Vikings offensive tackle Steve Hutchinson, a former Michigan star, spoke to the Wolverines last Friday night prior to their Saturday game with the Gophers about the home field advantage of the Metrodome. “He told us then that it’s as loud as any place he’s ever played, if not louder,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
Joel Maturi was asked for a reaction to the highly critical article by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse regarding Maturi’s contract extension and past performance as University of Minnesota athletic director. Maturi e-mailed the following: “Not my mindset to get responsive, defensive. I am proud of what we have accomplished in four years and feel very good about the direction of this Athletics Department and feel anyone who looks into the facts will surmise much the same.”
The Gophers sold 1,264 tickets on Saturday for the Michigan game, according to Maturi’s office. With more use of the Internet and phone sales, fewer day of game sales are being made.
Timberwolves president Chris Wright reports that over 500 of the “Big Ticket Packages,” offering a $21 per game lower level Target Center seat for the season, have been sold so far. The team has sold 1,300 new season tickets, up 400 from last year at this time.
Zimmerman High School football coach Dave Hamlin e-mailed that senior running back Zac Nielsen has 870 yards and 18 touchdowns in five games while playing limited minutes. “These numbers reflect only 1/2 to 2/3 of every game,” Hamlin wrote. “I usually take him out in the third quarter as we have been scoring a lot and I don’t want to run up scores or risk injury with my starters.” North Dakota State has shown interest.
Former Gopher football coach Murray Warmath, 93, was recently interviewed by a volunteer for the Minnesota Historical Society. There is a project to talk with Minnesotans about their experiences from long ago including World War II. Wamath served in the Navy and was stationed in Brazil.
Joe Janasz, former public relations director of the Minnesota North Stars, played Scottish and Irish golf courses on a recent trip with buddies to watch the Ryder Cup. A 14 handicapper, he reports the famed St. Andrews Old Course is “fairly easy.”