Philip Nelson, 19, will make his second start as the Gophers quarterback tomorrow. He’s accepted as the new leader of the offense, according to MarQueis Gray.
Nelson, a freshman and earlier this year the No. 3 quarterback, sat on the sidelines for only six games before becoming the starter last week atWisconsin. Gray, who will be 22 next month, waited three years after high school to become the Gophers No. 1 quarterback last season.
A high ankle sprain and knee injury suffered against Western Michigan on September 15 sidelined Gray for two-plus games. More recently he hasn’t been healthy enough to reclaim the quarterback job and coach Jerry Kill will send Gray out to play wide receiver against Purdue tomorrow, a position that will subject him to much less punishment than quarterback.
Gray started 10 of 11 games at quarterback for the Gophers last season. This preseason he was viewed as the team’s MVP, the one player the Gophers couldn’t be without. Teammates admire his athleticism and look at him as a leader.
Gray prefers to play quarterback but understands his circumstances now and voices support for Nelson. Gray said “the offense is going to accept whoever is back there (at quarterback),” and he is supportive of Nelson. What can Gray do to lessen the pressure on the true freshman?
“Keep building his confidence in the huddle, on the sidelines, (and) catching everything that comes my way (at receiver),” Gray said. “Making sure I am making the right blocks. Being in his head about how this game is slower than what most people may think it is. Realizing that he’s the leader of this offense now. … Just being out there encouraging him is the best thing I can do.”
Nelson, who played high school football at Mankato West, enrolled at Minnesota early this year so he could be around his new teammates and learn the offense. He made friends and developed rapport with teammates. He said the Gophers “trust” the coaches and “whoever is back there will get support from them (the players).”
Kill is an admirer of Nelson’s skills including his release in throwing the ball. The coach said Nelson’s release is quicker than Gray’s or No. 2 quarterback Max Shortell. “You could see that on Saturday, if you watched the game,” Kill said.
Not unexpectedly, Nelson made mistakes in his first college start but he was impressive including when he ran effectively. In the Wisconsin game he was the team’s leading rusher with 16 carries and 67 net yards. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. He showed an ability to avoid tacklers even in the pocket and wasn’t sacked.
What about tomorrow? “It’s going to be real exciting,” Nelson said. “Us as a team really want to come out and win this one for sure. This is a must win.”
The Gophers, 4-3, have lost three consecutive games (0-3 in the Big Ten). With five games remaining and trying to reach at least six wins to become bowl eligible, there’s no doubting the importance of defeating a Purdue team with a mediocre 3-4 overall record and 0-3 in the Big Ten.
It will be an opportunity for Nelson to lead, but if something were to happen to him during the game Shortell will likely be the replacement. As Kill said earlier in the week, Gray just isn’t “100 percent.”
Gray said he tries to keep his attitude positive around teammates, admitting he’s “been through a lot.” How does he approach these recent weeks where his health has been a problem?
“Just realizing that there’s people out there in the world who is going through more than what I am,” he answered. “That’s one of the reasons how I keep my head. Coming through there (practice), going home to my kids. …”
Worth Noting
Since January of 2011 the injury log for high profile Minnesota athletes sidelined with significant health problems includes Gray, Trevor Mbakwe, Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Adrian Peterson, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Mikko Koivu.
Contrary to what some fans believe, the $800,000 the Gophers will pay North Carolina to cancel two football games between the Tar Heels and Minnesota isn’t taxpayers’ money. The money is from the Gophers athletic department, which is self-supporting except for three percent of its budget going to facilities.
The Golden Gopher Football Banquet will be held on Sunday, November 25 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis.
Samantha Steele, the ESPN reporter who is dating Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, is a native of Phoenix, the daughter of a coach, played five sports in high school, attended Liberty University and devotes time to her family’s nonprofit organization benefitting inner city youth, according to the samanthasteele.com website.
Ponder asked after last night’s 36-17 loss to the Bucs if his performance has regressed from earlier in the season: “I think I definitely have to play better. I don’t think I’m playing as well as I should, or can. Defenses are always going to be scheming against us. We have to make adjustments, and we will make adjustments. Coach (Bill) Musgrave comes up with a great game plan; we just have to play better. It comes down to me. I have to play better. I think that’s obvious to everyone.”
Attendance last night was 60,860, the second consecutive home game the Vikings have drawn over 60,000.
Vikings defensive tackle Letroy Guion’s career plans after football are to become a chef, according to the Playbook publication distributed at Vikings games. What’s his favorite meal to cook or eat? “Oxtails, mac ‘n cheese, yellow rice and collard greens,” he told Playbook.
Sports Media News reported on Wednesday that for seven consecutive weeks an NFL game has ranked as the most-watched program on national television. The source also reported the Minneapolis market bested 16 other NFL markets in ratings (31) and audience share (67) for the Vikings-Cardinals game last Sunday at Mall of America Field.
It could be a high scoring game tomorrow when Augsburg (4-2 in the MIAC) plays at St. Thomas (5-0). St. Thomas’ Matt O’Connell and Augsburg’s Ayrton Scott are both among the league’s top six in passing and rushing. The two teams lead the league in points per game (39.4 for St. Thomas, 37.0 for Augsburg) and are also 1-2 in total offense.
The Timberwolves rank No. 9 among 15 teams in the Western Conference, according to the October 29 issue of Sports Illustrated. In the publication’s NBA preview story an anonymous scout said point guard Ricky Rubio can be better than former league MVP Steve Nash, and he would be “shocked” if newly acquired shooting guard Brandon Roy can make a major impact because of knee problems.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $85 for the February 17 Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field in Chicago. The college doubleheader matches the Gophers against Wisconsin and Miami-Notre Dame. The Gophers face the U.S. Under-18 Team tonight at Mariucci Arena. Minnesota plays Canisius Sunday afternoon at Mariucci, the first game ever between the schools.
Gophers coach Don Lucia is the 10th coach in NCAA Division I hockey history to have 600 wins (600-329-83).
After five games playing for the Aeros in the AHL, Wild prospect Mikael Granlund leads the team in points with seven, while Marco Scandella has six and Jason Zucker five.
It will be 21 years ago tomorrow that Jack Morris pitched the Twins to a game seven win and World Series championship against the Braves at the Metrodome.
The Big Ten announced yesterday that Ohio State’s Tayler Hill (from Minneapolis South) and Penn State’s Alex Bentley were chosen by Big Ten women’s coaches as Co-Preseason Player of the Year, while a media panel chose only Hill. The Gophers Rachel Banham was one of seven players on the coaches preseason all-Big Ten team.
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