Bethel, 12-1, can move on to the Division III national championship game if the Royals defeat Mount Union, 13-1, in Alliance, Ohio tomorrow (Saturday). Mount Union has had extraordinary success winning eight of the last 11 Stagg Bowl national championship games, including the previous two. Bethel’s participation in a semifinal game is the first for any MIAC school since St. John’s in 2003. The Johnnies won the Stagg Bowl that year by defeating Mount Union, 24-6. MIAC MVP quarterback Ben Wetzell of Bethel injured his throwing shoulder in last week’s playoff win over Central College but is expected to play tomorrow in the game which will be played on Mount Union’s home field. The game begins at 11 a.m. Minneapolis time and is available through an online video stream: https://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=ncaa&sport=m-footbl&category=live&media=54303
There’s speculation about TCF Bank being acquired by another company. What happens then to support for the new Gopher football stadium? The agreement between the bank and the University ensures the deal stays in place but the stadium name could change from TCF Bank Stadium to something else. A new name is subject to approval by the University.
Legendary Gopher Bronko Nagurski is ranked No. 17 among the 25 greatest college football players of all time by ABC TV. The network has been counting down the greatest players this fall and will announce the No. 1 player during the 2008 Rose Bowl. Nagurski is ranked ahead of such players as Jim Brown, Dick Butkus and Reggie Bush.
Tim Miles coached against the Gophers last year when he was with North Dakota State. Tomorrow night he brings his Colorado State basketball team to Williams Arena for a non-conference game against the Gophers. The Rams are 5-3 including a 69-56 over Oregon State. Former Hopkins star Dan Vandervieren who started his college career with Purdue is at Colorado State but not eligible to play until next season. Niko Medved, who was on the Gopher staff last season, is the recruiting coordinator and media liaison with the Rams.
The Big Ten Network can make a wise decision by choosing Jim Dutcher as its permanent color man on Gopher basketball telecasts. His calm approach and intelligent analysis are exceptional in an era of talk-too-much and say-the-obvious basketball commentary.
A Timberwolves spokesman reported via e-mail yesterday that guard Randy Foye remains sidelined indefinitely with a stress reaction in his left patella. No return date has been determined for center Theo Ratliff either, sidelined with a sore right knee.
NBA journeyman and former Timberwolf Anthony Carter, 32, is now starting for the Denver Nuggets at point guard. His responsibilities include distributing the ball to superstars Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony.
The Timberwolves are promoting ’70s Night tomorrow at Target Center for their game against Phoenix. There will be 1970’s-themed entertainment throughout the game, highlighted by a special halftime performance by The Original Sugarhill Gang. The first 5,000 fans in attendance receive a free ’70s party wig.