Gophers’ football coach Tim Brewster has been impressed with quarterback Adam Weber this summer.  Because of Weber’s playing position and skills, he might be the most important player on the team as Minnesota tries to improve on last year’s 7-6 record after being 1-11 in 2007.

“He’s what I call a totally invested athlete,” Brewster said. “He’s worked so hard this summer.  He’s doing a great job coaching our offense.  He’s leading our captain’s sessions with the team.  He’s poised to be one of the outstanding quarterbacks in the country.”

The Gophers are about six weeks away from their opening game at Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.  A week later, September 12, the Gophers make history playing in the first game ever at TCF Bank Stadium against Air force.  Then comes another home nonconference game versus nationally ranked California.  The Big Ten schedule follows and it includes adding Penn State and Michigan State, both of whom figure to be better than the two schools dropping from the schedule, Michigan and Indiana.

The total schedule looks more formidable than any in memory but Brewster’s expectations are for his program to continue improvement.  One of the elements to having what Brewster describes as an “ascending” program is being led by an exceptional quarterback.  “That guy is the guy,” he said.  “You’ve got to have a bell cow.”

Weber was a freshman team All-American in 2007 and was second team All-Big Ten last year.  He set school records while showing a moxie to lead and make big plays with his arm and legs.  Among his stats were completion percentages of 57.5 in 2007 and 62.2 last year.

Brewster prefers a quarterback whose completion percentage will be in the “high 60s” or better.  He thinks that’s when a quarterback will be dong “great.”

Whether Weber can move closer to 70 percent will be an important storyline for the coming season.  He will be among the Big Ten Conference’s most experienced quarterbacks.  That will help and so, too, will off season shoulder surgery.

Brewster described the 6-3, 225 pound Weber as a “new man” and not just because of the surgery.  Brewster said Weber has been dedicated in his conditioning and improved his physical strength.  “He is in a tremendous frame of mind,” Brewster said.

TCF Bank Stadium and the Metrodome are possible sites for World Cup soccer in 2018 and 2022.  A Minneapolis bid is among a long list of American cities interested in bringing matches here.

Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi said TCF Bank Stadium is also a possible location for soccer if Chicago receives the 2016 Olympics.

Maturi said the athletic department hasn’t lost any previously committed purchasers of premium seating at TCF Bank Stadium because of the new policy not to provide alcohol anywhere in the facility.  “It’s been far more positive than we expected,” he said.

There are five suites in the new stadium that haven’t been sold and about 150 indoor club seats remaining, according to Maturi.  He also said demand for seating during the first season could result in temporary bleachers being set up along the sidelines, accommodating a few hundred fans.

Last spring the state enacted legislation requiring that alcohol be made available to the general public at the stadium, not just in premium seating areas as had been University policy.  The legislature deserves criticism for micro-managing on this issue when there are so many more important problems to address.  Thumbs down, too, for the legislature’s silly approval of making hockey the official state sport.  Effective public policy encourages and celebrates diversity including for all sports and participants.

Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, didn’t have an announcement date or cost but said sometime this fall details will be released on a proposed “reconstructed” Metrodome.  He said the proposal details will include a retractable roof on the facility.

Lester said the Metrodome will remain a multipurpose facility and sightlines for football will be similar to what they are.  A redesign would place emphasis on making the stadium a better home for the Vikings while accommodating NCAA basketball tournaments and amateur baseball.

Seating capacity for football is expected to be about 65,000, a slight increase from now, according to Lester.  He also said that while a funding partner hasn’t been officially determined to pay for a reconstructed stadium it’s clear to him that the state is the “primary beneficiary” of such a facility that keeps the Vikings here and continues to host other major events that generate tax dollars.

It was a nice gesture of Brad Childress to participate in Matt Birk’s charity event at Minnetonka High School on Sunday.  The two had some differences when Birk was the Vikings center and now he’s playing for Baltimore.  Childress didn’t have to appear along with other celebrities at the event to benefit at-risk children.

Timberwolves’ alums Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman and Sam Cassell could be celebrating a lot of wins in Washington next season.  Saunders as head coach, with Wittman and Cassell as assistants, will have a team that was 19-63 last year, but is expected to be among the most improved in the NBA next season.

Timberwovles’ president of basketball operations David Kahn told WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle show on Sunday that he was leaving this week for Spain and conversations with No. 1 draft choice Ricky Rubio and the management of Rubio’s Spanish team.   Unless Rubio can buy out his contract in Spain he won’t be joining the Wolves any time soon.  Kahn said Rubio, a 6-5 point guard, has “incredible charisma” on and off the court.  “He’s our Brett Favre, maybe,” Kahn said.

Dylan Williams, 18, is not only one of the youngest jockeys to ride at Canterbury Park, he’s also unusually tall at 5-foot-10.  Williams was featured on Fox 9 sports Saturday night.

Claiming Crown, an annual event that draws national horseracing attention, will be held at Canterbury on Saturday.  There will be five races on dirt and two on turf with purses totaling $600,000.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) will hold its 2009 Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, July 31, at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Paul.  Being honored are Lee Ahlbrecht, Bemidji State University; Linda Larson, University of Minnesota Duluth; Dean Bowyer, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Frank Mosier, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Henry Schneider, Northern State University; Jeff Loots, Southwest Minnesota State University and David Ludy, Winona State University.