MNF at TCF
A week ago today, TCF Bank Stadium sat covered in up to twenty inches of snow. Tomorrow night, "The Bank" will host a historic Monday Night Football game. After much hard work and preparation on the part of numerous volunteers and officials, football will now be played in Minneapolis for the celebration of 50 years of Vikings football. Enough cannot be said about the significance of this game, which is the first Vikings home game played outdoors in nearly 30 years. On top of this, the game is set in primetime as a nationally televised game. As a natural Minnesota sports fan and student at the University of Minnesota, the result of the game is probably the least important aspect of the night. The 50 greatest Vikings in history will be honored tomorrow night, and I can't think of a greater site to host such an event. This will most likely never be seen again, and I'm glad I can say I witnessed it.
The actual game provides a less exciting storyline, pitting the dismantled Vikings against the division leading Chicago Bears. To put it in perspective, Rookie 6th round pick Joe Webb will start at Quarterback for the Vikings, in a game that would mean nearly nothing if it weren't being played on Monday Night Football at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings were allowed on the turf at TCF on Sunday for the first time, after preparation for the game lasted the entire week. Although long hours were spent on field preparation, Punter Chris Kluwe was less than pleased with its condition, stating on his Twitter account how the field was as hard as concrete, and that players could severely injure themselves. League officials and experts claim the opposite, and feel that the field is ready to host such an important event. It should be interesting to see how the frozen tundra of Minneapolis treats these visiting professionals in a Monday Night showcase.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 12/12
Bursting Our Bubble
Twenty inches of snow and an already postponed Vikings game was just too much for the Metrodome to handle, as the roof collapsed at approximately 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. The Minnesota Vikings had already postponed their matchup with the New York Giants until Monday due to the blizzard conditions in the Twin Cities, making travel for the Giants extremely difficult. In the early morning after this announcement was made, the Teflon roof of the facility came crashing down under the enormous amounts of snow that had accumulated during the storm. After the roof flattened, the fabric of the dome began to tear and allow a large amount of snow to spill into the stadium. Indoor cameras were able to capture the event as the prospect of playing an NFL game in the dome the next day became unthinkable. The NFL then decided that the best viable option for completing this game would be to have it played at Ford Field in Detroit, the home of the Detroit Lions. The idea of hosting the game at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium came up as well, but was shot down due to the unpreparedness of the stadium, and the amount of time allotted to complete the game. So the game will thus be played at a seemingly neutral site in Detroit at 6:20 central time Monday night.
The interesting part about this whole occurrence really isn't about the collapse of the Metrodome, but the timing of it all. Quarterback Brett Favre told Ed Werder today that he would not have played if the game would have been played as scheduled. Now, with the game not being until Monday night, Favre's prospect of playing is given another day. The other dimension of this comes in the outlook of the NFC North. With the Vikings sitting home on Sunday, unable to be in action, they were able to watch the two teams ahead of them lose. Both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers lost on Sunday, which makes the Monday night game at Ford Field even more important for the Vikings. With a win, the Vikings would move to 6-7, and hope to welcome the division leading Bears to the repaired Metrodome next Monday night. Although the Vikings must win out to have any chance at making the playoffs, I think their main concern right now should be what this collapse does for their hopes of a new stadium. Los Angeles is calling, and their stadium doesn't have a huge hole to fill.
Twenty inches of snow and an already postponed Vikings game was just too much for the Metrodome to handle, as the roof collapsed at approximately 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. The Minnesota Vikings had already postponed their matchup with the New York Giants until Monday due to the blizzard conditions in the Twin Cities, making travel for the Giants extremely difficult. In the early morning after this announcement was made, the Teflon roof of the facility came crashing down under the enormous amounts of snow that had accumulated during the storm. After the roof flattened, the fabric of the dome began to tear and allow a large amount of snow to spill into the stadium. Indoor cameras were able to capture the event as the prospect of playing an NFL game in the dome the next day became unthinkable. The NFL then decided that the best viable option for completing this game would be to have it played at Ford Field in Detroit, the home of the Detroit Lions. The idea of hosting the game at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium came up as well, but was shot down due to the unpreparedness of the stadium, and the amount of time allotted to complete the game. So the game will thus be played at a seemingly neutral site in Detroit at 6:20 central time Monday night.
The interesting part about this whole occurrence really isn't about the collapse of the Metrodome, but the timing of it all. Quarterback Brett Favre told Ed Werder today that he would not have played if the game would have been played as scheduled. Now, with the game not being until Monday night, Favre's prospect of playing is given another day. The other dimension of this comes in the outlook of the NFC North. With the Vikings sitting home on Sunday, unable to be in action, they were able to watch the two teams ahead of them lose. Both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers lost on Sunday, which makes the Monday night game at Ford Field even more important for the Vikings. With a win, the Vikings would move to 6-7, and hope to welcome the division leading Bears to the repaired Metrodome next Monday night. Although the Vikings must win out to have any chance at making the playoffs, I think their main concern right now should be what this collapse does for their hopes of a new stadium. Los Angeles is calling, and their stadium doesn't have a huge hole to fill.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 12/5
Your "Kill"ing Me
Minnesota Gophers Athletic Director Joel Maturi confirmed that Jerry Kill has been selected as the next head coach of the Golden Gopher football team, after signing him to a five year contract Sunday night. The decision came after a fairly long campaign, from which names like Mike Leach and Randy Shannon surfaced in. All of the speculation and conversation came to a close, as Gopher fans collectively let out an exhale of disappointment. Social networking and forum discussions reeked with questions as the decision was first made public on Facebook and Twitter. Jerry who?
Jerry Kill coached Northern Illinois to a 10-2 record this season, which was good enough for a berth in the Mid-American Conference Championship game. In three seasons with the Huskies, Kill's record was 23-16 overall. Furthermore, his tenure in Illinois led to three straight bowl appearances and his resume portrays him as a very traditional college football coach. His previous stops include Saginaw State and Southern Illinois. Although be it in weaker programs, Kill is a proven winner, as 14 of his 17 seasons as a coach had more wins than losses. He even brought his Northern Illinois Huskies to TCF Bank Stadium this fall to play the Gophers, where they prevailed 34-23.
The Verdict
My verdict sits on the fence as of now, and only time will tell whether Maturi has succeeded in finding a program boosting head coach. I can sympathize with those Gopher fans who feel they have been betrayed by their own university, because of the statement that came promising a big name coach. You can also look at this move in an optimistic way, seeing the promise in a coach with energy and a proven history of winning. We can all hope that a big star will walk into that press conference tomorrow at 2, but that just is not the reality of our situation. Maturi did what he thought was the safe move for a struggling program, he grabbed an upstart proven winner from a lesser conference, and gave him his shot at glory. Only time will tell us if the guts shown by Maturi will result in success. He had better hope for the best, or it could be his own head.
Minnesota Gophers Athletic Director Joel Maturi confirmed that Jerry Kill has been selected as the next head coach of the Golden Gopher football team, after signing him to a five year contract Sunday night. The decision came after a fairly long campaign, from which names like Mike Leach and Randy Shannon surfaced in. All of the speculation and conversation came to a close, as Gopher fans collectively let out an exhale of disappointment. Social networking and forum discussions reeked with questions as the decision was first made public on Facebook and Twitter. Jerry who?
Jerry Kill coached Northern Illinois to a 10-2 record this season, which was good enough for a berth in the Mid-American Conference Championship game. In three seasons with the Huskies, Kill's record was 23-16 overall. Furthermore, his tenure in Illinois led to three straight bowl appearances and his resume portrays him as a very traditional college football coach. His previous stops include Saginaw State and Southern Illinois. Although be it in weaker programs, Kill is a proven winner, as 14 of his 17 seasons as a coach had more wins than losses. He even brought his Northern Illinois Huskies to TCF Bank Stadium this fall to play the Gophers, where they prevailed 34-23.
The Verdict
My verdict sits on the fence as of now, and only time will tell whether Maturi has succeeded in finding a program boosting head coach. I can sympathize with those Gopher fans who feel they have been betrayed by their own university, because of the statement that came promising a big name coach. You can also look at this move in an optimistic way, seeing the promise in a coach with energy and a proven history of winning. We can all hope that a big star will walk into that press conference tomorrow at 2, but that just is not the reality of our situation. Maturi did what he thought was the safe move for a struggling program, he grabbed an upstart proven winner from a lesser conference, and gave him his shot at glory. Only time will tell us if the guts shown by Maturi will result in success. He had better hope for the best, or it could be his own head.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 11/28
Floyd of Minneapolis
For the first time in 4 years, Floyd of Rosedale will spend the year in Minneapolis. With their win over Iowa on Saturday afternoon, the Gopher football team earned the first win at TCF Bank Stadium this season. Minnesota has not had much to celebrate about all season, but this victory let the team finish the season as winners. Although Iowa was the clear favorite on paper, it was certainly crystal clear who the emotional favorite was. The Gophers claimed the lead late in the 4th quarter with a short touchdown run, and cemented their victory by forcing an Iowa fumble on their final possession. It was a truly chaotic scene, as the players sprinted toward the trophy, and the fans charged toward the field. For the Hawkeyes, this was the third straight loss by four points or fewer. All five of their losses have been by a total of 18 points. They came into the game giving up the sixth least rushing yards per game in the nation, but gave up a season high 216 rushing yards to the Gophers. The true game ball goes to a Gopher defense that gave up less than 300 yards and forced two turnovers, after struggling most of the season in many areas. Heart triumphed over skill this year, as the Gophers had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. Interim head coach Jeff Horton finishes the year 2-1 and stakes a hard claim to remain the head coach here at the U, but athletic director Joel Maturi has made it clear he is looking for a bigger name to fill the position. Welcome Back Floyd!
For the first time in 4 years, Floyd of Rosedale will spend the year in Minneapolis. With their win over Iowa on Saturday afternoon, the Gopher football team earned the first win at TCF Bank Stadium this season. Minnesota has not had much to celebrate about all season, but this victory let the team finish the season as winners. Although Iowa was the clear favorite on paper, it was certainly crystal clear who the emotional favorite was. The Gophers claimed the lead late in the 4th quarter with a short touchdown run, and cemented their victory by forcing an Iowa fumble on their final possession. It was a truly chaotic scene, as the players sprinted toward the trophy, and the fans charged toward the field. For the Hawkeyes, this was the third straight loss by four points or fewer. All five of their losses have been by a total of 18 points. They came into the game giving up the sixth least rushing yards per game in the nation, but gave up a season high 216 rushing yards to the Gophers. The true game ball goes to a Gopher defense that gave up less than 300 yards and forced two turnovers, after struggling most of the season in many areas. Heart triumphed over skill this year, as the Gophers had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. Interim head coach Jeff Horton finishes the year 2-1 and stakes a hard claim to remain the head coach here at the U, but athletic director Joel Maturi has made it clear he is looking for a bigger name to fill the position. Welcome Back Floyd!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 11/21
What A Vacation
The boys from Minneapolis left Puerto Rico late Sunday night with newfound confidence, a tournament title, and a nice tan. The team came to Puerto Rico looking for all three of these things, but by defeating Western Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia, they certainly established themselves as a team to be reckoned with. With their win over the previously undefeated West Virginia Mountaineers, the Gophers improved to 5-0 on the season, and were crowned champions of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament. The game showcased all of the familiar elements to the Gopher's strategy early in the year. West Virginia came out hot, shooting the lights out from outside in the early going. As we have seen from the Gophers, their persistence and size ultimately won out over the jump-shooting Mountaineers. Casey Mitchell lead the Mountaineers with 27 points and shooting 4-9 from beyond the arc. Mitchell seemed like the only source of offense for most of the game, as they quickly began to struggle in many other areas. Size and control truly won the game for the Gophers, as Colton Iverson and Trevor Mbakwe dominated the boards all night. It was also noted throughout the telecast that Al Nolen often exerted his influence on the game by controlling the tempo and taking it into his own hands to convert crucial possessions into points. The Gophers set out to impress in San Juan, and that is exactly what they did, as I expect them to creep into the Top 25 on Monday.
The boys from Minneapolis left Puerto Rico late Sunday night with newfound confidence, a tournament title, and a nice tan. The team came to Puerto Rico looking for all three of these things, but by defeating Western Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia, they certainly established themselves as a team to be reckoned with. With their win over the previously undefeated West Virginia Mountaineers, the Gophers improved to 5-0 on the season, and were crowned champions of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament. The game showcased all of the familiar elements to the Gopher's strategy early in the year. West Virginia came out hot, shooting the lights out from outside in the early going. As we have seen from the Gophers, their persistence and size ultimately won out over the jump-shooting Mountaineers. Casey Mitchell lead the Mountaineers with 27 points and shooting 4-9 from beyond the arc. Mitchell seemed like the only source of offense for most of the game, as they quickly began to struggle in many other areas. Size and control truly won the game for the Gophers, as Colton Iverson and Trevor Mbakwe dominated the boards all night. It was also noted throughout the telecast that Al Nolen often exerted his influence on the game by controlling the tempo and taking it into his own hands to convert crucial possessions into points. The Gophers set out to impress in San Juan, and that is exactly what they did, as I expect them to creep into the Top 25 on Monday.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 11/14
Love-ing the Effort
One of the strangest things happened on Friday night, a player from the Timberwolves made history. Kevin Love recorded 31 points and 31 rebounds in the Timberwolves' win against the Knicks at the Target Center. Considering that the likes of Paul Pierce and Lebron James felt the need to give props to Love via their Twitter accounts, what K-Love did on Friday was extraordinary. The last person to record a 30-30 performance before Love was Moses Malone, a whole 28 years ago. The Wolves got their 3rd taste of victory behind Love's performance, as they beat the Knicks 112-101. Love actually reached 30 rebounds before reaching the 30 point plateau, which came from him bringing in many of his own missed shots. If your wondering, Love was only 24 rebounds short of 55, which is the record set by Wilt Chamberlain. Michael Beasley added an impressive 35 points to help our cause, it is too bad that his performance was shadowed by one of the most impressive feats of all time. Kevin Love and Michael Beasley have become two pillars of strength that Minnesota can build on for the rest of the season, and in years to come.
One of the strangest things happened on Friday night, a player from the Timberwolves made history. Kevin Love recorded 31 points and 31 rebounds in the Timberwolves' win against the Knicks at the Target Center. Considering that the likes of Paul Pierce and Lebron James felt the need to give props to Love via their Twitter accounts, what K-Love did on Friday was extraordinary. The last person to record a 30-30 performance before Love was Moses Malone, a whole 28 years ago. The Wolves got their 3rd taste of victory behind Love's performance, as they beat the Knicks 112-101. Love actually reached 30 rebounds before reaching the 30 point plateau, which came from him bringing in many of his own missed shots. If your wondering, Love was only 24 rebounds short of 55, which is the record set by Wilt Chamberlain. Michael Beasley added an impressive 35 points to help our cause, it is too bad that his performance was shadowed by one of the most impressive feats of all time. Kevin Love and Michael Beasley have become two pillars of strength that Minnesota can build on for the rest of the season, and in years to come.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 11/7
Gopher Basketball Preview
After making it through the first week of November, the shift of focus from fall to winter seems appropriate in my eyes. With that shift comes the start of the college basketball season and a promising future for what should be one of the most talented Gopher squads in recent years. With Senior leadership coming from Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, this team seems to have the pieces needed to make a run for a Big Ten Championship. After the Seniors comes a mix of highly talented underclassmen like Ralph Sampson III, Rodney Williams, and Colton Iverson. With coach Tubby Smith in charge, this season could be what Gopher fans need to lift their spirits following a dismal football campaign. Tubby and the boys started off their season on Tuesday night against Northeastern State University of Oklahoma. Although this exhibition tune-up match lacked a sense of urgency, the excitement was undeniable. The Gophers showed very little weakness on either end of the floor as they beat the Riverhawks by a score of 109-59. On the offensive end, the Gophers scored in bunches as Hoffarber hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc in under a minute. Other highlights included the athleticism of Junior transfer Trevor Mbakwe as he imposed his will on the much smaller opposition. This game often felt like a track meet with many fast break opportunities coming from stops on the defensive end. The defense should remain steady throughout the season as length, athleticism, and effort seem evident on each defensive possession. Look for big things from Tubby's Gophers this winter and stay posted for further analysis as the season gets into full swing.
After making it through the first week of November, the shift of focus from fall to winter seems appropriate in my eyes. With that shift comes the start of the college basketball season and a promising future for what should be one of the most talented Gopher squads in recent years. With Senior leadership coming from Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, this team seems to have the pieces needed to make a run for a Big Ten Championship. After the Seniors comes a mix of highly talented underclassmen like Ralph Sampson III, Rodney Williams, and Colton Iverson. With coach Tubby Smith in charge, this season could be what Gopher fans need to lift their spirits following a dismal football campaign. Tubby and the boys started off their season on Tuesday night against Northeastern State University of Oklahoma. Although this exhibition tune-up match lacked a sense of urgency, the excitement was undeniable. The Gophers showed very little weakness on either end of the floor as they beat the Riverhawks by a score of 109-59. On the offensive end, the Gophers scored in bunches as Hoffarber hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc in under a minute. Other highlights included the athleticism of Junior transfer Trevor Mbakwe as he imposed his will on the much smaller opposition. This game often felt like a track meet with many fast break opportunities coming from stops on the defensive end. The defense should remain steady throughout the season as length, athleticism, and effort seem evident on each defensive possession. Look for big things from Tubby's Gophers this winter and stay posted for further analysis as the season gets into full swing.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween Sound Off 10/31
Hello and welcome to the Halloween version of Sunday Sound Off presented to you by yours truly. In the spirit of this wonderful holiday, I have chosen to form my blog this week under some familiar Halloween terms and themes. The sports world has its own share of ghosts, ghouls, and goblins. Enjoy.
Haunted House
The denomination of "Haunted House" goes to the San Francisco Giants and AT&T Park for their stellar performance this week in the first two games of the World Series. The home crowd provided the Giants exactly what they needed to take an early and crucial lead in the series going to Texas for the following three games. Here's to you San Fran.
Scary Movie(Worst Loss)
I was actually able to attend the scariest movie this weekend when the 10th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes came in to face our own Minnesota Golden Gophers. Lets just say that they are who we thought they were, which was athletic, speedy, and physical. Too much for the last place Gophers to handle on Halloween weekend as the Buckeyes beat the Gophers 52-10.
Trick-Or-(H)eat
Whether you chose to watch the NBA season opener this past week or not, it cannot be denied that the Miami Heat are the hottest thing in sports right now. The combo of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh debuted against the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. The Celtics proved that although it may seem that the Heat may be the early favorite, nobody is going to hand them the rings just yet. The Heat have a very large target on their backs this season and will get every team's best effort, but it will be interesting to see how they handle this pressure throughout the entire regular season.
Boo
Oregon has overtaken Auburn as the top team in the BCS after defeating USC on national television Saturday night. Auburn also won on the road at Ole Miss, but it wasn't enough for the computers to keep them at number one. I don't believe that the computers should catapult any team over another that did not lose their respective matchup. I truly do not agree with the way the BCS allows teams to jump positions based on who they play or on how impressive their win was. This is college football, not leapfrog.
Witchcraft
The sincerest form of witchcraft from the world of sports came from David Garrard and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their game against the Dallas Cowboys was a battle of two colossal disappointments. Garrard did his part to set himself straight after being injured the past two weeks and his team needing a win desperately. Garrard went 17-21 passing, for 260 yards and 4 touchdown passes. His passer rating of 157.8 was just 0.5 away from perfect, and gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a huge non-conference win against the dismal Dallas Cowboys.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Haunted House
The denomination of "Haunted House" goes to the San Francisco Giants and AT&T Park for their stellar performance this week in the first two games of the World Series. The home crowd provided the Giants exactly what they needed to take an early and crucial lead in the series going to Texas for the following three games. Here's to you San Fran.
Scary Movie(Worst Loss)
I was actually able to attend the scariest movie this weekend when the 10th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes came in to face our own Minnesota Golden Gophers. Lets just say that they are who we thought they were, which was athletic, speedy, and physical. Too much for the last place Gophers to handle on Halloween weekend as the Buckeyes beat the Gophers 52-10.
Trick-Or-(H)eat
Whether you chose to watch the NBA season opener this past week or not, it cannot be denied that the Miami Heat are the hottest thing in sports right now. The combo of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh debuted against the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. The Celtics proved that although it may seem that the Heat may be the early favorite, nobody is going to hand them the rings just yet. The Heat have a very large target on their backs this season and will get every team's best effort, but it will be interesting to see how they handle this pressure throughout the entire regular season.
Boo
Oregon has overtaken Auburn as the top team in the BCS after defeating USC on national television Saturday night. Auburn also won on the road at Ole Miss, but it wasn't enough for the computers to keep them at number one. I don't believe that the computers should catapult any team over another that did not lose their respective matchup. I truly do not agree with the way the BCS allows teams to jump positions based on who they play or on how impressive their win was. This is college football, not leapfrog.
Witchcraft
The sincerest form of witchcraft from the world of sports came from David Garrard and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their game against the Dallas Cowboys was a battle of two colossal disappointments. Garrard did his part to set himself straight after being injured the past two weeks and his team needing a win desperately. Garrard went 17-21 passing, for 260 yards and 4 touchdown passes. His passer rating of 157.8 was just 0.5 away from perfect, and gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a huge non-conference win against the dismal Dallas Cowboys.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 10/24
Cameron Newton's Coming Out Party
This week Cam Newton sits atop the list of Heisman candidates in my eyes after leading his team to a win against 6th ranked LSU on Saturday afternoon. Auburn is the real deal and Cam Newton has given the nation a reason to watch the Tigers. After their win on Saturday, Auburn leapfrogged both Oregon and idle Boise State to take over the top spot in the new BCS Standings. Their performance against a stellar LSU defense left voters and the computers impressed, while also becoming one of 7 unbeaten teams left in the nation. One main reason for Auburn's success stems from the outstanding play of their quarterback and freakish athlete Cameron Newton. Newton left his mark on this game by establishing his physical presence and rushing for 217 yards on the ground. He converted two of his attempts for touchdowns, and it became evident that he had the advantage over a previously stout LSU rush defense. Newton currently has taken the step above other Heisman candidates with his performances in key games. With their win this week, Auburn now controls their own destiny as the only undefeated team in the SEC. A favorable schedule seems to be at hand, with the regular season finale coming on the road at Alabama. If Auburn can run the table, their sites should be set on the National Championship, and Cameron Newton should be considered the best player in college football. The battle of the unbeatens at Jordan-Hare Stadium left us with two clear results: Cameron Newton as the Heisman front runner and Auburn as the best team in the country.
This week Cam Newton sits atop the list of Heisman candidates in my eyes after leading his team to a win against 6th ranked LSU on Saturday afternoon. Auburn is the real deal and Cam Newton has given the nation a reason to watch the Tigers. After their win on Saturday, Auburn leapfrogged both Oregon and idle Boise State to take over the top spot in the new BCS Standings. Their performance against a stellar LSU defense left voters and the computers impressed, while also becoming one of 7 unbeaten teams left in the nation. One main reason for Auburn's success stems from the outstanding play of their quarterback and freakish athlete Cameron Newton. Newton left his mark on this game by establishing his physical presence and rushing for 217 yards on the ground. He converted two of his attempts for touchdowns, and it became evident that he had the advantage over a previously stout LSU rush defense. Newton currently has taken the step above other Heisman candidates with his performances in key games. With their win this week, Auburn now controls their own destiny as the only undefeated team in the SEC. A favorable schedule seems to be at hand, with the regular season finale coming on the road at Alabama. If Auburn can run the table, their sites should be set on the National Championship, and Cameron Newton should be considered the best player in college football. The battle of the unbeatens at Jordan-Hare Stadium left us with two clear results: Cameron Newton as the Heisman front runner and Auburn as the best team in the country.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday Sound Off 10/17
Can The Brew
Ever since Tim Brewster became the head coach of Golden Gopher Football in 2007, it has been a question of whether the talent he would attract could rise to the expectation of our prestigious university. We found out early this morning that his 3 1/2 years here at the U were enough for Athletic Director Joel Maturi to answer a firm "No". Brewster first arrived at Minnesota with much confidence as to what he felt he could accomplish as a head coach of a major university. His hopes of reaching a very high level of play were never reached as Brewster went 14-24 in his first 3 seasons as head coach. The peak of Brewster's campaign came in 2008 when the Gophers started 7-1 and were ranked in the top 25 before losing the final 5 games of the regular season. That season was a precursor of things to come in 2009 and this final year of his campaign. Despite Brewster's overall record, he failed to record a win against Wisconsin or Iowa, and was 0-10 in trophy games during his tenure. Saturday's loss to Purdue ultimately was too much for Maturi and Minnesota faithful to handle, which led to Brewster being relieved of his coaching duties early on Sunday. The search now begins for a new leader and someone who will spark excitement toward the fans and the program as a whole. Tony Dungy has already declined the offer from Maturi, but says he would like to be involved in choosing our next coach. Possible replacements other than Dungy include the likes of Troy Calhoun and Mike Leach. Calhoun is the head coach at Air Force and is someone I really like as a quality coach. Mike Leach is a former head coach of Texas Tech and was relieved of his duties following last year due to some controversy. Whatever Maturi's decision ultimately is, he must know that this decision may be his last as Athletic Director, choose wisely Joel.
Ever since Tim Brewster became the head coach of Golden Gopher Football in 2007, it has been a question of whether the talent he would attract could rise to the expectation of our prestigious university. We found out early this morning that his 3 1/2 years here at the U were enough for Athletic Director Joel Maturi to answer a firm "No". Brewster first arrived at Minnesota with much confidence as to what he felt he could accomplish as a head coach of a major university. His hopes of reaching a very high level of play were never reached as Brewster went 14-24 in his first 3 seasons as head coach. The peak of Brewster's campaign came in 2008 when the Gophers started 7-1 and were ranked in the top 25 before losing the final 5 games of the regular season. That season was a precursor of things to come in 2009 and this final year of his campaign. Despite Brewster's overall record, he failed to record a win against Wisconsin or Iowa, and was 0-10 in trophy games during his tenure. Saturday's loss to Purdue ultimately was too much for Maturi and Minnesota faithful to handle, which led to Brewster being relieved of his coaching duties early on Sunday. The search now begins for a new leader and someone who will spark excitement toward the fans and the program as a whole. Tony Dungy has already declined the offer from Maturi, but says he would like to be involved in choosing our next coach. Possible replacements other than Dungy include the likes of Troy Calhoun and Mike Leach. Calhoun is the head coach at Air Force and is someone I really like as a quality coach. Mike Leach is a former head coach of Texas Tech and was relieved of his duties following last year due to some controversy. Whatever Maturi's decision ultimately is, he must know that this decision may be his last as Athletic Director, choose wisely Joel.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday Sound Off
Welcome to my weekly column that puts all the rest to shame. In "Sunday Sound Off", I make it my objective to cover anything and everything that had an impact on me in the sports world over the weekend. From Friday to Sunday Night, I have taken it upon myself to report my own opinion on what's what in the realm of sports. Lets get this started.....
Rolled Tide
As many in the college football world learned on Saturday afternoon, Alabama is human after all. The Tide fell to #19 South Carolina 35-21 on Saturday in Columbia. I was able to watch most of the game, and it was evident that Alabama was exhausted after playing their 3rd ranked opponent in a row. The Tide defense was not their usual dominant selves, allowing three touchdown passes through the air and two in the ground game by Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore of SC. Credit should also be equally given to the Carolina defense who accomplished a minor miracle by allowing only 21 points to the Alabama offense. South Carolina flat outplayed the Tide on Saturday. A statement not often used to describe a loss by the defending national champions. A funny story that coincides with this game occurred later that night as I was out to eat with my parents and a few family friends. It just so happened that we discussed the Alabama loss loud enough for the random guy wearing an Alabama Crimson Tide hat to hear. Our conversation dealt with how Bama QB Greg McElroy hadn't lost a game as a starter since 8th grade and that the 14 point margin of victory was an "ass-kicking" by the Gamecocks. Apparently this random guy was a die-hard Tide fan who was living in Minnesota for two years, and didn't take kindly to our harsh comments. I honored his courage to stand up for his team, but thought that this was a very strange occurrence that ought to be shared with others. That being said, he are my Top 10 teams in college football after this weekend:
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Boise State
4. Nebraska
5. TCU
6. Oklahoma
7. Alabama
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Arkansas
Twin Killing
The Minnesota Twins were left in an all too familiar position on Saturday Night, booted out of the MLB playoffs after just three games in the ALDS against the all too familiar New York Yankees. I found myself thinking before the series started that this year was different from the rest, and our small curse was sure to end with a new stadium and home-field advantage. Turns out that the Yankees don't care about these factors and outscored the Twins 17-7 in the series while beating the Twins twice at Target Field. In my opinion, this series showcased 2 of the top 3 contenders to win a World Series, with the Philadelphia Phillies being the third. Although it was unfortunate to see the Twins ousted in just three games, it seems evident that the outcome would have been just the same in the ALCS. I cannot even begin to predict the future for an older Twins team, let alone what will happen to all of the parts assembled for a specific postseason run this year. Who knows what the offseason will bring, but I would just like to say that the inaugural season at Target Field was amazing, it just lacked the essential postseason run that all of Minnesota was counting on.
Rolled Tide
As many in the college football world learned on Saturday afternoon, Alabama is human after all. The Tide fell to #19 South Carolina 35-21 on Saturday in Columbia. I was able to watch most of the game, and it was evident that Alabama was exhausted after playing their 3rd ranked opponent in a row. The Tide defense was not their usual dominant selves, allowing three touchdown passes through the air and two in the ground game by Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore of SC. Credit should also be equally given to the Carolina defense who accomplished a minor miracle by allowing only 21 points to the Alabama offense. South Carolina flat outplayed the Tide on Saturday. A statement not often used to describe a loss by the defending national champions. A funny story that coincides with this game occurred later that night as I was out to eat with my parents and a few family friends. It just so happened that we discussed the Alabama loss loud enough for the random guy wearing an Alabama Crimson Tide hat to hear. Our conversation dealt with how Bama QB Greg McElroy hadn't lost a game as a starter since 8th grade and that the 14 point margin of victory was an "ass-kicking" by the Gamecocks. Apparently this random guy was a die-hard Tide fan who was living in Minnesota for two years, and didn't take kindly to our harsh comments. I honored his courage to stand up for his team, but thought that this was a very strange occurrence that ought to be shared with others. That being said, he are my Top 10 teams in college football after this weekend:
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Boise State
4. Nebraska
5. TCU
6. Oklahoma
7. Alabama
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Arkansas
Twin Killing
The Minnesota Twins were left in an all too familiar position on Saturday Night, booted out of the MLB playoffs after just three games in the ALDS against the all too familiar New York Yankees. I found myself thinking before the series started that this year was different from the rest, and our small curse was sure to end with a new stadium and home-field advantage. Turns out that the Yankees don't care about these factors and outscored the Twins 17-7 in the series while beating the Twins twice at Target Field. In my opinion, this series showcased 2 of the top 3 contenders to win a World Series, with the Philadelphia Phillies being the third. Although it was unfortunate to see the Twins ousted in just three games, it seems evident that the outcome would have been just the same in the ALCS. I cannot even begin to predict the future for an older Twins team, let alone what will happen to all of the parts assembled for a specific postseason run this year. Who knows what the offseason will bring, but I would just like to say that the inaugural season at Target Field was amazing, it just lacked the essential postseason run that all of Minnesota was counting on.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Welcome Back Super Freak.
Early on Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings dealt their 2011 3rd-round draft pick in order to acquire future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss from the Patriots. Moss returns to his original team after spending time with the Oakland Raiders and recently with the New England Patriots. With Moss being in the last year of his contract with the Patriots, he had expressed some distaste with the way the organization had dealt with resigning their star quarterback Tom Brady, and not offered Moss a similar extension. After Moss failed to record a catch on Monday Night Football against the Dolphins, it became even more evident that his interest in the team and the team's interest in him, have faded tremendously.
That being said, the Minnesota Vikings have been searching for a spark ever since the season began without Sidney Rice. With Rice slated to be out the first 6-7 weeks of the regular season, the Vikings were left to deal with what they had. After attempting to deal for Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson and failing, the Vikings were forced to scrape the plate to find efficient receivers. Until Wednesday, their offense has lacked a single player who can take the pressure off of Adrian Peterson and stretch the field, Randy Moss is that player. I believe that Moss will play a similar role in the Vikings offense that he did in New England. Moss opened up the middle of the field for players like Wes Welker, which ultimately led to such an affective passing game for the Patriots and Tom Brady. Brett Favre is more than capable of delivering the ball to his allotment of receivers with the addition of Moss.
With Moss being signed on Wednesday, it gives him enough time to begin planning with the team for their Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets, an all too familiar opponent for Moss. Coach Brad Childress said on Wednesday that Moss will see a significant amount of action on Monday night, and will surely help the Vikings offense moving forward. It only gets tougher from this point forward for the Vikings, but this move should ultimately place them among the top teams in the NFC, with a legitimate shot at reaching the Super Bowl.
That being said, the Minnesota Vikings have been searching for a spark ever since the season began without Sidney Rice. With Rice slated to be out the first 6-7 weeks of the regular season, the Vikings were left to deal with what they had. After attempting to deal for Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson and failing, the Vikings were forced to scrape the plate to find efficient receivers. Until Wednesday, their offense has lacked a single player who can take the pressure off of Adrian Peterson and stretch the field, Randy Moss is that player. I believe that Moss will play a similar role in the Vikings offense that he did in New England. Moss opened up the middle of the field for players like Wes Welker, which ultimately led to such an affective passing game for the Patriots and Tom Brady. Brett Favre is more than capable of delivering the ball to his allotment of receivers with the addition of Moss.
With Moss being signed on Wednesday, it gives him enough time to begin planning with the team for their Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets, an all too familiar opponent for Moss. Coach Brad Childress said on Wednesday that Moss will see a significant amount of action on Monday night, and will surely help the Vikings offense moving forward. It only gets tougher from this point forward for the Vikings, but this move should ultimately place them among the top teams in the NFC, with a legitimate shot at reaching the Super Bowl.
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