The Gophers will have five football practices open to the public this month before the Sept. 1 opener against Oregon State, the team announced Tuesday.
The team opens camp Friday with a closed practice, but Saturday's 10 a.m. practice will be open. Other open practices are Aug. 9 (10 a.m.), Aug. 12 (10 a.m.) and Aug. 13 (9:10 a.m.) and a scrimmage at TCF Bank Stadium later on Aug. 13 (4:45 p.m.).
Last year, the Gophers had four open August practices.
JOE CHRISTENSEN
Assistant GM named
The Timberwolves have hired Noah Croom as assistant general manager, according to cleveland.com.
Croom worked for the Vancouver and Memphis Grizzlies as assistant GM from 1995 to 2000. He has served as legal counsel and agent for Goodwin Sports Management since 2002.
Croom reportedly interviewed for the Portland GM job in 2012. His expertise is the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and salary cap.
Etc.
• Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2016. The Bison earned 37 of a possible 39 first-place votes in a preseason poll.
