Author: David Shama

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster talking about Saturday’s non-conference game against Florida Atlantic at the dome: “For us to have a chance to win against Florida Atlantic, it’s going to take our best effort.”

The Gophers, 3-0, have had an easier non-conference schedule than the Owls, 1-2.   Florida Atlantic has lost to Texas and Michigan State on the road, with a home win over UAB.  The Gophers won at home against Northern Illinois and Montana State, and on the road at Bowling Green.

Brewster said the Gophers are No. 1 in the country in red zone efficiency (inside the 20 yard line).

When the Gophers play in Columbus against Ohio State a week from Saturday they could be seeing true freshman Terrelle Pryor starting at quarterback for Ohio State.  Arguably the most highly sought prep recruit in the country earlier this year, Pryor looks on course to replace senior Todd Boeckman at quarterback.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said in the September 15 issue of Sporting News that his White Sox team has “more talent” than the Twins.  Guillen admires Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire, saying he doesn’t receive the credit he deserves.  Writer Steve Greenberg described the interview as “crude, hilarious and unfailingly provocative.”

The Twins have lost 13 of their last 22 games but are still only 1.5 games behind the White Sox in the Central Division race.  The White Sox come to Minneapolis for a three-game series starting next Tuesday.

Last night’s Twins-Rays game in St. Petersburg drew 17,296 fans at the 36,000 seat Tropicana Field, according to the Star Tribune.  That’s startling since the Rays and Twins are contenders for division championships.  Tampa Bay has been the most pleasant surprise among major league teams but season attendance is awful.  Usually a winning team brings out the fans even in a mediocre sports market, but not in Tampa-St. Pete.

The Minnesota Thunder is promoting breast cancer awareness at its final regular season home game on Saturday at the National Sports Center.  In conjunction with Rock The Cure (www.rockthecure.org), the Thunder organization is donating a portion of the game’s proceeds to Twin Cities area breast cancer charities.

The Thunder will be wearing pink jerseys at Saturday’s game which will be auctioned off for charity during the game. Players will autograph the jerseys before the winning bidder receives them.

Fans can purchase a limited edition pink t-shirt and ticket package for only $20, or can purchase the t-shirt separately for $10.  Both can be purchased online at www.mnthunder.com or by calling 651-294-4664.  T-shirts will also be available for purchase at the game.  To purchase single game tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 651-989-5151.

Safety Joey Lehman, from Coon Rapids High School, ran an interception back 40 yards for a touchdown to help Concordia University-Saint Paul beat Minnesota State University Moorhead 27-23 victory last Saturday.  He also blocked an extra point attempt and was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week.

Let’s be direct about the announcement to name the new baseball stadium Target Field.  The naming rights provide a bold face entry into the Minnesota Twins’ revenue budget.  It also furthers Target Corporation’s name and identity in its hometown.

However, I doubt that the Target Field name wins a popularity contest with Twins fans. A Star Tribune online poll on Monday was showing respondents disapproving 57 to 42 percent.

There’s no baseball connection to the name and Target Field isn’t exactly a charming nameplate either.  Awhile back this space suggested Wheaties Field.  Wheaties, the long time hometown product and breakfast of champions, has a special image and even sponsored Minneapolis Millers baseball years ago.

Instead, I suppose, we’ll hear the stadium referred to by some as “Discount Field.”  That’s not a feel good phrase but it’s an easy wisecrack from those who have described the nearby Target Center as the “Discount Center.”

An ongoing criticism of the Twins’ management is not spending enough money to acquire talent.  A potential coupon clipping reputation at Target Field will be new material for the cynics.

I will take the Target Field name over the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome nameplate.  The tribute to the former vice president of the United States is fine but Metrodome is part of the overdone tradition that included Metropolitan Stadium and the Metropolitan Sports Center.

Metro?  Clever, eh?

Give me a name like Memorial Stadium, the former home of Golden Gopher football that was a tribute to University students and workers who served in World War I.  The old Millers’ stadium, Nicollet Park, was spot on as well, although it could have been Wheaties Field.

Florida Atlantic’s Rusty Smith is ranked the No. 11 quarterback in college football, according to the September 15 issue of Sporting News.  The Owls (1-2) play the Gophers (3-0) on Saturday at the Metrodome, Minnesota’s last non-conference game of the season.

In Miami last year the Owls, in only their seventh year of college football, surprised the Gophers in a high scoring 42-39 game.  Smith, then a sophomore, completed 27 of 44 passes and threw five touchdown passes.

The Gophers’ Adam Weber, then a redshirt freshman, was 31 of 47, with four touchdown passes but threw four interceptions in his first college road game. This season Weber has yet to throw an interception in three games while completing six touchdown passes.

Although coach Tim Brewster has said Weber will be among the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten Conference, Sporting News ranked seven QB’s from the league ahead of Weber, rated the No. 47 quarterback in America.  All seven of the quarterbacks ahead of him are juniors and seniors, having had more time to make their reputations.  (The top three quarterbacks listed are Pat White of West Virginia, Tim Tebow of Florida, and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma.)

Brewster was asked yesterday by Sports Headliners about Smith.  “You know, I think Rusty Smith is a heck of a quarterback,” he said. “…I think he deserves any accolades that he gets. …I am not into rating guys exactly.  All’s I know is this: I wouldn’t trade Adam for anybody in America right now.”

So far this season Smith, a 6-5 pocket passer known for his accuracy, has four touchdown passes while completing 44 of 99 passes with one interception and is averaging 240.3 yards passing per game.  Weber is 60 of 86 averaging 240 yards per game.  Smith, though, has faced the more difficult schedule playing Texas and Michigan State, along with UAB.  Weber has faced Northern Illinois, Bowling Green and Montana State.