Author: David Shama

Although he is only 19, Alex Daniels has made it clear during his high school and college football careers he’s capable of playing multiple positions.  At Brookhaven High School in Columbus, Ohio he played linebacker, safety and running back.  Last season, playing linebacker for the Gophers, he was one of only three true freshmen (non-red shirts) to earn a letter. 

After the opening game he was named co-Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance as a running back in the Gophers’ 44-0 win over Kent State.  Daniels had a game-high 155 yards on 24 carries (6.5 yards per rush) and scored three touchdowns.  

Not bad for a guy moved to running back in early August when expectations were that Daniels would become a star linebacker on a defense in need of athleticism and big plays.  Coach Glen Mason decided to try Daniels at running back based on the need to add quality and depth to that position.   

There was more to it than need, though, because Mason had been impressed with Daniels’ athleticism and running in high school.  “One of the things that caught my eye was his ability to run in the games that I saw him, plus I saw him in a track meet,” Mason said. 

At 6-foot-3, 260-pounds, Daniels is much more of a power back than the Gophers were accustomed to when they had speedsters Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell, but Mason made it clear his newest tailback is no slow-poke even with all that size and muscle.  “He probably runs more like a 6-1, 220 pound guy, and so if we do a good job up front and he can get up a full head of steam, he can wear you out pretty quickly,” Mason said. 

As a newcomer, Daniels has a lot to learn about the Gophers’ offense and the running back position.  “It started out as an experiment and I am not saying it is still in the experimental stages but we still have a long way to go… he is improving daily and had a good first game,” Mason said. 

Daniels was a prize catch in the Gophers’ 2005 recruiting class.  At Brookhaven he was ranked nationally as America’s No. 10 best safety, 11^th best athlete, 16^th best safety and the 108^th best overall player.  Now that he is a running back at Minnesota he can target some more rankings.

Brad Childress listed nachos as his favorite food on an NFL questionnaire.  Here are several other responses by the Vikings’ first year coach.  Last book read:  “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell.  Best football nickname: Phoenix College Artichokes.  Favorite vacation spot: Bonita Springs, Florida.  What NFL team did you follow as a child? Chicago Bears.   

Favorite sports uniform other than your own:  Dallas Cowboys.  Best advice ever received: Don’t lose confidence or it will be unanimous!  Toughest coach you’ve ever faced and why:  Bill Walsh at Stanford—he was way ahead of us Midwesterners, throwing it back then.  Greatest team you’ve ever competed against: 1985 Chicago Bears.  Most overrated aspect of football:  halftime adjustments and pre-game speeches.  Most underrated aspect of football: meticulous preparation and attention to detail; the will to prepare to win.

If the Vikings win Monday night’s game they will break Washington’s four straight opening game win streak, longest in the NFL.  The game will be played at FedExField, capacity of over 90,000, and with a noise level Viking coach Brad Childress compares to the Big Ten Conference stadiums of Michigan and Ohio State.   

Former Viking receiver Randy Moss, now with Oakland, has caught 98 touchdown passes during his eight year career.  With two more touchdown receptions he becomes the seventh player in NFL history to catch 100 or more touchdown passes.  Jerry Rice is the NFL career leader with 197 and former Viking Cris Carter is second with 130. 

The Twins are giving away 10,000 Jack Morris bobble heads tonight (Saturday) at the Metrodome. Gates open at 4 p.m. 

Long time fan favorite Wayne Terwilliger is in town as a coach with the Fort Worth team playing Saint Paul for the first American Association championship.  Before games this weekend at Midway Stadium he will sign copies of his book “Terwilliger Bunts One.”  The autobiography, released in late May, tells the story of Terwilliger’s amazing 56-year career in professional baseball and is on sale in bookstores throughout the Twin Cities and at Midway Stadium. 

Coach Kirk Ferentz talking about Rafael Eubanks, former Cretin- Derham Hall star and now a redshirt freshman center starting his first game in Iowa’s opener last Saturday against Montana:  “The last two guys we’ve christened (before Eubanks) was a bumpy road for both of them for a couple games.  If I was comparing the three, Rafael probably got off to a little smoother start than both those guys.” 

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema talking about starting quarterback John Stocco, former football and baseball star at Holy Angels: “John’s biggest strengths are probably the things he possesses between the ears.  His mind and his ability to think on the football field are very, very important to our success. . . .” 

Dick Jonckowski, the public address announcer for Gopher basketball for 21 years and baseball for 19, was the public address announcer last month at the American Legion World Series in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  It was his ninth year in that role and he also emceed the banquet.