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University of Minnesota Athletics
Camp Blog: Camp Comes to a Close
8/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Preseason camp for the University of Minnesota football team came to a close Friday morning at around 10:30 a.m. at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. The Gophers worked out in full pads and battled the elements for the first half hour or so of practice, as a steady rain fell.
But the sun had emerged by the end of the practice session. There were sunny skies and sunny outlooks from the coaches and players about the way preseason camp unfolded.
“I thought it finished really well,” Brewster said of camp. “I think we’ve got excellent team chemistry. These guys care a lot about each other and (it’s) really fostering a great feeling amongst the team. That goes a long way.”
The team now has the better part of two-and-a-half days off. The Gophers will gather for a team meeting Sunday evening, which will be the official start of game week. Many of the student-athletes expressed their happiness that camp had reached its end, while at the same time saying that it had gone really well.
From observing practice, it’s obvious that over the course of the last week or so the Gophers have been itching to hit someone in a uniform that isn’t maroon and gold. I’m sure being able to focus on Syracuse, starting next week, will be well-received by the Gopher players.
Coach Brewster echoed those sentiments.
“As we move forward into game week, I feel our kids are preapred,” Brewster said. “We’re ready. We’re anxious. We’re excited. That’s where everybody in the country is at right now. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding game week.”
For quarterback Adam Weber, he’s seen things improve throughout camp.
“Mental errors have gone down, execution has gone up,” Weber said. “I feel the offense is getting better and better.”
Weber thinks the Minnesota offense could be very good this season. But he said it will come down to execution and keeping everyone on the same page.
“We have a lot of potential to put up a lot of points,” Weber said. “But we can’t have one guy not on board. We’ve learned over the last couple weeks that it takes all 11 guys to make this thing work. But when it’s working, it can be a really good offense.”
While the Gophers are off until Sunday night, a few of them will be involved in a little more football activity Friday night. The annual Gopher Nation Women’s Clinic will take place, beginning at 5 p.m., at TCF Bank Stadium.
Speaking of Sunday night, catch Coach Brewster and a couple of the Gopher captains at 10:35 p.m. Sunday night on Rosen’s Sports Sunday on WCCO TV (Channel 4). The show will be broadcast live from TCF Bank Stadium.
Thanks to everyone who read the camp blog over the past month or so. I hope you've enjoyed it. GopherSports.com will have plenty more information, blogs, live-game blogs, video and other content for you throughout the season.
-Andy Seeley
