Author: David Shama

Guess who the fastest prep high school football player in Florida was last fall?  Here’s a hint: he stands 5-foot-8, weighs 160 pounds and starts practice as a Gopher freshman today.

Minnesota football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners on Saturday that Harold Howell, from Jacksonville, was the fastest football player in talent- rich Florida last season.  Howell, who runs about a 4.3 40 yard dash, figures prominently in Brewster’s plans as a punt and kickoff returner.  Brewster said on Saturday the coaching staff probably will look at Howell today as a possible cornerback.

The Gophers are thin at cornerback and Howell will be considered, even if it’s only for one day, as a replacement for Dominic Jones who recently was dismissed from the team.  Howell played defensive back and receiver in high school where he also starred as a return man, scoring three touchdowns on kickoff returns and four on punt returns.

“If we give Harold Howell a crease, if we give that young guy a chance, he is out (gone), in a hurry, right now…,” Brewster said.  Running back Jay Thomas, another game breaker, also figures in the kick off and possibly punt return plans.

Can he play cornerback in the Big Ten Conference as an 18-year-old, 160-pound freshman?  Brewster said “we’ll have an idea (today) whether it’s something physically that he (Howell) wants to do.”

There’s been talk, too, the Gophers may look at another true freshman at cornerback, Curtis Thomas from Aldine, Texas.  The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Thomas is listed as the starting free safety, is one of the team’s more highly anticipated recruits, and already has a reputation as a leader and player who badly wants to win.

A newsworthy aspect of Brewster’s media day on Saturday was the announcement that he won’t make excuses if the Gophers don’t perform.  Seldom has a coach or manager made such a public statement but the new Gopher coach is looking for results. If he and the team don’t produce, he isn’t planning to be a spin doctor. 

Brewster reiterated his goal to win right away, again taking aim on a Big Ten championship and trip to the Rose Bowl.  While predicting a bright future in recruiting, the expectation is to win now.  “Patience is not one of my better virtues,” he said. 

He praised his players for improving their conditioning and strength.  Last winter after being named Gopher coach he said the players needed to be in “better shape.”  He said Saturday the way players look now is “mind blowing in physical appearance and conditioning.”

Brewster’s most enthusiastic and newsy remarks included comments about his offensive and defensive coordinators, Mike Dunbar and Everett Withers.  Famed Texas coach Mack Brown, who once employed Brewster as an assistant, told the Gopher coach that the 58-year- old Dunbar had been on his list of offensive coordinator candidates if the Longhorns were shopping.  “He’s just a sage old veteran,” Brewster said.

Dunbar joined the Gophers after building his reputation at California and before that Northwestern.  Withers, 44, came to the Gophers from the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and before that had coaching stops at Texas and Louisville.  Brewster predicted that Withers will one day become a head coach.  “He is a flat-out star in our profession,” Brewster said.  “I am going to do everything I can to make it happen.” 

Brewster also said the Gophers need to learn to close out games, stopping the trend of blowing leads such as the infamous Texas Tech bowl loss.  “We’re gonna finish games on offense, finish games on defense (and) in the kicking game,” he said. “I am looking for players that… love the game and will finish.”

Brewster said senior linebacker John Shevlin, being counted on as an important defensive contributor, has a sore back.  Even if Shevlin’s practice time is limited, the goal will be to have him ready for the team’s opening game with Bowling Green on September 1.   

After yesterday’s 1-0 win over the Indians, the Twins are 49-1 when leading after eight innings.

Catcher Joe Mauer has the best percentage in the American League for throwing out runners attempting to steal bases.  He’s 14-28 on the season.

Santana slump: Johan Santana, the Twins Cy Young award winning pitcher is 0-3 in his last four starts with a 4.85 ERA.  In those four appearances he’s given up five home runs and now has allowed 29 homers during the season (in Santana’s career his season high for home runs is 29).

I don’t know how much more Minnesota can do for New England.  We’ve got the Boston area covered in four sports with our former stars: Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney (Patriots), Kevin Garnett (Celtics), David Ortiz (Red Sox), and Manny Fernandez (Bruins).

St. Louis, with Marc Bulger and backup Gus Frerotte, might have the best quarterbacks in the NFC.   Frerotte played with the Vikings from  2003-04. The Rams are in town Friday night to open the Vikings pre-season schedule.  Sporting News ranks the Rams quarterbacks No. 1 in the NFC followed by the Eagles, Saints and Cowboys.  The Viking quarterbacks drew a No. 16 ranking, last place.

The exodus of writers at the Star Tribune includes sports writers Pam Schmid, Jay Weiner and Steve Aschburner, all of whom accepted buyouts.  Gopher basketball beat writer Jeff Shelman has switched from sports to news.  The Gopher assignment is currently open.  Star Tribune space devoted to sports has declined this year.

Fans of the 1986 Boston Celtics NBA championship team recall that Hall of Famer Bill Walton wore jersey No. 5.  That’s Kevin Garnett’s new number with the Celtics.

Tim Brewster hosted a senior night for his players last Saturday at Jax Café.  Speakers scheduled were former Gopher football players Billy Bye, Desi Williamson and Lee Hutton. 

About 35 former Gopher teammates attended Charlie Sanders‘ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend, according to John Bell Wilson.  Wilson, a long time Gopher booster and former basketball manager, said there are 241 players in the Hall of Fame including six former Gophers, Bronko Nagurski, Bud Grant, Leo Nomellini, Bobby Bell, Carl Eller and Sanders.

Wyatt McCoy, the Mounds View eighth grader who won the state high school class AA singles tennis title last spring, is recognized for his accomplishment in the current issue of Sports Illustrated.  The magazine reported in its Faces in the Crowd section that McCoy is the first eighth grader “in the 79 year history” of the Minnesota tournament to win the singles championship.