FKA - I can understand your position on Minny. But, Mason has turned that program in to a consistent winner. And 10 - 3 last year was pretty good too... should really have been 11 - 2 but for falling apart against Meatchicken... Their running game and line is very very good. They had to play the K-State cupcake scheduling game to get on the plus side of the win loss column the last few years, but their schedule is becoming more respectable now. They won't ever displace Ohio State or Michigan, but they can put together a Wisconsinish run - think 1993 - 2001. I, for one, would like to see Minnesota go to the Rose this year - As long as Ohio State is in the Orange, that is.
Minnesota has a great deal of tradition, and not all of it bad. Indeed, if you take a ride in the way back machine, you'll see a day when Minnesota was THE national power. Before the Vikings Minnesota was a serious contender in the Big Ten and on the national scene. For some extreme domination stats, have a look at this three year run:
<TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0 colSpan=8>
1905-Minnesota (Western)
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/23</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Twin Cities High (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>74</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/26</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Shattuck (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>54</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/30</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>St. Thomas (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>42</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>10/7</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>North Dakota (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>45</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/14</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Iowa State (6-3)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>42</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/21</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Iowa (8-2)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>39</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/28</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Lawrence (7-3)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>46</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/4</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Wisconsin (8-2)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>L</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>12</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>16</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>11/11</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>South Dakota (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>81</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/18</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Nebraska (9-2)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>35</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/25</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Northwestern (8-2-1)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>72</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>6</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0 colSpan=2> </TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>
10-1-0
</TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0> </TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>542</TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>22</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0 colSpan=8>
1904-Minnesota (Western)
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/17</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Twin Cities Central High (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>107</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/24</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>South Dakota (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>77</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>10/1</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Carleton (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>65</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>10/8</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>North Dakota (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>35</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/15</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Iowa State (7-2)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>32</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>10/22</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Grinnell (1-6-1)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>146</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/29</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Nebraska (9-3)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>16</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>12</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>11/5</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Lawrence (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>69</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/12</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Wisconsin (5-3)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>28</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/19</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Northwestern (8-2)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>17</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>@ Chicago, IL</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/24</TD><TD bgColor=#ffff00>@</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Iowa (7-4)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>11/26</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>@</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Shattuck (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>75</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>12/3</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>@</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>St. Thomas (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>47</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0 colSpan=2> </TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>
13-0-0
</TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0> </TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>725</TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>12</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0 colSpan=8>
1903-Minnesota (Western)
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/16</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Minneapolis Central High (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>21</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>6</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/19</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>St. Paul Central High (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>36</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/23</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Minneapolis Eastern High (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>37</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/26</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Carleton (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>29</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>9/30</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Macalester (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>112</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>10/3</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Grinnell (5-4)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>39</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>10/7</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Hamline (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>65</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/10</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Iowa State (8-1)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>46</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/17</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Iowa (9-2)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>75</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/24</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
Beloit (3-7)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>46</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>10/31</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Michigan (11-0-1)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>T</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>6</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>6</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>11/7</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>@</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>Lawrence (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>46</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/14</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>@</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Illinois (8-6)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>32</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#ff0000>11/21</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>@</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>North Dakota State (non-IA)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>11/26</TD><TD bgColor=#ffff00>vs.</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>
*Wisconsin (6-3-1)</TD><TD bgColor=#00ff00>W</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>17</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#00ff00>0</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0 colSpan=2> </TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>
14-0-1
</TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0> </TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>618</TD><TD bgColor=#c0c0c0>12</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Granted it was a different game then, but those numbers always amaze me. And, no, I don't post these numbers in support of the contention that Minny will be good this year... that would be absurd.
Minnesota has one other problem. They NEED an on campus stadium and stop using the HHH. Furthermore, their on campus stadium should be without a roof. I can tell you, the worst thing the Vikings ever did was move inside. Going to the old Met (Metropolitan Stadium) was quite intimidating back in its day simply based on the weather factor alone. Think current day Green Bay.