The Vikings were 12-4 during the regular season last year and winning impacts Pro Bowl selections. With this season’s losing record the Vikings won’t have 10 Pro Bowl selections again. “I think if anybody on the team deserves it, Chris Kluwe deserves it,” said placekicker Ryan Longwell. “I think he’s the best punter in the league. He’s had the best year in the league of any punter.”
Robison has mostly been a reserve during his Vikings career but said he’s been playing more the last two games than earlier in the season, about 20 plays per game.
Vikings coach Brad Childress and Packers coach Mike McCarthy are in their fifth seasons coaching their teams. Childress, who was linked with the Packers head coach opening before coming here, has a 39-34 regular season record, 1-2 in the playoffs, while McCarthy is 44-29 and 1-2 also.
Vikings wide receiver and punt returner Greg Camarillo watched his teammates slip on the Solider Field turf in Chicago last Sunday and told Sports Headliners it was as “bad” a dry surface as he has played on.
Former Vikings defensive lineman John Randle will receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring on Sunday from a hall of fame representative.
The Goal Line Club will sponsor the annual Gophers football banquet on Sunday, November 28 at TCF Bank Stadium. The public is welcome and the registration deadline is tonight. More information from Bob Hughes, 651-322-0779, or www.goallineclub.com.
Jim Dotseth of the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association announced yesterday the 10 finalists for the annual Mr. Football award: Joe Bjorklund, Rosemount; Reggie Gandy, DeLaSalle; Jordan Hayes, Brainerd; Eric Kline, Blaine; Dillon Olson, Goodridge/Grygla-Gatzke; Colby Salonek, Springfield; Ayrton Scott, Minneapolis Southwest; Dylan Ulferts, Shakopee; Frank Veldman, Eastview; and Peter Westerhaus, Holy Family. The winner will be announced at the Mr. Football Banquet on December 19 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park.
Brainerd stunned observers last week when the Warriors defeated Eden Prairie 13-10 in the prep football playoffs. Answering an email from Sports Headliners, Brainerd’s Ron Stolski, the winningest prep football coach in state history, wrote that the Eden Prairie win “ranks with the biggest in our long history.” Before coming to Brainerd, Stolski started the football program at Park Center High School and in 1971, his team’s first year, Park beat Osseo, winners of 38 straight games. Tonight the Warriors play Rosemount in a Class 5A semifinal game at the Metrodome.
Since Cal Clutterbuck’s mustache began its own twitter account (@ClutterStache) the Wild forward has scored four goals in seven games. He is involved with the “Movember” promotion encouraging men to grow moustaches during November to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research.
Wild goaltending prospect Dennis Endras led Germany to the Deutschland Cup championship last weekend with wins against Canada and Switzerland. Endras was the Wild’s emergency goalie when the team opened the season in Helsinki.
Augustana’s Dan Schoen, an offensive lineman from Maple Grove High School, has won the Glen Galligan award as voted by the NSIC coaches. The award is given to an outstanding senior football player in the conference who excels as a student and athlete.
Woodbury’s Larry Freedman and Princeton’s Jim Beck lead two MIAC football officiating crews that because of their quality work have been selected to officiate NCAA Division III playoff games tomorrow. Freedman’s crew will work the Coe College at Wheaton College game. Beck’s group will have the St. Norbert College at North Central College game.