.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Bowl Blog: One Day Away
12/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Whew! It has been a long, busy day here in the Valley of the Sun for some of us who are here with the team in administrative roles. That's pretty obvious, I think, when you consider that I'm checking in at a little after 11 p.m. MST with today's bowl blog.
It was a bit of an early start for Coach Brewster and his two senior captains Willie VanDeSteeg and Steve Davis Tuesday morning. The duo had to be across the valley at the media hotel for the pre-bowl press conference. Click the link above to read a full transcript of the Minnesota press conference.
After a good half hour of answering questions from the media, Coach Brewster, Steve and Willie made their way about halfway back across the valley to Sun Devil Stadium to meet the rest of the team for their traditional day-before-the-game walk-through.
The players and coaches were impressed with the Sun Devil Stadium turf. I heard more than one player wonder aloud if the field was natural grass or artificial turf as they were walking out of the tunnel into the stadium. The field is in great shape and the grass is such a bright green color that a number of the Gophers mistook it for artificial turf. Offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar mentioned how much he liked the field as he came out, calling it a "very fast track."
The team ran through its normal walk-through routine and then loaded up to head back to the team hotel.
The Gopher players had the afternoon off with some free time. The squad then re-convened at 5:30 for a team dinner before heading out to catch a movie. The Gophers saw the new Will Smith movie Seven Pounds. According to a couple players who were hanging around the lobby when I returned to the hotel, the flick received a thumbs-up.
While the Gopher players had the late morning and afternoon off, many of the Minnesoata administrators and staff who were here had meetings of one sort or another to attend. Then -- following a quick lunch -- it was time to head to the 'Sota Social at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. There was a great turnout of Minnesota fans at the 'Sota Social, where Coach Brewster got the crowd fired up with a great pep talk. Coach Brewster also did a live interview with the NFL Network at the Mission Palms. Following his interview with the NFL Network, Coach Brewster appeared on a special edition of the Tim Brewster Radio Show, hosted by the Minnesota radio crew -- Dave Lee, Dave Mona and Darrell Thompson.
Following the 'Sota Social, numerous members of the traveling party took part in an Insight Bowl VIP Reception at the Tempe Center for the Arts. By all accounts, this is a wonderful event every year. This is just another example of how the Insight/Fiesta Bowl people do such a great job with these games and all the events that surround them.
It has been a really great week here in the Valley of the Sun and the staff of the Insight Bowl and their numerous volunteers deserve much of the credit for the experience here in the Tempe area.
I'll leave you with this tonight (or this morning, depending on when you're perusing GopherSports.com). I think I would be remiss if I didn't mention that our nationally-ranked Gopher men's basketball team has a big game tomorrow at The Barn. It is the Big Ten opener against Michigan State in an 11 a.m. CT tipoff. There is at least one watch party taking place here in the Valley of the Sun and everyone involved with this football trip is looking forward to rooting for the Gopher basketball team tomorrow morning. If you're back in the Twin Cities, brave the snow that fell today and get out to support Coach Tubby Smith's crew and then head back home and enjoy the Insight Bowl.
Go Gophers!
-Andy Seeley
