Adam Weber has a last opportunity to beat Wisconsin tomorrow.  Minnesota’s record setting quarterback was once “50-50” on his college choice between the Gophers and Badgers.

Weber, the only three-year captain in Gophers football history, has been the team’s starting quarterback since 2007, his redshirt freshman season.  He is the school career record holder in passing yardage, completions and touchdowns.  But Weber said playing football for him is about wins, not records.

The Gophers were 1-11 in 2007, 7-6 in 2008, 6-7 in 2009 and so far this season 1-4.  In that period Minnesota is 0-8 in trophy games against Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan.

“The wins aren’t where I would have liked them to have been,” he said. “The trophies, everything, you name it.  Not where you dreamed them to be.  But when it’s all said and done I will leave here with a big smile on my face knowing that I just had the best five years of my life.”

As a high school player at Mounds View Weber thought seriously about becoming a Badger but although the initial process was 50-50 between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the final verdict wasn’t so tough.  He walked around the Minnesota campus and knew this was where he wanted to be.

His dad, Bobby Weber, had been a Gopher defensive back. That counted and so, too, did staying home where family (including his grandmother) and friends have been able to watch him play more than if he had packed his bags for Madison.  “I’ll never second guess (the decision),” Weber said.

The Gophers’ nonconference football schedules are completed through 2014.  Among the new opponents will be New Mexico State in 2011.  The Aggies will receive $1.6 million for agreeing to play here next year and in 2016.

The cost of scheduling teams, particularly Division I schools, keeps escalating and is even more expensive when there is no agreement to play multiple games.  Ohio State, for example, will pay Colorado $1.4 million for just one game in Columbus next year.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster talking about tomorrow’s game in Madison where Minnesota tries to defeat Wisconsin for the first time since 1994: “I think you’ve got a group of guys who desperately want to go get that axe.”

Brewster’s 50^th birthday is next Wednesday.

Coach Tubby Smith’s pursuit of highly hyped New England prep school point guard Naadir Tharpe didn’t become any easier when national power Kansas decided to enter the chase.

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Tubby Smith told Sports Headliners he expects “my last job” will be as Gophers basketball coach.

Smith, 59, begins his fourth season coaching the Gophers when practice officially starts on Friday.  During his brief career at Minnesota, Smith’s name has frequently been linked to rumors about coaching vacancies at other schools.

So far Smith, who won a national championship while coaching at Kentucky, has stayed here and although he may continue to be a popular name for the rumor game he talked about commitment to Minnesota in his interview with Sports Headliners.  “I hope it will be my last job,” he said.  “I plan it to be my last job.  I expect it to be my last job.”

It’s been known for awhile that a contract extension is in the works for Smith who even now has four years remaining on his agreement and earns about $2 million per season.  Smith said the timing on the extension isn’t urgent and he acknowledged that athletic director Joel Maturi has many responsibilities in his department.

“I am not in a hurry and I think Joel’s got a lot of other things he’s got to deal with,” Smith said. “So I told him all along I don’t plan on going anywhere.  If I did, it wouldn’t matter whether I signed an extension or not. …

“We’re hoping something will get done, and we’re planning on something getting done.  And it’s in the works.”

Smith has coached his last two teams to NCAA tournament appearances.  The 2009-2010 team made it to the finals of the Big Ten tournament before losing to Ohio State.  His overall record in three years with the Gophers is 63-39.  His last two teams have finished in the Big Ten first division during the regular seasons.

Smith’s expectations for himself and the program are more than what’s been delivered so far.  Smith said winning “generates more excitement” and he wants his teams at the top of the Big Ten.  He thought last year was a “modest setback” because of the season long suspensions of promising recruits Royce White and Trevor Mbakwe.  Those two were part of a recruiting class that ranked with the best ever at Minnesota and now White has transferred to Iowa State.

But Mbakwe is cleared to play and another member of the much publicized recruiting class, Rodney Williams, showed promise last year and is likely to contribute even more to a Gophers team that is considered a top 35 school nationally by pollsters.  Mbakwe, Williams and seven others who were on last year’s roster return for a team that figures to count defense and rebounding among its best assets, and could finish the season among the surprise success stories in the Big Ten.

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Winning isn’t the only thing on Smith’s mind these days.  He wants a new practice facility adjacent to Williams Arena and won’t hesitate to ask for donors, starting with a lead donor.

“People are looking to give back and support the University,” Smith said.  “You go around this country, around this state, (and) people they love the U.  So the best way to show your love is to share.  I guess to share your wealth and people are doing that.”

Smith said Northwestern and Minnesota are the only Big Ten schools without practice facilities separate from their arena playing floors.  Practice facilities have become a recruiting tool in the college basketball arms race.  A new practice facility at Minnesota with amenities to impress recruits would provide a stunning contrast to drab Williams Arena, a facility that dates back to 1928 and one that recruits often see empty on non-game days.

Minnesota hasn’t made public what the cost of a new practice facility will be but last year Michigan approved such a facility for $23 million.   No formal plan has been announced by the Gophers regarding a facility.

On Friday night fans can have a first look at the Gophers.  Admission is free for “Tubby’s Tip Off” in Williams Arena with doors opening at 8:30 p.m. Team autographs are available from 9 to 9:30 p.m.  Other activities will include three point and dunk contests, and a scrimmage beginning at 11 p.m.

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