Gophers Roll Against Penn State on Senior Day

Head coach Richard Pitino paid his respects to seniors Austin Hollins, Maverick Ahanmisi, Malik Smith, and honorary senior Oto Osenieks during the final minute of their 81-63 home win against Penn State on Sunday.

Pitino made individual substitutions for each of players, making sure the capacity Williams Arena crowd could salute them one final time. Thankfully, the crowd was able to send the seniors off on a positive note.

The Gophers never trailed in the game, thanks to a strong final home performance from Austin Hollins, who had 14 points and three steals. Juniors DeAndre Mathieu and Maurice Walker added 16 points each to help the Gophers solidify a 8-10 regular season record in the Big Ten, and also locked up the seventh seed in the conference's year-end tournament beginning on Thursday.

A win by the Gophers on Sunday also meant that they would meet Penn State once again in the opening round of the conference tournament. The two teams play Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Ticket package information and pricing for the tournament can be found here.

Gophers receive record $25 million from Big Ten

The Minnesota Golden Gophers will be receiving $24.6 million this year for their part in the Big Ten Conference shared revenue.

Revenue sharing is at an all-time high, as the Big Ten Network alone generated profits of $79.2 million in 2011. That money is combined with the profits generated by the NCAA and Big Ten, which is then evenly distributed to each team in the conference.

With the rising popularity of the Big Ten Network, television deals helped each school in the conference receive an all-time high in revenue sharing, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The payouts include $7.2 million per school from the Big Ten Network as well as $10 million per school from the conference's contracts ESPN/ABC and CBS.

The Big Ten Network has played a crucial part in the increased revenue of the conference since its creation in 2007.

With the Gophers budget ringing in around $79 million, the nearly $25 million received from the conference is much more important to Minnesota than a school like Ohio State, which has an annual budget of $131 million, according to the Department of Higher Education.

Gopher Hockey set to face Wisconsin at Soldier Field in February

The Gophers men's hockey team will face rival Wisconsin at Soldier Field in Chicago this coming February.

This will be a historic outdoor meeting between the two teams, because it will be their last meeting as Western Collegiate Hockey Association foes before the two transition into the newly formed Big Ten Hockey Conference in the 2013-14 season.

Wisconsin has already signed the contract agreeing to play host to the Gophers on Feb. 17, 2013, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

The game would likely be part of the regular season series scheduled for Feb. 15-16 in Madison, but instead the two teams would play Feb. 15 in Madison and then take a day for travel before playing Feb. 17 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

That game would be part of a doubleheader on that Sunday, which would also include a game between Miami of Ohio and Notre Dame, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Wisconsin is expected to receive between $200,000 and $250,000 for moving one of their home games, which is a typical gate at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Norwood Teague Introduced as New Gopher Athletics Director

Former Virginia Commonwealth athletic director Norwood Teague was introduced as the new director of athletics at the University of Minnesota Monday afternoon. 


Teague played an intricate part in the success of VCU Rams athletics since he was hired in 2006, and was announced as the lone finalist for the job by President Eric Kaler. 


Finding a successor to the departing Joel Maturi was Kaler's first big task as president,  and the search included many possible candidates.


None were deemed ready for the task until Sunday, when Kaler announced that Teague was to be considered the only finalist for the job.


Teague spoke at his first press conference after being introduced as the newest U of M athletic director.


"I think University of Minnesota athletics has a lot of room for growth and the ceiling is very high," Teague said. "Most of all, I have detected a burning desire from Gopher fans for improvement to win at a higher level."


Those in attendance of the press conference included head football coach Jerry Kill, head men's basketball coach Tubby Smith, and men's basketball players Trevor Mbakwe and Austin Hollins.

The Continuing Saga of Struggle

Gopher football head coach Jerry Kill took the podium today at his weekly press conference in attempt to explain the embarrassing 58-0 defeat his team suffered at the hand of the Michigan Wolverines Saturday in Ann Arbor. Watching the entire game this week was very tough, but you have to truly feel for what Coach Kill is attempting to do here. To put some things into perspective, many fans of the program thought that things couldn't get any worse after a terrible 2010 campaign under fire. Kill inherited an even more atrocious team that lost their 4 year starting quarterback Adam Weber and 4 starting lineman to graduation on top of that. Kill is not the type of guy to make excuses, so I will be the one to make them for him. First and foremost, the aftermath of the Tim Brewster era has not yet run its full course, which is typical for many collegiate teams who hire new coaches to turn around a program. In many circumstances, Tim Brewster can be considered the worst hire in the history of Minnesota sports. Going back four years to Brewster's first year with the program, he also had a terrible inaugural campaign going 1-11 overall and 0-8 against the Big Ten. As a recruiter, Brewster then began to lobby hard for players to join the turnaround movement at Minnesota, and he was clearly successful in this aspect. The problem with this was the fact that Brewster had no previous experience in the college coaching profession, which doomed him when he was clearly unable to "coach up" the higher end recruits he brought in. People may not credit Athletic Director Joel Maturi for improving anything here at the U, but one thing he did realize was his mistake in hiring Brewster, and he went out and hired the guy who could do what Brewster couldn't. Our current head coach Jerry Kill is known for his ability to get the most out of his players, even when the odds are stacked against them. One thing that I have not seen out of Jerry Kill that separates him from that Brewster guy has to do with the fact that Jerry Kill never stops coaching. For example, not once did I see Brewster confront a player for a mistake he made on the field in attempt to provide a teaching moment. Not once did I see Brewster address the whole team immediately after a bad half of play, in order to establish some control over the situation. These are the things that give me hope for the near future, but patience may be the main key to that point. Although Jerry Kill still has to make due with the lackluster players he was left with at the close of the Brewster era, he knows that the greatest lessons come in defeat. The panic will continue to grow as the Gophers make their way through a difficult Big Ten schedule, but I assure you one thing, Jerry Kill will not stop coaching. Things have to get worse before they can ultimately get better, but we may have just hit rock bottom this week against Michigan. Those who criticize Kill for what has happened thus far in the young season are ignorant and simply placing the blame on the wrong person. I am impatient myself at times when I get cheered out of my own stadium by a herd of NDSU Bison fans after a road win, but the level of impatience that lives in the fans of Minnesota is simply disheartening. I realize it is disappointing to see the millions of dollars poured into a program that is falling faster than a California landslide, but the uniform fall and rise of college programs cannot be avoided, the Gophers are no exception. So in terms of the outlook going forward this season, be smart and ignore the losses and margin of victory by the opposing team, because that will only produce a negative feeling. Instead, look deeper than the box score and highlight the positives going forward. As Kill said himself, at one time on Saturday, 8 Freshman were on the field. These are Kill's newest guys that are gaining valuable experience and playing time that can only benefit the team as a whole. Even Jerry Kill himself realizes the situation at hand, "We have an empty roster. Young players, that's all we have." Teaching those young guys how to play tough and ultimately win is Jerry Kill's forte, but the unfair pressure that comes from impatience should not be the reason for doubt in this man. In perspective, Gopher football is attempting to make a very wide U-turn, we have a brand new driver with tons of experience with these situations, but the main problem comes in dealing with all of the other aspects working against this drastic change. The current state of the program can be found in the middle of the intersection, simply waiting for the opportunity to make the 180 degree turn toward success.

Injury Plagued Mauer (leaves huge decision)

Yesterday afternoon, Twins superstar catcher Joe Mauer met with a specialist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where the team started a series last night against the Orioles. Mauer met with the same doctor who worked and treated his inflamed sacroiliac joint in 2009. This exam is publicly being considered an annual follow-up appointment for that repaired joint, but it also comes at a time when Mauer finds himself ailing from a bi-lateral leg weakness. Mauer himself doesn't think that the two injuries are related in any way, which could come as a huge concern for Twins fans hoping for a quick return. Exam results will be know soon enough.

This meeting warrants many other questions surrounding our $184 million dollar investment. Maybe Joe Mauer should consider changing positions? How much longer can Joe Mauer catch? With Mauer only 2.5 weeks into his 8-year historic contract, what can we expect from our huge out-standing paycheck?

8 years is a very long time for the Twins to worry about harnessing the talents of their hometown hero. Mauer sacrificed millions to remain in Minnesota, so the Twins should do the same to protect Mauer, right? For the organization, this could mean moving Mauer into a less strenuous position on the field, or making him a permanent designated hitter, which would present many other problems that I won't delve into. The Twins will attempt to get the most that they can out of their large investment, and all that remains to be had is time. So just how long can Joe Mauer remain a catcher? Recent events would suggest that his time as a catcher should have been cut short as soon as he stepped foot into the big leagues, but the Twins refused to learn from previous examples, and allowed Mauer to suffer from injury. Mauer's bat is the most important asset to the Twins organization at this point in time, and it does not make matters any better, when he is seeking opinions from doctors instead of stepping up to the plate. The biggest contract signed by a catcher in the history of professional baseball immediately called for a bit of caution, the second largest to be signed behind that one guy who plays 3rd base for the Damn Yankees. In my opinion, this is one of those things that must keep manager Ron Gardenhire up late at night, other than the thought of having to decide who to pitch in the 9th inning these days.

I can speak for the entire organization when I say that Joe Mauer should not be playing catcher, every fan knows this. The issue lies in what Joe Mauer wants to do, which is different from what he should do. When will the time come when he realizes what the Twins have been thinking ever since he touched pen to paper. It is obvious that Joe Mauer is able to catch and bat at an outstanding frequency, we have seen that before, but the real question is whether Joe can keep those games coming for the next eight years. If this happens, there is no question that he is worth every penny of that $184 million, but I have a feeling it may be a bit more complicated than that. If Mauer remains physically up to catching the majority of games for the next eights years, then I have no problem with the Twins logic behind his contract, but the odds of him stepping up to that task are not leaning in his favor.

Bracket Madness

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Lukas Peterson Bracket Selection Special. You're probably reading this for one of two reasons: either you need help making selections on your tournament bracket, or you plan on laughing in my face when none of my picks pan out in the end. Whichever excuse it may be, I am proud to bring you my picks for the round of 64 during all of this March Madness. Going through each region, I will present to you my winners and an explanation as to why I feel that way. Before I begin, I would like to point out that by no means am I a so called bracketologist, but I spend way too much time watching college basketball to not give my opinion to my followers. My overall thesis for this tournament is simple: Ohio State is the best team in the tournament, after that, it is about making your bracket unique from others and hoping that those picks work out for you. So with that, let us begin this crazy journey....
East Region:
1 Ohio State vs. 16 TBD- The real question here isn't whether Ohio State will lose to either of the two possible opponents in their first round game, it has to do with how impressive the #1 overall seed performs and impresses their supporters. In my opinion, Ohio State got shafted with the most difficult bracket possible, but they are the best team in the tournament and my eventual champion.
8 George Mason vs. 9 Villanova- At one point in the season, George Mason won 16 in a row, while Villanova has fallen off the map and has no momentum coming into the tournament. I like George Mason in this one.
5 West Virginia vs. 12 Clemson- Clemson looked like a team that belongs last night in their First Four game against UAB. I feel like the Tigers have a real shot against over-seeded West Virginia, even though they will be playing two games in under 48 hours. My first upset pick is the Tigers over West Virginia.
4 Kentucky vs. 13 Princeton- Princeton won their automatic bid by beating Harvard on a last second shot in the Ivy League Championship. I don't see any sort of heroics happening for the Tigers in this game. Kentucky worked their way through the SEC Tournament impressively, and dismantled Florida in the championship game. I feel as though the Wildcats are destined for a date with Ohio State in the Sweet 16, so give me Kentucky in this one.
6 Xavier vs. 11 Marquette- A trendy upset pick so far, but I feel the opposite. The Big East was very strong this season, claiming 11 bids in the tournament, but Marquette is not one of the stronger representatives. Tu Holloway of Xavier is a wonderful talent, and Xavier as a team played well in the surprisingly good Atlantic 10 this season. I like Xavier's athletes more in this matchup.
3 Syracuse vs. 14 Indiana State- Many people filling out brackets nowadays look for the most vulnerable  3 seed to go down in their first game, but Syracuse is not that team. I like the Orange, and it shouldn't be close.
7 Washington vs. 10 Georgia- Washington is primed for a tourney run for a few reasons: they won 2 games in the tournament last year, and they are champions of the Pac-10 tournament. Having momentum going into the tournament will help teams like the Huskies. I like Washington to advance.
2 North Carolina vs. 15 Long Island- The Tar Heels have improved greatly over the course of this season, Harrison Barnes is finally playing like an All-American, and they will win their opening game of the tournament.

West Region:
1 Duke vs. 16 Hampton- Duke won the ACC Tournament, they may be getting Kyrie Irving back, and they are the defending champion. Sorry Hampton, your season ends here.
8 Michigan vs. 9 Tennessee- My Volunteers have looked great at times this season, and also looked downright awful, but I like them here because Michigan has never looked anything other than mediocre in the Big Ten. Give me the Vols.
5 Arizona vs. 12 Memphis- Not used to seeing Memphis as a lower seed, but they do make a strong 12 seed. Memphis isn't what they used to be, so I will take the Pac-10 regular season champs in Arizona.
4 Texas vs. 13 Oakland- Not only was Texas badly under-seeded, but they were given a matchup with one of the strongest 13 seeds I have ever seen in Oakland. Oakland has a legitimate NBA prospect in Keith Benson, but I really like Texas in a tournament setting with all of their talent. It will be a good game, but I think the Longhorns survive.
6 Cincinnati vs. 11 Missouri- Cincinnati is another one of those mediocre Big East teams that I feel are over-seeded at a 6. Missouri was a ranked team for much of the season, and they like to get out and run the court. I like Missouri in a mild upset.
3 UConn vs. 14 Bucknell- Kemba Walker has been my player of the year for a while now, and he only helped his case with stellar performances at MSG, but how will 5 games in 5 days affect the Huskies? It won't affect them enough to make a difference in this round. UConn advances.
7 Temple vs. 10 Penn State- Not the most exciting matchup, but I like what I have seen from Penn State all season, because they have Talor Battle and they can shoot the lights out when they need to. I have the Nittany Lions advancing.
2 San Diego State vs. 15 No. Colorado- The Aztecs are part of an elite group, a higher seed from a non-power conference. Between them and their battles with BYU during the regular season, we really have no idea what they are made of. I know that they are made of enough to get by Northern Colorado, advance the Aztecs.
Southwest Region:
1 Kansas vs. 16 Boston U- I think Kansas is the second best team in the tournament, and they have an array of talent around the twins, Marcus and Markeef Morris. Jayhawks breeze by in their first game.
8 UNLV vs. 9 Illinois- UNLV has tournament experience and also has had their share of challenges in the Mountain West this year, while Illinois doesn't impress me in the least. Like I said before with Michigan, Illinois is a power conference team that just doesn't have it in my eyes.
5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 Richmond- Those who know me, know that I am skeptical about the SEC as a basketball conference. This is a matchup of an over-seeded SEC team against one of my sleepers in the mid-major category, Richmond. Vandy doesn't have a great history with powerful sleepers, which is why I see the Richmond Spiders advancing.
4 Louisville vs. 13 Morehead State- Louisville has largely overachieved this season in the Big East, and I feel that Morehead State presents a tricky test for the Cardinals, but Louisville will play well enough to slide by Morehead.
6 Georgetown vs. 11 USC/VCU- The two 11 seeds play each other tonight in Dayton, but many feel that USC will advance from that mismatch. Georgetown is another streaky Big East team that has struggled without Chris Wright, but I feel that they are superior to either USC or VCU, whether they have Chris Wright or not. I am taking the Hoyas.
3 Purdue vs. 14 St. Peter's- Purdue has a very rare situation in college basketball these days, their two best players are also their undeniable Senior leaders, who provide a large amount of their team's points. E'twaun Moore and Jajuan Johnson will boost Purdue in the tournament, simply because they don't want their college careers to end, which is why Purdue will beat St. Peter's.
7 Texas A&M vs. 10 Florida St.- Two teams that play defense will present an interesting outcome. Florida State is banking on the return of their scoring leader Chris Singleton, while A&M doesn't shoot well at all. I would rather have the Aggies though because they aren't depending on a return from injury.
2 Notre Dame vs. 15 Akron- Notre Dame has flown under the radar of the nation all year, but these guys play like a team, and don't depend on one guy. When they do need a shot, Ben Hansbrough will play that role. They shouldn't have a problem with the Zips.
Southeast Region:
1 Pittsburgh vs. 16 UNC Asheville- This region will give you headaches, and could be the key to winning your whole pool. Top seed Pittsburgh survived the Big East as best they could, which is why they find themselves as a 1. Past tournament troubles are what make others question their performance, but they will have no problem here. Panthers advance.
8 Butler vs. 9 Old Dominion- Butler is tested, and almost played Cinderella all the way to a championship last year. The Bulldogs will take care of a pesky Old Dominion team in a very close affair.
5 Kansas State vs. 12 Utah State- A trendy upset pick in Utah State, but I think that Kansas State will find some magic that they didn't have early in the season, when they opened the season ranked 3rd in the country. Jacob Pullen is the guy that does it for K-State, and he will not say die. Kansas State pushes forward.
4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Belmont- Belmont has only lost 4 times all year, which makes you wonder why they are a 13 seed, while Wisconsin scored 33 points in their previous game. I feel like teams that shoot the 3 well, find their stroke in the tournament, which is why I think Belmont pulls the upset against the Badgers. I also should mention that I HATE the Badgers.
6 St. Johns vs. 11 Gonzaga- The Johnnies have seemed to me like a very tough team throughout the season, even though they lost a key piece recently. Gonzaga isn't the Gonzaga of old, which is why I think St. John's will advance.
3 BYU vs. 14 Wofford- Many say that BYU isn't the same team after losing Brandon Davies to violations, but the thing for me is that they still have Jimmer Fredette. They will not lose to a mediocre Wofford Terrier team in the first round, not with the Senior leadership of Jimmer Fredette.
7 UCLA vs. 10 Michigan State- Izzo wins tournament games, and although his team hasn't looked the same this year, they are playing their best basketball at the right time. Kalin Lucas will put his stamp on the tournament before his team loses, I don't think he will let UCLA end his career. I like Sparty.
2 Florida vs. 15 UC Santa Barbara- My disliking for SEC teams is much debated, but Florida got a very easy draw by being selected as the 2 seed in the Southeast. They should not be a 2 seed at all, and their position will help them advance farther than they should, but they shouldn't have much problem with UCSB.

Sunday Sound Off 2/21

College Hoops Hysteria
Roadblock week sure didn't disappoint when it came down to it. Lesser opponents proved to be the definition of failure for the top 4 teams in the country this week. Kansas, Texas, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh all suffered tough road losses throughout the course of the week, setting up a wide open poll coming into President's Day Monday. As the top teams surely stumbled this week, the college basketball seems to get more interesting each day, as more and more teams make their case for a tournament bid or play themselves off the bubble. There are also a few things we can take away from the struggles of top teams this week: It is extremely difficult to win road games in conference play and even dominant teams find trouble down the stretch. This harsh trend unfortunately doesn't stop with the top 4 teams in the nation, because 7 of the AP top 10 teams lost at some point this week. Many thought that after Saturday, Ohio State would come out on Sunday afternoon and take a tight grasp of the top ranking, but they faltered in one of the toughest atmospheres anywhere in Mackey Arena. I myself find it hard to believe that there are any great teams in college hoops this year, even after witnessing the Buckeyes first hand at the Barn. It may be that no matter how well a team has played and looked during most of the year, in conference road games prove to be a fitting kryptonite. For now, we can happily say that a cluster of top teams exists right now, and only time will separate them. The coming weeks should prove important for all top teams, due to the fact that there are likely to be 6 legitimate teams vying for 4 top seeds in the tournament. The seeding remains a mystery, but one thing is sure, we just don't know. The thing about great college basketball teams is that they aren't made at the beginning of the season, they are developed throughout the season, which is what makes collegiate basketball so unique.

Sunday Sound Off 1/23

Historic Franchises Prevail On Championship Sunday

If you have an appreciation for football history and dominant franchises, then the outcome of Championship Sunday was all too familiar for you. If your like me and you cannot stand familiar faces in the same places, then you shouldn't watch the Super Bowl in Dallas two weeks from now. With wins by the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dallas is sure to see another historic franchise add a title to it's already sterling reputation. Due to these outcomes, I have verbally committed to go without watching Super Bowl XLV. Although I am sure this won't follow through, I feel that if there were any Super Bowl I would not watch, it would be this one. With my own reasons for disliking each of these franchises, it may be best to separate myself from a television on February 6th. First and foremost, history shows us that these teams make use of their trips to the Super Bowl, with each of them having stellar win percentages in the big game. Now that they will face one another in two weeks, at least I can sleep at night knowing that one of them has to lose. Super Bowl XLV may be a battle of Goliaths, but it seems like a terrible culmination of a dismal NFL season to me. Anybody know any good television to watch on the 6th?

Looking Ahead-Football

As the calendar turns to a new year, the football season begins to turn into a culmination of bowls and playoff games. The first weekend of 2011 could prove to be one of the most exciting football weekends of the year. With Wildcard playoff games and the BCS National Championship coming on Monday night, football fans will have plenty to talk about come Tuesday morning. To give you a better understanding for this weekend's match-ups, I will outline each game and give you my winner.
Seahawks vs. Saints
The opening game of Wildcard weekend pits the 7-9 Seahawks against the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints. Seattle is arguably the worst playoff team in the history of the NFL, but also is one of the toughest places to play in the league. Statistics would suggest that New Orleans wins in a laugher, but other factors could contribute to a better game than the experts suggest. Quarterback inexperience will be the determining factor, as Drew Brees will outplay Charlie Whitehurst, and the Saints will win in Seattle.
Colts vs. Jets
A rematch of last year's AFC Championship, I see a similar result coming this year. Peyton Manning had his way at home against the Jets secondary throwing for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, the Colts look more vulnerable than ever with the lack of a running attack and uncharacteristic mistakes by Manning. The Colts defense also adds Gary Brackett, a key piece to their playoff success in the past, I like the Colts at home.
Chiefs vs. Ravens
The first of the Sunday games features experience versus inexperience, as the Ravens bring their road playoff success into Arrowhead, which hasn't hosted a playoff game since 2003. To me, the Ravens provide the greatest threat to New England in the AFC playoff picture, and the experience on that team cannot be denied. The Chiefs on the other hand have looked rather mediocre over the second half of the season, and I don't see them being able to keep up with the Ravens. Give me the Ravens in this one.
Eagles vs. Packers
This will be the best game of the weekend, as the surging Packers travel to Philly and hope to stop the Michael Vick Experience very early in the Playoffs. Traditionally, I tend to split my decisions between home and away teams, picking two winners from each category. This year is very tough due to the caliber of the teams and lack of dominance in either conference. Although the Packers could be the most dangerous 6th seed in recent history, I see Michael Vick as the most valuable player to his team, and he will not disappoint in this one. I will stick to tradition and pick the Eagles behind a sensational crowd in Philadelphia. In a very close game, give me the Eagles.

BCS National Championship: Auburn vs. Oregon
The Battle between the two best teams in college football on Monday night provides everything you could hope for out of a National Championship game. Two undefeated teams playing for immortality will not disappoint. The SEC has won four straight National Championships and Auburn also hopes to keep that streak alive as they battle the best in the Pac-10 on Monday. Cameron Newton and LaMichael James bring star power to this game also. With the Heisman Trophy winner and candidate on their respective sides, there should be no shortage of stardom in this game. When you think about it, Auburn and Oregon are nearly mirror images of each other. Both of these teams score a lot of points and rely on their rushing attack to move the ball. Oregon leads the nation in scoring, and many are pitting the entire Oregon offense against the Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. A season full of highlights for each team comes down to which team will create the most plays in a championship game. The determining factor for me is size on both sides of the ball for Auburn. Cam Newton and Nick Fairley are two crucial players that have too much size and power for Oregon to deny. The Oregon defense will not stop the size of Cam Newton, and Nick Fairley will create problems for the smaller and less physical Ducks offense. I see Auburn winning 35-28.

Sunday Sound Off 12/19

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.