Happy Friday everyone. Hope you didn't put those winter parkas and mitts and toques (Canadian for "winter hat") away quite yet.
Yesterday the Gophers had their last practice of the spring at the football complex, and coach Kill wasn't tolerating the fatigue that seemed to be setting in a bit. The new coach is running his practices much faster and more uptempo than Tim Brewster, and now in the third week of these, the fatigue is showing a bit. Kill wants his guys fighting through it, hoping it means they'll be able to fight through it late in games and late in the season.
Good to see senior safety Kim Royston (and probably the most important defensive player) responding well to contact in practice. Especially when that contact involves him laying out 250 pound TE Colin McGarry.
And speaking of impressive safeties, coach Kill says the smallest player on defense has been the biggest suprise of the spring. Add to the fact he's a walk-on from hockey country in Theif Rivers Falls, and it's REALLY surprising.
The last four practices, including the spring game next Saturday, will be held at TCF Bank Stadium. The "Field Frenzy" and the Gopher Football Youth Clinic have both been rescheduled for next week because of the unspring-like weather expected.
A brief look at teams (including the Gophers) in the Legends West and Leaders East divisions.
The Big Ten will be a conference of dual-threat quarterbacks in 2011, so MarQueis Gray and the Gophers should fit right in.
Roman has some offseason college hockey news from around Minnesota and the WCHA.
Per SB Nation's Western College Hockey blog, the upcoming NHL draft class is not a strong one for Minnesota kids, or just about anybody who's planning on playing college hockey next year.