Another player to watch in the Eden Prairie versus Cretin-Derham Hall game is the Raiders’ sophomore right offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson who is already 6-7, 300. KARE TV sportscaster Randy Shaver is an admirer and said by the time Henderson is a senior he could be even more highly recruited than Floyd, a player sought by the who’s who of college football.
The Vikings play the New York Giants, 7-3, on Sunday at Giants Stadium. Vikings coach Brad Childress expects the opponent and venue to challenge second year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, another test for the inconsistent 24-year-old. “It’s significant to the standpoint it’s hostile, it’s noisy, and it’s a very good pass rush (from the Giants),” Childress said. “It’s a team that’s playing with a lot of confidence. So it will be good to evaluate him. …And just watch him manage it (the game) and play and do the right things with the football. … It’s the only test he’s got to pass this week.”
Childress talking on Monday about running back Adrian Peterson who missed last Sunday’s game because of a knee injury and whether he will play against New York: “I would say it’s a long shot right now to get back there (against the Giants) but we’ll see. He’s surprised me before.”
The Vikings have the No. 1 rushing offense and defense in the NFL, while the Giants rank No. 7 in both categories.
Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said because the Big Ten Conference season ends earlier than other major conferences, the teams in his league have more time to devote to recruiting.
Mike Wilkinson, author of the book on former Gopher coach Murray Warmath, called to report that recruiting expert Tom Lemming is praising Brewster on CSTV and predicting better days for the Minnesota program.
The Gophers’ 2008 home schedule isn’t a marketer’s dream. Northern Illinois, Montana State, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan and Iowa play here in Minnesota’s last season in the Metrodome before moving into the new TCF Bank Stadium in 2009.
Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman often has reluctantly used under sized power forward Al Jefferson, 6-10, 265, at center. When 34-year-old often injured center Theo Ratliff is hurt, or resting on the bench, it usually means minutes for Jefferson at center. “I don’t want him to be a five (center),” Wittman said. “I don’t want him to bang with a five all night long.” Wittman said Jefferson needs to be more physical defensively when he plays center and sometimes to front the man he’s guarding.
Paul Carter, a junior college star who will play for Tubby Smith and the Gophers next season, will be in town with his Missouri State University-West Plains teammates on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game at Minneapolis Community College. Carter, a 6-8 forward, could be one of the best junior college players in the country this season.
Former Minnesota Wild goalie Manny Fernandez, now with Boston, hasn’t been playing since last month because of a knee injury. In four games he’s given up 16 goals.
Jen Schoullis of the Gophers is the WCHA Rookie of the Week for her performance against Minnesota Duluth last weekend. The freshman forward scored the Gophers’ third goal in a 3-0 victory over Minnesota Duluth on Sunday. She has scored two goals in the last three games, has eight points in 12 games and is tied for fourth in team scoring. The rookie of the week award is determined by WCHA administrators.
The Minnesota Twins winter caravan presented by Dodge will start January 14 and likely end on January 31, according to Patrick Klinger, vice president of marketing. The caravan is expected to stop in 60 communities and include current and former Twins players.
Bethel head coach Steve Johnson was chosen as the 2007 MIAC Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season. He coached the Royals to the conference championship with an 8-0 record. Selected as MIAC MVP was Bethel quarterback Ben Wetzell. He finished the year third in conference rushing (91.9 yards per game) and fifth in total offense (258.4 yards per game). Conference coaches made the selections.