Kicker Ryan Longwell said on KFAN earlier this week that only five people knew about the fake field goal play leading to a Vikings touchdown against Carolina last Sunday. The five, including Longwell, were holder Chris Kluwe, receiver Rich Owens, special teams coach Paul Ferraro and head coach Brad Childress.
Injured rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson showed his athleticism and scrambling ability during pre-season. Still, he knows if has an opportunity to play during the regular season he must run out of necessity, not by command, and stay aware to “just be safe and get down.”
Purdue coach Joe Tiller talking about Gopher senior quarterback Bryan Cupito’s improvement since his sophomore season: “What’s changed in a three year period is he makes them (the Gophers) much more potent offensively because of his abilities. He is really the forgotten guy (among quarterbacks) in the league (Big Ten Conference). He is the biggest improvement that has occurred at Minnesota.”
Gopher coach Glen Mason said on WCCO radio earlier this week that Joel Monroe, who has consistently kicked the ball into the end zone on kickoffs, is the “most improved” player on the team.
Former Vikings radio play-by-play announcer Joe McConnell is on an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons as Purdue’s football radio voice, according to the Boilermakers’ Web site. McConnell has been experiencing double vision.
Local business executive and former Gopher tennis coach Jerry Noyce, appointed earlier this year to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, is serving on a subcommittee to encourage corporate America’s workers to exercise more.
Ellis Park Race Track in Henderson, Kentucky will host Claiming Crown in 2007 but the well-known national horse racing event returns to Canterbury Park in 2008.