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University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher captains set their sites on training camp
8/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Linebacker Mike Sherels:
On his thoughts about Coach Brewster and his new staff:
“Coach Brewster has been wonderful. He and his entire staff have come in and whipped this state into a frenzy. It’s been a whole lot easier than one would have thought, given there’s a whole new staff.”
On getting away to St. John’s for training camp:
“It’ll be good to kind of get way and just concentrate on our team and what we want to accomplish.”
On his goals and expectations for the upcoming season:
“As we’ve said from the beginning, our goal is the Rose Bowl, to win the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl. Anything less than that I’m not even going to talk about.”
Center Tony Brinkhaus:
On his injury woes last year:
“Last year was a rough year. I was really eager to get accustomed to playing a new position, and I probably got too into it. I had a little bit of trouble with that ankle. I (hurt it) against Michigan in that first half. The first play of the second half I rolled it a little bit, missed a series, got taped up and went back in. I really wasn’t able to play at a high level after that.
“There were a couple weeks where I didn’t really practice, and there were other weeks where it was better. It was tough. I tried to keep a good attitude the entire season.”
On the state of the offense right now:
“I think it’s really important that we get the quarterback (position) and running back settled. It starts up front. Steve (Shidell) and I are both coming off an injury, but we’re both feel good about where we are right now.
“I think we definitely have a good group of guys (on the offensive line). It’s going to be getting accustomed to the system, and I think we’re going to be all right.”
On new defensive tackle Eric Small:
“He is a tough player. We use the term that he’s a motor’ guy. He’s got a high motor. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s really strong and brings a lot of effort. He’s the kind of guy you want to have on your team. He’s going to make us better up front. I haven’t gone against him for all four years so I don’t know his tendencies, but he’s going to be a good player for us this year.”
Running Back Amir Pinnix:
On the new strength and conditioning program this summer:
“I had a ball this summer. The team came out with a new intensity. We worked extremely hard every day, and it was fun. When something is fun it makes it a whole lot easier than when something is difficult. The workouts were hard, but when you see results you enjoy and appreciate the process.”
On the new strength system initiated by strength coach Mark Hill:
“We did a lot of work, a lot of power lifting and cleans and that sort of things. We did a lot of agility drills, as well as a lot of speed and conditioning.”
On what part of the off-season training program helped him the most:
“What helped me the most was getting together with my teammates when we had captain’s practice every day. We had seven-on-seven, pass catching. One hundred percent attendance, which was great. That was the best thing for me because it gave me the opportunity to work on timing with the quarterback, and get used to the offense, and it did the same thing for the quarterbacks and the receivers as well.”
