Author: Gregory Simbeck

Jerry Kill’s New Mexico State Aggies play P.J. Fleck and his Minnesota Gophers in both teams’ season opener on September 1. For many reasons, there should be a whiff of nostalgia in the air. For not only is Coach Kill returning to the site of past glories, but he is also reuniting with his former Southern Illinois assistant Fleck. But entirely different winds are blowing. For a variety of reasons centered around Fleck’s hiring at Minnesota, Jerry Kill cannot stand P.J. Fleck. The bone of contention goes back to comments Fleck after he was named coach of the Gophers in…

JC Tretter where are you? Those are the words on many Minnesota Vikings’ fan’s minds. With the continued struggles of the matador-like incumbent Vikings’ center, Garrett Bradbury, many purple fans were hoping for an intervention from the East. As of now, those fans remain tragically disappointed. Minnesota fans are all too familiar with the trials and tribulations of Bradbury. Always a competent run blocker, the smallish center tends to get overwhelmed by bigger, stronger tackles on pass rushes. Bradbury gained weight and strength in the off-season and the Vikings were hopeful that the change would make him sturdier with his…

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Football team turned to an old friend to revive their football fortunes. Last November, the Minutemen hired Massachusetts native and former UMass coach Don Brown to turn the program around. Coming off a 1-11 season, UMass fans hope that Brown will replicate his previous success at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. That occurred in the early 2000s when he had a record of 43-19 as the Minutemen’s coach. Included in that record were two NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a trip to the title game in 2006. Coach Brown and RB Merriweather Raise Hopes It will…

The University of Akron Zips Football team is seeking a reversal of fortunes as practices begin for the 2022 season. Buoyed by the hiring of their new head coach, Joe Moorhead, the Zips fans hope he can rejuvenate an offense last year that had a stagnate running game and led the nation in sacks allowed. Moorhead has had success, both as an offensive coordinator and as a head coach. In his last stint, he was the offensive coordinator for the high-powered Oregon Ducks. Akron faithful hope his innovative mind can light a fire under an offense that has many question…

Former NFL player Marlin Briscoe died on June 27 in Norwalk, California of pneumonia. He was 76 years old. The “Magician” as he was called, was a college football Hall of Famer, two-time Super Bowl Champion, and Pro-Bowl wide receiver. I was visiting Omaha, Nebraska over the weekend, and fans, friends, and family of Marlin’s held a celebration of life for him on Saturday night. Ex-NFL player Johnny Rodgers and actor John Beasley lauded him for his contributions on and off the gridiron. The mayor of Omaha proclaimed the day as Marlin Briscoe Memorial Day. And the rest of the…

Minnesota Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan has experienced the ups and downs of college football. From the high of winning bowl games to the low of doubts about his ability as a starter. Morgan through his faith and perseverance is trying to end his collegiate career on a rosy note. Tanner Morgan came to Minnesota in 2017 after first committing to Western Michigan University. The change came when Western Michigan’s coach, P.J. Fleck accepted the Gophers’ head coaching position. Tanner followed along with the hope of leading a Division 1 team to national greatness. Tanner Morgan Becomes a Starter After a…

The arrival of Ed Donatell in Minnesota is a welcome sight for Minnesota Vikings fans. As the new defensive coordinator for the team, he hopes to return the Purple defense to its once vaulted status as one of the best defenses in the league. Former coach Mike Zimmer had the defense hitting on all cylinders from 2016-2019 when they were one of the most feared defenses in the league. But with injuries, departures, and Zimmer’s own implosion, the defense ranked a woeful 24th in the NFL last year. A change was obviously necessary, and Donatell will bring his aggressive, deceptive…

The strongest unit on the Minnesota Gophers football team these past couple of seasons has been their offensive line. Blessed with a massive offensive line that would have been right at home in the NFC North, Gophers rushers amassed over 3,900 yards on the ground and 46 touchdowns during this period. The team had one of the biggest offensive lines in Division 1 football with the starting unit averaging 6’6” and 336 pounds. But tackles Daniel Faalele and Sam Schlueter and guard Blaise Andries are preparing for their first NFL training camps and guard Connor Olson awaits his NFL call.…

Minnesota Gopher’s football players have just announced that they are launching the Twin Cities NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) Club. Their website states that this will be a player-led fan community that benefits members of the University’s football team. In July of 2021, the NCAA made a policy change that allows athletes to make money off of their name, image, or likeness. Several states were pushing such legislation and the NCAA was forced to make the change to create a uniform set of rules for college athletes. This is a stopgap measure until federal legislation governing NIL is passed. The US…

The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2022-23 season with a ton of returning starters. They have a talented group of players at the skill positions. They also have some veterans on the defensive line and two seasoned starting middle linebackers. Yes, new coach Kevin O’Connell should feel incredibly good about the wealth he has inherited. But the Vikings do have position battles at some key positions. The outcome of these competitions could very well determine whether the team qualifies for the playoffs or not. We’ll review four of these position battles and predict who will come out on top in these…