One more game in the Metrodome.  That’s it.  Frustrated Gopher fans exiting the Metrodome Saturday afternoon were not strangers to humiliation.  Sitting in front of me were three Michigan fans who were friendly throughout the game.  In the fourth quarter one of them turned around and asked “Why aren’t more people upset?”  Why?  Because Minnesota fans are used to losing, especially in the Metrodome.  One more trip to the Metrodome until the prospect of next year brings change, hope, and the beginning of a new era for Gopher Football.

Saturday’s loss to Michigan was a reality check for the Gopher Nation.  As previously noted in my Michigan game preview, the Gophers just don’t have the same level of talent…yet.  What do you get when you combine a team in need of talent, a new stadium on the horizon, a deflating loss, and a big recruiting weekend?  You get the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good

1. One more home game until Minnesota plays in TCF Bank Stadium.  Enough said.
2. Ra’Shede Hageman.  One of the top players in the state of Minnesota.  Expect him to make a major impact for the Gophers.  If he stays at tight end he should rack up gaudy receiving numbers in the spread offense.  Jack Simmons will be in the NFL next year, and Hageman may have a chance to contribute as a true freshman.
3. Matt Garin.  Another highly rated player stays home.  Garin has exceptional agility and quickness for his height and size.  If he continues to develop he could be the next Willie VanDeSteeg.
4. Joey Searcy.  The Gophers need defensive tackles for the future, and at 6′1, 276 pounds Searcy is exactly that.  In the footage I’ve seen he’s quick and relentless in his pursuit of the ball.
5. Adam Weber had a trial by fire due to an injury to Eric Decker and a porous offensive line.  The whole experience could help him improve for next year once a more experienced O-line gives him more time in the pocket and he has additional talented receivers.

The Bad

1. The offensive line.  Plagued by inexperience and injuries, the O-line couldn’t open up holes for the running game or protect Adam Weber.
2. The rest of the offense.  Receivers couldn’t get open, first downs were few and far between, and there was no hurry-up offense late in the game.
3. The weather.  Visiting recruits were treated to a chilly and windy day.
4. The loss.  A win on Saturday would have guaranteed that Minnesota doesn’t end up in Detroit for the Motor City Bowl.

The Ugly

The ugly. A picture speaks a thousand words.