Justin Morneaureturned to the Twins lineup on Monday night after not playing since August 17. The team was 5-2 without Morneau, the American League’s RBI leader with 95. He homered last night for the first time since August 2 in the Twins’ comeback win over Baltimore.
If junior college transfer Trevor Mbakwe isn’t with the Gophers this fall, freshman Royce White is a likely replacement at power forward. A woman alleges Mbakwe attacked her earlier this year in Florida. A trial later this year regarding a felony aggravated battery charge will further address the allegation. White has impressed associate head coach Ron Jirsa with his strength.
The Vikings’ defense has so many standouts that Madieu Williams doesn’t receive a lot of publicity but the 27-year-old safety is a solid player and a smart free agent signing in 2008.
That was 96-year-old former national championship coach Murray Warmath who made the effort to attend the Gophers scrimmage last Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. Warmath, who lives in Bloomington and coached the Gophers to the 1960 national title, is confined to a wheelchair.
Announced attendance at the stadium open house and scrimmage was 15,103. Official capacity is listed at 50,805.
The stadium’s M Club facility for Gopher letterwinners is expected to open on Thursday, September 10, two days before the season opener against Air Force on September 12.
Former Gopher linebacker and Sartell native Craig Sauer is an assistant coach at Augsburg as part of a National Football Players Association/NCAA coaching internship program for former NFL players. A former linebacker with the Falcons and Vikings, Sauer is a defensive/special teams assistant on Augsburg coach Frank Haege’s staff. https://athletics.augsburg.edu/news/2009/7/8/fb070809.aspx?path=football
Saint John’s sophomore offensive lineman Cody Socher spent four hours each day this summer lifting, conditioning and practicing with UFC champion Brock Lesnar.
The Johnnies’ John Gagliardi will become the first known head coach in college football history to coach his own grandson, Joey Benson, this fall.
St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso’s 50-plus freshman football recruiting class includes four players born in Africa who later grew up in the Twin Cities.
Local author Bob Showers has a new book, “The Twins at the Met,” debuting this week at the Minnesota State Fair (the Twins exhibit). It will be available only at the fair and Twins Pro Shop locations until early September, and then in bookstores. The book is a history of Twins baseball at Metropolitan Stadium, the franchise’s home from 1961-81. Showers interviewed many sources including team alumni like Bert Blyleven, Kent Hrbek, Tom Kelly, Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Jim Kaat, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Winfield.
Wrestling fans can see the WWE at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, September 5.