Author: David Shama

Adrian Peterson can tie a Vikings’ record for most 100 yard games in a season when Minnesota plays in Detroit on Sunday.  He has seven and the record is eight by Robert Smith(2000).

Over the last six games the Viking offense is averaging 29 points per game, tied for third best in the NFL.  Detroit’s defense ranks 31^st in the league.

The Vikings’ all-time record against Detroit is 62-30-2.  The Vikings have won 16 of the last 18 games and their 62 wins are the most against any opponent.  Detroit is 0-12 this season, the Vikings 7-5.

Quarterback MarQueis Gray and linebacker Spencer Reeves were two outstanding prospects in the Gophers’ 2008 recruiting class but they weren’t academically eligible to play this fall.  Now although both are eligible for next season they can’t practice per NCAA policy during the upcoming 15 days the Gophers have to prepare for their bowl game (destination decided on Sunday).  However, they both can participate in spring practice and will be true freshmen next season.

Moses Alipate, the Gopher quarterback recruit from Bloomington Jefferson, has been selected to play in the January 5 Under Armour High School All-America game in Orlando, according to ESPN’s web site.

Ralph Sampson II was asked how he evaluates son Ralph III after seven games as a freshman with the Gophers.  “I think he’s doing all right, looking good,” Sampson said.  “It’s early in the season.  Everybody’s got a lot of work to do, but I think they’re coming along pretty good.”

Sampson, a 6-11 center from the Atlanta area, has been a substitute for the Gophers, averaging 15.9 minutes, 4.1 rebounds and six points per game.

Rob Delaney, an undrafted player in 2006, is a relief pitcher in the Twins organization worth following.  He recently won the MLB.com 2008 Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year award.  The Web site named him Class A relief pitcher of the year in 2007.  Although he’s not on the Twins’ 40 man roster, his ERA’s in 2007 and 2008 were 1.03 and 1.23.

The Gopher baseball team will play more games at the Metrodome (14) next season than on campus at Siebert Field (11).  The Gophers open their schedule in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 20 against Seton Hall as part of the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.  The team’s roster includes junior outfielder Eric Decker who made all-Big Ten this fall in football as a wide receiver.

The Wild’s Andrew Brunette scored his 200^th NHL goal in his 811^th career game on Wednesday night against St. Louis. He is tied for the team lead in goals with nine and played in 477 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NHL.  Also on Wednesday night, Eric Belanger scored his 100^th career NHL goal in his 501^st league game.

Tonight’s home game against Vancouver is the final game in a period where the Wild play 10 of 12 at home.

Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners that he spoke last weekend to WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod about playing outdoor hockey at the new TCF Bank Stadium.  The essence of the conversation was that “eventually” the Gophers will host a hockey event, perhaps in January of 2011, Maturi said.

The stadium opens for football next September and Maturi said in the “state of hockey” it’s appropriate to plan for a multiple game hockey event.  The concept could involve a few days of outdoor hockey in the 50,000 seat stadium.  It’s a given that the Gopher men will have a game but participation could include the Gopher women, prep teams and the Minnesota Wild.

“We definitely want to do a game (event),” Maturi said.  “We want to make it a big deal.”

Converting the football stadium into an outdoor hockey arena could cost about $500,000.  “It makes no sense to do (just) one game,” Maturi said.

Maturi and McLeod have talked about whether coach Don Lucia’s team will play a WCHA or nonconference opponent.  Nothing has been decided, although considering the outdoor elements it may well be a nonconference team.  A WCHA game means playing hockey in an environment unlike any of the other league games and that raises a fairness issue in determining the final standings.

College hockey games have been played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.  Those games attracted crowds of over 40,000.

Maturi said that once a hockey extravaganza is staged at TCF the results can be studied and thought given to future outdoor hockey events.

Injury, inactivity and circumstances have changed 31-year-old quarterback Daunte Culpepper who has started four games for desperate Detroit (0-12) since trading in his civilian clothes for a Lions’ uniform earlier this fall.

The numbers are juxtaposed from what you expected four years ago.  This season and for two of the last three, Culpepper has more interceptions than touchdown passes.  In 2005 with the Vikings his totals were 12 interceptions and six touchdown passes, in 2006 with Miami three and two, last season in Oakland five and five, so far this year in Detroit six and three.

Sometimes contrasts with the past are dramatic and Culpepper is an example as the Vikings (7-5) prepare to see their old quarterback in Detroit on Sunday.  It was in December of 2000 that Culpepper was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with this quote in large type:  “I want to be the best EVER!”

Culpepper was in his first full season as a starter, enjoying a year which would be one of his best, throwing for 3,937 yards and 33 TD passes with a quarterback rating of 98.  He also ran for 470 yards and seven touchdowns.  The Vikings, 11-5 during the regular season, won the NFC Central Division title, and lost in the NFC championship game to the New York Giants.

Culpepper was a surprise story in 2000 because of his success and also drew attention with his stature, 6-4, about 255 pounds.  He was considered a next generation type quarterback, a guy so big and strong defenders bounced off him, but also a drop back passer with a powerful arm and ability to throw accurately.  By December of 2000 everyone who cheered for the Vikings was excited, including Culpepper who announced in the article he wanted people to one day mention himself and Randy Moss the same way Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are revered.

Culpepper started 57 of the next 64 regular season games over the following seasons.  They were productive years including his career best 2004 season when he threw for a league leading 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns, a Vikings record.

Culpepper has started a total of 21 games in the last four seasons.  Sunday he’s expected to make another start in Detroit, a December performance against his old team.  How things have changed since that promising Sports Illustrated cover of eight years ago.