Posted October 30, 2009    

•Brett Favre

•Tim Davis

•MarQueis Gray

•Kevin Love

•Marian Gaborik

Message to Favre: “Welcome back! How’s the dark side?” 

That’s part of the greeting quarterback Brett Favre will receive on his return to Lambeau Field on Sunday when the Vikings play his former team, the Green Bay Packers.  The Green Bay Press-Gazette is publishing the slogan in tomorrow’s paper so readers can cut it out and bring it to the game.  http://greenbayhub.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091023/GPG05/91013103 

The newspaper promoted voting on welcome home slogans and the message above was the winner, capturing 28.5 percent of the votes. “We have 12-reasons to 4-Get you” was runner-up at 21.4 percent and refers to Favre’s successor with the Packers, No. 12, Aaron Rodgers.   

Various emotions will be experienced by those watching the game at Lambeau and on TV, ranging from hatred to love for Favre who played 16 seasons in Green Bay.  There are those, too, who are so conflicted they root for both Favre and the Packers.  

The Vikings don't need Favre’s first trip back to Green Bay as incentive.  There are more than enough motivating elements without that storyline.  

The Vikings lead the NFC North with a 6-1 record, while the Packers are 4-2.  Green Bay lost the first game with the Vikings this season and certainly doesn’t want to make it two straight.  And the historic rivalry between the two franchises is almost always a motivation for the teams and a contributing reason why the series of wins and losses is so close. (The Packers lead 49-47-1). 

“You take this storyline (about Favre) out of the game (and) it’s a huge game for them, a huge game for us just in the division, because the only way to assure a shot at the Super Bowl is to get in the playoffs, and the best way to do that is win the division,” said Ryan Longwell, the Vikings kicker and a former Packer. “It’s a big tough game beyond Brett going back.” 

Longwell, a Vikings captain, is even more convinced that the Favre storyline doesn’t matter because of the loss last Sunday to Pittsburgh, the Vikings first defeat. “I think guys are really focused (and) understand what’s at stake,” he said.

 

"I think guys are really focused (and) understand what's at stake."
Ryan Longwell on Sunday's game.

Ryan Longwell

Brewster Praises Offensive Line Coach 

While the Gophers offensive line has often been a source of frustration this season, the man who coaches the unit receives high praise from head coach Tim Brewster.  The Gophers rank last in the Big Ten Conference in both total offense and rushing, and eighth in passing.  False starts, off sides and other mistakes have characterized a line that frequently has been unable to open holes for runners and at times provided minimal protection for quarterback Adam Weber when passing. 

Brewster, though, expressed confidence earlier this week about offensive line coach Tim Davis who joined his staff late last year.  The Davis resume includes coaching the Dolphins’ offensive line in the NFL and the same job at USC.  “He’s as good a line coach as I have been around, and I’ve been around some great ones,” Brewster told Sports Headliners.  

Like Davis, Brewster has coached in both the pros and college.  The man Brewster regards as the absolute best in working with offensive lines is Hudson Houck, with the NFL Cowboys.  Davis, Brewster said, learned from Houck.   

The experience of Davis allows him to teach the complexities of offensive line play, according to Brewster.  “It’s extremely technical work in teaching an offensive lineman, and he’s (Davis) had such a vast amount of experience in coaching at a very high level,” Brewster said.  “Coaching the best offensive linemen in college football when he was at USC.  Won a national championship.  Coached the best offensive linemen in the world at Miami with the Dolphins.  He’s got tremendous energy. There’s no substitute for passion and energy in coaching, and he’s got a bunch of it.” 

Why the problems for the Gophers' offensive line?  Brewster acknowledges that the talent, experience and depth could be better.  “I certainly believe that Tim has done the absolute best job he can in helping our offensive line grow," Brewster said. "And I think our offensive line has improved in areas.  They’ve done some good things this season. 

“Our group has had three centers.  That’s not a great thing for the offensive line to have the bell cow of the line be injured, and going to a second center, and now we’re on a third center. I think that obviously the continued development with Tim with our offensive line, we’re going to reap huge dividends as we move forward.” 

The Gophers lost senior center Jeff Tow-Arnett for the season with a broken leg.  He was the starter earlier in the year.  Trey Davis, his replacement, hurt his ankle and was replaced by D.J. Burris. 

Burris is a junior, Davis a sophomore.  Their experience will help them in spring practice next season and even if one or both were switched to a different line position they will be able to compete for starting jobs.  All starting positions will be open for competition in the spring, Brewster said.  

Brewster is intrigued by the potential of two offensive linemen who are red shirting this fall as freshmen.  Ed Olson and Brooks Michel figure to be in the competition next spring.  The Gophers also have verbal commitments for their 2010 recruiting class from six offensive linemen (among 21 players), according to http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2010&School=46.   

 

Tim Davis

Worth Noting 

Brewster’s 2010 recruiting class is ranked No. 31 by Rivals.com.  Players can’t formally commit until February of next season. 

“The name of the game is recruiting and we’ve done it at a very high level,” Brewster said. “This class that we’re bringing in this year will be another outstanding class. And what it’s going to do is, it’s going to allow us to again continue to create competition (for playing time).” 

Adam Weber, who has been a starter since 2007 and remains the Gophers first team quarterback, has no problem with MarQueis Gray receiving more playing time at that position if it helps the team.  “It’s all about winning,” Weber said. 

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said he’s not aware of any University plans to lobby the legislature next year to allow alcohol in premium seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena. 

Long-time followers of the Packers-Vikings rivalry recall former St. Paul newspaper columnist Don Riley.  He loved to agitate Packers fans everywhere, habitually referring to “Green Bush.” 

Former sports writing colleague Gregg Wong said Riley agitated the Packers fandom for more than fun.  Riley’s playful insults about Green Bay helped sell newspapers in nearby western Wisconsin.  Riley’s columns were profitable for him too. “He made a fortune speaking at banquets in western Wisconsin,” Wong said.  

Riley was a character and nobody knew it better than his sports writing brethren at the Pioneer Press and Dispatch.  Wong recalled that one night Riley phoned the sports department and spoke with Mike Augustin.  Riley sensed that he had a speaking engagement but couldn’t remember where and what time that evening.  

Augustin confirmed the time and place.  Riley, who was calling form a pay phone, requested directions.  Augustin asked Riley where exactly he was calling from.  Riley replied he didn’t know and Augustin wondered aloud how he could possibly provide directions.  “Augie, my boy, put a trace on this call,” Riley said.  

Augsburg’s football team has experienced dramatic finishes in its last three games, all victories. The Auggies rallied in the fourth quarter for a 31-28 win over Carleton on October 10, and withstood a late Concordia comeback for a 27-20 overtime win a week later. Then last Saturday Augsburg scored the game-winning touchdown with 46 seconds left for a 28-21 win over Gustavus.  Wide receiver Mike Nourie won MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the third straight week that Augsburg had an MIAC Player of the Week.  Nourie had a nine-catch, 129-yard performance, including the game-winning touchdown reception against the Gusties.  

Kevin Love told Sports Headliners he could be back playing for the Wolves within four weeks.  In about 10 days he will receive more medical input about his injured left hand. 

Harrison Barnes, the Ames, Iowa, high school basketball player considered by many as the top recruit in the country, wrote about his recent recruiting visit to Kansas at http://www.highschoolhoop.com/high-school-stories/2009/10/the-harrison-barnes-diary-official-visit-to-kansas/, 

The 2009 MIAC Hockey Showcase is today through Sunday at the Bloomington Ice Gardens. All nine MIAC men’s hockey teams will play two non-conference games over the weekend. Game times are 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. all three days.  

The Rangers Marian Gaborik isn't expected to play tonight in his first game against the Wild since leaving during the off-season.  He has what's been described as a lower body injury.  A knowledgeable hockey source said the following about Gaborik’s time here: “He was a very nice person who learned the English language on his own while playing for the Wild because he wanted to communicate with players, fans, sponsors and the media.  He was a good teammate and was generally liked in the locker room by other players.  

“The team was better when he did perform on the ice.  He did not always see eye to eye with (general manager) Doug Risebrough and (coach) Jacques Lemaire, but remained a team-oriented player and performer.  He did leave on decent terms with the Wild organization, who did offer him a long-term deal in 2008 that Gaborik and his agent turned down last year.” 

Niklas Backstrom was unbeaten in 15 straight decisions at Xcel Energy Center until the Wild lost on Wednesday night to Nashville.  His streak was a franchise record for a goalie.   

Former Gustavus tennis player Eric Butorac continues to have success on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour, winning two doubles titles recently.  Butorac teamed with Rajeev Ram to win the Thailand Open on September 28 and then he partnered with Lovro Zovko to win at Rennes, France on October 12.  Butorac, No. 37 in the ATP doubles rankings, has won three ATP doubles titles this year and seven in his career. 

 

MarQueis Gray

Mike Nourie

Marian Gaborik

 Niklas Backstrom