, that the Gophers played in Pasadena. Current head coach Tim Brewster was barely a year old when that happened. Other teams may have been better able to sustain success over a long period of time, but no other team in the past hundred years has had a championship run like Coach Bierman's Gophers. And yet you hardly ever hear them mentioned among the greatest teams of all time. Call it the "what have you done for me lately?" syndrome at work.

Best Moments in Big Ten Football History #1: Minnesota's Title Run originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Market Letter

Mark Hasty — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:42:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Minnesota Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10

Is your pension coughing up dust? Does the ATM say "You must be joking" whenever you try to make a withdrawal? Starting to wish you hadn't taken out that line of credit at First Consolidated Home Mortgage and Bait Shop? Be not afraid. There are still some tremendous bargains to be had in Big Ten football ... and some dangerous pitfalls for the unwary investor. It's still five months until the start of football season, but now is the time for you to do your due diligence on the opportunities available in Big Ten football this fall. Here's my list of buys, sells, and holds for 2008.

BUY: Minnesota. Now, let's get one thing clear. I'm not saying you should buy them as a potential 2008 Big Ten champion. I'm not even saying you should buy them as a bowl team. What I am saying is that they're bound to improve over their 1-11 record in 2007. The Gophers were a very young team last year who endured a lot of blowout losses but seemed to get better as the season went on. Too, they were in their share of really close games that just didn't go their way. But there's an X factor at work in 2008.That X factor is former Duke head coach Ted Roof, who may have bombed out as a head coach, but is a pretty decent defensive coordinator, the role he now plays for the Gophers. If he can make the Gopher D come together, Tim Brewster's team should see a significant reversal of fortune.

Of course, the jury's still out on Brewster himself. He has proven he can recruit, but he has yet to prove he can coach. We just haven't seen enough from Brewster to know if he's going to make Minnesota forget they fired Glen Mason. With the kind of talent Brewster is bringing to Minneapolis, though, things have to turn around a little. I hope he succeeds, though. The national media really needs to discover Tim Brewster. The guy is just dripping with hipness, and, thanks to his unusually deep and resonant voice, Brewster's press conferences are kind of entertaining.

HOLD: Ohio State's national reputation. I'm sure there's some sort of guideline for the poll voters about how they're supposed to rank the teams based solely on their performance this season, without regard for past results. I expect that advice to be completely ignored this season by voters who will do anything they can to prevent the Buckeyes from making it to a third straight BCS Title Game. And they may have a point. Sure, the Buckeyes will travel to Southern Cal this season; give them credit for being one of the few Big Ten teams to schedule a meaningful non-conference game. The rest of the schedule is a little lame, though, with the hardest road trip being Wisconsin on October 4. So I look for the Bucks to be 10-1 heading into the Michigan game ... and ranked no higher than 4th in the human polls.

SELL: Kirk Ferentz. Dang it, I've been a Hawkeye fan since I learned what football was, so it pains me to write this, but it's true. After a third consecutive season with at least five losses, and an offense that never made anything positive happen, and so many off-the-field incidents that Ferentz was forced to bring in SuperNanny to keep a lid on things, I think it's fair to say the pressure is on the good Captain. I am not sure he's up to the challenge.

His offensive scheme worked really well when he had an offensive line featuring three future NFL starters, and Dallas Clark faking out linebackers all over the place. Now the O-line has gone from Iowa's greatest asset to one of its biggest liabilities. Wait, isn't the O-line Ferentz's specialty? Sure, but there's a big difference between the results Ferentz got when Joe Philbin (now the Packers' offensive coordinator) was coaching the line, and the results Ferentz is getting now that Philbin is gone.

I don't know that Ferentz will get fired for another mediocre season. I'm not sure they can afford to fire him. If things don't improve this season, though, he'll be expected to make some staff changes, which is something he really doesn't want to do. So I'm saying "sell now."

(NOTE: You cannot actually invest in any of these things. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, which you think would be obvious to anybody who follows college football. Consult your financial advisor, your physician, and a licensed counselor before investing. Anyone who would take financial advice from this author is certain to get what he or she deserves.)

Big Ten Market Letter originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Probable Chemistry Major Picks Gophers Over Trojans

Brian Cook — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, NCAA FB Media Watch, The Word

College football season is a brief thing that flutters for a few months in the fall. Afterwards, the increasingly frenetic run-up to Signing Day provides another month or two of interesting stories. But March? March is for men who bounce basketballs and major internet sites are reduced to this:

HOLY CRAP TIM BREWSTER IS A RECRUITING NINJA FEAR FEAR FEAR F--

Wait a second. Minnesota picked up a walk-on? This is news? I hate March.

Probable Chemistry Major Picks Gophers Over Trojans originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nefarious Doings Afoot In Recruitment of Willie Mobley

Brian Cook — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Recruiting

No doubt this was perpetrated by a man with a fake nefarious mustache!

There have been a lot of weird stories this year in recruiting, and while this one doesn't top the Kevin Hart saga it's not far off. Minnesota defensive end Willie Mobley committed to Ohio State in December over the instate Gophers and a few other schools. Then he got a letter:

Along the way Mobley even received a bogus letter allegedly signed by Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. The letter, dated Jan. 8, advised Mobley that his "football future would be best suited elsewhere." ...
Roxanne [Mobley, Willie's mother] said she became suspicious because the letter, which was on Ohio State letterhead and postmarked Columbus, Ohio, read: "I know Minnesota has not had the greatest season, but in three years you would be eligible for the NFL. ... If you come to Ohio State, you will be sitting behind upperclassmen for at least two years anyway, and then you never know."

For the record, I don't have access to Ohio State letterhead.

I would like to meet the deranged person who thinks a letter from Jim Tressel that says "Dear Recruit, You Suck" is credible, especially when the body of the letter seems cut and pasted from that stupid guy on your message board always writing open letters to recruits.

OMG LOL Willie Mobley! Come to Minnesota! Sincerely, Jim Tressel.

Are you convinced?

Nefarious Doings Afoot In Recruitment of Willie Mobley originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Army All-American Bowl Liveblogging! (First Half)

Brian Stouffer — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:08:00 EST

Filed under: California Football, Michigan Football, Minnesota Football, Notre Dame Football, Pittsburgh Football, Virginia Tech Football, NCAA FB Recruiting, NCAA FB Media Watch, Arizona State Football

Picture the scene... you're sitting around your house on a Saturday morning and your girlfriend calls you and asks if you want to have brunch with her family. Normally, you'd be fairly amenable to free silver dollar pancakes, even if it means enduring some awkward conversation, but today is not a normal day. It's the high-school all-star game. Sorry, tootsie, but home boy has a date with Tom Lemming today, and no amount of waffles or eggs Benedict can interrupt.

If any of this made sense to you, congratulations, you're a junkie.

Just to remind you all, this game is sponsored by the U.S. army, so the over/under on lame Army commercials is like a million.

A lot of these blue-chippers will be announcing their college choices. When that happens, I'll put the contents in bold face, so you can skip over my pithy commentary and get right to the commitments, if that's your thing.
And we're off to the races! Virginia running back Ryan Williams puts on the Virginia Tech hat. Not terribly surprising that he picked his hometown school over Rutgers and Boston College.

Michigan-bound Sam McGuffie takes the opening kickoff and does not hurdle over any defenders. You can almost hear the entire crowd sigh with disappointment. Now it's time to see Notre Dame commit Dayne Crist take over the West offense. The announcers said he went to the same high school as Jimmy Clausen in the intro, but that's not correct. Hooray, fact checking!

The West drive stalls, and we have a punt and our first two Army commercials. Zing. Now it's time to see Tyrelle Pryor, the presumptive number one recruit in the universe ever. Rich Rodriguez is somewhere, salivating.

Covaughn Deboskie, RB from Arizona announces... for Cal! At least I think he did. He had his (daughter? sister?) pick a hat, so he might not have had any say in the decision. Oh well. Meanwhile, Tyrelle Pryor has scored on a nifty little read option. He's 6'6", for you keeping score at home. 7-0, East.

Army commercial count: 3.

Brandon Smith, DB from New Jersey, picks... Michigan. Good pickup for Michigan. That kid's got quite the head of hair on him. Plus, the announcers said he might play QB for Rodriguez's spread if they don't get Pryor. Hmmm.

The QB for the West is Andrew Luck, heading to Stanford. They said his dad's name is Oliver. Oliver Luck. As in, "even with Oliver Luck, she couldn't avoid the falling piano."

Army commercial count: 4

No commitments after this commercial break, they're just interviewing somebody who looks like Abe Vigoda.

Touchdown, West. Gabbert (Missouri commit) on a pretty fade to Dan Buckner. 7-7.

East QB Star Jackson (no, not Star Jones) has thrown two passes... an interception and a 50 yard touchdown. East, 14-7. And now we are treated to a Brady Quinn commercial, bringing the Notre Dame blow job level up to critical mass. Hold on tight, lads.

West is running some Emory & Henry. Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist drops the snap and it is recovered by ND DL Sean Cwynar. Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame.

Marquis Gray, QB from Indiana chooses... Minnesota! Best of luck to him in the Twin Cities. A long field goal for the East has enough leg but sails wide. That was Notre Dame WR John Goodman holding. Notre Dame Notre Dame.

Sam McGuffie goes two more plays without jumping over anybody. The bloodthirsty crowd pelts the field with tomatoes and beer cans in a hail of boos.

Army commercial count: 5

Shane Hale, LB from Pennsylvania chooses... Pitt! My God, is there anything the Wannstache can't do? Nice catch! Meanwhile, West makes a field goal to pull within 14-10.

Army commercial count: 6

Gerrell Robinson, WR from Arizona chooses... Arizona State! Nooooo.... he spurns the Irish. The production crew is panicking. Shut this game down!

Army commercial count: 7

US Army All-American Bowl Liveblogging! (First Half) originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Brewster Gets the Dreaded Vote of Confidence

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Coaching

The Big Ten has 10 of it's 11 teams bowl eligible this season, and a small part of the reason for it is the only team in the conference that isn't bowl eligible, the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Thanks to their 0-8 record within the conference, they've done their part to help just about everybody get to six wins this season.

Still, even though they finished their season 1-11, first year coach Tim Brewster need not fear for his job. At least that's what his athletic director Joel Maturi is saying.

"That's why you do the (hiring) process," he said. "I know how hard I worked, I know how many people I interviewed, I know the references that I checked. That's why you work real hard on the front end, so you don't second-guess yourself.

"I really, truly believe that Tim Brewster is a great fit for Minnesota, I believe he's the right coach, and I think it's only appropriate that we give him three to four years that he deserves to see what he can do with his program."

Maturi is right, too. It's only fair that Brewster is given some time to turn the Gophers around. He took over a team this season that lost several players on the defense thanks to off-field antics, and had to implement brand new offensive and defensive schemes.

Say what you will about the Gophers performance on the field this season, but at the very least, they weren't lying down for anybody. They played hard in every game, they just didn't have the talent to compete. With the state of the Big Ten right now, it's not out of the question that the Gophers can be competitive next season with a solid recruiting class. Just look at the Illini, who went 2-10 last season and are now being considered for a BCS bowl.

Tim Brewster Gets the Dreaded Vote of Confidence originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gophers Make History With Loss

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10

When Tim Brewster took over at the University of Minnesota, he talked about getting this program to the Rose Bowl.

Let's hope he wasn't talking about this year.

The Gophers made a bit of history on Saturday, losing at Iowa 21-16. The loss drops Minnesota to 1-10 on the season, marking their first ten-loss season since 1983 and just the second in the long history of the Gopher football program.

You might remember 1983. Ronald Reagan was president. The median household income was around $20,000. The average home cost under $90,000. A first-class stamp was $0.20, and a gallon of gas cost an average of $1.24.

While all those things have changed, the Gopher program really hasn't. They peaked under Glen Mason with a couple of decent seasons, but have generally lounged around the area of mediocrity. Or they've been simply bad, as they are this season.

Not since 1988 has Minnesota gone winless in Big Ten play, something they will try to avoid next week at home against rival Wisconsin.

As embarrassing as the season has been, there hasn't been a widespread call for Brewster's head. Nor should there be. Glen Mason didn't do a great job with this program, and the cupboard wasn't exactly stocked with great players when Brewster took over. He will need to be given some time to straighten this ship out. From this disastrous season, Brewster can take out that his team competed hard, and they clearly haven't quit despite the lack of success.

Gophers Make History With Loss originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawkeyes Bowl-Eligible, But They Could Still Use Help

Mark Hasty — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Minnesota Football, Minnesota

Well, at least they looked really good in the first quarter, right? Iowa busted out to a 14-0 first quarter lead over Minnesota today, then held on to beat Minnesota 21-16 in the Hawkeyes' Big Ten finale. The win makes the Hawkeyes bowl-eligible for the seventh straight season, though at this point a bowl bid is not guaranteed. A win over Western Michigan next week would probably provide that guarantee.

The win is priceless. All of Iowa's wins have been this season. This one, though, returns Floyd of Rosedale to his rightful home in Iowa City, and it marks the first time since the Syracuse game that Iowa's offense was able to get off to a fast start.

The finish, though, should give Hawkeye fans cause for concern. Iowa was held scoreless in the second half by a Minnesota defense that couldn't stop ice from melting in January. Meanwhile the stalwart Iowa defense allowed the Gophers to score a fourh-quarter touchdown that put Minnesota in a position to win the game with just a little luck.

Wins just don't come easily for the 2007 Hawkeyes, though. They're not capable of blowing anybody out, and this game wound up being a little harder than it should have been. Minnesota fell to 1-10 on the season, but they've been competitive in most of their games.

So what next for Iowa? Fan speculation is centering around a possible at-large bid to the Armed Forces Bowl, but the potential still remains for a great big logjam of mediocrity that could have the Hawkeyes getting picked for a bowl game ahead of Purdue or Indiana, both of whom flogged the Hawks like a rental car. Stay tuned.

Hawkeyes Bowl-Eligible, But They Could Still Use Help originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickin' On the Big Ten, Week 11

Mark Hasty — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:37:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Minnesota Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

Every Thursday, Pickin' on the Big Ten breaks down action across the conference.

Shut up. I've heard it before. The Big Ten can't count. The Big Ten shouldn't count. The level of football in the conference is as putrid as a gas station burrito.

I mean, how bad can a conference be if right now it has to count Iowa as one of its hottest teams?

This is the first time Pickin' On the Big Ten has appeared at FanHouse, but I've been writing it for nine seasons now. Over those nine seasons I've seen the conference's status change from "elite even among BCS conferences" to "sort of like the Advanced Placement version of the MAC." It's painful, to be sure, but I press on. Because with two weeks left in the season, there's a lot still up in the air. Somebody has to go lose all those bowl games, after all.

Technically, all seven of the Big Ten's bowl slots are spoken for. But realistically, only two things are certain at this point: Ohio State is going to a BCS game (unless, somehow, they lose to both Illinois and Michigan), and Minnesota players will be home for the holidays. As for everybody else? Click on for the predictions, and a not-too-improbable nightmare scenario that will leave any college football fan weeping.

Not only is it possible that the Big Ten could wind up with as many as eight 7-5 teams, it's not even all that far-fetched. Here's what has to happen:

Illinois loses out (at OSU, Northwestern).
Indiana loses to Northwestern but beats Purdue.
Iowa wins out (home games with Minnesota and Western Michigan).
Michigan State wins out, beating Purdue and Penn State.
Northwestern wins out, beating Indiana and Illinois.
Penn State loses out, against Temple (no, this won't happen, but Temple is a lot better these days) and Michigan State.
Purdue loses out, to Michigan State and Indiana.
Wisconsin loses out, against Michigan and Minnesota.

Everything else on this list could happen. Even if you take Penn State out of the mix, you still wind up with a seven-way tie for fourth place. Now remember, bowl games are not required to pick teams based on where they finish in the conference. The Alamo bowl gets the fourth pick. Put Ohio State in the BCS, Michigan in the Capital One Bowl, Penn State in the Outback Bowl, and . . . then what? How are the bowls going to pick their teams? Based on conference record?

Are you new to the business of college football, pilgrim? It'll be based on how the teams' fans travel. That's good news for the likes of Iowa and Wisconsin, not such good news for others. Depressing, isn't it? Let's look at this week's games, since they're a little less depressing.

MINNESOTA @ IOWA

To lay my biases on the table: I'm a Hawkeye fan who grew up in Iowa, and I normally post my Iowa/Minnesota prediction in Norwegian so the Gopher fans can read it. But I'm guessing that FanHouse might frown on such shenanigans, and anyway, there probably aren't any Gopher football fans left.

Hawkeyes fans, however, have a fire in their belly again. Five weeks ago the team was a steaming carcass on the Big Ten roadside, but they've won three of their last four games, and the offense is clicking. Minnesota, on the other hand, hasn't quite been able to make all the verses rhyme this year. The emotion that Floyd of Rosedale brings to this game may keep it uncomfortably close for the Hawks, but these are two teams going in two different directions. I'm picking Iowa by 10:

BREWSTER'S ILLIN', 13
BIRDS OF PARADISE, 23

INDIANA @ NORTHWESTERN

Both these teams have known tragedy in recent years, and both are experiencing a limited sense of triumph this season. Indiana is bowl-eligible for the first time since 1993, while Northwestern is on a two-game slide. The Cats have won every time they've scored 20 points, and lost every time they haven't. Fortunately for them, Indiana's defense is giving up an average of 26.6 points a game. Unfortunately, Northwestern is giving up 30.3. Indiana gets a little separation from the middle of the pack.

IT'S BASKETBALL SEASON AND WE DON'T CARE, 38
WE DON'T CARE ABOUT BASKETBALL EITHER, 24

ILLINOIS @ OHIO STATE

Remember when the Illini were a feel-good national story? Remember Ron Zook finding vindication amidst the cornfields? Well, they're still pretty good, but you won't really know it in this game.

YOU CAN'T HIDE YOUR ILLINI, 10
TRESSELMANIA VII, 35

MICHIGAN STATE @ PURDUE

Cultural change is always a slow process. Mark Dantonio is learning this the hard way. After a great start to the season, Sparty has returned to being Sparty-losing games they should win and generally looking like they're not getting better as the season progresses. MSU has lost two straight games where they had their opponents on the ropes in the second half. Purdue is also doing what it does every year: gorging on pastry early in the season, then puking it up all over the Big Ten. Still, despite having a ferocious pass rush, Sparty's pass defense is as wobbly as a Jello gazebo. That just plays right into Joe Tiller's hands.

YES! NO! MAYBE!, 24
BEER AND A BUMP, 42

PENN STATE @ TEMPLE

I said the Owls were getting better, but let's not get carried away, mmm-kay?

Wait a minute, Penn State at Temple? How did that happen?

YES, WE QUALIFY FOR THE SENIOR DISCOUNT, 54
MAC-RIFICE, 20

MICHIGAN @ WISCONSIN

If there's going to be a really good game in the Big Ten this week-and I'm not saying there will be-then this will be it. On the surface it looks like a gimme for the Wolverines. This year's Badger squad isn't as good as last year's; they've struggled mightily in a number of their games. Meanwhile, the Appy State game is looking like a one-in-a-million lucky shot, while the gut shot from Oregon appears to be exactly what should have happened in that game. It's been a long, long, time since Michigan could honestly be called "underrated" but honestly, people need to get over Appy State and note that this Wolverine team keeps getting better.

Unless they beat Ohio State next week and leave three 7-5 Big Ten teams home for the holidays, that is. Then you can join me in complaining that a team which lost a paycheck game wound up in the BCS.

NOT QUITE AS BAD AS YOU THOUGHT WE WERE, 28
NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS WE ONCE WERE, 21

Next week's games:

Northwestern @ Illinois: With NIU's stumble, this is once again a battle to be the best team in the state.
Purdue @ Indiana: With ND's stumble, this is . . . wait, nothing's changed.
Western Michigan @ Iowa: Only $14.95 on pay-per-view!
Ohio State @ Michigan: They could eliminate the rest of the conference schedule and just play this game.
Penn State @ Michigan State: Technically, these two are 'traditional rivals.'
Wisconsin @ Minnesota: Upset watch. I'm serious.

Pickin' On the Big Ten, Week 11 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Brewser Isn't Getting Fired

Tom Fornelli — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Gossip, NCAA FB Coaching

So what's worse? Losing to a Division-II (yeah, yeah, I know it's FCS now but I'm stubborn and stuck in my ways) school like North Dakota State? Or losing to North Dakota State and not surprising anybody by doing so?

Last Friday when doing my daily reading, I found a couple of Big Ten "experts" who were picking North Dakota State over Minnesota. I also heard Mark May say on ESPN Saturday morning that he wouldn't be surprised if Minnesota lost as well.

So now that Minnesota has lost to North Dakota State, a team with 33 players from the state of Minnesota that weren't recruited by the Gophers, and is 1-7 on the season it's only natural to start wondering if Tim Brewster is going to get fired soon.

He's not, as the school's president, Robert Bruininks, says Brewster isn't going anywhere.

"There is going to be some pain in the rebuilding of the Gophers football program, but I'm sure we did the right thing," said the chief executive of Gopherville, who is committed to giving Brewster time to rebuild the program.

It's only fair that Brewster shouldn't feel any heat from the Gophers performance this season. He's only in his first year at Minnesota, and he's going to need some time to clean up Glen Mason's mess. There just hasn't been enough time to evaluate what kind of recruiter Brewster is, or how good of a coach he is.

Tim Brewser Isn't Getting Fired originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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North Dakota State Upsets Minnesota

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10

Look out, Gopher fans. That Bison's gonna get you.

We warned you at halftime, and it's now over.

It's not Appalachian State over Michigan, but it's still an upset, and it's a monumental victory for a program that is so new to Division I that they're still not eligible for the I-AA (er, FCS) playoffs.

One year after a heartbreaking loss at the Metrodome, North Dakota State completed the upset this time, taking down Big Ten member Minnesota 27-21. It appears that the 20,000 or so Bison fans at the game resisted the temptation to run on the field and tear down the Metrodome goalposts.

NDSU led the game 17-14 at halftime, and they started the third quarter by moving the football as well as they had in the first half. So much for those halftime adjustments by the Gophers, I guess. The Bison missed a field goal try, giving Minnesota life and some good field position. The Gopher offense, which has scored points in bunches all season, took advantage. Adam Weber hit Duane Bennett on a swing pass that Bennett's athleticism turned into a go-ahead 32-yard touchdown.

Minnesota's momentum, and a 21-17 lead, didn't last long. The Bison had an answer, and Steve Walker's second touchdown pass of the day, a seven-yarder to the wonderfully-named Thor Brown, gave NDSU the lead at 24-21.
On the ensuing Minnesota drive, Weber's third-down pass, intended for six-foot-five senior Ernie Wheelwright, was inexplicably intercepted by NDSU cornerback Nate Agetbola. The five-foot-eight Agetbola literally took the ball away from Wheelwright. The play wouldn't have been good for a first down, but Wheelwright's inability to win that battle was telling on this day.

Frankly, the Gophers didn't win many battles. Their run defense was torched for 394 yards. Weber was under constant pressure, and when he wasn't, he often had a hard time finding an open receiver. Weber was also inaccurate, struggling to complete even half his throws in an offense designed for a QB to complete 60 percent or so of throws.

In the end, the Gophers pathetic defense was the downfall. Roehl wasn't as lethal in the second half, but he ran for 263 yards in the game and went over 1,000 for the season. Patrick Paschall provided seven yards per attempt in a complimentary role.

Agetbola's interception led to a field goal for NDSU, and they had to sweat out one more Gopher possession. After Minnesota punted, the Bison ran some time off the clock, and appeared content to punt from just inside Gophers territory. However, Gopher Dominique Barber rushed the punter from the middle of the formation, and his diving attempt at a block came up empty. Well, except for Mike Dragosavich's ankle. Barber's roughing-the-punter penalty gave NDSU a first down, and that was it for the Gophers on this day.

Minnesota falls to 1-7, and with Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin left on the Big Ten schedule, they might have just squandered their best chance left for a win. They have also assured themselves that they won't be going to a bowl game this season.

North Dakota State Upsets Minnesota originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Upset Alert: North Dakota State Leading Minnesota

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:51:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10

Tyler Roehl is not a household name. Admit it, you have no idea who he is, or who he plays for.

The Minnesota Gophers, however, are fully aware of the name, and they are probably tired at this point of seeing the back of Roehl's jersey (he wears number 40, but the Gophers knew that).

For the second straight year, Minnesota is struggling at home against the I-AA (er, FCS) Bison, with North Dakota State holding a 17-14 halftime lead, thanks in large part to Roehl.

The Fargo native has 200 yards rushing on nine carries, an astounding 22.2-yard average. Granted, the Gophers' defense isn't anything special (ask Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic, Purdue, Ohio State, Indiana, or Northwestern if you need more information), but they're giving up 22 yards per carry to a I-AA (er, FCS) back. Ouch.

Roehl is a good player. With 53 yards in the second half (shouldn't be a problem against Minnesota's defense), he'll top the 1,000-yard mark in NDSU's seventh game. The unbeaten Bison are trying to topple a I-A (er, FBS) foe for the second time this year, having already pounded Central Michigan 44-14. If they keep running the ball like this, an upset might just be on the horizon.

At halftime, the Bison are outgaining the Gophers by a staggering margin of 344-187. If it weren't for a Roehl fumble, the margin would likely be bigger than three points. NDSU has already compiled 259 yards on the ground. Gopher coach Tim "Captain Obvious" Brewster said they needed to "make some adjustments" on defense. Gee, thanks for that info, skip.

This is the first sellout of the season for Minnesota, and in typical Gopher fan fashion, they need the help of some 20,000 (or more, potentially) North Dakota State fans to fill the usual gaps in the Metrodome. Those fans should enjoy themselves now, because if Brewster gets his way, we won't be seeing a rematch of these two teams anytime soon.

Upset Alert: North Dakota State Leading Minnesota originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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