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University of Minnesota Athletics
Head Football Coach Glen Mason
5/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Q: I am the punter for the Eagan High School football team and I have had some trouble finding a good workout routine. What is the typical practice/workout regiment for your punters and kickers?
Jared Oxborough
Eagan, Minn.
A:
1. Warm-up
2. Stretching
3. Concentrated Catches from Jugs Machine
4. Step and Drop
5. Form Punts
6. Live Work
7. Position Kicking
8. 2 Step Punting-Pressure Situations
Q: Former UM coach Cal Stoll once said it's hard for any program to recruit if it is more than 300 miles from a prime recruiting area, as he said Minnesota is. Do you find that to be true?
Bob Losacker
Pardeeville, Wis.
A: I would agree. The farther you go from campus, the more difficult it is. Most schools experience this. Unfortunately for our area population base, we are forced to travel far to highly populated areas.
Q: Why is it taking so long to get the schedule times? Many of us season ticket holders need to arrange our own schedules in order to attend the games. We have noted that the other colleges have their schedules all set up. It would be greatly appreciated to have the times scheduled by now. Thank you.
Doug Kruckeberg
North Mankato, Minn.
A: We are no different than all other major conference schools. TV dictates our start times. I just looked at Michigan and they list all 12 of their games as TBA.
Q: Coach - How do you begin to convince top name recruits to come to a program such as the U's - in other words, one that's been down for so long? I would believe it's got to be hard competing against the likes of Michigan, OSU and Penn State? THANKS and GOOD LUCK!
Mark
Pontiac, Mich.
A: It takes a lot of good, hard, honest work. You sell what you have and try and convince your talented player what can happen here.
Q: How do you think Golden Gopher football can increase its ability to recruit top tier high school talent and become a major force in NCAA football again?
Sid Solomon
Minneapolis, Minn.
A: Evaluate every form of commitment being made compared to our competition. Some forms of commitment cost money-some does not.
Q: It sounds like we're shaping up to be contenders in the Big 10; congratulations. I understand a female kicker was refused the chance to play. Can you please expound on why? Thank you and go Gophers!
Debbie Bonnes
Brooklyn Center, Minn.
A: That was a legal issue surrounding lawsuits that have been brought against other universities. It was a strategic defense move by our General Counsel.
Q: Do you feel, with the bowl game success of last year along with the returning of 16 starters, that this year's team could make a run at the Big Ten title or BCS consideration?
Jon Beckman
Sioux Falls, SD
A: We will be a better team and will be competitive against all. We still need to WIN in a very tough conference. That is why the games are played.
Q: Coach, with so much emphasis being placed on how potent this years Gopher offense is going to be, do you feel that that is a positive or negative aspect for this years Gopher defense which hasn't been talked about too much?
Erik Trilk
Cedar Falls, Iowa
A: The media has chosen to focus in on the offense; however, we expect our defense to be much improved-and it better be...You Win with Defense!
Q: Coach, what is the latest on the stadium issue? Are things moving forward, or is everything stalled because of the state's budget cuts?
Al Horstmann
Rochester, Minn.
A: I am not privileged to all the discussions on a new stadium. Right now I am more concerned about our potential conflict of schedule with the Twins for our home games with Michigan and Michigan State.
Q: With three talented running backs and a quarterback that at times seems like a very able runner, do you ever entertain thoughts of running a wishbone formation/option offense? I was hoping to see it 2 years ago with Tellis Redmon, Barber, and Tapeh. It seems like the talent is aligned again.
Peter Lee
Eagan, Minn.
A: I was a wishbone coach while I was at Kent State. We will feature two and sometimes three, but I doubt you will se a true wishbone.
Q: I was born and raised in Minnesota, but haven't lived in the state for many years. I still follow the Gophers, although in all candor, they haven't been Golden for a long time. In fact, the last outright Big Ten Football Championship they won was about a month before Pearl Harbor. They also shared it in 1960 and got a third of it in 1967, since then nothing. The program has essentially been in the tank for almost four decades. Heck, even Northwestern has won or shared three championships in recent years. Which leads me to my question. Given the long-term futility of the program, do you think it is possible to ever restore Minnesota to a place of prominence in college football? I am not talking about National Championships year in and year out, but simply winning on a consistent basis with a championship on occasion and bowl appearances more often than not.
Benjamin Tessler
Inverness, Ill.
A: It has been a long time since we have enjoyed the success of the "Golden Years" of the 30's & 40's. However, Gopher Football is better now than in a long time. Don't forget, in the last six years we have won 8 games twice and been to bowl games in three out of the last four years. We are determined to get back on top - the right way.
Q: I am the punter for the Eagan High School football team and I have had some trouble finding a good workout routine. What is the typical practice/workout regiment for your punters and kickers?
Jared Oxborough
Eagan, Minn.
A:
1. Warm-up
2. Stretching
3. Concentrated Catches from Jugs Machine
4. Step and Drop
5. Form Punts
6. Live Work
7. Position Kicking
8. 2 Step Punting-Pressure Situations
Q: Former UM coach Cal Stoll once said it's hard for any program to recruit if it is more than 300 miles from a prime recruiting area, as he said Minnesota is. Do you find that to be true?
Bob Losacker
Pardeeville, Wis.
A: I would agree. The farther you go from campus, the more difficult it is. Most schools experience this. Unfortunately for our area population base, we are forced to travel far to highly populated areas.
Q: Why is it taking so long to get the schedule times? Many of us season ticket holders need to arrange our own schedules in order to attend the games. We have noted that the other colleges have their schedules all set up. It would be greatly appreciated to have the times scheduled by now. Thank you.
Doug Kruckeberg
North Mankato, Minn.
A: We are no different than all other major conference schools. TV dictates our start times. I just looked at Michigan and they list all 12 of their games as TBA.
Q: Coach - How do you begin to convince top name recruits to come to a program such as the U's - in other words, one that's been down for so long? I would believe it's got to be hard competing against the likes of Michigan, OSU and Penn State? THANKS and GOOD LUCK!
Mark
Pontiac, Mich.
A: It takes a lot of good, hard, honest work. You sell what you have and try and convince your talented player what can happen here.
Q: How do you think Golden Gopher football can increase its ability to recruit top tier high school talent and become a major force in NCAA football again?
Sid Solomon
Minneapolis, Minn.
A: Evaluate every form of commitment being made compared to our competition. Some forms of commitment cost money-some does not.
Q: It sounds like we're shaping up to be contenders in the Big 10; congratulations. I understand a female kicker was refused the chance to play. Can you please expound on why? Thank you and go Gophers!
Debbie Bonnes
Brooklyn Center, Minn.
A: That was a legal issue surrounding lawsuits that have been brought against other universities. It was a strategic defense move by our General Counsel.
Q: Do you feel, with the bowl game success of last year along with the returning of 16 starters, that this year's team could make a run at the Big Ten title or BCS consideration?
Jon Beckman
Sioux Falls, SD
A: We will be a better team and will be competitive against all. We still need to WIN in a very tough conference. That is why the games are played.
Q: Coach, with so much emphasis being placed on how potent this years Gopher offense is going to be, do you feel that that is a positive or negative aspect for this years Gopher defense which hasn't been talked about too much?
Erik Trilk
Cedar Falls, Iowa
A: The media has chosen to focus in on the offense; however, we expect our defense to be much improved-and it better be...You Win with Defense!
Q: Coach, what is the latest on the stadium issue? Are things moving forward, or is everything stalled because of the state's budget cuts?
Al Horstmann
Rochester, Minn.
A: I am not privileged to all the discussions on a new stadium. Right now I am more concerned about our potential conflict of schedule with the Twins for our home games with Michigan and Michigan State.
Q: With three talented running backs and a quarterback that at times seems like a very able runner, do you ever entertain thoughts of running a wishbone formation/option offense? I was hoping to see it 2 years ago with Tellis Redmon, Barber, and Tapeh. It seems like the talent is aligned again.
Peter Lee
Eagan, Minn.
A: I was a wishbone coach while I was at Kent State. We will feature two and sometimes three, but I doubt you will se a true wishbone.
Q: I was born and raised in Minnesota, but haven't lived in the state for many years. I still follow the Gophers, although in all candor, they haven't been Golden for a long time. In fact, the last outright Big Ten Football Championship they won was about a month before Pearl Harbor. They also shared it in 1960 and got a third of it in 1967, since then nothing. The program has essentially been in the tank for almost four decades. Heck, even Northwestern has won or shared three championships in recent years. Which leads me to my question. Given the long-term futility of the program, do you think it is possible to ever restore Minnesota to a place of prominence in college football? I am not talking about National Championships year in and year out, but simply winning on a consistent basis with a championship on occasion and bowl appearances more often than not.
Benjamin Tessler
Inverness, Ill.
A: It has been a long time since we have enjoyed the success of the "Golden Years" of the 30's & 40's. However, Gopher Football is better now than in a long time. Don't forget, in the last six years we have won 8 games twice and been to bowl games in three out of the last four years. We are determined to get back on top - the right way.
