Posted April 25, 2011    

•MarQueis Gray

•Tracy Claeys

•Ron Gardenhire

•Bert Blyleven

•NSIC Winners

U QB Roster Worth Watching

MarQueis Gray told Sports Headliners after Saturday’s spring game he didn’t know who the Gophers’ No. 1 quarterback is, but a few minutes later offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said the job is Gray’s.

Limegrover and head coach Jerry Kill have become acquainted with the junior quarterback in meetings and practices during the last few months including spring drills that ended on Saturday.  “He (Gray) did a great job,” Limegrover said.  “I think he’s a guy who has proven that not only is he a wonderful athlete, but he’s got the mental makeup to be an outstanding quarterback.

“He makes mistakes but the great thing is he’ll be the first kid in on Monday watching this film (from the spring game) and he’ll be hard on himself.  He’ll know he missed checks.  He’ll know he missed some throws.  His grasp of the offense isn’t where it needs to be but it’s a lot further along than what you’d almost expect.  So we’re pretty excited about the overall package…the work that he’s put in.”

Limegrover didn’t hesitate when asked about Gray being the No. 1 quarterback.  “He’s our No. 1,” Limegrover answered. “ Things always change but he’s earned that because of what he did prior to spring ball−as much as what he did during spring ball−with his preparation.”

Limegrover said Gray is an example of success for Minnesota’s backup quarterbacks, redshirt freshman Tom Parish and redshirt sophomore Moses Alipate.  Joining the quarterback roster in the summer will be Max Shortell, among the more highly anticipated players in Kill’s first freshman class. 

There’s been media speculation that Alipate, a big quarterback at 6-5, 285 pounds, might switch to another position.  Asked about that after the spring game, Alipate said he isn’t aware of a change coming but if a switch will help the team he’s willing.

Limegrover, who is part of a new 2011 coaching staff headed by Kill, was asked about a change.  “You’d have to talk to coach (Kill) about that,” he said.  “He kind of keeps that part of it close to the vest.  We’ll meet on every kid here before too long, probably some time this week.  He’ll meet with them (all the players).  He’s not a guy who kind of has that knee jerk reaction to anything.  It will be a process to make sure it’s the right thing (changing anyone’s position) all the way around.”

 

Jerry Kill

Worth Noting

Limegrover said the Gophers showed about 40 percent of the playbook in Saturday’s spring game that was actually a controlled scrimmage with no score kept.  Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said his unit used about 25 percent of its playbook. 

College football teams typically hold back in spring games, reluctant to show opening game opponents too much of their tendencies.

Student tickets for the Gophers' seven game home schedule went on sale Saturday. Students purchasing tickets prior to May 6 will be entered in a drawing for an all expense paid trip for two to the season-opener against USC in Los Angeles. Student tickets are priced at $84 with a $7 handling fee.

The Gophers athletic department will send out 53,000 emails to students this week promoting football tickets.

The rescheduled and free Gopher Football Youth Clinic will be Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.  Registration will be from 1 to 1:30 p.m., then drills and skills work with the Gopher football players and coaches from 1:30-2:30.  The clinic ends with an autograph session from 2:30 to 3 p.m.  

Next up on the Twins parade of creative TV commercials is one with manager Tom Kelly and his successor, Ron Gardenhire.  Twins vice president of marketing Patrick Klinger said the commercial is amusing and will be released in the “next couple of weeks.” 

Ticket availability for Twins games may be better than many fans believe, Klinger said.  Tickets that were on hold from sources such as players can become available, so his advice is for fans to keep “checking back” on inventory.   

Matt Capps earned the save yesterday in the Twins’ 4-3 win over Cleveland, Minnesota’s third straight victory.  Capps has made good on each of his four save opportunities this season, allowing three hits in four innings.   

Gardenhire said during his post-game news conference on Fox Sports North that shortstop Alexi Casilla didn’t run hard enough on a play where Casilla was out at home plate.  

 

Notes Plus 

Twins’ outfielder Jason Kubel has hit safely in his last eight games, in 12 of his previous 13 and 18 of his 21 games overall.  

Franciso Liriano, 1-3 with a 7.40 ERA, is expected to start for the Twins tomorrow night at home against Tampa Bay’s Wade Davis, 2-2 and 2.73 ERA. 

MLB all-star voting begins tomorrow online and at ballparks across the country including Target Field.  

Bert Blyleven came in at No. 4 on the “Sports’ Most Dubious Records” list in the April 25 issue of the Sporting News Magazine.  The former Twins pitcher gave up 50 home runs in 1986.  No. 1 on the list is Tampa Bay’s 26 consecutive losses starting out as an NFL expansion franchise.  

The same issue includes a profile on Minnesota native and Wisconsin Badger Jon Leuer who says his bucket list consists of “skydiving, attend the Masters and play Augusta, win an NBA championship.” 

Chris Halvorsen, the Gophers' basketball walk-on from Henry Sibley High School, is the nephew of former Gophers' starting forward Larry Overskei.  Halvorsen played his college freshman year at Valparaiso before coming home and sitting out last season as a Gopher transfer.  An engineering major, he will have three seasons of eligibility with the Gophers.  

Halvorsen played at Henry Sibley with Badgers' forward Mike Brusewitz.  Halvorsen, 6-8, 190, was second team all-state as a high school senior and one of the best defensive players in Minnesota.   

St. Thomas softball coach John Tschida, who coached his 500^th game for the Tommies last week, is a cousin of major league umpire Tim Tschida.  His record at St. Thomas is 436-65.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced Augustana’s Matt Braithwaite as the 27^th annual Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete Award winner and Minnesota Duluth’s Rebecca Anderson as the 25^th annual Willis R. Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.  Award winners are determined by vote of NSIC faculty representatives.

 

Matt Braithwaite

Rebecca Anderson