University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Get Their First Look at Bowling Green
8/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Minnesota football team continued its preparation for the 2007 season opener with a two-plus hour workout on Tuesday evening. The Golden Gophers will hold their final two-a-day on Wednesday and single workouts on Thursday and Friday before taking Saturday off.
"This was a coach's dream of a day," head coach Tim Brewster said. "Guys are tired and sore and we're wrapping up two-a-days. We challenged the seniors and the captains to push the guys through the day. We need this heat and humidity to help prepare us for the season and we got it today. I was smiling the whole practice."
The team began Tuesday with offense and defense walk throughs inside the steamy practice facility before heading outside to begin its 15th straight day of workouts. Following special teams practice, the team broke up into individual groups to work against each other. Minnesota's stable of running backs worked on pass protection against the linebackers and secondary. Senior fullback Justin Valentine's effort to close out the drill earned the praise of Brewster.
During the team's first 7-on-7 session, junior Tony Mortensen found true freshman Ralph Spry for a big gain down the sideline. Spry came up big again in the back of the end zone as he tipped redshirt freshmen Adam Weber's pass to himself for the touchdown.
The Golden Gophers then began preparation for the season's first opponent, Bowling Green. The respective scout teams donned black numbered jerseys and worked out against Minnesota's offense and defense.
Following Friday's morning practice, the Golden Gopher coaching staff will hold its first annual Gopher Nation Women's Football Clinic in the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. That will be followed by Sunday's Gopher Nation Fan Fest. For more details, click here.
