Gopher football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners earlier this week he wants Adam Weber to carry the ball in future games fewer times than he did in last week’s season opening loss to Bowling Green.  Weber, a redshirt freshman playing in his first game, had 18 rushing attempts and gained 72 yards.  Only running back Amir Pinnix, who rushed 28 times for 168 yards, ran more than Weber for the Gophers.

The Gophers new spread offense produced 434 total yards, 246 rushing and 188 passing. “We felt very good about what the spread gave us the other night,” Brewster said.  “Obviously we don’t want our quarterback to run it 18 times each game.  We would like for him to run it anywhere from six to 10 times a game. …

“We had tremendous rushing numbers. We averaged over five yards a carry.  I was really pleased…with the offensive production.  We were at 11 out of 18 on third downs (conversions).”

The spread is a quarterback focused offense with a team dependent on its QB for running, passing and decision making.  The opportunity to be a runner carries with it the risk of injury.  Brewster said he’s prepared to play two quarterbacks this season, perhaps three.  “Injuries happen, particularly if your quarterback is running the option and doing some things that way,” Brewster said.  “That doesn’t scare us. …”

Redshirt junior Tony Mortensen, who has one game start in two seasons as a Gopher, is Weber’s replacement.  Third on the list is Brewster’s son, Clint, who may or may not be redshirted depending on circumstances.  Clint has been told to prepare every day as if he will play.  “He can never have the mindset that’s he’s going to be redshirted.” Brewster said.

Weber completed 15 of 31 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns last Saturday.  After a shaky first half, Weber settled down and showed Brewster that despite the inexperience he was up to the assignment of quarterbacking the complex spread system.  Any doubts Brewster had were eliminated.  “I was really pleased with his composure,” Brewster said. “His ability to communicate what he saw on the field, what was happening.  He had a really nice calmness about him. …”

The Vikings were the most penalized team in the NFL last season and ranked 26^th in scoring among 32 teams.

It will be interesting to see if Troy Williamson holds on to his starting wide receiver position with the Vikings.  He caught only three passes for 32 yards in pre-season.

Top prep basketball recruits Colton Iverson of Yankton, South Dakota and Ralph Sampson III of Duluth, Georgia will visit the University of Minnesota this weekend, according to Mike Max of WCCO TV.  He reported earlier this week that Iverson’s college choices are down to two schools, Minnesota and Florida.  Rivals.com has written that Sampson’s interest in Minnesota is “very high.”

A source told Sports Headliners via e-mail that young Timberwolves players including Randy Foye, Sebastian Telfair, Corey Brewer, Chris Richard, Ryan Gomes and Rashad McCants are in town this week working out for assistant coaches at Target Center.  The Wolves leave for training camp in Turkey later this month.

Rex Kalamian has left the Timberwolves coaching staff to become an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings and work for new head coach Reggie Theus.  It’s believed that Kalamian will have more coaching responsibility with the Kings than with the Wolves.

Concordia College senior fullback Adam Swingdorf, St. Olaf College senior linebacker Nick Rydberg and Saint John’s University junior place kicker/punter Russ Gliadon have been named MIAC players of the week.  Swingdorf rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns last week, while Rydberg had 14 tackles and Gliadon kicked two field goals and made seven extra points.

Interested in a road trip? Just because the unofficial end of summer has come and gone with Labor Day, that doesn’t mean travel has to stop.  Here are seven sports destinations to ponder:

Chicago.  Now that schools are back in session, getting a ticket to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field should go as smooth as the Old Style you’ll enjoy while sitting in the sun-soaked bleachers. Beer, hot dogs and eye candy like the ivy-covered outfield walls make cozy Wrigley Field arguably baseball’s most charming facility.  While you’re in town dine at Charlie Trotter’s restaurant, recommended in my 2003 edition of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.  Let your boss or rich uncle treat.

Kentucky. Why the Bluegrass state?  First, visit historic Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.  Then head over to Lexington and try for a Tubby Smith sighting. Next, make your way to Campbellsville and Clem Haskins’ farm while listening to a CD of “Nothing But a Heartbreak” by the Flirtations.

Collegeville, Minnesota. Wait for the fall colors to peak in central Minnesota and then make the drive to Saint John’s University. The campus is spectacular, the football better and the legendary coach the best. John Gagliardi is 80, going on 40, and in search of his fifth national championship.  They ought to put this place on the national list of historic places.

Madison.  This is a great mid-sized town and a fun atmosphere to experience major college football. If you don’t believe that, ask the UW Madison alumni who make their home in Minneapolis-St. Paul. They’ll probably tell you all the things that are wonderful about the state of Wisconsin including Badger football.  What I don’t get is how come all those alums live here instead of in Dairyland? Give the Mad Towners and other Wisconsinites their due, though.  They know how to party.  “Roll out the barrel…”

Iowa City.  A former Gopher football player told me he almost chose the Hawkeyes but “there’s not much to do” in Iowa City.  Oh, I don’t know about that.  When I watch Iowa games on TV that water tower in the background of Kinnick Stadium looks pretty exciting.  Kinnick, by the way, with its proximity to the playing field, might be the best stadium in the Big Ten Conference.  Maybe the lack of glitz explains why two things are evident about the Iowa coaching staff.  One, Kirk Ferentz and company can coach with the best in America.  Two, they can’t recruit great players to Iowa City. On November 10 the Gophers try to get their first win in Iowa City since 1999.

Green Bay.  After the Gopher game, head to Green Bay for the Vikings-Packers game on November 11.  Before entering the city limits of Green Bay remove your shoes in a display of reverence for St. Vincent Lombardi and Lambeau Stadium, the Packer shrine.  My friend Ken Lien made his first Lambeau Field pilgrimage last month, traveling from Minneapolis to Green Bay. “Lambeau Field has got to be the ‘mecca’ of any level of football viewing,” Lien wrote in an e-mail. “The stands/fans are close to the field…we could dang near hear the players/coaches talking. But I’ll tell you, Dave, those fans treat that team like it’s a damn ‘cult,’ or like another high school or college team. It’s unbelievable. …”  While you’re at Lambeau, visit the Packer Hall of Fame.  If you dare, keep an eye out for the ghost of Lombardi.

Baton Rouge. For those with extra time and gas money, head to Bayou country. There’s no Minnesota connection, but go anyway.  Tiger Stadium, home of the national championship contending LSU football team, has been known for decades as a house of horrors for visiting teams and fans.  The noise is deafening and the electricity can be seen all the way to New Orleans.  Rumor has it that even Alabama’s Paul Bear Bryant, the greatest college football coach of all time, was kind of scared in Death Valley. That’s really something because Bryant was so brave he once wrestled a bear.