Vikings’ rookie quarterback John David Booty, who was a starter last season for USC, said coach Pete Carroll means it when he tells players they’re Trojans for life. Booty said he and Carroll text message regularly.
Vikings’ rookie center John Sullivan has been playing that position since fourth grade. “It’s a natural feeling,” he told Sports Headliners. “Something I’ve been doing for so long.”
Sullivan backs up center Matt Birk, the Vikings’ 11-year veteran. Sullivan said he spends perhaps 20 percent of his time practicing at offensive guard.
Vikings’ coach Brad Childress has become friends with Murray Warmath, 95, the former Gopher national championship coach who also was a defensive line coach for the Vikings after he left the University of Minnesota. Warmath, who uses a wheelchair, visited Vikings’ practice last month.
An MIAC spokesman estimates about half of the league’s nine football teams run some spread offense, the popular formation that’s been sweeping college football for awhile now. Included is Saint John’s coach John Gagliardi who said “it’s almost like a touch football game.” Gagliardi, 81, has been coaching in the MIAC for 55 years while all the other league coaches have a combined total of 46 years.
The Minnesota Wild’s Kurtis Foster, along with Wild minor league system players Danny Irmen (a former Gopher) and John Scott all were married this summer. Foster recently started skating again for the first time since fracturing his left femur on March 19 in San Jose.
New Wild forward Owen Nolan, signed as a free agent after playing for Calgary, is from Belfast, Ireland.
Goalie Josh Harding recently participated in an on-ice promotional shoot for EA Sports 2009 in Burnaby, British Columbia. The game was released last week.
The Wild opens training camp on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. The training camp roster released last week lists 39 players, with possible additions coming from players participating in the 2008 NHL Centre I.C.E. Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan that started on Saturday and continues through tomorrow (Tuesday). Center Corey Locke is the smallest player listed on the training camp roster, 5-9, 171, while defenseman John Scott, 6-8, 247, is the biggest.
The Wild unveil the team’s first-ever mascot on Sunday, October 5, at an exclusive Hot Tamales Wild Kids Club event at Xcel Energy Center from 3:30 to 7 p.m. The mascot will target young fans, families and community events. Hot Tamales Wild Kids Club members are being encouraged to send their ideas for mascot names to the team.