Tom Mulhern, a Wisconsin State Journal sportswriter, had an article earlier this week on Badgerbeat.com describing what some see as the flawed reality of the Wisconsin football program. The complaint is with the Badgers not maintaining pre-season and early season national rankings, past and present. Fans are upset now about two straight losses that have sent the team from a top 10 ranking to No. 24 (A.P.), or lower, depending on the poll. And get this: two fans who posted replies to Mulhern’s article are interested in dumping third year coach Bret Bielema (24-7 record) and hiring Vikings coach and former Badger offensive coordinator Brad Childress.
Last year after six games the Gophers’ record was 1-5 overall, 0-2 in the Big Ten Conference. Going into tomorrow’s game at Illinois the Gophers are 5-1 and 2-0 in the conference. Junior wide receiver Eric Decker was asked about the difference in team confidence. “Big time confidence,” he said. “Every week you see guys come out to practice fired up. And that’s the biggest thing from last year to this year, I think, is guys are more excited. I feel like we’re just in there with everybody else and that gives us momentum going into every week.”
Vikings’ cornerback Antoine Winfield, named the NFL’s defensive player of the week for his performance at New Orleans, is tied with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for the second most touchdowns on the team with two each. Running back Adrian Peterson has three.
The Vikings play a Detroit team on Sunday that is 0-4 and the Lions’ stats rank toward the bottom of the 32 team NFL. The total offense per game of 263 ranks 28th in the league and the net yards rushing average of 72.3 is 31st. The Lions are giving up 429 yards total offense per game, last in the league. The 180 net yards rushing yielded per game ranks 30th, while the net yards passing of 249 is 29th in the NFL.
The Wild opens its season tomorrow night (Saturday) against Boston at Xcel Energy Center. The two franchises haven’t played in Minnesota since December 15, 2005, a 3-2 Wild loss. The Wild is 6-1-0 in all games against Boston.
Boston defensemen Andrew Alberts (Minneapolis) and Mark Stuart (Rochester), and forward Blake Wheeler (Robbinsdale) are Minnesota natives. Bruins’ goalie Manny Fernandez was with the Wild from 2000-2007. He only played in four games last season because he injured his left knee in late October. He was 2-1-0 with a 3.29 goals against average in pre-season.
Sports Illustrated predicts Detroit will beat Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup finals. The magazine picks the Wild to repeat as Northwest Division champions. The franchise’s first ever division title banner will be on display prior to tomorrow night’s game.
Wolves’ guard Rashad McCants seems the most likely name to come up in any trade talks this fall.