Gopher Football
Gopher Football Media Day was filled with optimism, excitement, and a smiling Glen Mason. Much has been written in recent weeks about the upcoming season and the goal of a January 1st bowl game. That sentiment was echoed today from coaches and players alike, and GopherHole.com was there bringing in-depth and unique Gopher coverage. In the coming days and weeks, a more in-depth Media Day review will be published as well as many player profiles and features. Until then, here are some highlights from today to whet Gopher fans’ interest.
Everette Pedescleaux suffered a knee injury in an all-star game this past Spring and had surgery on the knee and therefore will not participate with the team this fall. He will be enrolled at the school, but will not be on scholarship and will not workout with the team. He will rejoin the team on scholarship in January 2005 and will still have five years with four years of eligibility starting next fall.
Brandon Owens and William VanDeSteeg are not with the team right now, as they are getting some issues straightened out with classes and credits. Mason expects their return before the season starts.
Chad Redman has left the program.
David Wess did not qualify and will most likely attend a junior college.
Every player on the team with the exception of one passed the mandatory running test, which is the best performance Mason has ever seen. He did not indicate which player did not pass. Mason said a number of times how impressed he was with the off-season work ethic displayed by the entire team.
The team will practice with helmets only today and tomorrow; helmets and shoulder pads on Friday and Saturday; full pads starting Sunday; and beginning Monday will start with two-a-day practices on Monday and one practice on Tuesday and continuing with that pattern.
The team will participate in a closed game rehearsal on August 28.
Mason said that the Gophers view the center position as a skill position and recruit that position accordingly. He again reiterated how great Greg Eslinger is and again called him the best center in college football.
Mason was very optimistic about the defense, stating that it will be the best defensive team he has had at Minnesota. He expects a big season from both Darrell Reid and Anthony Montgomery.
Mason said that everyone has been telling him that he has been smiling more this fall than before. Sid Hartman then asked why he never sees him smile. Mason responded with: “œSid, I never smile when you are around.” The room broke out in laughter.
Eslinger is the team’s squat leader at 535 lbs; Marion Barber leads running backs at 500 lbs. Mario Reese leads the team with a 38″ vertical; Micah Rucker was right behind at 37.5″. Jakari Wallace had the fastest 40-time at 4.34 with Barber clocking in at 4.35.
The first pass of the fall practice was from Bryan Cupito to Marion Barber. Cupito went on to complete all three passes in the first drill.
Reid is definitely the team’s emotional leader early on. He was getting in guys’ faces during warm-ups getting everyone fired up.
The team broke each team huddle with “œBig Ten Champs.”
From Coach Mason’s Press Conference:
Initial thoughts from the first practice of the year:
GopherHole.com will continue to provide in-depth coverage and features stemming from today’s Media Day and will of course continue its usual game analysis heading into the 2004 Gopher season!!
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