2008 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule

Gophers Coach Tim Brewster Looks to Better Record in his 2nd Season

Sep 1, 2008

The questions on Minnesota fans' minds: Can the Gophers compete in the Big Ten Conference in 2008? Can Coach Tim Brewster lead the team to better-than 1-11 record?

The 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team began their 125th season on Saturday, August 30th with a 31-27 homefield victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies. Just one more win, perhaps next week at Bowling Green, would double their 2007 win total. The Falcons are coming off an upset victory over #25 Pittsburgh, so the Gophers have a tough task ahead of them. It won't get any easier as they head into conference in late September, their first Big Ten matchup coming against #2 Ohio State.

2008 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule:

Hopes were high among Minnesota fans upon the 2007 hiring of Coach Tim Brewster, but a 1-11 final record and an 11th-in-the-Big Ten ranking left fans shaking their heads. Five of those games were lost in the 4th quarter, and the fact that Brewster had never been a head coach raised questions. But University officials and fans alike seem to be behind him as he leads the youngest team in the conference (only five regular starters are seniors) into the 2008 season with confidence.

COACH BREWSTER STRESSES POSITIVE CHANGES

Brewster has been stressing the positive changes made during the off-season, including a simplification of the playbook and a transition to the spread offense. The offense is led by versatile sophomore Quarterback Adam Weber and talented wide receiver Eric Decker, a senior from Cold Spring, Minnesota. The pair connected on 10 passes against Northern Illinois last week, and the Gophers offense looked relatively potent. On special teams the kicking and return game also looked strong. True Freshman Troy Stoudemire averaged 37 yards per return on 2 kickoffs.

Whether or not the Gophers defense has improved will be the deciding factor for a winning 2008 season. Last season's defensive performance was so poor that Minnesota recruiters actually used it as a successful strategy in signing new players, stressing immediate playing time to potential recruits. As to bettering a 1-11 record? Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo says "They absolutely match up with six teams on the schedule. It's not unrealistic to think they can win six games." Gopher fans, who are taking it one game at a time, are certain their team can, at the very least, have twice as many victories as last year.

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