Gopher The Roses

Tim Brewster Radio Show

Link to the 9-6-07 Tim Brewster Radio Show

Technorati Tags: Minnesota Golden Gopher Football, Head Coach Tim Brewster

Tim Brewster Radio Show

Link to the 8-30-07 Tim Brewster Radio Show.

Technorati Tags: Minnesota Golden Gopher Football, Head Coach Tim Brewster

Coach Brewster, Beware The Superlatives

I wonder how long until people (let me call them critics) get tired of his enthusiasm and optimism. Minnesota folks are known for their passive-aggressive style. We love to tear people down right after being really nice to them. I know that goes for most parts of the country but we seem to do it really well. Brewster's rhetoric is a little heavy, but passion is real:

"Coach Brew" belted out his depth chart like a town crier. For those scoring at home, he used the word "tremendous" 13 times, "great" 21 times, "exciting" six times, "special" eight times, "passion" six times, "very" 16 times, "good" 12 times and outstanding "11 times.

and:

In the absence of a head coaching record at any level, we've been able to judge him only on his "tremendous passion" and "veryvery" gregarious style.

Those who like Brewster call him a salesman similar to Mack Brown, his boss at North Carolina and Texas. Those who don't like him call him a salesman similar to former Gophers coach Jim Wacker.

Yes, two in one day, Brewster's minions prepare for a revival. At least Tom Powers is not hiding his sarcasm. What a jerk:

Welcome to Phase II of Brother Brew's Travelin' Salvation Show. Now it's time to pack up the babies and grab the old ladies ...

"There's no limit to what we can do, where we can go," insisted Tim Brewster, head coach of the Gophers football team.

Yes, it's time for the actual tent revival to begin under the Metrodome big top. It's time for the laying on of hands in an attempt to heal an ailing program. Can Brother Brewster cast out the demons that have plagued past teams? Can he get the Gophers to rise - I say rise, brothers and sisters - above their considerable limitations?

(Insert "hallelujah" or "amen" whenever the urge strikes.)

(Articles from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press may require a free subscription and may be archived by the source after 2 weeks)

Technorati Tags: Minnesota Golden Gopher Football, Head Coach Tim Brewster

Gopher Football News

Articles from August 27, 2007:

Five to mull asks five questions regarding the defense. Anyone who says they have an answer is lying. And only five? There is more than that.

Speaking of, Defensive Coordinator Everett Whithers is featured in this article Hot seat, meet cool customer. He has a young group to work with and I am a little concerned that when the defense looked good during fall practice it was more because the offense was not hitting on all cylinders. I hope I am wrong. Regardless, I want to see how the players respond to a coach with NFL experience:

Withers left the NFL to become the Gophers defensive coordinator because he saw potential, not the past.

Besides, Withers said he is too consumed with the present to get sidetracked by anything else. He has installed an entirely new defense, one that is based on multiple schemes and an aggressive, attacking mentality. He wants to strike first, not engage in rope-a-dope defense.

Chip Scoggins from the Star Tribune has been writing an occasional blog post as well as his daily beat of Gopher football. I like his blog posts better.

From It’s game week:

To me, this is the best time of the college football season. Even better than bowl week.

Everyone is undefeated and has high hopes. Even the bad teams think they have a chance to be good. That’s what makes this week special for this college football fan.

I call it a tie between the excitement of the first week (games are not usually that good) and Bowl Week.

Technorati Tags: Minnesota Golden Gopher Football, Everett Withers

Gopher Football News

Articles from August 26, 2007:

Gophers' extreme schemer on Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mike Dunbar and the “spread coast offense”. And that many years ago he was actually a defensive coordinator:

Coach Tim Brewster knew he wanted to run the spread offense when he became a first-time head coach, and Dunbar's name kept coming up in conversations with other coaches, including Texas' Mack Brown, Florida's Urban Meyer and West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez.

"The biggest thing about Mike Dunbar to me is that he's just a sage old veteran," Brewster said. "His calmness at calling plays and preparing an offense is really going to allow me a sense of calmness in what I'm trying to do."

A ROSY FUTURE? has many questions to ask and finishes with:

Bottom line

Brewster has his team believing in itself. But what happens when the Gophers suffer that first blowout defeat or heartbreaking loss? Brewster can do only so much, and he talks about the need for his 16 seniors to provide leadership. The schedule looks favorable, but Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio) and Florida Atlantic will face a Big Ten team that appears vulnerable and is filled with questions. How will the new QB look? Are there enough wide receivers to run the spread? Is the defense better? Will life after Mason be better? Or worse?

(Articles from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press may require a free subscription and may be archived by the source after 2 weeks)

Technorati Tags: Minnesota Golden Gopher Football, Spread Coast Offense, Mike Dunbar

Rocky Mountain News: Tim Brewster Expected To Be Announced Minnesota Golden Gopher Football Coach

The article Gophers focus on Brewster is posted January 15^th but because it was posted late I am guessing it is in the print edition today.

   

For starters:

Brewster spent Monday night in the Denver area with Gophers athletic department officials - including athletic director Joel Maturi - according to two league sources and was told before the dinner to be ready to return to Minneapolis today for a formal news conference.

Hey, so when I asked the other day if anyone had seen Joel Maturi now we know where he was for at least a few  hours on Monday.

   

And then:

Brewster did not return a call seeking comment Monday night, but he has told the Broncos he might get the job.

Might is not as definitive as I hoped but this could finally end on what would be day 16 since the firing of Coach Glen Mason.

Day 15 Rumors: ESPN Reports Tim Brewster Hired, Others Say Charlie Strong On Campus

Here I thought another day was going to go by with no real news and the chat forums abuzz with their “confidential sources” that seem to know absolutely nothing.

   

ESPN saves the day with this headline just in time for the local evening news Sources: Brewster to replace Mason at Minnesota.

   

Other media outlets are running with the story too although information is limited. Chicago Tribune with Ex-Illini player to be Minnesota coach and Sporting News with Gophers to hire Broncos' Brewster.

   

All of this while we have no confirmations from the University of Minnesota.

   

In fact as of this evening all we are hearing is “No offer has been made”,  “No one has been offered the job”, and “We have not hired a football coach”.

   

At the same time there were many “sightings” of Charlie Strong (Florida Defensive Coordinator) on campus today. Nice. Right after a snowstorm and the coldest night since last February. I hope he brought at least a windbreaker with him.

   

Long ago a football team meeting was scheduled for early Tuesday morning. Maybe, just maybe the goal is to make an announcement to the team or better yet introduce the new coach.

   

Then a press conference can be held.

   

And then we can all get back to our normal routines…

Day 14 Rumors: No News May Not Be Good News

Sid Hartman says Gary Patterson has the best resume Sid Hartman: Patterson has best résumé among Gophers candidates. I would agree.

   

I hope this comes to an end soon. I am worried that some of the people posting in forums on different web sites are going to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or worse.

   

I had been one of the few who believe that the lack of news was good. My thought was that like all good searches it should be kept quiet until 30 minutes before the press conference.

   

The lack of news is starting to make me feel that maybe we have no viable candidates. It might be time for Joel Maturi to say something or leak a little to a trusted source.

   

Or at least leak his travel schedule and then we can get an intern to compare the travel schedules of the candidates. Maybe then we can draw some firm conclusion on who has been interviewed, where, and in what order.

   

Something else is on my mind, Maturi has been responding to email. But has anyone actually seen him? Do we know where he is?

Day 13 Rumors: Shh, A Very Quiet Day

Mike Max on WCCO TV (local CBS affiliate) seemed a little ornery this evening. He basically crapped on all of the potential candidates for the coaching job. If he wants to give his opinion he should stick to his radio show or late night Sunday TV sports show.

   

Doing so on the evening news is not appropriate.

   

No confirmation on the Lane Kiffin offer and it looks like this was maybe premature or not going to happen at all. Too bad, I was really hoping to would happen.

My Pick For The Next Head Coach

It’s been a while but I used to throw darts quite a bit. I also had a higher tolerance back then too. Funny how they go hand in hand.

   

I have gone back and made a grand list of names that have been mentioned to replace Glen Mason as the Head Coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

   

Using the scoring system in a darts game I have ranked the coaches by category. This is strictly my opinion and from where I sit on the 25 yard line on game day. You will note I prefer current coordinators to head coaches and would like them to have some connection to Minnesota but is not necessary:

   

Bulls-eye

-Lane Kiffin (USD Offensive Coordinator), My preferred choice. Local ties, big time program, and heavily connected. Should be able to build a strong group of coaches.

-Gary Patterson (TCU Head Coach), If we can afford the $1 million buyout.

   

Triple

-Bo Pelini (LSU Defensive Coordinator), Big time program with experience.

-Marc Trestman (former North Carolina State Coordinator), Local ties with college and NFL experience.

-Charlie Strong (Florida Defensive Coordinator), A late entry to the pool but a recruiter, a defensive guy, and experience at a football school.

-Brent Venables (Oklahoma Defensive Coordinator), Some call him “Bob Stoops Jr.”. Good enough for me.

   

Double

-Mike Haywood (Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator), My next top pick of the coordinators.

-Tim Brewster (Denver Broncos Tight End Coach), No head coach or coordinator experience but a top-notch college recruiter with a lot of energy.

-Craig Bohl (North Dakota State Head Coach), Recruiting Upper Midwest players for North Dakota State is not the same as running a Big Ten program.

-Bobby Hauck (Montana Head Coach), See above.

-Larry Coker (former Miami Hurricane Head Coach), For better and worse he is intriguing.

-Ron English (Michigan Defensive Coordinator), High energy guy with experience.

-DeWayne Walker (UCLA Defensive Coordinator), Local ties but may be light in experience.

   

Single

-Dan McCarney (former Iowa State Head Coach), No way. He resigned.

-Paul Chryst (Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator), No Badgers please.

-Gary Barnett, Not sure he can be trusted.

-Mike Grant (Eden Prairie High School Head Coach), Hire him as an assistant and lead recruiter. Preps him to be St. John’s Head Coach one day.

-Frank Solich (Ohio University Head Coach), I hate to say this but he is too old. I want a young guy even if that means less experienced.

   

Not listed are Tony Dungy (Indianapolis Colts Head Coach) and Chris Petersen (Boise State Head Coach), as I highly doubt either of them is available.

   

I continue to hope that the next coach keeps current Minnesota coaches Gordy Shaw and Luke Tressel.