After 19 days, 22 practices and one scrimmage, the Gophers football team can sleep in and do nothing today.
Coach Tim Brewster concluded his first fall camp Friday by having his players run 10 consecutive 100-yard sprints after a full-pads practice. The Gophers practiced 19 consecutive days -- sometimes twice a day -- and were rewarded by getting the weekend off before returning Monday to start preparations for the season opener against Bowling Green one week from today.
"It was a good camp," sophomore wide receiver Eric Decker said. "They expected a lot coming in and we accomplished a lot. We feel comfortable with where we're at. Now, it's just a matter of sharpening the knife and getting our legs back. It's game week."
Brewster said he is pleased with the progress his team made the past three weeks. The offense, in particular, showed more consistency the past 10 days, especially in the passing game. Brewster said he felt his entire team turned a corner this past Sunday when it had arguably its best practice of camp one day after holding its only scrimmage.
"To me, it was like that watershed moment," Brewster said. "Things just started clicking."
The quarterback play picked up considerably this week. Brewster said he and offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar will meet this weekend to decide on the starter and will announce it Tuesday. Redshirt freshman Adam Weber has received almost all of the reps with the first-team offense the past 10 days, but Brewster let the competition play out through camp before naming his starter.
Brewster said his entire team is "light years" ahead of where it was when the Gophers opened camp at St. John's on Aug. 6.
"We're ready to play our first game," senior linebacker John Shevlin said. "I think guys have a lot more confidence. We got a lot of work in."
Now they get to rest.
"I think these two days off are going to be good for us," Decker said. "It's a grind. We're ready to play but I think this mental break will help us. You can just get away and take your mind off football a little bit."
Cover your bases
The Gophers went through an overtime session at the end of practice Friday, right down to a simulated coin toss. The Gophers have covered a number of different situations this week, including the last-second Hail Mary pass.
"We want to understand all situations that we're in," Brewster said. "No surprises. To me that's what coaching is all about. You cover things in practice so that in games there are no surprises. Kids can go out and react."
Etc.
• The Gophers will hold their annual Fan Fest on Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Gibson-Nagurski football facility.
Chip Scoggins • ascoggins@startribune.com
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