It will be Bruce Smith Day tomorrow for the Gophers game at TCF Bank Stadium. A bust by Faribault artist Ivan Whillock immortalizing Smith, a Faribault native and the only Gopher ever to win the Heisman Trophy, will soon be on permanent display in the Hall of Fame at the stadium. The bust will be presented by Bruce Krinke and other Smith admirers to University president Eric Kaler and athletic director Joel Maturi between the first and second quarters. Smith trading cards will be given out to fans and the bust will be on display near the stadium plaza before the game.
The Gophers-Miami (Ohio) game tomorrow afternoon will be telecast by the Big Ten Network and the broadcast crew will include former Minnesota coach Glen Mason.
North St. Paul mayor Mike Kuehn told Sports Headliners he supports a referendum in Ramsey County regarding the proposed Vikings Stadium in Arden Hills. He said “several cities” in Ramsey County, including his, have seen their councils approve resolutions opposing the use of a half cent sales tax increase to help fund a facility on the Twin Cities Army Ammunition site.
Kuehn said the resolution passed in North St. Paul recognized the Vikings as a community asset and stated no preference for stadium location but objected to the county being a partner dedicating a half cent sales tax increase. Kuehn said the sales tax percentage increase is too large and the county and his city have too many other pressing needs.
Ted Mondale, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission chair, will be the First Friday speaker on October 7 at the University of St. Thomas. The commission and Metropolitan Council are expected to issue a report in October about the feasibility of the proposed stadium in Arden Hills.
The Bucs team that plays the Vikings at Mall of America Field on Sunday lost 27-20 to Detroit in the opening regular season game for both teams. Sports Illustrated predicted in its September 5 issue the Bucs will finish behind the Saints and Falcons but ahead of the Panthers in the NFC South.
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will be trying for his third consecutive regular season game with one interception and one sack.
The attendance of 114,804 in Ann Arbor last Saturday for the Michigan-Notre Dame game was the largest crowd ever to watch a college or professional game. After two weeks Big Ten home games have attracted more than 1.4 million fans, but Illinois followers don’t seem too excited about coach Ron Zook’s 30-45 career record in Champaign. Illinois has drawn home crowds of 45,154 and 42,212 in its first two games.
Don’t think the Big Ten hasn’t been hurt by the demise of Michigan and Ohio State. The conference has four teams in the A.P. top 25 including league newcomer Nebraska. The highest ranked team is Wisconsin at No. 7, followed by No. 10 Nebraska, No. 15 Michigan State and No. 17 Ohio State.
Hopkins coach John DenHartog said via email that his much recruited wide receiver Andre McDonald has better speed and strength after “hard training” in the offseason. “Andre has made himself into the best blocking WR on our team,” DenHartog wrote.
The Lynx open the Western Conference playoffs tonight against San Antonio at Target Center and not only is there optimism about winning a WNBA championship this fall but the future beyond could see more titles. The Lynx produced a league best 27-7 record and standout players are 30 or younger. Included are Rebekkah Brunson, No. 3 in league rebounding, and Lindsay Whalen, the WNBA’s assist leader, who are both 29, and the league’s best rookie, Maya Moore, 22. Seimone Augustus, 27, was eighth in the WNBA with a scoring average of 16.2 during the regular season.
The Klas family, dedicated for decades to helping people with developmental and learning disabilities, holds its women’s charity golf tournament on Monday. The Tapemark Charity Women’s Golf Event at Southview Country Club is open to all women amateur golfers.
Five St. Thomas teams came into the week ranked nationally in Division III polls. Football is ranked fourth and in the top 10 for the 20th consecutive poll. Volleyball is seventh and has been ranked in 72 of the last 73 polls. Women’s soccer is ranked No. 21, men’s cross country No. 30 and women’s cross country No. 34. St. Thomas is the only Division III school with nationally ranked and unbeaten teams in both football and volleyball.
