Sid Hartman: Chryst offers advantages as U coach

As far as the Gophers football coach vacancy is concerned, it was very good news in my mind when word came out that athletic director Joel Maturi had interviewed Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst as a candidate to replace Tim Brewster.

When Brewster was fired, I felt that the two best candidates for the job were Chryst and Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, who spent five years on the Gophers staff under Jim Wacker and has had great success first as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma and then at Houston. Chryst has been on the Badgers staff since 2002 after working as an assistant for the San Diego Chargers.

Sumlin, who has had a tough year because he lost his quarterback for the season in the first game, has indicated that he is not interested in the Gophers job, but he is a top candidate for some other vacancies. There always is a chance that Sumlin might change his mind.

So the good news is that Maturi is still looking for a coach and he could do no better than hire Chryst, who is one big reason that the Badgers have had tremendous success. Maturi certainly wouldn't have interviewed Chryst if he had somebody ready to hire as the Gophers coach.

For reasons unknown to me, Maturi didn't consider Chryst when he hired Brewster and until now hadn't contacted him. The reason I'm told for the reluctance to hire Chryst is that Chryst is like family to Maturi. Maturi and Chryst's father have been longtime friends, and while at Wisconsin, Maturi and the younger Chryst also became very close friends.

Maturi, I'm told, believes he would be criticized if he hired Chyrst.

But the fact that he did interview Chryst in private in Wisconsin Dells the past week sheds a different light on the subject.

Chryst would be a perfect successor to Brewster. Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, tried to hire Chryst as his quarterbacks coach a few years back.

Wisconsin has found a way to win and by coming to Minnesota, Chryst could copy the Badgers model. Another plus is that three former Badgers coaches and friends of Chryst -- Jeff Horton, Tim Davis and Kevin Cosgrove -- are on the Gophers coaching staff. This past season, Chryst's offense played a part in the Badgers' 11-1 record and the team's average of 43.3 points per game.

Chryst's hiring also would be a big plus in recruiting Wisconsin and this area.

Haywood a candidate? Another name rumored for the coaching job is Mike Haywood of Miami (Ohio). Haywood was 1-11 last year and 9-4 this year and the RedHawks won the Mid-American Conference. This was Haywood's first head coaching job.

After being a graduate assistant at Minnesota in 1988, he has been an assistant at Army, Ohio University, Ball State, LSU, Texas and at Notre Dame, his alma mater.

Peterson wants to play Last week in the Redskins game, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson suffered a serious ankle injury he described as the worst ankle injury he has had.

"I had some in college, but I can't compare it to that," Peterson said. "Initially when it happened, it was the worst thing I've felt as far as any type of ankle injury I've had. But throughout the past week the pain has gone away. My flexibility, like I said, is getting back to where it needs to be, and it's feeling good.

How did it happen?

"I was trying to push it -- that's just my mentality, that I have to get out there and try to help my team win, plus I love the game," Peterson said. "I was doing whatever I could to try to get back on the field. I got it rolled up. I was running to the back of one of my guys and someone fell on it and got it rolled up. And I know my body better than anyone else, so if I can go [on Sunday], I'll definitely be going."

Peterson fumbled six times last year. He hasn't fumbled once this year.

Buffalo is one of the best 2-9 teams in recent years. The Vikings have a banged-up offensive line, and if they don't have Peterson they might have a lot of trouble winning on Sunday.

Jottings Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was a finalist for the Bills job, along with Chan Gailey, who got the job, but Frazier believes he did his best in the Bills interview and it was good experience for him. "It was a good opportunity," Frazier told the Buffalo media during a conference call this week. "Things worked out like they should. I'm happy with where I am, and I'm sure the Bills are happy with their choice, so things worked out great."

Sidney Rice, who was sidelined for nine games because of a hip problem, said: "I feel like I'm doing everything I need to be doing on the field. I haven't had any problems lately. I'm coming out of the ballgames feeling good the day after the ballgames and things like that, that's a big plus for me."

Ryan Cook, who will start his second game this year for the Vikings at right guard: "I'm just trying to take advantage of the opportunity that I'm given. It's in front of me now and I'm just trying to take full advantage and show what I can do, and hopefully that progresses to something later on." On playing tackle, center and guard in practice before: "It's tough -- each position has different nuances and different quirks, so to speak; I'm going out there just trying to focus on making the most of it."

Former Bloomington Jefferson standout Cole Aldrich is playing for the Tulsa 66ers, the Oklahoma City Thunder's D-League affiliate, and through two games is averaging nine points, six rebounds and one block per game. Aldrich was the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft.