Mason fired

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Mason fired as Minnesota coach

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota fired coach Glen Mason on Sunday, two days after the Gophers blew a 31-point third quarter lead against Texas Tech and one year after signing a four-year contract extension.


Mason was 64-57 in 10 years at Minnesota and led the Gophers to seven bowl games. But he was just 3-4 in those games, with his latest loss proving to be the backbreaker despite the lengthy contract extension.

The 44-41 loss in the Insight Bowl, the biggest comeback in bowl history, dropped the Gophers to 6-7 for the season, the first time the Gophers have finished under .500 in five years. Mason came to the Twin Cities from Kansas in 1997 and took over a Big Ten doormat that hadn't had a winning season in seven years.

 

[ten]

I don't understand that one.He recruited some great players,had some great games, and it will be hard for minny to replace him.

 

[irishlaw77]

The AD's point was valid I think in his press conference. Pretty much, the Gophers were never moving past the middle of the Big 10. He also had numerous epic collapses in big games, and the bowl game this year was just the last straw. Being from Minnesota originally, I like that they have the guts to say that ending the year at places like the Sun Bowl and the Music City Bowl just isn't good enough anymore. Mason did great things with the running game and the offensive line, but had no defense ever. I'll be glad for the program to turn the page, and hopefully a good coach is out there somewhere.

 

[stan5545]

What part of MN you from, I live right out of the Twin Cities? I am also totally for the firing, I think they need a change. Some new blood should be good for the program.

 

[BGIF]

... I am also totally for the firing, I think they need a change. Some new blood should be good for the program.

Yeah, look how well it's worked for Alabama over the past two decades.

Minnesota unfortunately is a small state in a big conference with cold weather and unlikely to overcome those advantages that OSU, UM, and PSU have.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

He made far too much for delivering far too little. This was absolutely the right call.

 

[stan5545]

Im not too sure what you mean about a small state? It can't get much worse than where the program is going in Minnesota, a new coach hopefully will bring in some new passion for the job. Before Tressel was hired at OSU Mason jumped towards the job and made it well known that he wanted to go there. I know that OSU is a lot different than MN but still, he could have been more discrete about it. Just my opinion, but anyways go IRISH!!!

 

[BGIF]

Im not too sure what you mean about a small state? ...

Population. In-state high school football players. Potential Div 1 players.

OSU, PSU, and UM have much larger bases to draw from than MIN. It's one of the smallest states in the Big 10 by population. As long as MIN recruits regionally (Midwest) weather isn't too much of an issue. But if you want to go out of state and recruit nationally then Minnesota faces a similar problem to ND and the rest of the Big 10. I've done business in the Twin Cities and Duluth in the winter. It's a tough sell to get a kid from FL or CA to move there.

Realistically MN is a mid conference team. It may have some very good years but it can't compete regularly with OSU, PSU, and UM and most years won't finish ahead of WIS, PU, and MSU. As Zook brings in recruits he will have enough talent to move ahead of MN as well.

Before Tressel was hired at OSU Mason jumped towards the job and made it well known that he wanted to go there ......

Historically MN appears early on the resumes of the better coaches that have been there. Holtz jumped to ND from MN. Fritz Crisler jumped to Princeton from MN before he became HC at Michigan. Mason has the highest winning percentage among MN's head football coaches since WW II.

MN has won 10 games once in the last 100 years. Mason was the guy.

They've never had a 9 win season in the past 100 years.

They only won 9 games 8 times in the past 100 years. Mason did it twice (in addition to the 10 win season).

Historically MN is a 6-4 program. Mason has won 6 games or more in 7 of his 10 years.

MN has only finished in the Top 25 AP Polls 17 times and only twice since '68. Yep, Mason was the coach both times.


Don't get me wrong I'm not a Mason fan but do you expect any coach that would take that job today to make them a Conference Winner?

Seriously?

Last time that happened was back in '67, wasn't it?

 

[BGIF]

Dennis Green's available.