Bob Motzko isn’t on the Hot Seat, You’re just a Dallas Cowboys Fan
Bob Motzko has been a solid hockey coach for the University of Minnesota. In the last 7 seasons, he has had 5 teams go to the NCAA tournament, gave us some of the most talented players in program history, and has made the Gophers the best team in the Big 10 three times. However, the moment that the U lost to Umass in this past season’s NCAA tournament, half of Dinkytown started gunning for his head. One of the hardest trophies to win in sports, an NCAA men's hockey national championship, eludes him. A devastating Quinnipiac overtime goal against arguably the most talented gopher roster of all time separates Bob from eternal job security compared to the situation that he now finds himself in. While the Gophers have come close but no cigar, I think that Gopher fans were too quick to turn on a person that has done so much good for the program. The gopher faithful need to stop acting like Dallas Cowboys fans.
The Star vs. The Block M
While the Gophers have been consistently pretty good (unlike the Cowboys), they still haven't won the big one since 2003, and the Cowboys haven't won a super bowl since 1995. Their logos and branding are synonymous with the sport that both teams play. The Cowboys are “America's team”, the Gophers are “Pride on Ice”. Hell, Mariucci is probably as close as you can get in college hockey to Jerry's world. Gopher fans’ problem now is that we set the same high expectations for a gopher hockey season that a delusional Cowboys fan sets every year, even though the gophers actually have a chance to even get close to winning.
I know the Gophers are one of the greatest programs in college hockey, but we don't have to act like spoiled brat cowboys fans. Sure we can be disappointed when the Gophers lose, but we at least made it to a championship game. I was in the audience at Sally's Saloon in Stadium village that night, and I saw firsthand the soul sucking that Quinnipiac made us suffer within those 10 seconds of overtime. That loss, the Umass loss, or any of the Big 10 championship losses to Michigan cannot be solely blamed on the hairless beauty that is Bob Motzko. If the University gets rid of him, it just starts another rebuild and Mariucci will be lifeless again. He brings in alumni, he builds up the culture, and he will undoubtedly give the Gophers their best chance to win a national championship this decade. Firing him after an almost rigged playoff loss would be a very Jerry Jones thing to do, but that doesn’t represent who we are as Minnesotans. We may go through enough sports related anguish (minus our women's teams), but we stay loyal through it all. Bob is a loyal Minnesotan who is ride or die for this team, is keeping the tradition of scouting Minnesota born players, and just signed an extension through 2028. He has the grit for it, but will that be enough?
Big Game Bob’s Biggest Test
This upcoming season is possibly Bob’s toughest season yet. With 11 players from last season gone, the Gophers will have to rely on senior Brody Lamb who was 6th on our team in points to put the puck in the net, as well as Nathan Airey returning in goal after some net time last year. There are 9 new freshmen coming in from juniors, so this will be a young team with a lot less college experience than the last 3 years. Not to scare you anymore than I already have, but the Gophers also have one of the toughest schedules they’ve had in years with Boston college, North Dakota, Duluth and Denver all on our slate. Motzko also will be the coach of team USA in the 2026 World Junior Championships that are taking place in Minnesota, which he has already won once, but is still a do or die opportunity. Will Motzko make the most out of the situation? Or will he freeze up like the Cowboys at Lambeau? We’ve got our money on Motzko.
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