Gophers coach Tim Brewster expects at least seven players to be walk-ons, adding to his 2010 recruiting class.  Among those expected to walk-on is Isaac Fruechte, wide receiver from Caledonia, according to https://www.winonadailynews.com/sports/e88f5a22-0c96-11df-a747-001cc4c03286.html.

Seantrel Henderson is included on the final list of 25 candidates for the state’s Mr. Basketball award.  The winner will be announced in March prior to the boys’ state tournament, according to an announcement last week from Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien.

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin and offensive tackle Philip Loadholt were named to the NFL all-rookie team in the January 18 issue of Sporting News magazine.  Harvin also was the magazine’s choice as kick returner on both its all-rookie and all-pro teams.  Other Vikings on the all-pro team were running back Adrian Peterson, offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive end Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

When the Colts and Saints play in the Super Bowl, two former Gopher assistants will be coaching.  The Colts offensive coordinator is Tom Moore (1972-73 and 1975-76), while the Saints special teams coach is Greg McMahon (1983-84).

A players poll in the January 18 issue of Sports Illustrated selected former Timberwolf Kevin Garnett as the “NBA’s biggest trash talker.”  Garnett, now with the Celtics, had 62 percent of the votes, while Kobe Bryant of the Lakers was second at a distant seven percent. 

Joel Przybilla, the former Gophers center from Monticello, is rehabilitating his torn right patella tendon in Brookfield, Wisconsin, according to friend John Bell Wilson.  He said Przybilla has been told by his personal trainer it’s “80-20” he could play for his Portland team by April.  Przybilla, originally from Monticello, makes his home in Brookfield.

Canterbury Park’s thoroughbred stakes schedule for 2010 features 34 races totaling $1.71 million in purses, including six Claiming Crown races and seven on Minnesota Festival of Champions Day.  The 62-day meet begins May 14 and closes on August 29, festival day.  The 12^th Claiming Crown, an event attracting top jockeys and claiming horses from throughout the country, will be July 24.

The St. Thomas men’s baseball team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls by the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3Baseball.com.  Interim head coach Chris Olean will have 19 of 25 players back from last season’s NCAA championship team.  Practices start today.

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The Gophers (4-4) and Ohio State (5-3) have similar Big Ten Conference records and both aspire to qualify for the NCAA tournament in March, but Sunday’s game in Columbus is intriguing for more than that.  At least some players don’t have much liking for one another and there’s enough history to believe this could be a physical game.

“…I expect a lot of dirty play, to be honest with you,” Gopher Lawrence Westbrook said.  “It will be a war.”

Westbrook and Ohio State star Evan Turner “talked trash” in the Gophers’ win over the Buckeyes in Minneapolis earlier this month, according to a January 10 story by the Star Tribune.  The newspaper reported that game officials warned the players at halftime about their disapproval of such behavior.  After the game there was reportedly shoving and verbal exchanges involving players from both teams, but other details haven’t been confirmed.

The Big Ten office is expected to alert its game officials about the potentially emotional situation on Sunday, a game that will begin at noon Minneapolis time and be televised by CBS.  Early in the game officials will probably be quick to blow their whistles when they judge there is too much contact between players.  “Trash talking” will likely be monitored closely and technical fouls could result.

When asked recently about potential problems, Gophers coach Tubby Smith made a brief response, saying he doesn’t anticipate incidents.  That’s an expected reply to the media, but emotions will surely be a topic that Smith discusses with his players prior to the game.

As badly as the Gophers could use a signature win against No. 20 ranked Ohio State, it will be a surprise if they win.  The Gophers haven’t impressed much away from Williams Arena.  They have one quality win on a neutral court (Butler) and have lost three of four conference road games.  With a less than glittering 13-7 overall record, the Gophers have three of their next four conference games on the road and with that an opportunity to enhance their potential NCAA tournament resume.

The Gophers were nationally ranked before the season began.  But they lost starting point guard Al Nolen to academic ineligibility earlier this month, and high potential forwards Trevor Mbakwe and Royce White have yet to play in any games because of suspensions.

“I love my team,” Smith said.  “…This is a remarkable group.  I really am proud of the way they have conducted themselves and handled themselves despite some of the…distractions.”

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Former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners he expects the Vikings to make Adrian Peterson’s fumbling problem a priority this off season.

The All-Pro running back had seven fumbles during the regular season and two in last Sunday’s NFC championship loss against New Orleans.  During three seasons in the NFL Peterson has gained over 1,300 yards each year.  He led the NFL in rushing in 2008 with 1,760 yards.  Any discussion of the NFL’s best running back either leads with Peterson or quickly includes him in the conversation.

But even prior to the most recent season and playoffs, fumbling was an issue.  He fumbled nine times during the 2008 regular season and had four fumbles in 2007.

The timing of some fumbles has been costly.  Among the memorable was his overtime fumble in Chicago last December that led to a Vikings’ loss.  The defeat cost the Vikings home field advantage in the NFC title game and possibly an eventual trip to the Super Bowl.

“He’s got way too many fumbles,” Dalton said.  “There’s no question about it.”

Dalton coached running backs under former Vikings head coach Mike Tice.  He follows the Vikings closely because of media assignments on local TV and for Sirius Satellite Radio.  He said Peterson and the Vikings are upset about the fumbling issue.

“Absolutely, they’re concerned about it,” Dalton said.  “They’re completely frustrated, as is the young man.  This isn’t a conscientious thing.  This isn’t a lazy thing.  This is an instinctive thing.  He’s got to…emphasize the fundamentals. …His emphasis now has to be on ball security.”

Dalton regards running backs coach Eric Bieniemy as “detail oriented” and expects him to work with Peterson to correct the fumbling problem.  The consequences of not doing so will bring the same results.

“Because…what happens in the National Football League is that every defender spends time every day in practice working on stripping and punching out (the ball) and creating turnovers,” Dalton said.  “They’re all world class athletes when you get out there.  When Adrian was a man among boys in college he could get away with some of the mechanics because he’s just so powerful.  He’s got strong arms and strong hands.  There should be no reason that he’s having as many fumbles as he is.”

The 6-1, 217 pound Peterson runs with a violent style, intent on breaking tackles and making long runs, seemingly on every carry.  Dalton said Peterson exposes himself to fumbles when he drops the ball down low, or overextends himself trying too hard to fight off a tackler and not having the ball secured.  He must learn to have the proper pressure points on the ball with his hands and arms.

Emphasis on the fundamentals can bring results.  Dalton recalled a season when Vikings running backs fumbled only three times when he was coaching.  He also mentioned how Tiki Barber, who fumbled 35 times during four seasons, corrected his problem when Tom Coughlin became head coach of the New York Giants.

Dalton said “that’s what needs to happen with Adrian Peterson.”  There’s no questioning Peterson’s talent and intensity.  When the problem is corrected, Dalton said “you’re going to have a magnificent player.”

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