Tom Jurich, arguably the best athletic director in the country, played football at Northern Arizona when former Gopher quarterback and coach Joe Salem coached there. Jurich, who became Louisville’s athletic director in 1997, has a contract through 2016. He and Louisville were in the national spotlight last week when the No. 3 ranked Cardinals football team hosted Rutgers in probably the most prominent game in Big East Conference history. Jurich hired Rick Pitino as basketball coach, Bobby Petrino as football coach, is talking about expanding the football stadium from 42,000 seats to over 63,000 and has been praised for his support of gender equity in the athletic department.
It will be a special family and friends Thanksgiving weekend for the Larry Fitzgerald family. Larry Sr. said when his son Larry Jr. comes to Minneapolis with his Arizona Cardinals teammates to play the Vikings on November 26 he expects 25 or more family and friends from Chicago to attend the game. While his son grew up here and starred at Holy Angels, dad is from Chicago. Larry Jr., a 2006 Pro Bowl selection after his second season in the NFL, is 23 years old, while rookie quarterback Matt Leinart is also 23. “Matt’s a winner,” Larry Sr. said. “He (Larry Jr.) is excited to grow up with him professionally and help change the (losing) culture of the Cardinals. “
Star Tribune writer Judd Zulgad, now on the Vikings beat, lived in Green Bay for two seasons (2003 and 2004) while covering the Packers for the Star Tribune. The company paid for an apartment and Zulgad enjoyed the experience until the paper reassigned him to cover the Vikings. “I got fat from all the beer and cheese,” Zulgad said.
Center Pavol Demitra, goalie Manny Fernandez, right wing Marian Gaborik and center Brian Rolston have been named to the 2006-07 NHL all-star ballot. Players on the ballot were selected by the NHL’s hockey operations department. From November 15 through January 2 fans can vote for Eastern and Western Conference All-Star starters on-line at NHL.com.
Vern Mikkelsen’s new book (“The Vern Mikkelsen Story,” Nodin Press) reports that the Detroit Gems franchise was purchased for $15,000.00 in 1947 and became the Minneapolis Lakers. Mikkelsen, the power forward on four world championship teams in Minneapolis, turned down an offer to own 25% of the team from owner Bob Short. The offer was contingent on Mikkelsen relocating with the Lakers to Los Angeles. Mikkelsen writes that over the years his wife Jean occasionally asked how much money that 25% would be worth. According to Forbes.com, the franchise is valued at over $500 million but back in 1960 Mikkelsen didn’t think “basketball had much of a chance there” (southern California).
Bethel’s Natalie Gartner, a junior defenseman, is the daughter of Mike Garnter who played 19 seasons in the NHL including one with the Minnesota North Stars. Teammate Sandra Felten recently scored five goals in one game, a Division III record.
Gold Country Stores is adding an eighth Goldy’s Locker Room location with the opening of a store in Rosedale Center on Friday, November 24. Gold Country Vice President Troy Amundson said sales of Minnesota Wild and Gopher hockey products has been strong this fall.