Gophers coach Jerry Kill was coaching at Southern Illinois in 2005 when he collapsed from a seizure.  He recently told the Big Ten Network on its “Step Into My Office” show he was unconscious for about three days while in the hospital.  “I didn’t miss any games,” Kill said on the show.

Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said he expects Lamonte Edwards, who started playing linebacker last week in practice, will “definitely” be ready to play in the Purdue game a week from Saturday.  Edwards had focused on playing running back until last week.

The evolution of Marcus Sherels as a football player continued last Sunday.  The former Rochester athlete had to develop his career with the Gophers before being an undrafted rookie with the Vikings last year on the practice squad and participating in one game.  Sherels, who was a Gopher walk-on before becoming a starting cornerback, had a highlight day on Sunday that included a 53-yard punt return and a solid tackle on a Lions punt returner.  A reserve defensive back, Sherels had a 64-yard interception touchdown return in preseason this summer.

Vikings backup quarterback Joe Webb, who has college experience catching the ball, lined up for one play at receiver for the Vikings on Sunday.

The three most visible prep football prospects in the state who haven’t verbally committed to the Gophers are Eden Prairie offensive tackle Nick Davidson, Osseo tight end Will Johnson and Hopkins wide receiver Andre McDonald.  Gopherhole.com recruiting authority Chris Monter told Sports Headliners Johnson is the most likely of the three to become a Gophers commit, but no assurances on that happening.  Davidson has reportedly narrowed his list to a few schools but Minnesota isn’t included, while McDonald has verbally committed to Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt is historically the worst program in the SEC and a “graveyard” for coaches, but new coach James Franklin is making a splash in Nashville with his positive approach and results on the field.  The Commodores are 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC, and their wins include a 30-7 victory over Mississippi that McDonald saw during his visit to Nashville earlier this month.

Detroit Lakes prep football coach Flint Motschenbacher earned career win No. 100 last week with a victory over Staples-Motley.  Motschenbacher’s record is 100-41.

Gophers basketball director of operations Joe Esposito said Minnesota’s upcoming nonconference schedule is the most difficult among Big Ten teams, according to RPI data.  Esposito said the Gophers continue to “entertain” the possibility of playing a high profile opponent in a nonconference game at Xcel Energy Center.

ESPN college basketball expert Andy Katz includes Minnesota among the college teams that could enjoy surprising success next season. He believes that except for Ohio State, the Gophers front line could be the Big Ten’s best.  (See ESPN.go.com September 16 story).

The Twins are the most likely of major league baseball’s last place division teams to have a big turnaround season in 2012, according to the September 26 issue of Sports Illustrated.  The magazine predicts that if Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are healthy and hitting, the Twins “have the best chance to go from cellar dweller to champagne popper.”

Only once in Twins history has the club not had a pitcher win at least 10 games in one season but that is likely to happen this year.  Team leaders Francisco Liriano and Brian Duensing have each won nine games but neither is scheduled to start before the season ends tomorrow night.  During the 1981 strike shortened season Pete Redfern was 9-8 for the Twins.

Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey has lost eight consecutive games, the longest club streak since Boof Bonser in 2007.

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The Vikings should take a game plan to Kansas City next Sunday that includes providing rookie quarterback Christian Ponder an opportunity to play.

It probably makes the most sense to again start 34-year-old quarterback Donovan McNabb and ease Ponder in the game.  Let Ponder in the game by the second quarter, regardless of how McNabb is producing.

If McNabb is off to his best start in four games, at least let Ponder play for a series or two and gain regular season experience.  If McNabb is playing so-so − or even poorly − that’s more reason to put the rookie in the game.

Based on the first three games of the season, the offense needs more from the quarterback position than McNabb has produced.  He’s occasionally impressive and often mediocre, but what he’s clearly demonstrated is an inability to make the biggest of plays when needed the most.

Simply put, the 0-3 Vikings need a more productive playmaker at the quarterback position.  Can Ponder be the answer?  Well, he’s definitely considered the future and the heir to McNabb.  At least allow him an NFL introduction, even if it’s limited next Sunday in Kansas City against a Chiefs team that is also 0-3.

Yesterday the offense could produce only three second half points in a 26-23 overtime loss to Detroit.  The outcome might have been different if on a fourth and one early in the fourth quarter the Vikings could have gained one yard at the Detroit 17 yard line and added to their 20-17 lead.

Toby Gerhart was stopped for no gain and a crowd that urged the Vikings to decide against a field goal was left wondering if the right decision was made.  Conventional coaching wisdom probably was to take the points.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen wasn’t about to second-guess in the locker room after the game. “You get that first down, now you’re going for the jugular,” he said.  “I like that kind of football.  I would put my paycheck saying that these guys can get one yard.”

For the third consecutive week the Vikings blew a half time lead, this time being up 20-0.  After the game players were frustrated just as they were after losing 17-7 and 17-0 leads the previous weeks.

“We’re trying to win games.  We have such a talented team,” Allen said. “We’re the best first half team in football.  Something doesn’t transfer over.  It ain’t a lack of effort.”

Allen had three sacks in the game and the Vikings other defensive end, Brian Robision, had two.  Robison, like Allen, said he didn’t have an explanation for the second half failures.

“We gotta figure it out,” Robison said.  “If we don’t, it’s going to be a long, long season.”

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Looks like Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak will be enjoying hot sauces after winning a bet with Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon.  The Lynx eliminated Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals to move on to the WNBA Finals starting next Sunday at Target Center.  The Lynx will play either Atlanta or Indiana in a best of five series with all games telecast on ESPN2.

Sporting News Magazine’s list of the top 100 NFL players in the September 26 issue won’t make Vikings fans do cartwheels.  In its annual ratings of players the publication has nine Packers ─ more than any other NFL team ─ and includes four players with Vikings-ties among “ten of the most notable” players who were dropped from last year’s list.

Those four are ex-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and three players on the 2011 roster, guard Steve Hutchinson, quarterback Donovan McNabb and defensive tackle Kevin Williams.  The Packers include quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ranked No. 1 on the 100 player list.

The Vikings have four players in the top 100 including running back Adrian Peterson, rated No. 9.  The others are wide receiver-kick returner Percy Harvin at No. 70, defensive end Jared Allen, No. 71, and cornerback Antoine Winfield, No. 86.

Teams with the most players after the Packers were the Ravens and Steelers with seven each, Eagles and Patriots at six, and Cowboys and Falcons with five.  The Vikings and five others teams had four each, while NFC North rivals the Bears and Lions had three and two players respectively in the top 100.

It was 60 years ago this month that Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin threw for 554 yards in one game, still an NFL record.  Van Brocklin later became the first coach of the Vikings.

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