Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017 Football Preview

Minnesota marked their best season of football since 2003 (and just their second nine win season in 112 years) … by firing their football coach? Granted, Tracey Claeys might not have been the most inspired choice to replace Jerry Kill, though it’s tough to reconcile the results with the choice. And yes, Claeys was undone by off-the-field issues, not the results on the scoreboard.

It’s also pretty likely that Minnesota decided to act once they felt they could land the hot, up-and-coming mid-major coach in P.J. Fleck. Say what you will about about his showmanship and flamboyance, getting Western Michigan to the Cotton Bowl is no small achievement. While “Row Your Boat” will undoubtely cause opposing fans to “Roll Their Eyes”, if it works as will in Minneapolis as it did in Kalamazoo, Gopher fans won’t care.

In July, Fleck wanted to pick between sophomore quarterback Demry Croft (6’5” 200 lbs.) and senior Conor Rhoda (6’3” 215 lbs.) But as the season opener approaches, neither has claimed the job, opening up talk that both will split reps. Rhoda had only thrown two incomplete passes in his career before starting the Maryland game for an injured Mitch Leidner, going 8 for 16 for 88 yards and a touchdown. Croft redshirted last season, but completed 7 of 17 passes for 34 yards in three 2015 games. Croft probably is the more mobile of the two, rushing for 38 yards on nine carries; Rhoda has lost 11 yards on seven career carries. Redshirt freshman Seth Green (6’4” 235 lbs.) flipped from Oregon to Minnesota after Scott Frost left for Central Florida, and is currently running third on the depth chart. Who will it be? Fleck told BTN on their visit that the answer will be both.

PJ Fleck just told us the Gophers’ plan will be to play both QB’s this year