The kicking game might be a strength on this year’s Gophers team. Although it’s unusual for a head coach, Kill is involved with tutoring his punters and placekickers. He doesn’t like standing around and sometimes wants to be involved with teaching. Punter Dan Orseske and Chris Hawthorne, both sophomores, have impressed in preseason workouts.
National football authority Phil Steele ranks the Gophers’ schedule the 21st most difficult in the country.
College football fan Dana Marshall emailed that since Minnesota began playing in the Metrodome in 1982 and continuing through last season the Gophers and Indiana have the fewest seasons—four each—of above .500 conference records.
Vikings running back Toby Gerhart spent part of his offseason with Adrian Peterson and the team’s other running backs at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Gerhart’s brother Garth is a center for Arizona State. Another brother, Colton, is a sophomore quarterback at Norco High School in California where his dad, Todd, is head coach.
In practice Gerhart sometimes lines up with Peterson in a two-back set, prompting speculation they may play in games together on a somewhat regular basis.
Ron Gardenhire said on his 1500 ESPN radio show Sunday he wants Alexi Casilla to remain a second baseman next season and not be a shortstop. Gardenhire will play infielder-outfielder Trevor Plouffe at shortstop in some games before the season ends. The Twins manager indicated the shortstop job will be an open competition at spring training in 2012.
Gardenhire also said there is “absolutely” room on next year’s roster for outfielders Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer, both of whom will need new contracts to stay with the Twins. Gardenhire wants to see Cuddyer, 32, finish his career here.
Tink Larson will complete his transition to assistant coaching next year after being a head coach for 50 seasons, according to a story this month in the Waseca County News. He will be an assistant with Waseca’s VFW, Legion and town-ball team, the Braves. He is already an assistant coach with Minnesota State University, Mankato and the Waseca High School team.
It will be Maya Moore bobblehead night on Friday when the Lynx play at Target Center against San Antonio.
Dave and Linda Mona report they raised more than $32,000 for Cystic Fibrosis at last week’s Camden’s Concert, named in honor of their 3 ½ year-old grandson, Camden Mona. The next concert date will be July 25, 2012, and feature country western singer Suzy Bogguss.