Author: David Shama

Tom Mulhern, a Wisconsin State Journal sportswriter, had an article earlier this week on Badgerbeat.com describing what some see as the flawed reality of the Wisconsin football program.  The complaint is with the Badgers not maintaining pre-season and early season national rankings, past and present.  Fans are upset now about two straight losses that have sent the team from a top 10 ranking to No. 24 (A.P.), or lower, depending on the poll.  And get this: two fans who posted replies to Mulhern’s article are interested in dumping third year coach Bret Bielema (24-7 record) and hiring Vikings coach and former Badger offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

Last year after six games the Gophers’ record was 1-5 overall, 0-2 in the Big Ten Conference.  Going into tomorrow’s game at Illinois the Gophers are 5-1 and 2-0 in the conference. Junior wide receiver Eric Decker was asked about the difference in team confidence.  “Big time confidence,” he said.  “Every week you see guys come out to practice fired up.  And that’s the biggest thing from last year to this year, I think, is guys are more excited.  I feel like we’re just in there with everybody else and that gives us momentum going into every week.”

Vikings’ cornerback Antoine Winfield, named the NFL’s defensive player of the week for his performance at New Orleans, is tied with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for the second most touchdowns on the team with two each.  Running back Adrian Peterson has three.

The Vikings play a Detroit team on Sunday that is 0-4 and the Lions’ stats rank toward the bottom of the 32 team NFL.  The total offense per game of 263 ranks 28^th in the league and the net yards rushing average of 72.3 is 31^st.  The Lions are giving up 429 yards total offense per game, last in the league.  The 180 net yards rushing yielded per game ranks 30^th, while the net yards passing of 249 is 29^th in the NFL.

The Wild opens its season tomorrow night (Saturday) against Boston at Xcel Energy Center.  The two franchises haven’t played in Minnesota since December 15, 2005, a 3-2 Wild loss.  The Wild is 6-1-0 in all games against Boston.

Boston defensemen Andrew Alberts (Minneapolis) and Mark Stuart (Rochester), and forward Blake Wheeler (Robbinsdale) are Minnesota natives.  Bruins’ goalie Manny Fernandez was with the Wild from 2000-2007.  He only played in four games last season because he injured his left knee in late October.  He was 2-1-0 with a 3.29 goals against average in pre-season.

Sports Illustrated predicts Detroit will beat Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup finals. The magazine picks the Wild to repeat as Northwest Division champions.  The franchise’s first ever division title banner will be on display prior to tomorrow night’s game.

Wolves’ guard Rashad McCants seems the most likely name to come up in any trade talks this fall.

Among the positive developments with the Gopher football program is that coach Tim Brewster and staff are stockpiling players.  Through fate and planning, the Gophers probably will have an interesting and somewhat unusual mix next season of transfers, delayed eligible players, and those physically sidelined in 2008.

This group will be added to a roster of returnees and 2009 recruits that is likely to provide the Gophers with the most depth and talent since at least 2005.  On the current first team offensive and defensive depth charts, the Gophers have only three seniors so they could have 19 returning starters if all stay eligible and healthy.  The 2009 recruiting class, which probably will include immediate help from junior college players, is likely to be better than 2008 and even more attention grabbing because of the addition of transfers, delayed eligibles and personnel physically not able to participate.

Transfers Matt Carufel and Kim Royston, former Cretin-Derham Hall high schoolers, had playing experience at Notre Dame and Wisconsin in 2006 and 2007.  Carufel and Royston will at minimum add quality depth to the offensive line and defensive backfield when they become eligible next year.

The Gophers hope to have four-star quarterback MarQueis Gray eligible and in school by next winter.  Before he was declared ineligible, Gray was considered the prize of the 2008 recruiting class and he’s been compared to Ohio State’s freshman phenom, quarterback Terrelle Pryor.  Another member of the 2008 recruiting class who isn’t eligible now but will be for certain is linebacker Spencer Reeves, a three-star recruit.

Linebacker Sam Maresh was another headliner in the 2008 recruiting class.  Maresh had open heart surgery earlier this spring but he may be able to begin his freshman season next year with the Gophers.  The team’s best running back, sophomore Duane Bennett, was lost for the season in game two because of a left knee injury.  Because he was injured so early this year, he will have three more seasons of eligibility.

The talent pool is growing deeper and it needs to after losing key in-state recruits in recent years including Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitus, Nebraska wide receiver Nathan Swift and Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd.  All three on this year’s Gopher team might be the difference between a seven win season and a 10.

The Gophers, 5-1, are likely to win at least a couple more games (assuming no injuries to quarterback Adam Weber or receiver Eric Decker) and that improvement after a 1-11 season last year could be good for more than a bowl game.  It wouldn’t be surprising if a winning season influenced the college choices of Washburn tight end Ra’Shede Hageman and Breck wide receiver Bryce McNeal, two of the state’s best preps.

“It doesn’t look too good, does it?”  That was the comment of an NHL source on Monday when Sports Headliners asked whether the Wild will sign Marian Gaborik to a new contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The source, who requested that his name not be used, shares the growing opinion that Gaborik wants to play for another team after this season.  “Those (type of negotiations) are the ones that worry you because it’s not about the money,” he said.

If it’s not about the money, then what it is?  Presumably the opportunity to play in a system where the high-scoring 26-year-old forward can have more freedom to show his offensive skills.

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire emphasizes a defensive style of play. “He (Gaborik) gets tired (of)…playing in that restricted system–defense first, defense first,” the source said.

He suspects, though, that this season Lemaire may give Gaborik more offensive freedom.  “Jacques is not stupid, he knows how important this guy is to this team,” the source said.

The Wild could repeat as Northwest Division champions but that task will be much easier with Gaborik here all season, instead of traded away.  Then, too, the Gaborik contract situation is a potential distraction affecting the team.  “The longer it drags and the more I see (discouraging) quotes from the agent, the more I am afraid they won’t get it done,” the source said.

He likes the additions made to the team in the off-season, mentioning defensemen Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron, and forward Owen Nolan.  The Wild’s nucleus of young players like Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns, Mikko Koivu, James Sheppard and Nick Schultz impresses him, too.  A repeat 2006-2007 performance by goalie Niklas Backstrom would elevate the Wild’s play this season, too.

Minnesota opens the season on Saturday night at home against Boston.