As of late yesterday afternoon there were about 2,000 tickets remaining for Sunday’s Vikings-Houston game at the Metrodome, according to an e-mail from a club executive. Fans can purchase tickets via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the tickets page on www.vikings.com.
The Texans (3-4) are 0-3 on the road this season, with losses to Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Jacksonville. After losing their first four games of the season, the Texans have won three straight.
The Miami Dolphins have gained attention by running single wing plays this season. The old-time formation hasn’t been popular since the 1940s and 1950s. It was last used by the Gophers in 1953 and the Vikings, who began playing in 1961, never have run the single wing.
Former Gopher quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, now the rookie head coach of the Redskins, has Washington off to a 6-2 start with running back Clinton Portis leading the NFL in rushing at 944 yards. Ex-Bethel head coach Chris Meidt, who had no pro or college playing experience, is an assistant coach in his first season, too.
Former Vikings defensive end Erasmus James has played limited minutes with the Redskins, appearing in four games but has no tackles. He’s listed at second team defensive end on the depth chart.
Ex-Gopher quarterback Marc Trestman, the St. Louis Park native, is in his first season as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes. The team is in first place in the East Division of the Canadian Football League with a 12-5 record. Former Cretin-Derham Hall coach Andy Bischoff is an assistant in Montreal.
Here’s an interesting quote on Washingtonpost.com from Virginia’s Marquis Weeks after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown on September 11: “That was just instinct. Kind of like running from the cops.”
Chris Coste, the 35-year-old Fargo native and catcher playing with Philadelphia in the World Series, is hitless so far in four at-bats as a designated batter. He didn’t make the major leagues until he was 33-years-old.
Sporting News ranks 2009 Gopher basketball recruits Royce White of Hopkins and Rodney Williams of Cooper as the No. 30 and 32 best senior prospects in the country. The magazine labeled Williams as the “best leaper” among the top 50 players.
Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, who had a breakout season in 2006-07, is still probably among the NHL’s most underrated players. He is tied for fifth in save percentage among NHL goalies at .932. He is second in the league in wins with a 6-0 record.
The undefeated Wild (6-0-1) is at home tomorrow night against Montreal and fans are invited to wear costumes to celebrate Halloween. Fans 14 and under have the opportunity to win prizes, and the “best-dressed” adult will be invited to do the “Let’s Play Hockey!” announcement before the game. Kids can “trick or treat” with the Wild’s mascot, Nordy, and the top three winners of a best costume contest will be introduced during the first intermission. The winner receives an autographed jersey.
The Wild are at Dallas tonight where the club record is 0-6-2 in the last eight games.
The Wolves, 6-2 in preseason, open their home and regular schedule tonight against a Sacramento team that was 1-7 in exhibition games. The Kings, who traded star forward Ron Artest to Houston during the off-season, are led by guard Kevin Martin who averaged 20.7 in the pre-season, tops on the team.
Gopher senior guard Emily Fox was selected to the pre-season all-Big Ten team by media and the conference coaches. Fox was all-Big Ten last season after she finished fourth in scoring averaging at 17.2 points per game, and had 4.50 assists per game (third in the Big Ten) and 2.89 steals (second in the conference).
Minnesota was projected to finish fourth in the Big Ten by the media, and fifth by the coaches. Minnesota had a 20-12 overall record in 2007-08, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers tied for third (with Purdue) in the conference standings at 11-7.