Author: David Shama

This is image week for the Big Ten Conference, including in Dinkytown.  Conference teams were 1-6 in bowl games last year so it doesn’t require much improvement to produce a better bowl record during the days ahead. 

Darrell Thompson, the Gophers football radio analyst, was asked if the Big Ten’s image is on the line now.  “I think it is,” he said.  “I think people will look at it harder (this year’s record).  …It just kind of comes down to bragging rights for the Big Ten.”

Somewhere between the Vietnam War and Desert Storm, the Big Ten lost its reputation as numero uno among college football conferences.  But, come on, 1-6 in bowl games.  Is the state of Big Ten football that bad?

No, it’s not and between now and January 5 when the league plays its last bowl game the Big Ten can prove that last year’s big embarrassment was an exception, not a norm.  This year’s conference bowl record might be 4-3, maybe 3-4 and (faint praise) at least 2-5.

College football is loaded with parity and the Big Ten can at least argue its teams are the equal of those in the ACC and Big East, and better top to bottom than the Mountain West and WAC.  Perhaps comparable to the Pac 10, but behind the Big 12 and SEC.

The Gophers are a popular pick to beat Iowa State in Thursday night’s Insight Bowl, a match up between 6-6 teams.  If the Gophers run the ball effectively against what has been a mediocre Iowa State defense, Minnesota should win its first bowl game under coach Tim Brewster and stop a three game bowl losing streak.

The Gophers lost two of their last three games and public opinion went south when Minnesota was unable to beat an average Illinois team at home after a 42-34 win the week before against Michigan State.  The Gophers defense, which in its last two games has given up a total of 100 rushing yards, is impressive but must get help from an offense that hasn’t produced a touchdown in the last four quarters.

The Big Ten has a little more swagger this morning after last night’s 20-14 Wisconsin win over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.  Other conference bowl wins could come in the Rose Bowl on January 1 and the Orange Bowl on January 5.  Ohio State’s rushing defense, fifth in the nation giving up 83.42 yards per game, is featured against Oregon’s run game, sixth nationally at 236.08 yards per game.  The difference might be a breakout game for Ohio State sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor whose press clips have sometimes been more impressive than performances.

Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense (No. 2 nationally at 307.15 yards rushing per game) spits out yardage like the Fed prints money but seldom has the attack faced a defense like Iowa’s.  Multiple weeks of preparation for the offense by Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and his “Albert Einstein” (Norm Parker) defensive coordinator could slow down the Tech offense and force the Wreck to pass.  Not a good option.  Iowa’s worry, though, is whether its players have enough speed to contain Tech.

The Big Ten might pick up a win in the Penn State-Louisiana State Capital One Bowl game on New Year’s Day.  This could be a toss up game but senior quarterback Daryl Clark and the Nittany Lions’ athleticism gives them a solid chance against another team that is among the fastest in the country.  Northwestern has a leaky pass defense, but has a chance against Auburn in the Outback Bowl on January 1.  Odds are slim that pass deficient Michigan State can make a competitive game out of the Alamo Bowl on January 2 against pass happy Texas Tech (Raiders, 44, Gophers, 41, in the 2006 Insight Bowl).

Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi talking about extending coach Tim Brewster’s contract: “I have no timeline on it.  We will look forward to working with coach and keeping him here.”

The Insight Bowl will be televised in Minneapolis-St. Paul on the NFL Network only but in the Des Moines area the ABC affiliate will also telecast the game, according to the Des Moines Register.  https://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091221/SPORTS020602/91221024/Insight-Bowl-will-be-shown-on-WOI-in-Central-Iowa

The Gophers have a bye in their schedule next fall (between the November 13 Illinois game and November 27 Iowa game) after not having a break this season.  Brewster told Sports Headliners he believes a break in the 12 game schedule is a “must” for the well being of players.

Maturi said suspended freshman basketball forward Royce White is “still part of the athletic family” and his expectation is that White will be attending classes in January. “I suspect he will still be enrolled,” Maturi said.

Maturi also said it might be likely that suspended forward Trevor Mbakwe will redshirt this season because Mbakwe’s legal issue in Florida could be unresolved until after the season.

Former Gophers basketball coach Jim Dutcher predicts a fourth place finish for the Gophers in the Big Ten Conference behind Purdue, Michigan State and probably Ohio State (if star Evan Turner returns soon).  He likes the Gophers depth and defense but a so-so nonconference record of 9-3 might mean Minnesota has to win 10 conference games to make the NCAA tournament.  The Gophers won their Big Ten opener last night at home against Penn State, 75-70.

Dutcher said San Diego State, where son Brian is an assistant coach, has won nine consecutive overtime games.

Former Wild coach Jacques Lemaire comes here with his New Jersey team for the first and only time this season on Saturday night.  The Devils are expected to practice on Friday at St. Thomas Academy but the workout isn’t open to the public.  Lemaire is friends with Wild radio color commentator Tom Reid and the coach is likely to make a stop at Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub while in St. Paul.  Former Wild forward Brian Rolston has 13 goals in 36 games for the Devils.

Friday’s game at Fenway Park in Boston will be the NHL’s third Winter Classic.  There were 300,000 ticket requests for the outdoor game between the Bruins and Philadelphia, according to the December 28 issue of Sports Illustrated.  National telecasts of the classic have been popular and the Wild are lining up with other franchises to receive the NHL’s blessing to host a future game.

The Wild are looking at a potential outdoor game at TCF Bank Stadium or Target Field.  “This is the premiere hockey market in the U.S.,” said Wild executive Bill Robertson.  “We have made the inquiry and are working on next steps.”

The Rangers, according to Sports Illustrated, are the favorite to host a game in 2011 at Yankee Stadium.  Washington and Alex Ovechkin would be the opponents.

The NHL may schedule multiple regular season league opening games in Europe next fall and the Wild could be on the list of participating teams.  Finland might be the site of two games involving the Wild.  The team has Finnish natives in goalie Niklas Backstrom, and forwards Mikko Koivu and Antti Miettinen.

The Vikings, who have lost three straight road games, can look back at Monday night’s 36-30 overtime defeat in Chicago and list a lot of “what ifs.”  But the opinion here is the fourth quarter kickoff coverage that allowed Danieal Manning of the Bears to return the ball to the Vikings 21 yard line tops the list. The Vikings had come back to tie the game at 23-23 with 5:49 remaining.

The Bears turned their field position into a 20 yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Earl Bennett.  One of the ESPN broadcasters described the kickoff coverage as “inexcusable.”  Adrian Peterson’s overtime fumble and Ryan Longwell’s missed extra point were low moments, too, but those were individual mistakes. The kickoff coverage involved several players (if not a whole unit) breaking down when momentum had obviously shifted to the Vikings.

For an entertaining look at Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, visit his Website, https://www.jaredallen69inc.com/#/news/.

Tickets to the Vikings’ first home playoff game go on sale today beginning at 10 a.m.  While a specific date has yet to be determined, the first game will be either the weekend of January 9-10 or 16-17.  Ticket prices range from $48-$95 and are only available through Ticketmaster by phone 800-745-3000 or Internet (www.ticketmaster.com).

Former Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven hopes 13 is a lucky number for him.  He’s on the Hall of Fame ballot for the 13^th time and an announcement will be made next week whether he’s going to be enshrined in Cooperstown.  https://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091124&content_id=7714798&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has formed a 14-member committee that includes former Twins general managers Andy MacPhail and Terry Ryan to review and examine on-field issues. The Special Committee for On-Field Matters will schedule its first meeting soon, according to a Major League Baseball press release.

“The committee will have the opportunity to review and make recommendations on all aspects of the game on the field, from scheduling, to playoff formats, to umpiring, to pace of game, to instant replay and to whatever other issues the Committee deems appropriate,” Selig said. “There will be no sacred cows.”

Four MIAC players have been named to the D3football.com All-America team.  St. Thomas junior running back Ben Wartman and sophomore returner Fritz Waldvogel were first team selections.  St. Thomas junior center Josh Ostrue was a second team pick while Saint John’s senior defensive lineman Kyle Schroeder made the third team.