The guess here is the Vikings won’t play Adrian Peterson (high ankle sprain) on Sunday.
The Vikings will be scrutinized in next year’s college draft to find players in the middle and later rounds who can contribute, something that hasn’t been a franchise strength lately.
Joe Kapp is a national name again because of his brawl in Canada last week with a former CFL rival documented on YouTube. The 73-year-old former Vikings quarterback also had a well publicized fight during his playing days with a teammate, Lonnie Warwick. Kapp is the only man ever to play in a Rose Bowl, Grey Cup and Super Bowl. He also coached the University of California during “The Play,” the famous 1982 game-ending play against Stanford.
The Vikings encourage fans to bring a new or “gently-used” jacket to Sunday’s Vikings-Broncos game for donation to The Salvation Army. Fans can donate online at www.thesalarmy.org.
Gophers senior Trevor Mbakwe, who is out with a season-ending ACL injury, will be 23 years old in January and no doubt will give pro basketball a long look next spring even if the NCAA grants him a medical redshirt allowing him to play at Minnesota in 2012-13. He graduates this month with a major in recreation, parks and leisure studies, and has a son, Makhi Mbakwe.
The USC basketball team that plays the Gophers tomorrow at Williams Arena is 4-4 on the season. Losses include a double overtime defeat at home against Nebraska. The Trojans are coached by Kevin O’Neill who has travelled a long head coaching road that includes Marquette, Tennessee, Northwestern and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
Not expected to play here tomorrow is 7-foot redshirt sophomore Dewayne Dedmon who late last month was diagnosed with a foot injury. Dedmon was the subject of a lengthy Sports Illustrated feature earlier this fall. He was discouraged for religious reasons from playing basketball as a youth and only played one season of high school basketball despite his considerable potential.
Gophers sophomore center Nick Bjugstad is tied for the national lead in points (25) and goals (15). His uncle Scott played for Minnesota in the early 1980s and also eight years in the NHL including with the North Stars. The Florida Panthers drafted Nick 19th overall in 2010 and have to be impressed with his play in leading the 11-4-1 Gophers back to national prominence. Minnesota has home games against Minnesota State (3-10-1) tonight and tomorrow night.
Burnsville native Mark Osiecki, head hockey coach at Ohio State since 2010, has the Buckeyes off to a 10-3-1 start including a sweep last weekend over Michigan.