Gophers senior quarterback MarQueis Gray played briefly in his team’s 2009 Insight Bowl loss to Iowa State. The last two seasons Gray has been on 3-9 Minnesota teams but he believes the Gophers, who play their first game on August 30 at UNLV, will be improved and he talked about his determination in 2012.
“To leave here without a bowl win, that would be heartbreaking. I feel like we put too much time and work and effort …to not get rewarded, and that would be shocking to me.”
Among the reasons Gray chose the Gophers is his determination to help turn around the football program. While a high school player in Indianapolis, he was ranked by Rivals as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the country and top player in Indiana.
Gray said Minnesota was the only recruiting visit to a prospective school that he made. He was impressed with what he saw and heard including information about the local business community. “Minneapolis is one of the top cities in the country in Fortune 500 companies so I was figuring if it doesn’t work out in football I know I have some people around here that would be willing to hire me,” he said.
Gray has become a Gophers leader. With practice having started just last Saturday, he and his teammates are understandably optimistic about the season ahead, even if Minnesota is a popular media choice to be among the Big Ten’s worst teams. The Gophers believe in second-year coach Jerry Kill and his staff. Veteran players like Gray have the advantage now of many months spent learning the coaching staff’s schemes and philosophies. Then, too, there’s an influx of new players including several junior college transfers.
Junior safety Brock Vereen acknowledged the optimism. “There’s talk (in the locker room) about being great, being successful. Whatever comes with that, that’s what we want. That’s what we have to have.”
The Gophers were 6-7 in 2009, and then came the 3-9 records. Vereen sees a different attitude now than his first two teams at Minnesota. “This is the most confident (team). This is the most optimistic that this team has been since I’ve been here. I think everybody is so excited.”
Senior linebacker Mike Rallis said the Gophers aren’t interested in alibis for their opening game in Las Vegas. The game will likely be played in high temperatures and start at 10 p.m., presenting a time zone adjustment for the Gophers.
“I think the challenge is UNLV the team,” Rallis said. “We’re going to have to play them (the Rebels). We’re not going to have to play against the heat and the time zone. Those are just excuses and we’re not thinking about that at all. We’re just trying to prepare for a good UNLV team.”
Gophers notes:
Rallis attended Edina High School, as did sophomore wide receiver Devin Crawford-Tufts of whom much is anticipated this season. Rallis said Tufts initially came into the Edina program as a “track guy.” Rallis added: “Just like coach Kill, I am expecting big things from him this year.”
Vereen’s brother, Shane Vereen, plays for New England in the NFL. Brock said he talks to his brother every day about football and other subjects. Shane has been a mentor who exemplifies confidence and willingness to sacrifice for the team, Brock said.
Gray and fiancée Alison Behr are parents of eight month old twin boys. “I am a great father,” Gray said when asked about his parenting. “I hold the kids responsible for the things they do. …She’s more the cuddlin’ type. …I am the coach of the house.”
Gophers football practices are open to the public tomorrow starting at 9:10 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. at the Gibson-Nagurski Complex. Also the Friday practice starting at 10:25 a.m. is open to the public.
The Gophers football program has produced six national championships and 18 Big Ten titles but after recent decades of losing seasons, Minnesota’s all-time record in conference games is 37 wins under .500, 326-363-28.
Despite an attractive home schedule last season that included games with North Dakota State, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin, the Gophers didn’t sell out a single game at TCF Bank Stadium (capacity 50,805). None of those schools is on the home schedule in 2012, with the best draws being Syracuse, Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State.
Ticket prices for the Gophers game at UNLV are $19, $25 and $40, according to a July 31 article at lasvegassun.com.
Golden Valley-based Buffalo Wild Wings is the new title sponsor for the former Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona where the Gophers played in 2006, 2008 and 2009. The bowl is renamed the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and will be played on December 29.
Correction from Monday’s column: New Gophers center Brian Bobek, a transfer from Ohio State, will have two seasons of eligibility with Minnesota starting in 2013, not three.
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