It’s no secret that P.J. Fleck and the Gopher football team had an incredible 2019 season. The season they capped off with a win in the Outback Bowl over Auburn. Gopher players and coaches finally got rewarded on Tuesday with their Outback Bowl rings. As you can see below, they are a thing of beauty.

Ring day!! Honored to present our @outbackbowl championship team with their ELITE rings to celebrate our TOP 10 finish last season!! #RTB #HYPRR #SkiUMah pic.twitter.com/3jJNy9d7p8

— P.J. Fleck (@Coach_Fleck) July 21, 2020

We're in love and we don't care who knows it. pic.twitter.com/jKvtCqf8dV

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) July 22, 2020

Bowl Rings: A Breakdown pic.twitter.com/rjCRBH7SMo

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) July 22, 2020

The ring features three different trophies on it: The Big 10 west Championship trophy, The Outback Bowl trophy, and The Governor’s Victory Bell trophy, which is the rivalry trophy between the Gophers and Penn State.

It also has the name of each recipient and some of the season’s sayings/mantras. You can see it all in more detail, with the graphic above. It’s absolutely beautiful… but it could be better. Just wait until 2021, when the Gophers get three rings like LSU did this year.

Three Rings for The Best Ever#GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/dvIwzZNqEK

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) July 7, 2020

You heard it here first folks. The Gopher Football team will be your 2020 National Champions!

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

Quarterback Tanner Morgan burst onto scene last year for the Minnesota Gophers in 2019, leading the team to a 11-2 regular season record. The Human Resource Development Major, posted 30 TD’s, 3,253 passing yards, and a 66% completion percentage. In 2020, he’s a Heisman Trophy hopeful.

Morgan and the Gophers topped off their surprise season with an impressive 31-24 victory against Auburn in the Outback Bowl. He finished with 278 passing yards and 2 TD’s in the game including this absolute dot to WR Tyler Johnson…

ARE YOU KIDDING?!? #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/M5bAU1a0QM

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2020

Heisman Favorite?

Morgan is now going into his Junior season and is looking to build off a wildly successful Sophomore campaign. You’d think he deserves some national attention right? Well good, because that’s exactly what he’s getting.

According to CBS Sports, Tanner Morgan is rated as a “Tier II” QB and a “Fringe” Heisman contender. This is very impressive for a player that was a rather unfamiliar name, outside of Minnesota.

Best of Tier II

There are only two players in the “Tier I” category (Clemson’s Trevor Lawerence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields). Now clearly, Lawrence and Fields deserve to be on a pedestal over any other QB in the nation, but Tanner sitting there as the #1 “Tier 2” quarterback… is interesting. That puts him as the 3rd best QB in all of college football, according to piece.

“It’s easy to see why a lot of folks are high on Morgan. He’s not a dual-threat and he didn’t have the most eye-popping numbers, but he’s an assassin as a passer. He ranked near the top nationally in on-target percentage and air yards — not bad for someone who attempted 318 passes. His TD percentage (9.4) was second in the Big Ten only to Fields (min. 100 attempts). “

Ben Kercheval, CBS Sports

Obviously, Morgan is going to have to improve on his 2019 season, but he has the talent and mindset to do it, plus a system designed to amplify his strengths. The Gophers also have him surrounded by elite playmakers at RB and WR, not to mention one of the biggest O-lines in college football. That massive OL also returns every starter from last season.

Vegas Not Aboard the Tanner Morgan Bandwagon

The current Heisman odds for Tanner Morgan, sit at +6600 (19th overall). Vegas is trying to help you out after a tough summer… so I’m taking advantage. Bring your sunscreen… I heard it’s hot this time of year.

This adds an interesting narrative to an already highly anticipated 2020 season for Minnesota. The Gophers are not only looking to become National Championship contenders, but they may have a Heisman Trophy Finalist, as well. If you know anything about PJ Fleck this will not be a distraction for what the Gophers want to accomplish.

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

I needed the Gophers to give me a classic shot of adrenaline. I knew it wouldn’t take much. They just needed to look competetive and I was standing right next to the bandwagon. And trust me… it didn’t take long. My blood was actually running a little hot to start. Morgan had an ugly interception early, which is out of the ordinary, and the Gophers played really bad special teams, which is pretty normal.

But then, the Gophers got their footing and so did… the tight end????? This Bryce Witham touchdown cannot be completely confirmed because ESPN thought their commercial lineup was more important. It was 4th and goal. But if it did happen, Kirk Ciarrocca is glad he didn’t have to see it.

Multiple time Alabama LJ state champ and indoor TJ National Champ Noah Igbinoghene shows off his speed with this 96yd kickoff return TD. #OutbackBowl pic.twitter.com/43mT8BDhJa

— Travis Miller (@TravisMillerFlo) January 1, 2020

An SEC team got scored on, so naturally ESPN stayed in commercial rather than actually show it #OutbackBowl pic.twitter.com/lSXc5ssVj6

— Someone’s An Idiot (@SomeonesAnIdiot) January 1, 2020

After that, it was the Mo Ibrahim opening act, followed by the headliner, Tyler Johnson. Watching this game, you would have thought the Gophers were Buster Douglas and Auburn was Mike Tyson. In fact, I’d like to order an investigation on whether or not the ESPN crew was still hammered after a night of hanging out with the Auburn staff. They had a few notes on Tanner Morgan and Antoine Winfield Jr. but had no idea the Gophers actually had anyone else on their roster.

Luckily, they were able to pull up their phones and find a few facts on Tyler Johnson. We all know how much he loves Rashod Bateman and is proud of all the accolades he is receiving… but clearly the Minneapolis North alum wanted to remind Minnesota who their greatest ever still is, for now. Auburn had no answer, but when someone is making catches like this one in the back of the endzone, well.. there’s no cheat sheet for that test.

But, he wasn’t done.

MY GOD! Look at this catch by Tyler Johnson!!!!!!! #GoldenGophers pic.twitter.com/auUMWNdGyf

— Boo Boo Shoester (@FTBeard11) January 1, 2020

Ty has a new #Gophers bowl game record with 10 receptions this afternoon. #OutbackBowl pic.twitter.com/Ho6n3Or1gt

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) January 1, 2020

TOUCHDOWN MINNESOTA?

WHAT. A. PLAY? Morgan hooks up with Johnson again and goes for a 73 yard touchdown!!! 31-24 Minnesota leads Auburn. #OutbackBowl (?via @espn) pic.twitter.com/K6xTyHJfAW

— The Sideline Report (@SidelineReport_) January 1, 2020

This game was a team effort, though. The defense suffocated Auburn for most of it. Bo Nix is going to be really good. He’s really the only reason why Auburn stuck in this game. He made a lot of plays on 3rd and 4th downs. But for the most part, none of the usual bowl game shenanigans that Gus Malzahn uses were working, no matter how much ESPN tried to wish it into existence.

Every time Auburn would counter, the Gophers would hit them back with a haymaker. The Auburn defense looked lonely and confused by the end of this game. They were tired and dragging every limb on their body. It was fun. It should get Matt Simon his full-time Offensive Coordinator job. Our offense looked better than it has at any point this season.

It was an absolute clinic of what Gopher Football is, and forever will be as long as PJ Fleck is here.. and if you listened to his postgame comments, he doesn’t sound like he wants to go anywhere, anytime soon. I love this man.

“I’m just so proud to be a Gopher.”

“We want to be a blue blood someday.”

This man. #Gophers #RTB #OutbackBowl

(cc: ??@USC_FB) pic.twitter.com/FPH0lwM6Ul

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 1, 2020

11-2… who woulda thought?

PJ Fleck and Me… that’s about it.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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#msfdaily: ONE. LAST. TIME. #outbackbowl #tampa #auburnszn #gophers #gopherfootball #gophersfootball #minnesotafootball #minnesotagophers #pjfleck #fleck #uofm #universityofminnesota #uofmn #gogophers #rtb #skiumah #elite #auburn #auburntigers #auburnfootball

A post shared by Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) on Jan 1, 2020 at 5:18am PST

It’s officially New Year’s Day and I hope everyone’s recovery from a historic night, is going smoothly. While you recover and I look out my window at a Tundra built only for the eventual Frozen 3 Movie… the Minnesota Golden Gopher Football Team is getting ready for their last game of the season, in 70 degree Tampa FL, where the team will play in its most important bowl game since the 60’s.

It’s a big moment in this program’s history and an even bigger one for the future. But,I can’t help but think about the present.

What an incredible season this has been… and I got to cover it in-person. I got to watch the biggest games of the season unfold from the pressbox and got to bring PJ Fleck and players to the people (of Twitter) LIVE, after the biggest wins and losses in this program’s history. For a guy who fell in love with major MN sports teams far earlier than he fell for any woman other than his mother, that’s a surreal thought… and it’s only the beginning for Minnesota Sports Fan.

But, it’s the end for 2019 Minnesota Gopher Football. In a season that has given this fan and all of the others around the state and country… “all the feels” that many fans have never had. Now, they’re 7-point underdogs to a team that’s already established itself as what we want to be… Auburn plays in these types of bowl games every year. They have the 5-star talent and bowl experience that Minnesota fans have only dreamed of since the 60’s. The odds are stacked against us… let’s be honest.

But, I’m not nervous…. or overly excited. I mean, I’m excited… but not ready to break through walls like the Kool-Aid Man. In other words, I feel much different today than I have all of the 2019 college football season. I’m calm…. and I hate it.

The goal was to get to a New Year’s Day Bowl game, and here we are. I feel like a Minnesota Twins or Wolves fan, who just wants to be in the playoffs but never actually cares about winning the whole thing. My own complacency makes me want to puke… but what else are we supposed to feel? The Gophers don’t need this game to forward their program. This year has been phenomenal and nothing that happens today will change that. I’ve tried pumping adrenalin into my veins all week, but to no avail. I’m much more emotionally invested in the Twins’ refusal to field a 2020 playoff-competitive team.

But all of that can change FAST and I NEED TO FEEL ONE MORE TIME! I NEED that Gopher adrenaline coursing through my veins again. All it will take is a competitive 1st half. Before you know it, a W will become a life OR death situation and every fiber of my being will be hanging onto the results of the Outback Bowl and beating Auburn.

If the Gophers can come in more focused than me… and make the 1st half a competitive matchup, I’ll be hooked again and the @RealMNSportsFan handle on Twitter will be screaming swear words again, as if the teams on the field can hear the likes roll in. That’s all I want from today… I want to care. I want the Gopher Football feels again… just one more time before we go into complete hibernation.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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On Tuesday’s episode of Minnesota Sports & Stuff, Eric and Seth are talking BIG moves (not) by the Twins… and previewing the Outback Bowl!

On Monday’s episode of Minnesota Sports & Stuff, Eric and Seth are talking Vikings Playoffs… at least we think we’re still in. The negativity surrounding this team makes us question things though. Like, why are fans trying to fire Mike Zimmer?

We don’t forget to talk Gophers Outback Bowl either!

Oh, and KAT wants out apparently.

Let’s roll!

Wow! Never had this happen before. @GopherFootball players sent us thank you notes for inviting them to @outbackbowl & #footballinparadise Thanks guys! We look forward to providing you a great bowl experience. #OutbackBowl pic.twitter.com/D6gY3zD9R3

— Outback Bowl (@outbackbowl) December 16, 2019

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Gopher Football’s culture was showing again this morning, when the Outback Bowl Twitter account snapped a picture of ‘Thank You’ letters that were written by each Gopher player, and then delivered to Outback Bowl headquarters (wherever that is). It’s a pretty cool gesture that isn’t new to PJ Fleck & Co. Thank You letters are something they write on the regular. It’s a quick and easy way to shower praise on anyone, if you think about it. Hand one card to that many rostered players, everyone writes for 2 minutes, and now you have up to 100 thank you letters to shower on one person or one group of people..

The team wrote them out around this time last year too, and sent them to Detroit’s Quick Lane Bowl, before they arrived to mop Ford Field with Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense. “Thank you’s” aren’t just written to thank bowl committees thought, in hopes of getting invited back the next time an opportunity arises. No, the Gopher Football program writes a lot of these letters. Team speakers, faculty, and staff have all been on the receiving end of these hand-penned notes of gratitude.

It sounds like anyone who takes the time to affect this team in a positive manner, could in-fact be a benefactor of these letters. It’s incredible. PJ Fleck is raising these young men into future full-grown men, who any mom/dad would be proud to call a son, wife happy to call a husband, and kids lucky to call a dad. That’s not sappy. That’s just real. The guys who write out thank you cards for nice people in their lives, are the same future husbands who happily gather their family for Christmas pictures (and even help address them to friends and family members afterward).

My wife would leave me for that….

Everytime you turn around and take a long look in on this program… you only get a better idea of the depth it brings to this community. This program rosters 100 kids every year and a lot of them will eventually graduate and settle down around here, to raise kids and families. Those local families and future children will be better because of PJ Fleck. Our community will be better. It’s not just the thank you letters. Serving and giving is part of their mantra. You don’t come to the University of Minnesota to play football right now, if you aren’t ready and willing to give back. It’s built into the culture.

A culture that continues to stand out, shining brightly over an NCAA swamp that is infested with collusion, greed, selfishness, and corruption; the Gophers look completely different. This is the place that parents will want to send their kids, knowing that Papa Fleck will take care of their mini-me’s and mold them into the adults any parent would want them to be… not just the next number on a football jersey.

#blessed

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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