The Gophers rowing team ended their season in seventh place in the 2025 Big Ten Conference Rowing Championships. 

After a successful season leading up to the championship, the team traveled to Florida for the Big Ten invitationals in mid-April. At the end of the invitational, the Gophers claimed two first place finishes. 

The team’s third Varsity Four boat won against rivals Wisconsin and Iowa. In the final race of the regatta, the Gophers earned another win with their Second Novice Eight boat in a close 10-second victory. 

Gophers junior and captain Manon Field said she can see the commitment to the work being put into the team. 

“I think compared to two years ago, three years ago, four years ago, we are taking steps in the right direction,” Field said. “I think a lot of our teammates are committed to the team, not just this year but going forward.

Field said it feels like they are building something bigger than just this year’s team. 

At the Big Ten championships, the Gophers scored a total of 127 points built off of the performance from their many different boats. However, the overall best performance from the Gophers at the championship was when the First Varsity Four race crew made a time of 7:06.390.

Their time earned them a fifth place finish in the event and gave Minnesota 21 points. 

Gophers head coach Alicea Strodel said she saw a lot of growth and was really proud of her team’s performance this year.

“We are not finishing last,” Strodel said. “Every year we are improving on this team, we are getting more points as a team.” 

Both Strodel and Field mentioned the difficulty they face when practicing an outdoor sport in Minnesota. The rowing team practices year-round, which includes the winter months when the rivers and lakes freeze up. 

Frozen waters mean the team does a lot of indoor training when they aren’t able to get outside. 

Strodel said it is important to remember that every school has their challenges, and it doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits from training inside. 

“There is a training benefit, an aerobic benefit, a strength benefit that we get by being on the rowing machines and being indoors,” Strodel said. 

Field said next season she hopes the team just keeps moving up. 

“The goal is always Big Ten, that’s the big mark,” Field said. “We would love to see us move up again from seventh place to maybe six, fifth, or fourth and keep it going.”

The Gophers rowing team ended their season in seventh place in the 2025 Big Ten Conference Rowing Championships. 

After a successful season leading up to the championship, the team traveled to Florida for the Big Ten invitationals in mid-April. At the end of the invitational, the Gophers claimed two first place finishes. 

The team’s third Varsity Four boat won against rivals Wisconsin and Iowa. In the final race of the regatta, the Gophers earned another win with their Second Novice Eight boat in a close 10-second victory. 

Gophers junior and captain Manon Field said she can see the commitment to the work being put into the team. 

“I think compared to two years ago, three years ago, four years ago, we are taking steps in the right direction,” Field said. “I think a lot of our teammates are committed to the team, not just this year but going forward.

Field said it feels like they are building something bigger than just this year’s team. 

At the Big Ten championships, the Gophers scored a total of 127 points built off of the performance from their many different boats. However, the overall best performance from the Gophers at the championship was when the First Varsity Four race crew made a time of 7:06.390.

Their time earned them a fifth place finish in the event and gave Minnesota 21 points. 

Gophers head coach Alicea Strodel said she saw a lot of growth and was really proud of her team’s performance this year.

“We are not finishing last,” Strodel said. “Every year we are improving on this team, we are getting more points as a team.” 

Both Strodel and Field mentioned the difficulty they face when practicing an outdoor sport in Minnesota. The rowing team practices year-round, which includes the winter months when the rivers and lakes freeze up. 

Frozen waters mean the team does a lot of indoor training when they aren’t able to get outside. 

Strodel said it is important to remember that every school has their challenges, and it doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits from training inside. 

“There is a training benefit, an aerobic benefit, a strength benefit that we get by being on the rowing machines and being indoors,” Strodel said. 

Field said next season she hopes the team just keeps moving up. 

“The goal is always Big Ten, that’s the big mark,” Field said. “We would love to see us move up again from seventh place to maybe six, fifth, or fourth and keep it going.”

The Gophers rowing team ended their season in seventh place in the 2025 Big Ten Conference Rowing Championships. 

After a successful season leading up to the championship, the team traveled to Florida for the Big Ten invitationals in mid-April. At the end of the invitational, the Gophers claimed two first place finishes. 

The team’s third Varsity Four boat won against rivals Wisconsin and Iowa. In the final race of the regatta, the Gophers earned another win with their Second Novice Eight boat in a close 10-second victory. 

Gophers junior and captain Manon Field said she can see the commitment to the work being put into the team. 

“I think compared to two years ago, three years ago, four years ago, we are taking steps in the right direction,” Field said. “I think a lot of our teammates are committed to the team, not just this year but going forward.

Field said it feels like they are building something bigger than just this year’s team. 

At the Big Ten championships, the Gophers scored a total of 127 points built off of the performance from their many different boats. However, the overall best performance from the Gophers at the championship was when the First Varsity Four race crew made a time of 7:06.390.

Their time earned them a fifth place finish in the event and gave Minnesota 21 points. 

Gophers head coach Alicea Strodel said she saw a lot of growth and was really proud of her team’s performance this year.

“We are not finishing last,” Strodel said. “Every year we are improving on this team, we are getting more points as a team.” 

Both Strodel and Field mentioned the difficulty they face when practicing an outdoor sport in Minnesota. The rowing team practices year-round, which includes the winter months when the rivers and lakes freeze up. 

Frozen waters mean the team does a lot of indoor training when they aren’t able to get outside. 

Strodel said it is important to remember that every school has their challenges, and it doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits from training inside. 

“There is a training benefit, an aerobic benefit, a strength benefit that we get by being on the rowing machines and being indoors,” Strodel said. 

Field said next season she hopes the team just keeps moving up. 

“The goal is always Big Ten, that’s the big mark,” Field said. “We would love to see us move up again from seventh place to maybe six, fifth, or fourth and keep it going.”

The Gophers rowing team ended their season in seventh place in the 2025 Big Ten Conference Rowing Championships. 

After a successful season leading up to the championship, the team traveled to Florida for the Big Ten invitationals in mid-April. At the end of the invitational, the Gophers claimed two first place finishes. 

The team’s third Varsity Four boat won against rivals Wisconsin and Iowa. In the final race of the regatta, the Gophers earned another win with their Second Novice Eight boat in a close 10-second victory. 

Gophers junior and captain Manon Field said she can see the commitment to the work being put into the team. 

“I think compared to two years ago, three years ago, four years ago, we are taking steps in the right direction,” Field said. “I think a lot of our teammates are committed to the team, not just this year but going forward.

Field said it feels like they are building something bigger than just this year’s team. 

At the Big Ten championships, the Gophers scored a total of 127 points built off of the performance from their many different boats. However, the overall best performance from the Gophers at the championship was when the First Varsity Four race crew made a time of 7:06.390.

Their time earned them a fifth place finish in the event and gave Minnesota 21 points. 

Gophers head coach Alicea Strodel said she saw a lot of growth and was really proud of her team’s performance this year.

“We are not finishing last,” Strodel said. “Every year we are improving on this team, we are getting more points as a team.” 

Both Strodel and Field mentioned the difficulty they face when practicing an outdoor sport in Minnesota. The rowing team practices year-round, which includes the winter months when the rivers and lakes freeze up. 

Frozen waters mean the team does a lot of indoor training when they aren’t able to get outside. 

Strodel said it is important to remember that every school has their challenges, and it doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits from training inside. 

“There is a training benefit, an aerobic benefit, a strength benefit that we get by being on the rowing machines and being indoors,” Strodel said. 

Field said next season she hopes the team just keeps moving up. 

“The goal is always Big Ten, that’s the big mark,” Field said. “We would love to see us move up again from seventh place to maybe six, fifth, or fourth and keep it going.”

This year marks Gophers men’s gymnastics head coach Mike Burns’ 20th year coaching with Minnesota.

Burns started coaching for the University of Minnesota in 2005. He has been with the team since they were still considered Division I, and he stayed with the team even after they lost that title.

Burns actively impacts his players every day with his coaching style. Multiple team members said that he feels like a friend and a coach.

Kellen Ryan, a University graduate who played his last gymnastics semester with DI team Penn State, has known Burns since he was 10 years old. Ryan met Burns at the Gophers gymnastics camp, and it was Ryan’s dream to be a part of the Golden Gophers.

Despite the devastating loss of DI status, Ryan said he still decided to join the Gophers with the hopes of being able to transfer to a DI team. He added that he loves the way Burns runs his program.

“I like that it still feels like a Division I program even though we don’t currently have that title,” Ryan said. “He’s been my mentor and also a really cool friend.”

Ryan added that one of the things that is important for a coach is to be able to relate to their players, and he feels like he can completely relate to coach Burns.

Burns said that one of his personal goals while coaching gymnastics is finding a cause-and-effect relationship. He said that it is sometimes easy to see how a routine failed, but it is not always easy to know why it failed.

“It is like a detective game,” Burns said. “You are trying to work your way back to the beginning of the source of the problem.”

This type of coaching style helped his players discover new things about themselves as athletes.

Brandon Kim, a junior on the gymnastics team and newly appointed captain, said Burns helped him realize that perfection is not attainable. Going into college gymnastics, Kim said he believed that the main point was finding perfection in all his routines.

Kim said that Burns helped him realize otherwise.

“My biggest takeaway from this program is that it is good to have high expectations for yourself, but you need to be reasonable about the process,” Kim said.

Kim added that as a perfectionist himself, Burns’ advice helps him focus on the process and what is happening in the moment rather than focusing on the what-ifs.

Burns supports his players in their own practice as well as their personal endeavors. 

Gymnastics sophomore Paul Acker recently competed in the French National Gymnastics Championships. 

Acker is a dual citizen between France and the U.S. and was chosen to compete in the championship. He said that he had lots of support from Burns throughout the process. 

“He was immediately supportive,” Acker said. “It was great to know that I had the support of a coach.” 

Acker said Burns encouraged him to go to the event, even though it was between two big competitions for the team. Burns also helped Acker build an individual routine for the championship. 

Kim said Burns helped him pack, drove him to practice every day and drove him to the airport. 

However, Kim also clarified that while Burns can feel like a friend, he is still very much their coach and they should communicate with him as such. 

Burns said that gymnastics has done a lot for him and changed him into the person he is today.

“I like this person more than the person I was before,” Burns said. “It has just provided a lot for me. I feel duty-bound to keep it going here.”

The Gophers dance team had a decorated 2024-2025 season that resulted in gold and silver medals.

Last week, the Gophers dance team represented Team USA in the International Cheer Union  World Championships. During the competition, they met and went against multiple different countries and cultures.

Senior dance member Sarah Liang said it was interesting to see the difference in training around the world.

“We had such a huge appreciation for what other teams bring,” Liang said. “It was really cool to see how everyone brings their strengths to the competition.”

The Gophers went home with a gold medal in the Pom division and a silver medal in the Jazz division.

Liang said in past years, the ICU organization would reach out and ask the team if they wanted to try out for the Team USA spot. However, oftentimes the coach would decline due to how much longer it would make their season.

Before this season, the last two times the Gophers represented Team USA were in 2014 and 2010. In 2014, the Gophers won gold in Pom and silver in Jazz, while in 2010, the Gophers won gold in both Jazz and Freestyle with a silver in Hip Hop.

Sophomore dance team member Erica Vannucci said that it was an honor to be part of Team USA and with head coach Amanda Gaines.

“It was an honor to be part of the team that she felt confident putting the title on,” Vannucci said. “Being a part of something bigger than even the UDA nationals and representing the US.”

The medals are not the only accomplishments the Gophers earned this season. The Gophers also won two titles at the 2025 UCA and UDA Championships.

They earned first in the small coed game day, second in small coed cheer, second in Jazz and first in Pom. These wins add to their long list of national titles throughout program history. 

Liang has been with the Gophers’ dance team for all four years of her career at Minnesota. She said she feels extremely lucky to have her final season end this way. 

“I am lucky to have been able to work hard every single month of the year,” Liang said. “That is the best part.” 

Liang said that because their season was so long that it was the closest she has ever felt to a team in her four years. 

Even with their highly successful season, there are still some goals and achievements Vannucci would like to see. 

“Continuing to push for further innovation in the dance world,” Vannucci said. “Seeing how we can create dances that are more than just a show of athletic ability, but mean something deeper to the audience.”

At the end of their 2020-2021 season, the University of Minnesota discontinued the men’s gymnastics team as a Division I team due to a lack of budget. But that does not mean the team has not seen success. 

Since they lost their DI status, the team joined the Gymnastics Association of College Teams, or GymACT. This season, the Gophers made it to the 2025 GymACT Eastern Conference championship in Florida.

Not only were they invited, but they ended up winning the conference and becoming the Eastern Conference champions. It was their fourth consecutive Eastern Conference win.

At the end of their 2023-2024 season, the team was moved out of their home gym in the university’s Cooke Hall, only a month after winning a national title.

Due to their lack of a home gym, the team traveled to multiple gyms around the Minneapolis area for the 2024-25 season. 

Owen Frank, a junior on the men’s gymnastics team, said the gyms are around 20-30 minutes away from campus, and having to go to these different gyms is a commute. 

“In the wintertime, it is difficult with the weather,” Frank said. “But we manage.”

The team saw a lot of outside financial support from fans and alumni. This led them to have enough money to begin the process of negotiating for a lease. 

They plan to build their own gym using the equipment they have gathered over the years by the end of the summer. This would allow the whole team to be able to practice together again. 

Sophomore gymnast Paul Acker said that even with everything going on, they know they have each other. 

“We look out for each other,” Acker said. “It’s really when we are together, like when we are traveling, that is when the ambience is. It definitely helps.” 

Head coach Mike Burns has been with the Gophers men’s gymnastics team for 20 years. He was with the team when they were still considered DI and stayed with them after they lost DI status. 

Burns said seeing the success of his team gives him faith in humanity. 

“Adversity is a daily dose of what you are going to get,” Burns said. 

Burns added that as a coach, he likes to make sure his players are able to add skills to their toolbox. He said he wants his gymnasts to have a versatile skill set. 

Many of the players are thankful to have Burns help them throughout their seasons. 

“He has been our rock,” Frank said. “Making sure that everyone is doing what they need to be doing. It doesn’t seem like he ever sleeps because he is just constantly working.”

This story has been updated for clarity.

The University of Minnesota dance team won both a gold and silver medal on Friday representing Team USA in Jazz and Pom at the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Championships. 

The Gophers earned gold in the Pom division of the championship, beating out Japan and Mexico. However, the Gophers fell just short of Japan in the Jazz division and earned a silver medal for their routine. 

The ICU World Championships were formed in 2004 and are recognized as the world governing body of Cheer. It welcomes 70 nations and is built by 120 member National Cheer Federations with around 10 million athletes from all over the world. 

The Gophers now have four gold medals and three silver medals from the ICU. Earlier in the year, the Gophers saw another round of success. 

In January, the Gophers went to the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and  Dance Team National Championship, where they got first in “Small Coed Division IA- Game Day” and in Division IA Pom.

The Gophers have nine players taking part in this year’s NFL Draft, with multiple expecting to hear their names called. 

Since every position requires vastly different types of players, the NFL uses Next Gen Stats to get players’ production and athleticism scores. The production score is based on how productive that player was in college, while the athleticism score is a general athletic performance metric.  

Players are also given a prospect grade when going through the combine. A prospect grade is a number given to players to show their potential worth in the NFL draft. 

The highest grade someone can receive is an 8.0, which means they are the perfect prospect, while 5.50-5.59 means they will most likely be a priority undrafted free agent. 

Aireontae Ersery

Position: Offensive Tackle 

Age: 23

Ersery started all 12 games at left tackle in the 2024 season. He blocked for an offense that averaged 26.15 points per game, rushed 115.6 yards per game and threw 222.15 yards per game. 

Ersery opted out of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Virginia Tech and declared for the NFL draft. He received a 2025 NFL scouting combine invite.  

After the NFL Combine, Ersery ranked eighth among OTs with a production score of 75, fifth among OTs with an athleticism score of 87 and overall sixth OT with a total score of 80. 

Ersery Combine Stats: 

40-yard Dash: 5.01 seconds 

10-yard split: 1.75 seconds 

Vertical Jump: 29.5’’

Broad Jump: 9’3’’

Three-cone drill: 7.81 seconds 

20-yard shuttle: 4.82 seconds 

Bench press: 25 reps 

Ersery’s prospect grade going into the 2025 NFL Draft is 6.25. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein predicts he will be a second-round pick.

Jah Joyner 

Position: Edge Rusher 

Age: 23

Stats:  66 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. 

Joyner played a total of 42 games with the Gophers before receiving an invitation to the NFL combine. 

At the combine, Joyner ranked 30th in production score among edge rushers with a score of 59. He ranked 29th among edge rushers in athleticism with a score of 69. In total, Joyner ranked 30th among edge rushers at the combine with a score of 63. 

Joyner Combine Stats: 

40-Yard Dash: 4.6 seconds 

10-Yard Split: 1.67 seconds 

Vertical Jump: 30”

3-Cone Drill: 7.33 seconds 

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.68 seconds 

At the Gophers Pro Day, Joyner did 22 bench press reps and had a 4.55-second 20-yard shuttle. His prospect grade going into the draft is 5.97. 

Zierlein predicts he will be a sixth-round pick. 

Justin Walley 

Position: Defensive Back 

Age: 22

Stats: Seven career interceptions for 168 yards, 113 solo tackles, 42 assisted tackles and one defensive touchdown. 

Walley played 49 games in four years with the Gophers and gave up his last year of eligibility after he received an NFL Combine invite. 

At the combine, Walley ranked 24th among CB production scores with a score of 63. He ranked ninth among CB athleticism with a score of 79. 

In total, he ranked 20th among CBs with a score of 68. 

Walley’s Combine Stats:

40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds 

10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds 

At the Gophers Pro Day, Walley showed off a 32” vertical, 120” broad jump, 7.01 second 3-cone drill and a 4.36 second 20-yard shuttle. His prospect grade is 5.96.

Zierlein predicts he will be a sixth-round pick. 

Daniel Jackson

Position: Wide Receiver 

Age: 22

Stats: 208 career receptions for 2,685 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Jackson played 54 games with the Gophers. His total number of receptions is third in program history and his yards are fourth in program history. 

Jackson averaged 3.9 receptions per game and was another player who received an NFL combine invitation. 

At the combine, Jackson ranked 28th among WRs in production with a score of 66. He ranked 43rd among WRs in athleticism with a score of 61. In total, he ranked 40th among WRs with a score of 64. 

Jackson’s Combine Stats:  

3-Cone Drill: 6.78 seconds 

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.07 seconds 

His prospect grade going into the draft is 5.85. Zierlein projects that he will be a priority free agent. 

Max Brosmer

Position: Quarterback 

Age: 24

Stats: 2,828 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and five rushing touchdowns. 

Brosmer only played one season with the Gophers after transferring from the University of New Hampshire. He received an NFL combine invitation. 

At the combine, Brosmer ranked 13th among QB production with a score of 61. He ranked 13th among QB athleticism with a score of 65. His final rank was 15th among QBs with a score of 61. 

Brosmer did not compete in the combine, but had a 4.79-second 40-yard dash and a 1.7-second 10-yard split during the Gophers Pro Day. 

Brosmer’s prospect score is 5.83. Zierlein predicts he will be a sixth or seventh-round pick. 

Cody Lindenberg 

Position: Linebacker 

Age: 23 

Stats: One career interception, 117 solo tackles, 92 assisted tackles and one forced fumble.

Lindenberg played five years at Minnesota for a total of 38 games. He led the team in 2024 with 94 tackles. 

He also received an NFL combine invitation. 

In the combine for LB production, Lindenberg ranked 24th with a score of 61. Among LBs’ athleticism, he ranked 19th with a score of 69. In total among LBs, Lindeberg ranked 22nd with a score of 67. 

Lindenberg’s Pro Day Stats:

40-Yard dash: 4.71 seconds 

10-yard split: 1.69 seconds 

Bench press: 20 reps 

Vertical Jump: 36.5”

Broad Jump: 118’’

Three-cone drill: 7.01 seconds  

20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds 

Lindenberg’s prospect grade is 5.8. Zierlein predicts that he will be a priority free agent.

Marcus Major

Position: Running Back

Class: Sixth-year senior

Stats: 78 rushing attempts for 352 yards and three touchdowns. 20 receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown. 

Major spent five seasons at Oklahoma before he transferred to the Gophers. He started two of the 12 games he played for the Gophers. 

Major’s Pro Day Stats: 

40-Yard dash: 4.61 seconds 

10-yard split: 1.57 seconds 

Bench press: 10 reps 

Vertical Jump: 37.5”

Broad Jump: 120’’

Three-cone drill: 7.08 seconds  

20-yard shuttle: 4.45 seconds 

Quinn Carroll

Position: Offensive Line

Age: 24

Carroll played three seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to the Gophers in 2022. 

Carroll’s Pro Day Stats: 

40-Yard dash: 5.59 seconds 

10-yard split: 1.89 seconds 

Bench press: 29 reps 

Vertical Jump: 27”

Broad Jump: 106’’

Three-cone drill: 7.83 seconds  

20-yard shuttle: 4.81 seconds 

Tyler Cooper 

Position: Offensive Line 

Class: Sixth-year senior

Cooper played six seasons with the Gophers. In 2024, he started all 10 games he played for the Gophers as a left guard.

Copper’s Pro Day Stats: 

40-Yard dash: 5.15 seconds 

10-yard split: 1.82 seconds 

Bench press: 24 reps 

Vertical Jump: 30”

Broad Jump: 108’’

Three-cone drill: 7.77 seconds  

20-yard shuttle: 4.84 seconds 

Gophers head coach PJ Fleck said he could not be prouder of all of the guys going into the NFL draft. 

“We take a lot of pride in it,” Fleck said. “We take a lot of pride in developing our players to what they dream of being.”

The Gophers football team hosted their first open practice to the general public on April 15, allowing fans to watch the team before the season started. 

Minnesota finished last season with an 8-5 record. They won Paul Bunyun’s Axe back from Wisconsin and went on to win against Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

With the start of a new season comes new players, expectations and opinions from fans.

At the end of the 2024 season, the Gophers lost their main quarterback, Max Brosmer, to the 2025 NFL draft. Minnesota fans were left questioning who would fill the gap at quarterback.

Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey is the quarterback the fans are talking about.

David Currell was raised to be a Gophers fan his whole life. The 68-year-old has been a season ticket holder for quite a few years. Currell said that when it comes to quarterbacks, he is all in on Lindsey.

“I think he is a special talent,” Currell said.

Currell is not the only fan with faith in Lindsey for this upcoming season. 

Adam Anderson, a 35-year-old lifelong Gophers fan and member of Dinkytown Athletes, said he also thinks Lindsey is the right guy to take advantage of the talent around him. 

“It’s clearly Drake Lindsey to me,” Anderson said. “He’s got a big arm, he makes good decisions.” 

Lindsey is not the only Gopher that fans are talking about. There are talks of defensive back Koi Perich possibly joining Lindsey on offense next season.

Perich wore a split jersey representing both offense and defense over the past week. Anderson is one of the fans excited to see what Perich will do. 

“I think he is by far the most talented player we have, so get him on the field as much as possible,” Anderson said. “I would compare him to Michael Jordan, but he’s also kind of like LeBron James.”

A new quarterback is not the only thing that Gophers fans are excited for in this 2025 season. Multiple fans talked about the development of the Gophers’ offense and defense. 

After last season, the Gophers lost their defensive coordinator, Corey Hetherman, to the University of Miami. The team then promoted Danny Collins, who joined the Gophers in 2017, to be the 2025 defensive coordinator. 

University of Minnesota junior Brady Taylor is excited to see what Collins will do in his new position. 

“I’m really excited for the D-line guys that we got,” Taylor said. “That was our strength last year and I think that we can rely on that again with our new defensive coordinator.” 

Gophers football gained multiple transfers and new players during the offseason. University senior Gavin Hougo is interested to see how certain positions are going to play out with the movement of players.

“Curious to see how the O-line ends up shifting out,” Hougo said. “We had, I believe, two or three players graduate or declare for the draft, so I’m just curious to see how the continuity comes together.” 

These open practices are not just meaningful for the fans, but they also matter to the team. 

Gophers head coach PJ Fleck said having fans at the practice adds a little bit of pressure to the players. He said that it adds excitement and environment to the indoor facility. 

Fleck added that it is really about performing under the pressure of the situation. 

“How are you going to respond when everyone is watching? When the pressure is applied on you,” Fleck said. “It’s all about the next play, so I think our fans create that type of energy.” 

While Fleck said that the fans add pressure to the players, Gophers running back Darius Taylor said there is no difference. 

“What we do is what we do. How we practice is how we practice,” Taylor said. “It looks like chaos out there, but it is controlled chaos. We all understand what’s going on.” 

The Gophers’ first game of the 2025 season at Huntington Bank Stadium against Buffalo on Aug. 28.