Outdoor baseball is back, and outdoor is the word to describe the new baseball experience for Minnesotans.  Alive, fun, young, diverse, and crowded all fit the picture of what is an  unbelievable experience.  A state-fair like atmosphere throughout the game.  Downtown Minneapolis was alive with good people, baseball people, looking for fun and hoping for a winning team to enjoy.  They got both on Saturday.  The sunny but cool weather was perfect.  The stadium and field are in pristine condition.  Except for crowd gridlock, the stadium cannot be faulted.  The view from high over third base-left field is particularly spectacular.  This is a perfect shot of summer excitement and business for a town which is now alive, and town which needed an injection of some really good medicine into a chronically sick block E.    

I must say St. Paul really missed the boat, and will suffer for years to come with dead summers downtown.  St. Paul's loss is Minneapolis's gain.  How could the people of St. Paul be so against the success and fun now happening in Minneapolis?  Foolish pride?  Also, how could some have been so vehemently opposed to supporting this venture with a minimal tax when the Twins are doing so much for the city and the people of Minnesota?  A women physician named Laura in Edina has to be eating her words.   She was against this end result from the beginning and stated so in the newspapers and on TV.  How sad it would have been if she had prevailed and to not have the Twins and their fans in this gorgeous Target stadium 81 times a year.  For those of you so against baseball and the new stadium, swallow your former words of hate, repent, and come out and enjoy as all are welcome,  You could be missing the experience of your life in Minneapolis. 

Perfect day at TCF for spring football practice.  There are three good quarterbacks available, with Gray and Alipate showing great ability.  I hope to see one of these two in action.  Also of note, the punter kicks high and accurately.  A standout on defense appeared to be Maresh at ML and DE Hageman towered above the rest.  Looks like a return to a conventional offense with the QB mostly under center and simpler plays .  Missing is a power running back. Is there one on the way? Great place to watch practice and a few hundred fans showed up.

Watching Coach Kelley accept the Nortre Dame uberjob with no apparent regrets, leaving his Cinncinati team high and dry,  makes me wonder if any one else might question the man's loyalty to his players?  (How do you say Rick Rodriquez?).  He probably is a good coach, but a good man?  Does committment matter anymore?  I have to question the trust factor with this guy.  This may play out like Michigan, and what are they going to do with their guy Rick?

Friday night's Cretin vs Eden Prairie game was a good football game.  The players executed prepared game plans. The best team won (over highly touted EP) with its defense and very talented QB Mark Alt, bruising full back Cameron Clarkson and of course two way star player Seantrel Henderson.  Other less noted Cretin players were great, including Brooks Hitchcock, defenders and on and on.   My point is there are winners right here in St. Paul, and the gophers must take note beyond Seantrel Henderson, who is an obvious gem.  What a joy to see  quaterback Alt take charge, dodge rushers, roll out and hit his receivers in stride with strong throws.  He also kicked an important field goal, in otherwords, he is a gifted athlete and he also stars in hockey.  Watching Clarkson play is pure pleasure as he runs over tacklers wtih his 270 pounds and piston like tree trunk legs.  He has shown breakaway speed also in previous games.  He is a football player!  Surely, the gophers could use these two players who are not rated on the national scene.  Players who win!

I watch sadly as Michael Floyd is stuck in a disaster in Notre Dame, probably going to the pizza bowl in  Detroit and not knowing who his coach is for next year.  He could have been a sensation here teamed with Decker.  He could have been a winner!  I understand Mobley from Eden Prairie a couple of years ago  has transferred from Ohio State, wasted his time there, and could have been playing here as a star hometown favorite.  He too could have been a winner, rather than a bum. Just two examples.  There is no place like home and being a local hero, and I hope the message gets through to Seantrel Henderson who just was lightsout good last night.. 

If the gophers get Alt, and Clarkson, and Henderson, and others locally, what are the possiblities in tlhe next few years?

Die hard fans cannot get over the gopher football offensive embarassment this year.  What happened?  Here are some thoughts via questions. 

 Did the coaches drill the players over and over again on the offensive plays to the point that it became second nature to execute? 

 Did the coaches inspire the players to the point that they knew they would score with first and goal to go?  Did the players develop confidence over the course of the season? 

 Did the coaches kick ass and demand perfection at practice (we all know young players need that)? 

 Was there respect for the coaches? 

Did the players have discipline off the field? 

Do the players and coaches have confidence in the offense and believe they will win? 

Is Adam Weber improving as a quarterback?  Does he fumble a lot, miss receivers, see the whole filed?  Is he a leader at all times?  Is he often confused?

Why does this team struggle so much to have an offense?

I am looking for answers as to why there is this incredible lack of offensive performance.