Previewing the 2021 Minnesota Golden Gophers

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty ImagesMinnesota is one of those teams that’s hard to put a finger on, in my opinion. In 2019. they narrowly avoided three potentially embarrassing upsets to start the season, then caught enough breaks to win 11 games, including a New Years Day bowl game against Auburn. Last year, the Gophers found a way to win in Lincoln despite being down 33 players due to COVID-19.

That’s the epitome of PJ Fleck’s “Row the Boat” mantra. The story behind the slogan isn’t quite as well known, to be honest. Yes, it’s about overcoming adversity, but it’s more than that.

“It’s a never-give-up mantra that has to do strictly with life or adversity or handling success, never giving…