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University of Minnesota Athletics
SPRING REVIEW #1-Gophers Open New Era As Spring Football Season Begins
3/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Tim Brewster era at the University of Minnesota began in mid-January, gained momentum on signing day in February and now has hit full stride with spring practices starting today, the first day of March.
These aren't your father's Gophers and there was a whole new intensity and passion that was presented in all its splendor on Tuesday. Coach Brewster stressed how honored and privileged he was to be the head football coach of a University steeped in such tradition and history. With 18 Big Ten titles and six national championships all time, Brewster pointed out the Gophers past history and began to lay the foundation for a future he hopes will bring similar acclaim.
A heavy contingent of the Twin Cities media were on hand to witness the entire practice and to see Coach Brewster take the field for the first time as head coach. That they expected. What they didn't expect was to see defensive line coach Tim Cross inspire the team in warm ups with his chant and dance routine which included Cross doing a combination of moves culminating with the splits that Michael Jackson, MC Hammer and Prince would have been proud of.
With players lining up in groups and depth charts serving no purpose to the staff this early in the spring process, there was a feeling that every Gopher player came out with something to prove, from redshirt freshmen - to junior college transfers - to team co-captains Mike Sherels and Tony Brinkhaus.
"We definitely have to lay it on the line every day," said Brinkhaus. "Nothing is going to be given to you in this new regime, and that is the way that it should be. These coaches want to see up close what you can do and I think that there are going to be a lot of guys who plan on laying everything they have on the line."
"This is a fresh start for a lot of guys and a chance to prove to yourself why you love competition," said Sherels. "Guys aren't going to come into these practices timid at all. They are going to come to practice with a fire inside to show they belong and that they can keep moving the program toward our goal of a Big Ten championship."
These aren't your father's Gophers and there was a whole new intensity and passion that was presented in all its splendor on Tuesday. Coach Brewster stressed how honored and privileged he was to be the head football coach of a University steeped in such tradition and history. With 18 Big Ten titles and six national championships all time, Brewster pointed out the Gophers past history and began to lay the foundation for a future he hopes will bring similar acclaim.
A heavy contingent of the Twin Cities media were on hand to witness the entire practice and to see Coach Brewster take the field for the first time as head coach. That they expected. What they didn't expect was to see defensive line coach Tim Cross inspire the team in warm ups with his chant and dance routine which included Cross doing a combination of moves culminating with the splits that Michael Jackson, MC Hammer and Prince would have been proud of.
With players lining up in groups and depth charts serving no purpose to the staff this early in the spring process, there was a feeling that every Gopher player came out with something to prove, from redshirt freshmen - to junior college transfers - to team co-captains Mike Sherels and Tony Brinkhaus.
"We definitely have to lay it on the line every day," said Brinkhaus. "Nothing is going to be given to you in this new regime, and that is the way that it should be. These coaches want to see up close what you can do and I think that there are going to be a lot of guys who plan on laying everything they have on the line."
"This is a fresh start for a lot of guys and a chance to prove to yourself why you love competition," said Sherels. "Guys aren't going to come into these practices timid at all. They are going to come to practice with a fire inside to show they belong and that they can keep moving the program toward our goal of a Big Ten championship."
Players Mentioned
OC
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LB
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