Ugh.  I am trying to think of a synonym for ugh that’s appropriate for general audience readership.  Otherwise, you will be reading the word more than either one of us cares to see it.  The problem is I have been buying 2007 college football magazines, and Gopher fans please accept this as a warning: proceed with caution at your local newsstand. 

I have been devouring college football magazines since Eisenhower was in the White House.  The arrival of these publications on local newsstands in July and August has been a summer highlight for decades.  Long ago I realized that kind of like pro wrestling, many of the storylines are pure hype but who cares when team rankings, conference predictions, schedules and all-America teams pump you up like an over-time win against a bitter rival. 

From a provincial perspective here in Gopherland, this year’s crop of magazines isn’t one to save for the grandchildren.  In fact citizens of Gopher Nation should only read these publications if they have normal blood pressure and advanced training in anger management.   

So here we go–out with the truth, no matter how painful.  The Gophers who, despite returning 15 of 22 starters, are a popular choice to finish last in the Big Ten Conference.  They were 6-7 overall last season, 3-5 in the conference.  The publications don’t like the quarterback situation (no experienced returnee) and believe mastering the new spread offense will be a challenge.  Double ugh. 

Our hated rivals to the east (novices, listen up, we’re talking Wisconsin Badgers) have been darn good for some time, winning more games than any Big Ten school in the last three years, according to Street and Smith’s college football magazine.  Now the Badgers are supposed to be gaudy good as in ranked No. 3 in the country by Street and Smith’s, plus Big Ten favorites and contenders for a national championship.  

The Good Book says to love our neighbors.  I am not completely aligned with that but I do hope Iowa beats the brains out of Bucky this fall.   God knows, we love Iowa, right?

Even those mildly educated about college football magazines recognize the name Street and Smith’s.  I grew up on Street and Smith’s annual college football magazine.  Seems like I read it forward, backward and even upside down from the backseat of the car on family vacations.  Every year there was some highly hyped golden boy on the cover, more often than not from Ohio State.  For years the players posed wearing helmets with no face bar, and they looked weird even in the 1950s. 

Now take a deep breath and flash to the present!  Imagine the angst picking up a 2007 collector’s issue of Street and Smith’s with an Ohio State cover boy, sans face bar, whose name is James Laurinaitis.  Yup, that’s the kid from Wayzata High School who we thought was going to be a Gopher, who became a Buckeye and is now an all-America.  A junior all-America, no less.  Allow a quadruple ugh, please! 

Laurinaitis is kept company on pre-season all-America teams by tight end John Carlson of Notre Dame.  Yes, that John Carlson from Litchfield, Minnesota.

Done with the ughs.  Damn!

Comments Welcome

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners that the decision not to serve alcohol in premium seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena will cost the athletic department at least $1 million for the 2009-2010 budget year.  “Without a question it will put us in the red,” he said.

The department has been operating in the black and was expecting to do so for the coming fiscal year but the no alcohol situation has changed all that.  Maturi said University leadership outside of the athletic department is trying to help solve the problem.

A letter was sent to premium seating purchasers last week regarding options on their financial commitments.  The Gophers have been serving alcohol in premium seating areas at Williams and Mariucci arenas, and had been enticing suite, club and loge buyers in the new TCF Stadium that opens in September with the benefit of having alcoholic beverages (not available to the general public in the three facilities).  Legislation passed by the state this spring required that alcohol be made available to everyone in the facilities, or no one.

Maturi said the letter describes reduced pricing options.  He also said the $1 million in projected losses is based on the assumption “nobody walks away,” meaning the choice isn’t to discontinue being a premium seating purchaser.

The University’s decision to make TCF Bank and its other facilities “dry” is all about commitment to the students, according to school leaders.  “There’s a reason that almost nobody sells alcohol on campuses,” Maturi said.  “There’s a responsibility to teach and lead by example.”

Maturi said Syracuse and Cincinnati are the only schools he knows of that sell alcohol to the general public (including students of drinking age) at their campus stadiums.  He also said the University doesn’t assume that its alcohol ban in athletic facilities will lessen drinking on campus but that doesn’t change the commitment to teach, educate and lead by example.  The policy is consistent with past decisions by the University not to advertise alcohol in its programs, arena signage and radio broadcasts.

Eight other Big Ten Conference schools, or over 70 percent, allow alcohol in premium seating areas.  Maturi guesses the percentage is even higher in other major conferences throughout the country.

He said the Minnesota legislature is the only legislative body in the country to enact law requiring that if alcohol is going to be served in school athletic facilities it must be made available to all. The decision has left Maturi disappointed and frustrated.

Among the reasons he’s upset is that five years ago when football stadium planning was beginning legislators knew about the University’s intent to provide alcohol in premium seating areas only.  “This is old news,” he said.

The timing of legislation being passed and signed by governor Tim Pawlenty within months of the stadium opening left the athletic department in an embarrassing situation with its premium purchasers.  Still, President Bob Bruininks and the Board of Regents did comply with the decision rather than resist.

Now, Maturi said there’s talk about future legislation requiring the Gophers to sell alcohol to the public.  If the legislature further forces the issue, it’s more than a decent bet there will be plenty of push back by the University.

Comments Welcome

If Brett Favre becomes the Vikings quarterback there should be no doubt how he will operate, according to a former NFL coach who spoke to Sports Headliners on condition of anonymity.

“A guy like Favre, his record speaks for itself,” the source said.  “He’s a veteran, experienced quarterback.  He knows the system.  You just gotta let him play the game. To guide and direct him is not the way to go.  You bring him here to be your quarterback.  He’s going to make good plays.  With the runner (Adrian Peterson) they have and offensive line, they could be very exciting.”

Although Favre will be 40 years old in October, if his right arm is healthy after tendon surgery he should perform similarly to past seasons.  In 2008 with the Jets his team was 8-3 until he injured his right shoulder.  The year before he led the Packers to the NFC championship game.

Defending against a healthy Favre is a challenge.  “He’s very strong armed and makes all the throws,” the source said.  “You’re always concerned about his ability to push the ball down field.  You can’t allow him to set his feet and stay in the pocket. Your only chance is make him feel pressure.  At that position, there’s no quarterback with his experience.  He’s seen and done it all.”

The Vikings have some special players including Peterson and defensive tackle Kevin Williams, but the most important position on a pro football team is quarterback.  If Favre comes out of retirement he’s presumably healthy and that figures to give the team a huge improvement in quarterback performance.

Among those who agree is scout.com which moved the Vikings to No. 4 in its NFL power rankings.  That’s assuming a guy who will wear No. 4 is quarterbacking here this fall.  https://profootball.scout.com/2/876060.html

Comments Welcome