Author: David Shama

If the Gopher football team needs additional motivation beyond playing for the school’s first New Year’s Day bowl game since 1962, they can crank themselves into a higher frenzy in anticipation of the last three games of the regular season, all of them trophy games against Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The 7-2 Gophers are hoping to win out the rest of the way and be invited either to the Capital One Bowl or Outback Bowl, both January 1 games in Florida.  If they sweep their last three games it will be the first time since 1967 the Gophers have defeated the Wolverines, Badgers and Hawkeyes in the same season.

Those schools haven’t been the last three opponents on the schedule since 2002.  Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa have been the closing three schools on the Gopher schedule only 12 times in Minnesota football history.

So starting Saturday at the Metrodome the Gophers pursue the Little Brown Jug (originated in 1903), Paul Bunyan’s Axe (1948) and Floyd of Rosedale (1935).  Gopher senior defensive end and captain Willie VanDeSteeg said trophy games are “awesome.”

VanDeSteeg was a freshman on the 2005 Gopher team that won at Michigan for the first time since 1986.  It was only the third time in 28 years the Gophers had won the jug.  “We want to get it back in Minnesota hands because that’s something very special to us,” VanDeSteeg said.

In the last 10 years the Gophers have won the axe only two times.  The pig has been in the Gophers’ trophy case three times since 1998.

After last Saturday’s disappointing last minute loss to Northwestern, the Gophers are looking forward to Michigan.  “I think something with a lot of emotion will really help us,” senior tight end Jack Simmons said.  “I think I am really disappointed with the way we came out and played Northwestern. …We weren’t really ready to play…at the level we needed to win the game.  So a rivalry game will really be something we’re up for.”

Michigan is 2-7 overall, 0-4 in the Big Ten.  Wisconsin is 4-5 and 1-5, while Iowa is 5-4 and 2-3.   The Gophers may not win these games, but they certainly have motivation and they know there’s not a super team in the bunch.

The Timberwolves are at home tonight to play San Antonio and hoping to make their record 2-2.  The Wolves, who have lost two straight since winning their opening game against Sacramento, want to avoid the two wins, 12 losses start of last November.

“I expect the first month is going to be the key to having a great season,” center Al Jefferson told Sports Headliners. “ …It’s a tough month. … Make us or break us.  Last year we started out slow and we just never could get back. This year we want to start off good. …I think that could take us a long way.”

Jefferson made those remarks last week before the opening game with the Kings, knowing the November schedule included games with teams that are capable of advancing into the playoffs and having post-first round success.  Those teams include NBA champion Boston and title contender San Antonio, plus playoff ambitious Detroit, Portland, Philadelphia and Phoenix.

The Wolves are more talented than the team that was 4-26 at the end of December last year.  This is a group that likes one another, too.  “All guys on this team are close,” Jefferson said.  “Everybody gets along.  Everybody’s got the same thing on their mind, winning.  Having a better season than last year.  I am not saying we’re going to win a championship this year but I know we should do a lot better than we did last year.  We should win games we’re supposed to win.  A lot of games we lost last year we could have won. …”

It may take some lineup changes, or at least increased playing time to take the Wolves closer to their potential.  Rookie forward Kevin Love’s all-around game seems like it could spark the Wolves more if he were in the starting lineup, and also averaging more than 19.7 minutes per game.  Guard Rashad McCants, also coming off the bench, is the team’s second leading scorer to Jefferson but is only playing 23.7 minutes per game.

The team also needs better production from point guard Randy Foye.  He’s averaging 7.3 points per game and making 22 percent of his shots.  He’s averaging a team high five assists per game.  Foye needs to be a more creative and consistent playmaker.

Jefferson is leading the team in points and rebounds at 19.7 and 11.7.  He will need help tonight against the Spurs, a team that has won 10 of the last 11 games against the Wolves.  The Spurs won all four games last season with Manu Ginobili averaging 30.8 points per game.  Ginobili, though is recovering from left ankle surgery and won’t play until later this season.

Tyler Thigpen, who the Vikings picked on the seventh round of the 2007 draft and then released over a year ago, has started three games for Kansas City, including Sunday’s three point overtime loss to Tampa Bay.  The 24-year-old former Coastal Carolina quarterback has thrown five touchdown passes and four interceptions for the 1-7 Chiefs.

Vikings’ wide receiver Aundrae Allison was also a 2007 draft pick and is an admirer of Thigpen.  “I feel like the sky’s the limit for him because he has all the attributes to be a good quarterback,” Allison said.  “He throws the ball good.  He has touch.  He throws it hard when he needs to.  He’s accurate.  He’s not scared to throw some balls, and take chances to get it to receivers…to make plays on the ball.  He’s a good runner out of the pocket.  I feel like his speed is something that’s good and works in his favor, too. …”

Former Twins player Charlie Manuel, now manager of the world champion Phillies, received the biggest ovation at the team’s celebration event last Friday in Philadelphia, according to a Sports Headliners source who attended.

The Wild will hold a Fantasy Camp on Friday, February 6 at a cost of $795 per person. Men and women ages 21 or over with high school or college hockey experience may participate.  The camp will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. prior to the Wild-Nashville game.  Camp participants will watch both teams during their morning skates.  They will also participate in on-ice drills with former NHL players Brad Bombardir, Darby Hendrickson, Phil Housley and Shjon Podein, plus play in a game with NHL alums.  Other benefits include a dinner, two tickets to the Wild-Nashville game and a personalized Wild jersey.  The camp is limited to 32 campers.   Call 651-602-6000 for more information and to register.

The Wild will be at Colorado tomorrow night and Avalanche fans have to be pleased injured Marian Gaborik won’t be skating.  The Wild’s star forward has 31 points in 38 career games against Colorado.

Gaborik has missed all but two of the Wild’s games this season and that can’t be adding any appeal to teams interested in acquiring him in a trade before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next year.  Gaborik’s reputation for injuries may cause some caution, even though he’s only 26 and played in 77 games last season with career highs in goals and assists.

The Gopher hockey team, off to its best start since 2001-02, is ranked No. 4 in the country in the USA Hockey Magazine/USA Today and U.S. College Hockey Online/CBS College Sports polls.  Coach Don Lucia’s Gophers play fifth ranked New Hampshire at home on Friday and Saturday nights.  Colorado College is the No. 1 team in the country.

St. Thomas and Gustavus will be among the best men’s and women’s MIAC hockey schools, according to preseason coaches polls.   St. Thomas, Hamline, Gustavus, Bethel and St. Olaf are predicted to finish one through five in men’s hockey.  The women’s top five: Gustavus, St. Thomas, Concordia, Hamline and Bethel.