#-1: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -4). The Big Ten season started off well for the 12th-ranked U., sweeping #20 Illinois, 17-17-23, in Champaign. I don't know how they did it, but maybe it's Hugh McCutcheon. I wish I had more to say, but I have to go home soon. The team has a busy week: They play at Northwestern this (Sunday) afternoon, then come back to the Sports Pavilion to play Ohio St. Friday and Penn St. Saturday.
#-2: Gopher football (Last Week: -1). I'm still kind of chafed that one of their wins is against second-division New Hampshire, but yesterday's (Saturday's) 17-10 victory at home over Syracuse may signal an important building block in the Jerry Kill Era: This is a BcS program (albeit the Big East, which won't be BcS in a couple years) with some historical renown, and the Gophers were able to defend TCF Bank Stadium. It wasn't pretty; Max Shortell stepped in under center for MarQueis Gray and went 16-30-231, and Donnell Kirkwood provided the critical scoring with two touchdowns on 99 yards. But they kept their heads and were able to go 4-0 for the first time since 2008.
And there's a good chance they can start the season 5-0; next weekend they play on the road against an Iowa team that got upset by Central Michigan at home yesterday (Saturday) and are not playing well at all.
#-3: Twins (Last Week: -5). A 2-3 screening week. They did not avoid the sweep at Target against Chicago, but then responded by almost sweeping Cleveland. There are only two goals left on the season: Avoid 100 losses and finish out of the AL Central basement. They are only one win from being able to tank the rest of the year and get only 99 defeats, and they are nip-and-tuck with the Indians for the cellar.
But it doesn't help that they're in Detroit for the weekend, a team still chasing the White Sox for the division. They got rocked 8-0 yesterday (Saturday). They have a doubleheader today (Sunday) because Friday's game was rained out. They then come home to host the annual Yankees three-game series -- I wonder how many Yankees fans are going to populate otherwise-empty Target Field -- and those same Tigers. It's almost over, folks.
#-4: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -3). Lost at home to Michigan on a defensive fuck-up. Apparently a backpass to Goalie Cat Parkhill was errant, and the Goofs were playing Keystone Kops trying to get the ball back. They failed, and Wolverine Forward Nkem Ezurike tapped home the chippie. They held on to defeat the U., 1-0. Not good to lose that way. At least I'm glad I decided not to go to the game. They finish out their three-game homestand this week -- Michigan St. this (Sunday) afternoon, Wisconsin Thursday.
#-5: Vikings (Last Week: -2). They had it. Not only could they have defeated Indianapolis for the first time in ages, but they could be sitting on top of the NFC North (albeit only two games in). But defensive breakdowns at the end of both halves allowed Andrew Luck to drive down the field for a bad touchdown (in the first half) and the game-winning field goal (in the second). I am more satisfied that the game is slowing down for Christian Ponder, but now it's the defense that everybody should be worried about. Luck is going to be good, but the Vikes D made him look like a Hall of Famer now.
So why can't they beat San Francisco this (Sunday) afternoon? Well, they won't. But it's the NFL, so why the hell not dream?
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