Gophers to Announce Tubby Smith Deal

Now that Jerry Kill has signed his contract of seven years, it can be expected that Gopher fans will soon hear about a Tubby Smith / Gophers contract next.

Smith is signed through the 2013-14 season for $1.8 million annually. There has been word that the deal between Smith and the Gophers is basically completed, but that the illness of Smith's lawyer held back the announcement.

Kill will receive $1.2 million a year.

Gopher Basketball is Here!

With the NBA season on hold, many people aren't thinking 'basketball' yet. This is wrong.

What about college hoops?! Exhibition games are here and there are deals to be had! The place I get my tickets, Ticket King, has Gopher basketball tickets for cheap - for some games more than half off!

Sure, it is still football season, but why not catch all the Gopher action you can? Get your Gopher basketball tickets because people realize its basketball season!

Jerry Kill Wants Noise

Jerry Kill is asking Gopher fans to pump up the volume this Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Bank.

He said, "Nebraska goes to the line of scrimmage, and (quarterback Taylor) Martinez calls evey play" from there. The QB uses cues from the defense to call a play. If the stadium is filled with crowd noise on every Nebraska snap, Martinez may not be able to make a check.

TCF isn't know as a loud stadium, but Kill is asking fans to make it happen this Saturday. Let's help 'em out, shall we?

Don Lucia Receives Extension

Don Lucia, the men's hockey coach for the Golden Gophers, was granted a three-year extension. The extension will keep the 13-year Gophers coach in Minnesota through the 2014-15 season.

Last spring, Joel Maturi (athletic director) told Lucia that he wanted him to remain with the school and restore a championship atmosphere in the program.

Looks as though we've accomplished the former. Could the Gophers be on their way to the latter?

The Gophers are 4-0-0 and off to a positive start after sweeping a two-game series last weekend at Minnesota-Duluth, the defending national champion.

Minnesota at Minnesota Duluth

You can't deny how great the Gopher hockey defense has looked this year... on the ice or on paper. They haven't allowed a goal yet!

Few rivalries are more storied or speckled with glory than the competitive rivalry between Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth. The Gophers lead the all-time series with a 129-72-15 record, but the Bulldogs have made a stunning comeback, winning six of the last 10 meetings.

The teams played four really fantastic and close games last season and split the season series 1-1-2.

Minnesota will be heading to Duluth to play the national champion this weekend to begin WCHA play. Since the Gophers won back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003, they have played 12 games against the defending national champions. Minnesota is 9-3-1 in those games.

Minnesota Has Bye Week, Then Cornhuskers

Well thank goodness the Gophers have a bye this week. We are sitting at 1-5 and will be hosting the 5-1 Nebraska a week from Saturday, who also have a bye this week.

This season has gone terribly and the Gophers could use a break. Don't get me wrong, I think the Gophers are on their way to turning things around and will, in a couple of years, be a football team that can break into contention, but that this is a rebuilding stretch. Coach Jerry Kill knows what he is doing; it just takes time to implement drastic changes.

A suggestion I have would be to work in those lower classmen more. The upper classmen are not getting it done, whether they are afraid or just lacking the talent, its time to get a fresh pair of legs in there. Sorry boys, it's true.

What are your suggestions? Or as Yoda would say, 'what suggestions have you?'

Minnesota Gophers Purdue Boilermakers

The Gophers hit the road and head to West Lafayette, Indiana this weekend to battle the Purdue Boilermakers (2-2). The Gophers will attempt to redeem themselves after a 58-0 steamrolling by Michigan last week.

Minnesota is 1-4 this year and looked completely outmatched in its first Big Ten game under head coach Jerry Kill.

The Gophers played at Purdue last season and were defeated 28-17 in Tim Brewster's final game before he was dismissed.

Purdue has yet to play a Big Ten game this year, but sits 2-2 on the season. They were beat last week 38-10 by Notre Dame.