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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Gophers Hold First Bowl Practice
12/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
The NCAA allows 15 practices to teams who are headed to bowl games. The University of Minnesota football squad took advantage of the first of those 15 workouts Wednesday afternoon at the indoor facility at Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex.
Gopher head coach Tim Brewster has likened the bowl practices to an extra set of spring practices. A fitting comparison, as the number of practices allowed is the same. Coach Brewster has also talked about how this "extra set of spring practices" will benefit the younger players who will be returning for the Maroon and Gold next season.
To that end, the first three-quarters of Wednesday's workout was focused on the younger players. While the Gopher coaching staff was working with the freshmen, sophomores and juniors, the seniors were in the weight room. When it came time to start working on the Iowa State game plan, the seniors joined their teammates.
Following the brisk practice session, Brewster said he could tell his team was excited to be back on the field and prepping for a bowl game.
**For more video and post-practice reaction from Coach Brewster, visit the Gold Zone.**
"The kids flew around with a bunch of energy," Brewster said. "I really felt good about the way we came back. You could see there was a little extra juice on the practice field today and that's always good to see."
The Gophers will be making their third trip to Tempe, Ariz. for the Insight Bowl in the last four years. It is also Minnesota's second consecutive postseason visit to the Valley of the Sun. Brewster said the team is looking forward to going back to a very well-run, first-class bowl game.
"We're excited about going back to Phoenix and playing in the Insight Bowl," Brewster said. "It's a great bowl site. It's a tremendous venue for our players to play in. We'll be excited on New Year's Eve."
While Gopher Nation will be headed to the Phoenix and Tempe area later this month, some representatives from that area will be visiting the University of Minnesota Thursday. Members of the Insight Bowl Committee and representatives of the Tempe Diablos will be visiting campus to "officially" welcome Minnesota as a participant in the Insight Bowl.
A media briefing/press conference with Coach Brewster and our visitors from the Tempe area will be held Thursday afternoon. The Arizona contingent will tour TCF Bank Stadium later in the afternoon and will host a dinner for Coach Brewster and other representatives of the University.
The Gophers will be back on the practice field again Thursday for their second of 10 workouts here in Minneapolis, before the team heads southwest on Christmas Day.
-Andy Seeley
