Minnesota Gophers

Sophomore quarterback Max Shortell replaced an injured Marquis Gray in the first half and threw 3 touchdown passes in route to a 28-23 Gopher win over Western Michigan Saturday afternoon. Shortell was 10-17 passing for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns. Gray left the game with what he's calling a minor ankle injury. A.J. Barker led the Gophers with 5 catches for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns and Donnell Kirkwood led Minnesota with 110 yards rushing.

The Gopher Football team won their season opener 30-27 in 3 overtimes at UNLV Thursday night. Jordan Wettstein made a 32-yard field goal in the 3rd overtime to win the game. Marquis Gray threw for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 68 yards. Gray missed on some possible touchdown passes earlier in the game and threw for 1 interception that set up UNLV's first field goal.

The Gopher football team begins the 2012 season at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas at 10pm (CT) tonight, pregame on AM 1390-the Fan at 9:00. Minnesota was 3-9 in 2011 under, then first year head coach Jerry Kill. Kill has increased his win total in his 2nd year at each location his been at in his coaching career. Senior Marquis Gray will get the start at quarterback.

Gopher basketball forward Trevor Mbakwe has made it official he's coming back for a 6th season in college basketball after being granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA last month. Mbakwe played just 7 games this season before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in a tournament game against Dayton. Mbakwe averaged 14.0 points and 9.1 rebounds a game this season.

The Gopher men's basketball team defeated Augustana 72-60 in exhibition play Monday night at Williams Arena. Trevor Mbakwe led the Gophers with 22 points and 13 rebounds and Rodney Williams added 10 points. Minnesota freshman guards Andre Hollins (3 points) and Joe Coleman (5 points) were mostly held in check.

Gopher head football coach Jerry Kill is still hospitalized after suffering a seizure last Saturday near the end of the game against New Mexico State. He continues to recover and his assistant coaches still expect him to coach the team from the sidelines this Saturday when Minnesota hosts Miami-Ohio at 2:30, pregame on AM 1390-the Fan at 1:30.

Gopher head football coach Jerry Kill is improving but remains hospitalized after suffering a seizure Saturday afternoon in the final seconds of the Gopher football game against New Mexico State. Gopher team physician Pat Smith says all tests have come back normal and no further testing will continue as necessary. Kill could be released from the hospital as early as today.

The Gopher football team under new head coach Jerry Kill lost a tight game 19-17 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles Saturday. Minnesota trailed 19-3 at halftime but outscored the Trojans 14-0 in the 2nd half. Minnesota had the ball with 2 minutes remaning deep in their own territory when backup quarterback Max Shortell threw an interception. Shortell replaced an injured Marquis Gray. Shortell was 9-13 passing for 98 yards and 1 touchdown on the day.

Gopher 6'8 242 pound forward Trevor Mbakwe is one of 22 college basketball players invited to try out for the U.S. junior national basketball team's entry in the World University Games. The try out will take place next month in Colorado and the top 12 players will be chosen to play.