2010 Team by Team Preview and Outlook: Minnesota

New Stadium? News to me..

This is the part of the Big Ten that gets very interesting to me. Well, AFTER Minnesota it gets better. Marginally. We know all about their new outdoor stadium thanks to Tim Brewster's appearance in everyone's favorite Big Ten Network commercial(COMMME TO PENN SCHHHTTTAAATTEEEE GRRRRRR) and that his Tweeting lunacy only rivals that of Jim Harbaugh at Stanford who invited you to COME RIDE WITH ME ON THE BACK OF A WHITE STALLION TO THE LAND OF GUM DROPS AND CANDY AND VICTORRYYYY!!! OK, so maybe I'm just paraphrasing John's tweets, but that dude is crazy. Anyway, back to Tim Brewster since we're not talking about Pac10 football. Let's be honest, Timmy's time in the Big Ten hasn't been the best.

After starting 1-11 in 2007 and going 13-13 in the past two seasons and 1-1 in the INSIGHT BOWL(WOOOO) Tim is the 3rd Big Ten coach on the hot seat. Or at least he should be. I mean, Glenn Mason wasn't a world beater, but Tim hasn't been any better. Besides, he is responsible for those God-awful mustard uni's the Gophers have been rocking lately. Time to put up or shut up/GTFO Tim.

On offense Brewster's Gophers return senior quarterback, Adam Weber. Which depending on who you ask may of may not be a good thing. Last season Weber threw for over 2500 yards BUT threw 15 picks as compared to 13 TDs. Look at it this way; Weber didn't throw picks in games where he also didn't throw a TD last season. No bueno. Couple that with the fact that he only scored 1 rushing touchdown as opposed to 9 combined int he previous 2 seasons something's wrong. Also, Weber's main target, Eric Decker is no longer sporting the mustard and maroon. Who's left to throw to? Minnesota also returns their lead rusher from the 2009 campaign, Duane Benett who ran for 376 yards on 98 carries for 6 TD's. Yikes.

I'm no QB coach, but I can tell you that this ends poorly.

The Story on defense is more of the same. Defensive leader Lee Campbell and the rest of the defense(save for safety Kim Royston??) all left. The cupboard is pretty bare for Timmy's last hurrah in Minnesota. Let's take a look at what the 2010 season has in store for the Gophers.

This guy isn't going to to be the only one sleeping through the 2010 Gopher football season.

@Mid Tennessee State (L): The Blue Raiders cracked 10 wins last season and return a senior QB. They're better than Minnesota.

South Dakota (W): Please let me be right.....

USC (L): Even with all the sanctions that have been levied against the Trojans, USC is still far more talented than Minnesota, and probably will be in 3 years after the scholarship hits take place too. It might be a little closer than expected because of USC traveling to Minnesota, but don't count on a win for Goldy Gopher. Matt Barkley and Adam Weber are going to see who can throw the most interceptions though. Adam prob wins a shootout.

Northern Illinois (W): Garrett Wolfe plays for the Chicago bears. Minnesota "should" win this one.

Northwestern (W): It's a home game. The wildcats lost Mike Kafka and Corey Wooton from last year's team. Minnesota wins a close one. We'll say by a field goal.

@Wisconsin (L): OK, It's Bucky Badger and it's an away game? Do I need to say more? Jump Around.

@Purdue (W): OK, hear me out. Purdue is going to be improved over last season, but I still see them dropping a stinker here and there. I could kick myself for this pick later...

Penn State (L): Something about a Governor's Bell blah blah blah, Evan Royster derpp da derrp.

Ohio State (L): Tressel owned the Metro Dome, TCF Bank Stadium won't be any different, he'll just wear long sleeves.

@Michigan State (L): Dantonio Tressel's the Gophers. Kirk Cousins and Adam Weber throw an interception fest. Weber wins that one too.

@Illinois (L): Another game that comes down to who wants it less/more. Flip a coin, there's your winner. Zook's last stand.

BYE WEEK: and soon to be BYE BREWSTER (Ed. note: Ha. Haha.)

@Iowa (L): Floyd of Rosedale stays with the Hawkeyes. Iowa wins by 3 scores. Stanzi starts the USA chant. America, F yeah.

I'll admit that this is a cooler trophy than the wooden turtle...

Conclusion: Did your high school English teacher tell you that you should never do what I just did with "Conclusion"? Yeah, take that Mrs. Koukis! I do what I want! This is the innernets, there are no rulez! I used a Z! Ahem.... Minnesota, ugh. Thanks to some stinkers in the non-conference schedule they manage to compile an overall record of 5-7 and go 2-6 in the Big Ten, earning them a trip to the Toilet Bowl and Tim Brewster a ticket out of town I'm guessing. That makes 3 coaches who should be or are potentially set to be axed this season. Ch-Ch-Changes.