Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said today at a news conference that Kenechi Udeze will be the Vikings starting defensive left end in the season opener against Atlanta on September 9. Frazier also said his defensive starters will play only the opening series in Thursday night’s final pre-season game against Dallas at the Metrodome.
It’s a solid guess that how many games the Twins win in this week’s three game series in Cleveland against the Indians will go a long way toward deciding Minnesota’s fate in pursuit of the Central Division title. The Twins may need to sweep the Indians, or at least win two of three.
One reason the Twins are winning is Jason Kubel is hitting .357 and has driven in six runs in his last 10 games. Kubel, 25, entered this season with a .254 career batting average but he has the ability to be a much better run producer for the Twins and perhaps fill the minimal offense left field position.
Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight will be among those attending a dinner on Tuesday, September 18 at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota to honor the 40th anniversary of Bud Grant’s first season as Minnesota Vikings coach. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Viking Children’s Fund. More information is available by calling 952-828-6577, or www.vikings.com
Wild goalie Josh Harding will be signing autographs at the team’s State Fair booth from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Wild and Minnesota Swarm players are among those making celebrity appearances during the fair at the booth, located on the second level of the main grandstand.
In pre-season MIAC coaches polls, the following were voted the favorites to win the conference in football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer: Saint John’s, Concordia, Gustavus and Macalester. Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own with points assigned for each vote.
Seven MIAC men’s basketball student-athletes have been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Academic Honors Court. The honor recognizes college basketball student-athletes who excel in their academic pursuits. The seven are: St. Olaf junior Bob Hunter, Augsburg juniors Justin Kozlowski and Darren Nelson, and four seniors from Saint John’s, Chase Lenz, Matt Ohme, Craig Schafer and Scott Schafer.
Local sports fan Ken Lien, who for years chaired the Minnesota Mr. Basketball Committee, saw his first game at historic Lambeau Field last week and wrote the following via e-mail: “It truly puts the plastic Metrodome to shame!”