Keeping Minnesota Players Interested In Gophers
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- At Friday's Gophers football luncheon, there was a mixture of emotions. Most of the conversation was not about Saturday's game, but also of a new coach and, more importantly, if the team can win with primarily Minnesota high school players.
A new coach will have a new stadium to sell to the home town kids, but it's too early to tell if it will have a meaningful impact on recruiting -- but it can't hurt.
Many in this state come in the form of sleepers. For example, Marcus Sherels walked on because his brother did and he made it with the Gophers. Now, he is with the Vikings practice squad this fall.
WCCO-TV's sports reporter Mike Max says that there are talented high school athletes in Minnesota and if the next coach is going to succeed, he better be able to identify them, and be able to bring them home.