The Minnesota football team will debut its new uniforms this Wednesday during a press conference at the Gibson-Nagurski football complex.
Undoubtedly part of coach Tim Brewster’s attempts to revitalize the Gophers football experience, new jerseys will likely be a welcome sight for a Minnesota team that finished last season with a program worst 1-11 record.
Last week, Brewster said he was happy with the team’s mentality as the final week of spring practice approached.
“The attitude and effort is just really good, and as we continue with that type of attitude and effort, we’re going to continue to make improvements,” Brewster said. “We’ve made improvements each day and I’m really excited about the progress we’ve made.”
Whether the Gophers will wear the new uniforms for Friday night’s spring game will likely be discussed at the unveiling.
Truax goes for win No. 6
University alumnus “Golden” Caleb Truax will try to maintain his untainted 5-0 record (3 Kos) next month as part of “Uncaged” – a mixed martial arts/boxing event put on by Seconds Out Promotions.
“With the growing popularity of each sport here in Minnesota, it just seems right to give our fans the ability to continue seeing both of the sports they love together in one night,” Rick Johnson of Seconds Out Promotions said.
Truax’s opponent has not yet been determined, however the two brawlers in the main event have.
The “Pride of the Eastside,” Matt “The Predator” Vanda (36-7), will take on Marcus LeVesseur in a middleweight bout.
LeVessuer is a newcomer to the sport, but he’ll bring some clout with him into the ring as a four-time national champion with the Augsburg wrestling team.
Badgers nab 6 recruits
The Wisconsin men’s hockey team has signed six incoming recruits to its roster, according to a release issued by the program Monday.
Three of the soon to be freshman are coming out of Minnesota and include forwards Derek Stepan and Jordy Murray, who both helped Shattuck-St. Mary’s to the program’s first ever back-to-back national championships this year.
Badgers coach Mike Eaves said he thinks all six recruits will make an immediate impact, but seemed to expect a little more out of the pair from Faribault.
“(Derek) comes from a program that knows what it takes to win. We look for Derek to come in and, even as a freshman, hopefully do some good things for us offensively,” Eaves said.
“Jordy will remind people a lot of Patrick Johnson. He is not very big in stature, but his heart is as big as his chest.”
Murray’s father, Andy, is currently the head coach of the St. Louis Blues.
The third Minnesotan to join the Badgers next year is Minnetonka defenseman Jake Gardiner, who is ranked No. 22 on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Report on North American skaters.
The three other recruits all are in-state players with USHL experience.
Defenseman Ryan Little joins the Badgers after a year with the Green Bay Gamblers.
Forward Matt Thurber skated with the Omaha Lancers for three years, led the team in assists this season with 39 and helped Omaha to the Anderson Cup.
Defenseman Eric Springer played with Minnesota recruit and forward Jake Hansen for the Sioux Falls Stampede.
Springer led the team’s blue-liners with 31 points.
