It's a real-life Hail Mary for Cole Kramer, the Minnesota Golden Gophers' quarterback who's about to take the pigskin helm for the first time in what can only be described as a fairytale twist. Kramer, who's been resigned to the sidelines as a backup for nearly his whole collegiate career, is set to make his starting debut in the Quick Lane Bowl this Tuesday against Bowling Green, as reported by CBS News. Not just a warm body to fill a spot, Kramer is the only viable QB option left after Athan Kaliakmanis bolted for the transfer portal.
Despite having packed his bags for a move to Arizona, sought out a career in sales, and planning to walk down the aisle with his fiancée, Kramer's stepping up to the plate showcasing the quintessential "team player." "As a kid who grew up in Minnesota, that was my dream ever since I was little," Kramer told AP News. That enthusiasm earned him a standing ovation from his teammates when coach P.J. Fleck dropped the news.
Kramer, whose connection to Gopher greatness runs in the family has been biding his time at Eden Prairie High and within the Minnesota program for a whopping five years. While his college journey has mostly seen him taking snaps in wildcat formations, his 2021 stats underscore someone itching for more: 36 rush attempts, 165 yards, and two trips to the end zone.
With the bowl game in sight, the Gophers are witnessing Kramer's grip on the offense tighten like a vice, with Fleck noting, "It's different when you get the keys to the car," as mentioned by CBS News. Bowling Green, not to be underestimated after an upset win in 2021, is also navigating its hurdle race—without top rusher Terion Stewart and second-leading rusher and receiver Taron Keith, who's taken the transfer portal express out of town. Coach Scot Loeffler finds himself having to possibly hand off the ball to all-MAC tight end Harold Fannin, who's usually catching it.
The stakes are high and the Gophers, with a 4-0 bowl record under Fleck's wing, aren't taking this face-off lightly. Remembering a less-than-stellar showing during the last encounter with the Falcons, Fleck, and his squad are looking to close out the year with a victory, not just for glory but for proving that academic prowess and on-the-field talent can go hand in hand, as they were the top pick among the five-win teams due to an outstanding Academic Progress Rate score.
