Curator & Coach - Week 8

Curator Sam Burnham
Game of the Week
Michigan @ Minnesota

Last season the Golden Gophers topped off an 11-2 season with a win over Auburn in the Outback Bowl. The Gophers are led by head coach P.J. Fleck who has worked hard to change the culture at Minnesota. He has employed a people-centered approach that has yielded promising results so far.

Michigan has continued to underwhelm under the leadership of Jim Harbaugh. Michigan has managed to win five straight over Minnesota but the Wolverines lost 14 starters off last year’s team.

Playing for The Little Brown Jug on opening day will give both teams extra incentive for a quick start.

The Wolverines need to execute on both sides of the ball and prove to Tim Tebow, and everyone else for that matter, that they are elite...in they in fact are. Harbaugh needs big wins to impress a fan base that is growing more and more impatient with his shortcomings.

Minnesota needs to focus on football. The off season has been filled with civil unrest and conversations about social issues and equality. Saturday is a good time to prove the team has been united rather than divided. If Minnesota has further coalesced, they will be a formidable force to be reckoned with. If they are distracted or divided, Michigan will make short work of the Gophers.

Coach’s segment will return next week.