On the Vikings' 20-17 season-opening home loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon: Fred Friedman: "Brutal interior offensive line play means a poor season. Suggest you follow baseball or pick another NFL team. Failure to protect your quarterback means turnovers, incompletions and a losing year."
Kenny Kalligher: "A bad performance especially on the day the team honored Bud Grant. Too many blown opportunities. And, do we miss Adam Thielen or what?"
"Melissa and John are both personal friends. Melissa was the mentor for my freshman class when I was elected to the House. John and I served in the Senate together and quickly became friends." -- Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert
"I think we have some real playmakers this year who are excited for the challenge ahead. We graduated only eight seniors, although several were major contributors. For the first time in a long time, I like our depth." -- Hermantown Hawks football coach Mike Zagelmeyer
"I’m loving my time in Duluth and getting to work with this fantastic group of young men. We’ve improved tremendously as a team (tactically, technically, physically, and mentally), and we have a lot of room for growth, which is super exciting for the staff and I." -- Thomas Pazo
“Overall it was a beautiful night for football … a big crowd, a new flag pole dedicated to a tremendous man and coach (former Hawks coach Gary Bowen) and a Hermantown win … really couldn’t ask for much more than that.” -- Hermantown Coach Mike Zagelmeyer.
Picture it: Ham in sweats, headset strapped on, coaching up young backs on the sideline like he’s been auditioning for the job all summer. He’s never been the rah-rah type in uniform, but suddenly he’s Mr. Clipboard? This isn’t rehab. This is a trial run for the next phase of his career.
Negotiations continue at Solvay Hospice House and Essentia Health Surgery Center-Miller Hill in Duluth. Two bargaining sessions were held this week, with additional meetings scheduled for Sept. 8 at Solvay and Sept. 10 at the Surgery Center.
Minnesota’s defense dominated from the outset, holding Buffalo to just 151 total yards and limiting the Bulls to 1 of 11 on third down. The Gophers forced six three-and-outs and kept Buffalo’s rushing attack under 40 yards.