Author: David Shama

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners that athletic freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray will see increased playing time at wide receiver in the team’s yet to be determined bowl game next month.

Gray is also expected to play at quarterback in the game where he will remain a backup to Adam Weber.  “We’ll try to use him (Gray) to get more touches in the game,” Brewster said.

The 6-4, 222 pound Gray has shown ability to catch the ball.  Gray has four receptions for 21 yards and one touchdown this season.  As both a quarterback and receiver he’s also been a strong determined runner who given an opening, has the speed to make a long gain.

The Gophers receivers have struggled in recent games, a combination of their inexperience and the loss of the team’s best player, wide receiver Eric Decker who hasn’t played since the Ohio State game on October 24.  The offensive line, running backs and quarterbacks have all had their challenges of late including the last two games when the Gophers haven’t scored a touchdown by either running or passing.

Gray is learning the quarterback position but Brewster recognizes the contribution Gray can make at wide receiver, too.  Brewster said it’s accurate to describe Gray as a quarterback/wide receiver for the upcoming bowl game.  “He catches the ball extremely well,” Brewster said.

Gray has rushed 44 times for 243 yards, an average of 5.2 yards per carry, best among team ball carriers with more than two carries.   He’s thrown 13 passes for 51 yards and one touchdown.  Particularly as a runner, Gray may be given more opportunity to make plays in the bowl game.

The Gophers offense had only 201 yards in last Saturday’s 12-0 loss to Iowa.  Minnesota’s defense was as effective as the offense was ineffective, holding the Hawkeyes to 171 yards.   Brewster, finishing his third regular season as coach, said people told him the defensive performance ranks with the best by the Gophers in many years.

Brewster has the Gophers headed for their second consecutive bowl game and the valuable 15 days of extra practices that comes with it.  While a 6-6 record  is a target of criticism by many fans, the Gophers seem ahead of prominent programs like Michigan, Illinois and Colorado that have been starting over in recent years with new coaches.  The Gophers lost two games by three points each and Brewster has only had two full recruiting classes since becoming head coach.

Seattle’s defensive coordinator is Casey Bradley who is a Minnesota native and until 2005 was assistant head coach at North Dakota State.   Bradley, who prior to going to Seattle coached for Tampa Bay, is a 1984 graduate of Zumbrota High School.  He played college football at North Dakota State.

The Twins have set a franchise record season tickets goal of 20,000 for next year in the new ballpark, according to club executive Patrick Klinger. The franchise’s vice president of marketing told Sports Headliners that a combination of full and partial season ticket packages could add up to 20,000, an increase of about 8,000 over this past year.

A season ticket total of 20,000 will guarantee that about 50 percent of the 40,000 seats in Target Field will be sold for all 81 games.  The Twins expect high demand, too, for single game and group tickets.   “Our goal is to sellout every game,” Klinger said.

Season ticket prices range from $10 to $275 per game.  Single game prices haven’t been announced and tickets aren’t expected to go on sale until some time in March, according to Klinger.

Use of the new ballpark will go beyond baseball.  Klinger said concerts are likely in the stadium starting in 2011 and beyond.  Stadium facilities will be used for banquets, wedding receptions, holiday parties and business meetings.

The Sports Illustrated college basketball preview issue has a top 10 that includes No. 1 ranked Kansas, No. 2 Michigan State and No. 6 Purdue.  The Gophers are ranked No. 26 and described as the Big Ten’s “deepest team.”

The 10 finalists for the 2009 Mr. Football award are:  Beau Allen, Minnetonka; Joel Bauman, Kerkohoven-Murdock-Sunberg; Jacob Brusehaver, Hutchinson; John Crockett, Totino Grace; Seantrel Henderson, Cretin-Derham Hall; Ben Henson, Buffalo; Brandon Marquart, Champlin Park; Ryan Tri, Eden Valley-Watkins; Zach Vraa, Rosemount; and Zach Zenner, Eagan.  A winner will be announced at the Mr. Football banquet on Sunday, December 6 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park.  The award is sponsored by the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.

While there have been media rumors in Canada that the Gophers Jordan Schroeder will leave the team, the sophomore forward is expected to finish the season here and not join Vancouver which holds his NHL draft rights.  Beyond this season, though, it’s uncertain where Schroeder will be playing.

Tickets are available for Eric Butorac’s Minnesota Tennis Challenge on Saturday, December 5 at the Fort Snelling Tennis and Learning Center.  The schedule includes matches with outstanding players such as Butorac for an event that will raise funds to support youth tennis programming in Minnesota.

Three MIAC volleyball student-athletes have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III All-America teams.  St. Thomas junior setter Emily Foster and St. Olaf junior outside hitter Kim Smisek were both named to the first team. Saint Benedict senior setter Beth Hanson was a third team selection.

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners that Adam Weber will be the starting quarterback for the Iowa game on Saturday, as well as the bowl game, and will enter spring practice next year No. 1 at his position.  Weber has been the starter all season for an inconsistent Gophers offense that ranks No. 11 in Big Ten Conference rushing and No. 7 in passing.

The redshirt junior is seventh among conference quarterbacks in passing yards per game (197.1) and 10^th in total offense (186.5).  The offense has at times been precise but often ineffective.  Weber and the Gophers produced 505 yards of total offense in the 42-34 victory over Michigan State on October 31.  Against Illinois the next week Minnesota managed only seven first half points and lost 35-32.  Last week against small school South Dakota State the Gophers managed just 231 total yards and no offensive touchdowns in a 16-13 win.

Freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray has frequently been on the field for one play in a series.  Brewster said going forward Gray might be in for an entire series but don’t expect a surprise move of Gray being the starter against Iowa, or in the coming weeks for the bowl game (destination and date to be determined).

While certain positions on the team will be wide open in spring practice next year, Weber will enter that period as the No. 1 quarterback.  However, Brewster said that doesn’t mean Weber won’t have competition to retain his status.

It’s evident Brewster believes Weber, who has been the Gophers starter since his redshirt freshman season of 2007, is the best choice to quarterback the team.  Weber’s problems have included at times throwing the ball short of intended receivers.  It’s a difficulty caused by being off balance and rushing throws, according to offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch.  Asked if this will be corrected, Fisch said, “Oh, yeah.”

While Weber, the offensive line, receivers and running backs have been critiqued this fall, so too has the coaching staff including Fisch, 33, who is in his first season as offensive coordinator.  Play calling has been questioned but earlier this week Brewster had no criticism of the coaching.  He has insisted that the Gophers’ problems rest with lack of execution, and he expects improvement going forward including next year when experience and some new players presumably will give the offensive unit a lift.