Quarterback Max Brosmer has connection to Iowa – Twin Cities

Iowa plays a role in the origin story of Max Brosmer.

The transfer quarterback has sided firmly with the Gophers in the Floyd-Rosedale rivalry, but was born in Davenport, Iowa – 55 miles east of the Hawkeyes’ campus in Iowa City.

“I don't remember living there,” the sixth-grader said this week. “…After that, we moved to Ohio.”

There are Ohio State Buckeyes fans in Brosmer's family, but his parents Colin and Jayna, who settled in Georgia with their family of four, now wear maroon and gold after supporting their eldest son for five years at the University of New Hampshire.

Max made the transition from an FCS-level school to the Big Ten Conference this year to play in big games like Saturday night's clash with Iowa at Huntington Bank Stadium.

“A lot of guys dream of being on this field,” Brosmer said. “Under the lights at a big Big Ten game like this. One of the biggest rivalries in college football. When you grow up, you want to be on these stages.”

Brosmer's first major college football game against North Carolina on Aug. 29 was “a little surreal because it was the first,” offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said Wednesday. Brosmer threw some inaccurate passes early in the game and lost a key fumble in the second half, but he got going and put the U offense in a position to win late in the game.

“Now he understands what the environment is going to be like,” Harbaugh said of the Hawkeyes' game. “He understands what the scene is going to be like. Now he's taking it in every single day.”

Harbaugh has been listening to Brosmer consistently this week, starting with Tuesday's practice, and reminding him to enjoy the preparation for this rivalry game. The Hawkeyes appear to have a strong defense again this season, but their solid philosophy should be accompanied by an understanding of where defenders will be on the field once Brosmer makes his diagnosis of the scheme.

“Trust what you see,” Harbaugh said of his message to Brosmer. “Go through your progress. He's fun to work with because you can tweak different things every week. We've talked about how smart he is and how well he can transition from one opponent to the next.”

In three games with the Gophers, Brosmer has completed 69 percent of his passes (53 of 77) for 627 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, having the most success on short and intermediate throws.

Coincidentally, Brosmer and Gophers tight end Frank Bierman were both born at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa.

Bierman is from Tipton, Iowa, 30 miles northeast of Iowa City. After beginning his career at Iowa Western Community College, Bierman has been a surprise addition to the Gophers' offense this season, making 44 offensive plays in three games. The fifth-year player has taken on a larger role following the injury to third-rounder Pierce Walsh.

“He's a tough, tough football player, a great kid, really smart,” head coach PJ Fleck said of Bierman. “And Frank gives us that extra dimension of toughness and physicality. He's a great fullback/tight end.”

When Brosmer came to Minnesota in January, he and Bierman discovered their connection to Davenport Hospital. “Completely different life paths and we found out we were born in Genesis,” Brosmer said. “That was pretty cool.”