Author: David Shama

Among the subtle storylines in the Gophers’ 35-24 win over Northwestern in Evanston on Saturday were contributions by players coach Tim Brewster and his staff have recruited in their brief time running the program.  Brewster was named coach in January of 2007 so his first recruiting class that signed on in February didn’t have much of his signature on it.  On Saturday senior defensive end Cedric McKinley, a junior college recruit in 2008, forced a quarterback fumble and McKinley recovered at the Northwestern three yard line.  The Gophers turned that opportunity into a touchdown pass to Eric Decker to put Minnesota ahead 35-24 with less than two minutes to play.

On Northwestern’s next possession quarterback Mike Kafka fumbled again, this time being stripped by redshirt freshman defensive end D.L. Wilhite, another 2008 recruit. The Gophers offense relied, as usual, on former coach Glen Mason recruits Adam Weber and Eric Decker, but there was more help than in the past from newcomers including freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray (35 yards rushing) and redshirt freshman running back Kevin Whaley (31 yards rushing).  Another young contributor was sophomore wide receiver Brandon Green who caught important third down passes on the Gophers fourth quarter touchdown drive to overcome a 24-21 Northwestern lead.

The Wisconsin team that comes here on Saturday is 4-0, with all their wins coming at home.  The Badgers, who won their Big Ten opener on Saturday 38-30 over Michigan State, are a surprise team so far in the conference.  Among the reasons is new starting quarterback Scott Tolzien who has directed an offense that’s been efficient and scored 144 points in four games.

The Gophers and the Xcel Energy Center have expressed interest in an intersectional game involving a marquee basketball opponent, according to a source who requested anonymity.  He said the potential game would likely be played in December and seen on national TV.

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell answered a question recently about whether running back Adrian Peterson has to take such hard hits near the sidelines.  Bevell answered that Peterson delivers blows as well as takes them.  “I am not going to pull that card out of his deck because it is a great one,” Bevell said.

Vikings special team coach Brian Murphy was asked recently about the longevity of kicker Ryan Longwell, 35, who now has 302 career field goals after kicking two yesterday in the team’s 27-24 win over the 49ers.  How long can Longwell play?  “He’s had great longevity to this point, I would say,” Murphy said.  “I don’t have a crystal ball, but I will tell you this, he keeps himself in great shape.  He works at his craft. He can play as long as he wants to.  From a physical stand point, he is in great shape and he works at the things that he needs to do to continue, not only to play, but be successful.”

The Vikings might not have needed Brett Favre’s miracle throw and touchdown to Greg Lewis with two seconds remaining if the 49ers hadn’t blocked Longwell’s field goal attempt in the closing minute of the first half, with Nate Clements running 59 yards for a San Francisco touchdown and a 14-13 lead.  After the game coach Brad Childress didn’t know who failed the Vikings while blocking but “that should be a fairly routine play and it wasn’t.”

The Tigers organization will honor its 1984 World Championship team tonight before the game with the Twins.  Among those former players expected to participate in the celebration is St. Paul native and ex-Twin Jack Morris.

Twins president Dave St. Peter said the Gophers may play the first baseball game at Target Field but plans haven’t been finalized.  The game would be prior to the Twins Target Field exhibition games against St. Louis on April 2 and 3.

St. Peter also said it’s possible that some Twins players may take batting practice at Target Field after the season.  The purpose would primarily be to reward stadium construction workers by allowing them to watch.

The Wild’s Martin Havlat has about 12,600 followers on his frequently updated Twitter page, https://twitter.com/martinhavlat

The Wild won’t be among the eight western conference teams making the 2010 playoffs, according to the Sporting News magazine issue of September 28.   The publication predicts in its NHL preview that Pittsburgh and Detroit will play again in the Stanley Cup finals.

A crowd of 800 is expected for the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Minnesota Wild Face-Off Luncheon starting at 11:30 a.m. this Thursday at the Crown Plaza Riverfront.  Ticket information is available by calling 651-265-2775.

Minnesotan Matt Vanda will fight Phil Williams from Queens, New York in a super middleweight bout headlining a boxing card on Friday, November 13 at Grand Casino in Hinckley.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Board of Directors voted to consider expanding to 16 institutions in the 2012-2013 academic year.  The board requested that NSIC Commissioner Butch Raymond solicit potential new members immediately.  Potential members must submit a letter of interest to the conference office by June 1, 2010.  The NSIC is a 14-team, 17-sport, NCAA Division II conference with teams located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Adrian Peterson of the Vikings predicts there will be no déjà vu on Sunday against the 49ers at the Metrodome.  In 2007 at San Francisco Peterson had a self-termed “worst” game and predicted yesterday that results will be different on Sunday.

Peterson ran for three yards on 14 carries in San Francisco, by far his least productive day since he came into the NFL in 2007. “It was the worst game of my career so it sticks in my head,” he said.  “I am looking forward to playing these guys this week.”

Peterson, who leads the NFL in rushing with 272 yards, was coming off a knee injury for the last San Francisco game but said that wasn’t the problem.  He said he felt light- headed and weak in that game, suggesting his condition was probably caused by something he had eaten.

There was another factor, too.  “Still with that (not feeling well), it was a lot that I didn’t do,” Peterson said.  “Not being patient enough, rushing my plays. Not giving the offensive line time to do their jobs, putting guys on guys.  That really was what disappointed me the most when I watched the film.”

Peterson, who said he’s been looking forward to Sunday’s game for a long time, was a rookie in 2007.  His experience now is likely to help against the 49ers who are expected to use a similar defense including cornerback blitzes as in 2007.

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said “credit” has to be given to the 49ers but he also said Peterson is a different player now.  “It’s going to be a different game,” Bevell said.  “It’s not going to be the same as that game, although we believe we’ll see some of the same schemes.”