Brewster said linebacker Sam Maresh, who recently had heart surgery and is unable to play this season, will lead the Gophers on the field in September of next year in the first game at TCF Bank Stadium. Maresh will have that assignment regardless of whether he’s able to play or not.
Starting defensive tackle Eric Small, 6-1, 304 pounds, will be used as a ball carrier in short yardage situations near the goal line. Brewster described Small as a “very athletic big man” and said it’s a Refrigerator Perry type move, referring to the Chicago Bears defensive lineman of the 1980s who often used his 380 pound bulk to carry the ball near the goal line. Brewster also said Small has had “as good a camp as anybody” while the Gophers prepare for their season opener at home Saturday night against Northern Illinois.
Because of increased fuel prices, Stillwater based Creative Charters is advertising more motor coach travel this year to away Gopher football games than in the past. Bus travel is being offered for trips to Ohio State, Illinois and Wisconsin. Charters by air are available to Bowling Green and Purdue. www.creativecharter.com
Roy Terwilliger, chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, told Sports Headliners he doesn’t have a position on a possible public referendum for a new Vikings’ stadium. He said it would be necessary to see the details of a potential referendum.
Vikings coach Brad Childress having fun last week talking about injured quarterback Tarvaris Jackson needing to learn a hook slide: “Hook slide? Yeah, I am sending him down to the sawdust with (Twins manager) Ron Gardenhire and they’re going to teach him how to, not run the bases, but slide into second. The only problem is that we don’t have that little cut out of dirt around the base where he wants to slide. We’ll teach him how to get that leg underneath him, tuck his cleats and give himself up.”
Timberwolves president Chris Wright told Sports Headliners the team will play on a new court at Target Center next season. It won’t be a parquet floor like the old one and will feature the franchise’s new primary and secondary logos.