Trivia answers: Carl Pavano shutout the Yankees for six innings but was the losing pitcher in game No. 3 in the playoffs last year, a 4-1 New York win.  (Pavano is expected to start game No. 2 on Thursday against the Yankees at Target Field.)  Dan Gladden had seven RBI in 1987 to help the Twins win their first ever World Series.

The football Gophers, off to a 1-4 start, look like they’re headed for a final record of 3-9, 2-10 or 1-11.  Going back to last season Minnesota has lost seven of its last nine games.

The Gophers will bus to and from Madison for Saturday’s game against Wisconsin.  Minnesota last won at Madison in 1994.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster said yesterday that senior Ryan Collado, who has played at both safety and cornerback, won’t start on Saturday.  True freshman James Manuel and senior Kyle Theret will start at the safeties, with sophomores Michael Carter and Kyle Henderson at the corners.

Wide receiver MarQueis Gray, who has been troubled with plantar fasciitis, is healthier and will play on Saturday, Brewster said.

Was the University of Washington the marquee BCS school the Gophers were planning to have replace Texas on their schedules in 2015 and 2016?  Plans for filling the void are on hold until next year when it’s expected the Big Ten will decide if each league team will eventually play eight conference opponents, or nine.

Bobby Bell, whose jersey number was retired in a ceremony last Saturday during the Minnesota-Northwestern game, is arguably the greatest player in Gophers history, although the best of historians might prefer Bronko Nagurski.  Bell was a two-time All-American defensive tackle who was a fierce pass rusher for the Gophers in the early 1960’s.  Nagurski, who played for the Gophers from 1927-29, was named an All-American at both tackle and fullback.  Bell was a high school quarterback and could have played multiple positions for the Gophers.

St. Thomas, 5-0 and ranked No. 4 in the D3footbal.com poll, ended 12 years of frustration with its overtime 27-26 win against Saint John’s on Saturday.  To view the final seconds of the game in Collegeville played before a record Division III crowd, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDbHysKxGG4.

Tommies coach Glenn Caruso told Sports Headliners via email he doesn’t expect an emotional let down for this week’s game against Augsburg. “It’s not too hard to stay focused when you still have five games remaining in the regular season,” Caruso wrote.  “This was a big one, sure, but what I love about our kids is that they understand that each week is an opportunity to re-prove ourselves, and that this opportunity is a privilege, not a right. …”

St. Thomas running back Ben Wartman, who rushed for 154 yards, was chosen the MIAC’s Offensive Player of the Week.  St. Thomas Cornerback Ryan Deitz, who had a timely interception to force overtime and 10 tackles in the game, is the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week.

UMD’s Isaac Odim is the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after he rushed 11 times for 169 yards (15.4 yards per carry) and caught one pass for another score in a 56-7 road win over MSU Moorhead Saturday. The five-touchdown game, Odim’s second this year, increased his total to an NCAA Division II leading 17. The 169 yards rushing put him at 4,077 career yards on 566 carries, a 7.2 yards per run average.

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Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is about “90 percent” certain that a year from now his team will have Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio in training camp and preparing for his first ever NBA season.  In a telephone interview with Sports Headliners, Taylor also said he isn’t interested in purchasing the Vikings if the local NFL franchise becomes available.

Several years ago Taylor was interested in owning the Vikings and was asked about a scenario where the Wilf family, discouraged by lack of progress in approving a new stadium, might put the team up for sale.  “No, this wouldn’t be a time for me to do this,” Taylor said.  “At my age I’ve got enough to do.”

Taylor, 69, is still involved with his business empire and owning the Timberwolves.  He and wife Becky are in Europe where the Wolves have exhibition games against the Lakers and Knicks.

While in Europe Taylor hopes to meet with Rubio’s parents.  Rubio was drafted with the No. 5 pick in the 2009 NBA draft but so far has remained in Europe where he has continued to impress teammates, rivals and other observers with his playmaking skills even though he is not yet 20 years old.

Taylor said Rubio has told Timberwolves basketball president David Kahn he plans to play here next season.  “Yes, I am very confident we will have him,” Taylor said.  “I would say in my mind it’s like 90 percent.”

Following their stay in Europe, Taylor and Becky will go to South Africa and help with the distribution of hearing aids for about 5,000 youngsters.  He’s made a $100,000 donation to the Starkey Hearing Foundation to help those kids.  This is the sixth year that Taylor has been involved with such a project.

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Jake Mauer told Sports Headliners his grandson Joe Mauer is healthy and the nine games he missed in late September because of an injured left knee provided the rest the Twins catcher needed for the playoffs.

”He’s ready,” Jake said.  “I think he’s going to tear them up because this rest is what he needs. … He was all bruised.  You should have seen his body, just terrible, but now it’s all healthy. He says, ‘Grandpa, I don’t have a pain in my body.’ …”

Mauer was the designated hitter last night in the Twins’ home game against Toronto.  Jake expects Joe to play in the remaining three regular season games and then be set for the playoffs beginning on Wednesday.

Jake said if the Twins play the Yankees, it will delight his grandson.  New York has dominated the Twins during the regular season and playoffs in recent years but Jake said Joe has no lack of confidence in facing the Yankees and badly wants to defeat them.  “They should control those Yankees and I think the Twins got a chance to win the World Series,” Jake said.  “I am not kidding ya.  I look forward to it.”

Mauer is a three time American League batting champion and this season is hitting .328 but Jake said his grandson’s ability to call pitches and handle the pitching staff will be important in the playoffs, too.  “Behind the plate he can tell every hitter by their name and…what they can’t hit,” Jake said.  “He can go through every lineup (in the league) and tell me, ‘Grandpa, this one doesn’t like the inside part, this one doesn’t like the high ball, this one doesn’t like the low ball, (and) can’t hit a changeup.  Every man he names by their names, and that’s incredible.”

Jake believes the results of the Twins abysmal road trip, losing five of six games and giving up 48 runs ties back to Joe’s absence.  “I hate to say it but I think they really miss Joe because of him catching and knowing the hitters,” Jake said.  “What they like, what they don’t like. …”

It looks like a healthy Mauer will be around now to help the Twins.  He will have the personal support at home and away playoff games from 10 people including Jake. “Joe’s going to pick up the tab,” Jake said.

What’s the cost of airfare, lodging and everything else?  “I have no idea,” Jake said.  “It’s just mind boggling.”

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