Every year, like clockwork, the topic of football recruiting will come up and at least one Gopher fan will ask the question: “Why can’t Minnesota keep in-state talent?”
It’s a question built on the false premise that an elite program convinces most, if not all of the state’s top talent to stay home. But not every kid grows up wanting to play for the hometown team. In fact, there are many who see college as an opportunity to spread their wings and get away from home. But as far as some fans are concerned, the expectation is for the Gophers to retain the talent in their own backyard.