The spring game begins at 1 p.m. and admission is free. The players and coaches will be available on the field for autographs after the game.
Kill’s concern about roster depth and using each of his NCAA-allowed 15 practices to teach convinced him to have a practice situation and not a game tomorrow. In the future the format will probably change and he might use celebrity coaches.
The scrimmage will be replayed on the Big Ten Network on Sunday starting at 6 p.m.
The Gophers will have a new radio home in the fall, KFAN. Former WCCO Radio Gophers analyst Darrell Thompson will provide color commentary on Saturday and Mike Grimm will call the action on KFAN at the spring game. Although WCCO used play-by-play man Dave Lee, and analysts Dave Mona and Thompson, a three-man booth is unusual in major college football.
The 76th annual NFL Draft starts at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time next Thursday and is expected to conclude about 11:30 p.m. The second and third rounds will be on Friday with draft activity beginning at 5 p.m. The draft continues at 11 a.m. on Saturday with rounds four-seven. The Vikings have the 12th overall pick and nine total selections.
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. emailed that his son Larry Jr. and Arizona teammate Anquan Boldin, along with Green Bay’s Greg Jennings and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, will attend tonight’s Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund event at the Metropolitan Club in Golden Valley. The fund was established in honor of Larry Sr.’s wife who passed away in 2003 from breast cancer.
Colton Iverson, the former Gophers basketball player, returned home on Tuesday night after visits to the University of California and Santa Clara University, according to his father Chuck. A visit to Texas A&M next week is possible, Chuck told Sports Headliners. Colton has also visited Colorado State. He will choose one of the above mentioned schools where he will redshirt next season and have one final season of eligibility.
Former Gophers basketball player Corky Taylor emailed about his sons including Kellen, the former basketball captain at Wayzata High School, who has been named Winona State’s male freshman of the year for all sports. Kellen started 13 games last season while making 40 percent of his three point attempts. He had the game winning shot against Wayne State. Another son, Chris, just completed his basketball career at Brown, has a 3.7 GPA and graduates next month before beginning work at an investment banking firm. “They both make me look good as their dad,” Corky wrote.
Taylor Matson, who was announced this week as Gophers’ hockey captain for next season, is known for his work ethic. “There is a reason why his teammates voted him the Mike Crupi Most Determined Player each of the past two seasons and it is because nobody works or competes harder. I look forward to him leading by example both on and off the ice next season,” coach Don Lucia said.
The tradition of Gophers hockey captains dates back to 1921-22. Matson will be the program’s 149th player to be a captain or co-captain.
Wild prospect Mikael Granlund co-led SM-liiga scorers with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 15 playoff games as HIFK Helsinki won the league title by sweeping Espoo Blues and fellow Wild prospect Jere Sallinen in the finals.