Kill had two Navy SEALs speak to the Gophers last week about unity and helping one another.  “They talked about you’re only as good as your team,” Kill said.

Redshirt freshman running back Lamonte Edwards didn’t see game action for the Gophers last year, and at Woodbury High School he was also a defensive back.  “Lamonte could be a tremendous football player,” Kill said last weekend.  “He’s just gotta learn how to play running back, but he’s had a good camp so far.”

Junior MarQueis Gray has become a starter for the Gophers at quarterback and said he’s thankful for the opportunity to be No. 1.  “I understand that it is up to me to continue to grow as a quarterback and lead this team,” he said.  “And if I don’t do that, then they will find someone else.”

Gray said he weighed between 235 and 240 pounds during spring practice but has added muscle this summer and now carries about 245 pounds on his 6-4 frame.

Rumors of Texas A&M and perhaps Virginia Tech joining the SEC prompts speculation the Big Ten might one day pursue Oklahoma and Notre Dame (again).

Davis Lombardi Dalton, son of former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton, is a running back for Eden Prairie’s football team.  He’s also a middle fielder in lacrosse and is looking at Division II and III college offers.

Dalton’s son Devon is at Auburn where he plays tuba as a member of the marching band.

Defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth is ranked No. 1 in the preseason American Football Coaches Association’s Division II national poll.  The Bulldogs open their season September 3 at No. 8 ranked Augustana.  St. Cloud State is ranked No. 13 in the poll.

Joe Mauer’s athleticism and strong arm make him a candidate to eventually play at third base, first base or either of the corner outfield positions.  With his history of injuries, plus a big contract and team need for his bat in the lineup all the time, the days of Mauer catching over 130 games per year are probably history.

Major league baseball seems likely to consider a more balanced schedule in the near future, reducing the number and emphasis on division games.

Home regular season and preseason single game Wild tickets go on sale Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center box office.  Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster and the Wild’s website starting at noon.

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The Gophers have been practicing for only one week and the first game isn’t until September 3, but speculation among informed followers of the team about the 2011 record has been going on almost since the arrival of new coach Jerry Kill and his staff last December.

The predictions I have heard range from 3-9 to 7-5.  The 3-9 would match last season’s record.  The 7-5 would give the program its third season in the last seven with seven wins?

The opinion here is the Gophers will win four or five games.  Minnesota is likely to earn three or four victories during a nonconference schedule that has the Gophers at USC on September 3, followed by home games against New Mexico State, Miami of Ohio and North Dakota State.

The Gophers are likely to win two or three games during the nonconference schedule.  Minnesota is almost certain to defeat lowly New Mexico State and likely to lose to USC.  Miami and North Dakota State aren’t Big Ten level programs, but either could defeat the Gophers.

Minnesota has the challenge of playing its first two conference games on the road, at Michigan and Purdue.  Playing the Wolverines and new coach Brady Hoke in the Big Ten opener is nothing to thank the schedulers for, but don’t be surprised if Kill earns his first conference win at Purdue.

Minnesota’s best chance of winning another Big Ten game could certainly come at season’s end when Illinois visits Minneapolis on November 26.  Between Purdue and Illinois, the Gophers have Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin at home, while playing at Michigan State and Northwestern.

Most of the teams on the 12 game schedule ─ including perhaps each of the Big Ten opponents ─ have more talent than Minnesota.  To best highlight the Gophers’ challenge look at the team’s offensive and defensive lines.  Winning programs excel with line play and the Gophers’ program won’t change for the better until the big boys up front on offense and defense can push opponents around Saturday after Saturday.

The other major problem is quarterback.  First, redshirt junior MarQueis Gray has never been the starting quarterback.  Despite dazzling athleticism, Gray must prove he can play the position.  Second, suppose Gray either can’t fill the role, or is injured and sidelined?  The Gophers’ reserve quarterbacks have no game experience, and true freshman Max Shortell may already be proving he’s the best of the backups.

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The more optimistic program followers base much of their five, six and seven win projections on confidence about Kill and his staff.  The coaches have a national reputation for teaching excellence, and improved fundamentals by the players and overall better program administration including training and conditioning will make a difference this fall.

So, too, will effort by the players.  Expect the Gophers to play hard and be a united group.  The mental approach could produce a surprise win or two.

But Kill has delivered the message that it won’t be a “quick fix” turning this program around.  That can be interpreted as code for saying better players must be recruited and put into his system.  That takes time.

Go ahead and document a Sports Headliners prediction of a 4-8 season.  For his part, Kill isn’t about to go on the public record with specific numbers.

Asked recently how he will define a successful season, he answered: “Get better everyday. We’re starting from the ground up. …”

Kill said before August training camp opened that months of hard work, including spring practice, produced encouraging results.  “I would tell you right now, we’re better than what we were when we came in, and that’s a credit to the kids, not me, and the other people around the program,” he said.

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