The last time we met ...

Posted by Higgy
 
Today at 5 p.m. central time, our beloved Golden Gophers square off against the Syracuse Orangemen in the Texas Bowl. It's an interesting matchup, as these two teams just played last season in an unforgettable night game at The Bank.
 
Since it was the only night game on the slate, the Section 117 Classy Gentlemen felt it was worthy of an extra-special effort. Translation: steak and lobster tailgate, Gopher-themed tuxes and top hats and lots and lots of money carlessley tossed throughout Section 117. It worked. Minnesota won a thriller.
 
To top it off, two of the Classy Gentlewomen in our group that day - Mel and Dani - met a U of M staffer while waiting in line to use the Victory Lot "bathrooms." They proceeded to charm this individual into handing over a pair of field passes, resulting in the Classy Gentlemen each taking a turn to roam the TCF Bank Stadium turf. Bruiser and Big Party got a shout-out from President Eric Kaler, Kellen triumphantly hi-fived the entire front row of the student section, and myself and Uptown Magsh (not to be confused with Magsh or Brooks Magsh) wandered into the Gophers' offensive huddle and were questioned by security about how the heck individuals like us made it onto the field with the proper credentials.
 
Here's a quick look at some of the highlights from that glorious day. The 'Cuse will be happy to learn that the Gentlemen couldn't swing the trip to Houston, so this time the sidelines will be safe. However, this look back will hopefully bring a similar result.

Enjoy today's Bowl Game, Gopher Nation, wherever you may be watching it. Here's to hoping we all have one more Christmas present coming our way ...

When your tailgating tent gets destroyed, turn the topper into a Gopher cape!

Lobster tails. Bacon-wrapped filets.

God made sure Magsh had enough light to properly prepare the feast.

First the lobsters ... then the Orangemen!

Life on the other side of 117.

Night game + The Bank = Magic.

"Which lucky cheerleaders want a picture with us?!"
-Uptown Magsh (actual quote)

Uptown Magsh likes the play call.

Field view of a victory.

Classin' up the Gopher sideline.

The student section became big fans of us.

Just another Classy game in Section 117.

Finally, as kickoff nears, Recession Proof brings you one final prediction for today's Texas Bowl. We'd like to welcome honorary Classy Gentleman and new Gopher video blogger, Clubber Lang.

Classy B1G/BCS Bowl Predictions

Posted by the Section 117 Classy Gentlemen

As our beloved team gets prepared to make some orange juice this afternoon in Houston, several members of the Section 117 Classy Gentlemen took our Classy Predictions to a new level during bowl season, offering a prediction for each game involving a B1G team and each BCS game as well.  Well, three of us picked the B1G & BCS and two more picked B1G games only. Let's see who's the smartest! Here's a shocking hint ... maroon and gold was a popular pick. Bucky and Iowa were not. Who would've guessed that from this crew?! (FYI - Each person's name is linked to their full preview write-up if you're craving more analysis prior to Texas Bowl kickoff.)

Who do you think has the best bowl predictions? Who do you think will win the games? Join in the fun in our comments section. Otherwise, we'll return you to your regularly scheduled pregame routine as we all prepare for the Texas Bowl and, hopefully, a ninth-win for our beloved squad. Ski-U-Mah!

CLASSY PREDICTIONS: B1G & BCS BOWL GAMES

HIGGY
Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner: MINNESOTABuffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: MICHIGAN
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: GEORGIA
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner:  LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: SOUTH CAROLINA
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: MICHIGAN STATE
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Jan. 1 - UCF vs. Baylor - Winner: BAYLOR
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Jan. 2 - Oklahoma vs. Alabama - Winner: ALABAMA
At&T Cotton Bowl - Jan. 3 - Oklahoma State vs. Missouri - Winner: OKLAHOMA STATE
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: OHIO STATE
Vizio BCS National Championship - Jan. 6 - Florida State vs. Auburn: Winner: FLORIDA STATE

FLONY
Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner: MINNESOTA
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: MICHIGAN
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: GEORGIA
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner: LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: SOUTH CAROLINA
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: MICHIGAN STATE
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Jan. 1 - UCF vs. Baylor - Winner: BAYLOR
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Jan. 2 - Oklahoma vs. Alabama - Winner: ALABAMA
At&T Cotton Bowl - Jan. 3 - Oklahoma State vs. Missouri - Winner: OKLAHOMA STATE
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: CLEMSON
Vizio BCS National Championship - Jan. 6 - Florida State vs. Auburn: Winner: FLORIDA STATE

CONSTABLE & KELLEN

Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner: MINNESOTA
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: MICHIGAN
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: NEBRASKA
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner: LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: SOUTH CAROLINA
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: MICHIGAN STATE
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: OHIO STATE

GOPHER BANDANNA GUY

Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner: MINNESOTA
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: KANSAS STATE
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: GEORGIA
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner: LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: SOUTH CAROLINA
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: MICHIGAN STATE
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Jan. 1 - UCF vs. Baylor - Winner: UCF
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Jan. 2 - Oklahoma vs. Alabama - Winner: ALABAMA
At&T Cotton Bowl - Jan. 3 - Oklahoma State vs. Missouri - Winner: MISSOURI
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: OHIO STATE
Vizio BCS National Championship - Jan. 6 - Florida State vs. Auburn: Winner: FLORIDA STATE

BIG PARTY

Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner: MINNESOTA
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: KANSAS STATE
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: NEBRASKA
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner: LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: SOUTH CAROLINA
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: MICHIGAN STATE
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: OHIO STATE

More Classy Texas Bowl Predictions: Magsh - Mrs. & Brooks Magsh

Classy Bowl Predictions: Gopher Bandanna Guy

Posted by Gopher Bandanna Guy

This season, the Recession Proof blog sparked our interest to get more integrated with the Gopher community on Gopher Hole, which led to our new friendship with Jon Tortomasi, also known to the Maroon and Gold community as Gopher Bandanna Guy. We invited him to join our weekly prediction segment, and his witty banter, Gopher fandom and close approximation to Section 117 (perched above us in 219) made him a perfect fit with the Classy Gentlemen. Here's his prediction for the Texas Bowl and the other B1G and BCS games. Thanks for joining our wacky fun, GBG!

Gopher Bandanna Guy's Classy Bowl Prediction
Texas Bowl: Minnesota (8-4) vs. Syracuse (6-6)
Dec. 27, 2013 - 5 p.m. - Houston, Texas

Happy Holidaze Gopher Friends and Family!  Here’s to those who wish us well, and those who don’t can go to hell!  Any and all disappointment about being passed over for Nebraska at the Gator Bowl has passed, and this Gopher bandanna-wearing fool is fired up to smack Syracuse in the mouth and run off with the Texas Bowl  title.  Brick by Brick y’all, and this lower-tier bowl is just that.  Another brick in the program to build upon.  Let’s carry some momentum in to the 2014 season! 

When we first drew Syracuse as our opponent, my gut reaction was ‘Gopher domination’ for this game, given our common opponents.  Then over the following days, I tempered that thought as I learned a bit more about Syracuse and heard from some of their more reasoned fans.  But more recently, I’ve reverted back to my original position.  Maybe it’s the Christmas cheer talking,  but we will dominate this game and it will not be pleasant for the Orange.

My reasons for this conclusion are three-fold.  First and foremost, the Gophers have shown they can run the ball effectively against the some of the best defenses in the country (Michigan State, anyone?).  With all cylinders firing, it seems likely that the Gophers will be able to execute their ball control offense against a less impressive defense like Syracuse’s.  Second, the Gopher defense has been absolutely stout in the second half of the season, they tackle as a unit, and don’t take a lot of risks.  Coach Kill and Co. will come up with an effective scheme to stop Orange QB Terrel Hunt and RB Jerome Smith. And third, the Orange are not a very disciplined team, and rack up the yellow flags.  This fact, combined with the Gopher’s excellent punting unit means, lots of long fields for the defense to work with in getting the ball back. 

My only wildcard here is turnovers.  The Gophers keep it to 1 or less, they take this game easily.  They get careless with the ball multiple times, or Nelson’s sporadic inaccuracy rears its ugly head at the wrong time/place, and this game becomes a tight one (but still winnable for the Gophs).  Given the Gophs low turnover totals for 2013 on the whole, I’ll wager we’ll be looking at the former, and minimal turnovers.  A final note that makes me even more confident, is the fact that the Orange’s top defensive back and playmaker, safety Durell Eskeridge will not be playing.

MINNESOTA 31, SYRACUSE 13

Gopher Bandanna Guy's B1G & BCS Bowl Predictions
Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner:  Minnesota
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: Kansas State
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: Georgia
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner: LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: South Carolina
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: Michigan State
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Jan. 1 - UCF vs. Baylor - Winner:  UCF
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Jan. 2 - Oklahoma vs. Alabama - Winner: Alabama
At&T Cotton Bowl - Jan. 3 - Oklahoma State vs. Missouri - Winner: Missouri
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: Ohio State
Vizio BCS National Championship - Jan. 6 - Florida State vs. Auburn: Winner: FSU

Use the links below to navigate to any of the already-posted Classy Bowl Predictions, and check back later today and tomorrow for more predictions from your favorite maroon and gold top-hat-and-bow-tie gang. Happy Hollinsdays, Gopher friends!

Magsh - Flony - Higgy - Big Party - Constable & Kellen - Mrs. & Brooks Magsh

Classy Christmas Wishes!

Posted by the Section 117 Classy Gentlemen

A very Merry Christmas to all our families, friends and fellow Gophers. We hope you enjoy our special Recession Proof Christmas card, with Santa Jerry, Abominable Goldy, Constable Butler the Snowman and all Santa Jerry's elves and reindeers, working hard to bring Gopher Nation a sometimes-interesting and hopefully-entertaining look at our favorite football team. It's been great to create content about our favorite squad, and we appreciate all our friends, families, the Gopher Hole community and other Minnesota fans who have stopped by and given any of our posts a read.

We have one final Christmas gift from the Classy Gentleman below. Enjoy! And a big Merry Christmas and Ski-U-Mah from our family to yours!

'Twas the Night Before Gopher Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through "The Bank"

Visitor lockers last used by the Badgers sure stank.
The Gophers have traveled to Houston with care,
In hopes that win number nine would be theirs.
 
Section 117, the third and fourth rows,
Were finally quiet and covered in snow.
The Classy Gentlemen stored their attire with care,
So their top hats and bow ties are ready next year.

The players were nestled all snug in their rooms,

For a Texas Bowl matchup with Syracuse looms.
Coach Kill and his staff watched film and made plans,
To earn that ninth win for all Gopher fans.

Limegrover drew up a book of new plays,

And the defensive plans were made by Coach Claeys.
The depth chart was finished for the bowl game,
And Kill called his talented players by name,

On Phillip, on Cobb, on Maxx and Ra'Shede!

On Donovahn, Damien, Aaron and Vereen!
On Murray, On Hawthorne, Epping and Mortell!
Let's get prepared to give Syracuse hell!

Back to Reliant, where we will cut loose!

And squeeze the Orangemen into fresh juice!
A win would give Gopher fans much Christmas cheer,
And fittingly end our remarkable year!

Four nonconference wins all came in a rout,

Then a pair of B1G losses created some doubt.
A needed week off and a break for Coach Kill,
Revealed our heart, our toughness and will.

Then at Northwestern we started a streak,

That featured a win in four-straight weeks.
Nebraska was beat by a great game plan,
And the field was stormed by all of the fans.

Philip and Maxx and Hill saved the day,

To beat Indiana in a game of huge plays.
Another win followed, and it was swell,
Beating Penn State and breaking The Bell.

Though losses to Bucky and Sparty did follow,

Our performances surely did not feel hollow.
The improvement is real, and we've got a chance,
To win even more and cause Jerry to dance.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through The Bank,

Section 117 was still filled with great thanks.
Two-thousand thirteen has been quite a year,
Filled with Gopher pride and many a cheer.

Instead of a sleigh and some flying reindeer,

The Gentlemen hopped in a limo with beer.
And throughout Gopher Nation they shouted with glee,
"Merry Christmas to all, and Hats off to Thee!"

HAVE A CLASSY CHRISTMAS! Take it away, DMX ...

Classy Bowl Predictions: The Mrs. & Brooks

Posted by Magsh

The Section 117 Classy Bowl Predictions rage on with a mother-and-son combo platter on Christmas eve. The man of the house kicked off the predictions last week, and now his wife and the youngest of the gentlemen offer a look ahead to Friday's big game.

CLASSY BOWL PREDICTION: MRS. MAGSH

Much like my husband, I do not like Syracuse. But for a much different reason. I worked with a woman who graduated (allegedly) from said university, and felt the need to boast about her affiliation with the Orangemen at every opportunity, no matter how flimsy. Things like, “Oh, is that orange juice you’re drinking? That’s cool. Did you know I went to Syracuse?” Stuff like that gets old quick. I can only assume that everyone from Syracuse is just as annoying, and that annoying people can’t be good at football because they’re too busy being annoying to listen to coaching. Thus, the Gophers are the clear favorite as far as I’m concerned.

MINNESOTA 21, SYRACUSE 3

CLASSY BOWL PREDICTION: BROOKS MAGSH

Every week before I call my bookie out in Vegas, whom I met when I was there as an 18-week-old infant for the Gophers/UNLV tilt last year, I do thorough statistical analysis to be sure my gut is leading me in the right direction. When I checked out the tale of the tape in this one, I was surprised to see how close things were. Minnesota’s rushing offense has been slightly better, while its passing offense has been slightly worse. Syracuse’s rushing defense is a decent amount better, while their passing defense is a decent amount worse. So with no huge advantage for either team to exploit, I sense a close game where coaching will play a big role. Jerry Kill and company have shown plenty of guts to go along with smarts this season, and Doug Marrone isn’t walking through that door for the Orangemen. No offense to Scott Shaffer and his goofy headshot, but I give the edge to the Gophers.

MINNESOTA 24, SYRACUSE 21

Use the links below to navigate to any of the already-posted Classy Bowl Predictions, and check back leading up to the game for more predictions from your favorite maroon and gold top-hat-and-bow-tie gang. Merry Christmas eve, Gopher friends!

Magsh - Flony - Higgy - Big Party - Constable & Kellen