Author: David Shama

Brett Favre’s fourth quarter playmaking helped the Vikings defeat a desperate  Ravens team at the Metrodome yesterday.  The Ravens, 3-3 and losers of three straight games, were trying to end their streak with a comeback in the last minute of the game but the Vikings were lucky enough to see Baltimore place kicker Steve Hauschka send a 44 yard field goal attempt wide left and walk away with a 33-31 win.

The undefeated 6-0 Vikings led 20-10 at the end of the third quarter. They increased the margin to 27-10 before the Ravens started producing touchdowns with an offense that frequently had Minnesota’s defense guessing about what was next.  That’s what happened when Ravens’ running back Ray Rice, a stout rusher with extraordinary balance, ran 27 yards to score on a misdirection play to send Baltimore ahead 31-30 with less than four minutes to play.

Before that play the sellout Metrodome crowd and the Vikings defense had been eager to stuff either a run or pass. “They (the Ravens) took advantage of the enthusiasm of the defense,” former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners.

Favre and the Vikings offense went down the field after the Ravens scored.  The longest play was a 58 yard pass from Favre to third year wide receiver Sidney Rice. Three plays later Ryan Longwell kicked a 31 yard field goal with two minutes remaining to put the Vikings ahead to stay at 33-31.

Conversation about the 6-foot-4 Rice was often about potential, not production during his first two seasons.  But he’s impressed this year, including yesterday when he caught six Favre passes for 176 yards, his best day in the NFL and first over 100 yards.

Dalton was asked if playing with Favre has boosted Rice’s confidence. “Oh, yeah!” Dalton said.  “He’s given everybody a boost in confidence.”

Dalton also said Favre’s on target long pass to Rice “was a throw not many quarterbacks can make.”  Seems like we said the same three weeks ago when Favre’s last second touchdown to Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone rescued the Vikings for a 27-24 win.

The Gophers began basketball practice over the weekend and gave fans a glimpse of the team during a scrimmage at “Tubby’s Tipoff” on Friday night.  Minnesota will have exhibition games at Williams Arena against Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State University Moorhead on November 5 and 9, followed by home nonconference games against Tennessee Tech, Stephen F. Austin and Utah Valley (honest) on November 13, 16 and 19.

After all those warm-up games, the Gophers will then have a test and an opportunity to make evaluations about themselves.  Coach Tubby Smith’s team plays Butler on November 26 in Anaheim as part of the 76 Classic.  The Bulldogs are a preseason top 15 team at No. 11 while the Gophers aren’t far behind at 16, according to https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/12316643.

A visitor in Smith’s office last week found the conversation turning to the Butler game.  Smith seemed cautious about facing a team of Butler’s reputation and ability so early in the season (all five starters return).  “They could be a final four team,” he said.

Butler, located in Indianapolis, has long maintained a respectable basketball reputation but the program has never made it to the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs were 26-6 last season.

Smith, starting his third season as Gophers head coach, is familiar with such success.  As head coach at Kentucky he won a national championship and was accustomed to NCAA tournament teams including three clubs that made the elite eight.

Last season the Gophers were 22-11 and in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.  The Gophers have nine returning players including their most important contributors from last season’s team.

Smith acknowledged he will be disappointed if the 2009-10 Gophers aren’t his best team. He told Sports Headliners no player has locked up a starting position.

Smith said on GopherSports.com that athleticism will be a team strength.  “I think we got more athletic through recruiting, and that was one of the things we were trying to do,” Smith said. “Our strength and condition program, we’ve done a good job there, in the offseason and in the summer.  And it looks like everybody’s stronger. We do a good job within our strength program and certainly guys put in a lot of valuable, hard work there.”  More at https://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38661&SPID=3302&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204815023.

Smith said Dominique Dawson, the 6-foot-7 walk-on forward from Southwest High School, will likely redshirt this season.

Other than a game against St. Joseph’s of Philadelphia, the Gophers home nonconference schedule could use more fan appeal.  Smith said eventually there might be home games against some of the most prestigious programs in the country.  He also said Louisville wanted the Gophers to be the opening opponent in its new arena next year but that didn’t work out.

Second year Vikings center John Sullivan, now a starter, learned from veteran Matt Birk last year before Birk left to play for the Ravens.  Sullivan said Birk taught him to be a thorough note taker.  “I’ve probably been through five notebooks already this year since the start of OTA’s and training camp,” Sullivan said.

After Saturday’s loss at Penn State, the Gophers have now lost eight consecutive trophy games.

Vikings defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy played for Penn State and legendary coach Joe Paterno from 1999-2002.  Last Saturday Paterno, 82, got his 389^th coaching win against the Gophers.  He’s been an assistant coach at Penn State since 1950 and head coach dating back to 1966.  “When I was a player Joe told us that he’s going to die on the field,” Kennedy said. “I believe him.”

Kennedy speaks with praise and admiration about his old coach.  Because of Paterno, Kennedy said, “I am able to survive after football.”

After a terrific high school career, Kennedy thought he would only be at Penn State for a short while before moving on to the pros.  He learned from Paterno that Penn State emphasizes academics, not just football.  “Joe gave me a slap in the face and said, ‘Hey, this is what we’re about.  I am about men.  I have more doctors and lawyers out there than I do NFL players.’ ”

Gophers special teams coach John Butler describes Troy Stoudermire as explosive and fearless.  He said the sophomore kickoff returner, wide receiver and special teams tackler can play in the NFL because the pros want versatile players.

Freshman punter Dan Orseske, who punted for the Gophers earlier in the season before developing mononucleosis, could be redshirted, coach Tim Brewster said.

USA Today Sports Weekly named Twins catcher Joe Mauer and reliever Joe Nathan to its American League post season All-Star team.  Former Twin Torii Hunter, now with the Angels, was named the center fielder.

Ted Williams, who played for the AAA Minneapolis Millers, is ranked as baseball’s all-time No. 2 hitter after Babe Ruth in a story at https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/10/14/best.hitters/index.html?bcnn=yes.

A Gopher hockey fan who was in Grand Forks for Friday night’s game against North Dakota estimated that the pre-game presentation and introductions was way overdone, clocking close to 20 minutes.  He said: “Wow!  Longest I’ve ever seen!”