It's always nice to get off on the right foot, but that's been a real problem for recent Gophers coaches. Jerry Kill on Saturday became the fifth straight Minnesota coach to lose his inaugural game. Here's a look at how Gophers coaches have fared in their first game, starting with Murray Warmath:
1954: Murray WarmathBeat Nebraska 19-7; finished87-78-7 as Gophers coach1972:Cal StollLost to Indiana 27-23; finished 39-39
1978: Joe SalemBeat Ohio 24-10; finished19-35-1
1984:Lou HoltzBeat Rice 31-24; finished 10-12
1985: John Gutekunst* Beat Clemson 20-13; finished 29-36-2
1992: Jim WackerLost to San Jose State 39-30; finished 16-39
1997:Glen MasonLost to Hawaii 17-3; finished 64-57
2007: Tim BrewsterLost to Bowling Green 32-31 (OT); finished 15-30
2010: Jeff Horton** Lost to Penn State 33-21; finished 2-3
2011: Jerry KillLost to USC 19-17; finished ???
* Gutekunst served as interim coach, replacing Holtz for the 1985 Independence Bowl
** Horton was interim coach after the firing of Brewster