Gophers football and basketball notes:
An ESPN producer was in Minnesota this week working on a story about 1941 Gophers Heisman Trophy winner Bruce Smith, according to Bruce Krinke. The story will be an eight minute segment that will air beginning on November 6 as part of the network’s “Outside the Lines” programming.
“Outside the Lines,” hosted by Bob Ley, is producing segments like the Smith story that ties together sports and Veterans Day on November 11, according to Krinke who is a Smith family friend and was instrumental in giving a bust of the deceased Gophers football hero to the University last month. Smith was presented with the Heisman only two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and he later served in the U.S. Navy.
Gophers football coach Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that he has been “seizure free” for awhile. “I don’t know the exact time, but it’s been 10 days anyway,” he said.
The progress has come with effective control of his medications and having the “right amount of sleep” as he settles into a routine. “We feel very comfortable where we’re at,” Kill said. “I just gotta take care of myself and make sure I do all the things they (doctors) tell me.”
It’s almost one year ago (October 17, 2010) that athletic director Joel Maturi announced the dismissal of Gophers football coach Tim Brewster. “You know, Minnesota can and should be competitive in the Big Ten,” Maturi said at the news conference announcing the change.
Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith raved about incoming freshmen players Joe Coleman and Andre Hollins yesterday at media day. Smith, now in his 39th year of coaching, praised the two for their work ethics and maturity. “I don’t think maybe we’ve ever recruited two better people in my career,” he said.
Hollins will be in competition with sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi and junior college transfer Julian Welch for the starting point guard position. Coleman could push junior small forward Rodney Williams for the starting job.
Smith said an announcement on his contract extension could come soon. He also said there’s nothing to report on funding for a new practice facility.