2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Preview
2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Minnesota Golden Gophers football preview as well as the 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Schedule. Dont miss Maddux's free college football picks on the weekly college football odds from the #1 sports handicapping team.
Coach: Tim Brewster (3rd year at Minnesota)
Team Name: Golden Gophers
2008 Overall Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 17
In 2008, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7- 6 overall, 3- 5 Big East) went to the Insight Bowl after finishing tied for sixth in the conference. At the Insight, they lost to the Kansas Jayhawks 21- 42. In 13 bowl games, that was Minnesota’s eighth loss. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, the Golden Gophers hope to make it back to another bowl contest.
The Minnesota offense put an average of 23.2 PPG on the board last season. Quarterback Adam Weber (410 ATT, 255 COMP, 2,761 YDs, 8 INTs, 15 TDs) will work a new multi-set system devised by first-year coordinator Jedd Fisch. He’ll have a fine target in All-Big Ten receiver Eric Decker (84 REC, 1,074 YDs, 7 TDs), a senior with speed and moves. Junior RB Duane Bennet (32 CAR, 140 YDs, 2 TDs) is an able rusher and pass catcher. He was injured after the first two games last season and is back and healthy. Sophomore RB DeLeon Eskridge (184 CAR, 678 YDs, 7 TDs) is a strong second choice, providing a fine one-two punch. The O-line is big and physical.
The D-squad welcomes back six starters, including MLB Lee Campbell (80 TKLs, 4 SKs, 2 INTs), junior safety Kyle Theret (78 TKLs, 2.5 TFL, 3 INTs) and senior corner Traye Simmons (62 TKLs, 4 INTs). The defensive welcomes its third coordinator, Kevin Cosgrove, in two seasons. Cosgrove, who did great work on “D” at Wisconsin, is looking to do the same with the Gophers. He has some talent with which to work. There is speed at linebacker and in the secondary. Two senior defensive tackles, Eric Small and Garrett Brown, will be the anchors on the frontline. They are excellent run stoppers. The primary skill needed on this side of the ball is a reliable sack artist. If the defense can find the right guy who can consistently pressure QBs, then the Minnesota “D” will move up a notch or two.
Troy Stoudermire (42 KR, 1,083 YDs, 25.8 YPR) proved to be a top return man. The kicking game will feature two new players—junior Eric Ellestad as placekicker and freshman Dan Orseske as punter. In high school, Orseske was twice an all-state punter.
In coach Tim Brewster’s (8- 17 in two years with Minnesota) first season with the Golden Gophers, the team won one game. In his second, which was 2008, they won seven and made it back to the post-season. Last season, Minnesota was 7- 1 in their first eight games. Then they lost five straight. There’s been improvement on both sides of the ball. But the non-conference schedule includes California on September 19. The conference roster has Penn State on October 17, Ohio State on October 24 and Michigan State on October 31. The good news is they meet South Dakota State on November 14. That should be a win. The Gophers will be an eighth place team and will most likely sit out the bowl season or get an invitation to a low tier contest.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | Minnesota | Syracuse | away | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | Minnesota | Air Force | home | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Minnesota | California | home | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Minnesota | Northwestern | away | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | Minnesota | Wisconsin | home | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | Minnesota | Purdue | home | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | Minnesota | Penn St. | away | ||||
| 10/24/2009 | Minnesota | Ohio St. | away | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Minnesota | Michigan St. | home | ||||
| 11/7/2009 | Minnesota | Illinois | home | ||||
| 11/14/2009 | Minnesota | South Dakota St. | home | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Minnesota | Iowa | away |
For more info on the 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.
