Despite speculation last week, it’s very unlikely the Gophers will commit to an eight- year deal with a new coach. That’s just too many years and too much risk unless Minnesota has the opportunity to land the highest of high profile coaches.
Minnesota’s Adam Weber made a record 49th consecutive career start for a Big Ten quarterback last Saturday at Illinois. The record has been verified by the Minnesota sports information department. Department officials also said Weber will become one of three players in conference history to start 50 games when he plays his final game on November 27 at home against Iowa. The two others are former defensive linemen, Ohio State’s Luke Fickell (1993-96) and Iowa’s Matt Kroul (2005-08).
The last three seasons have been difficult for the Gophers when they didn’t have wide receiver Eric Decker. In Decker’s junior season, 2008, Minnesota didn’t win its last three games after he was injured. Last year the Gophers won two of five games after he was injured, ending a disappointing senior season. This year the Gophers have all kinds of problems even without Decker but he was so talented the argument could be made the Gophers might have won a few more games with their record setting receiver. The Gophers are 4-15 in a three-year period without him.
The Minnesota State High School League continues to consider TCF Bank Stadium as a future site for the Prep Bowl but nothing is definitive, according to executive director Dave Stead. He said the challenge is finding dates that match the league’s needs with stadium availability. This year’s Prep Bowl will be at Mall of America Field November 26 and 27 (Minnesota-Iowa game, TCF Bank Stadium).
Last year the Prep Bowl and other tournament football games generated revenues of $832,792. During the 2009-10 school year boys hockey tournament games generated the most money among all league activities, $1,352,025. A large portion of revenues from league sponsored tournaments is used for tourney operating costs and also sent to participating schools to pay for expenses.
Stead spoke in Bloomington last week to the C.O.R.E.S group that includes many former educators and coaches. C.O.R.E.S. is an abbreviation for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. The group’s next meeting is January 13.
Jessica Aney not only excels in tennis, but also hockey. The diminutive 12-year-old seventh grader finished second this fall to Rochester Century teammate Kelsey Frechette in the Class AA singles championship. Aney is also expected to have an outstanding season playing for Century’s girls hockey team. She was recently named the 2010 Sports Illustrated Kids Sports Kid of the Year.
Dick Jonckowski is starting his 25th year as Gophers public address announcer for men’s basketball. His niece is Michelle Beisner, sideline reporter for the NFL Network.
Chicago’s Joakim Noah is no longer a fan of former Timberwolves superstar Kevin Garnett now in his fourth season with Boston. https://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5789761