Decker among 10 semifinalists for top receiver

By FROM STAFF REPORTS

Last update: October 27, 2009 - 7:43 AM

Gophers senior receiver Eric Decker has been named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award for the second consecutive season. Decker is among 10 semifinalists for the award, which is presented annually to the nation's top receiver.

Decker has 50 receptions for 758 yards and five touchdowns this season. The senior receiver owns school records for career receptions, career receiving yardage, career 100-yard receiving games, single-season receptions and consecutive 100-yard games. However, he left Saturday's 38-7 loss at Ohio State on crutches because of a sprained foot and is questionable for this weekend's game against Michigan State at TCF Bank Stadium.

Decker is the only repeat semifinalist from a year ago. The other semifinalists are Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green; Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas; Vincent Brown, San Diego State; Marshwan Gilyard, Cincinnati; A.J. Green, Georgia; Jordan Shipley, Texas; Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech; Golden Tate, Notre Dame, and Mike Williams, Syracuse.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation sponsors the award, which went to Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, now with the San Francisco 49ers, the past two seasons. Voting for the award's three finalists will begin Nov. 16.

Tubby Smith's father dies

Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith's father, Guffrie Smith Sr., died Sunday night. The former Maryland sharecropper raised 17 children with his wife, Parthenia.

Guffrie Smith Sr. was awarded a Purple Heart in World War II as a machine gunner after he was wounded. He was a school bus driver in St. Mary's County (Md.) for nearly five decades.

MYRON P. MEDCALF

Etc.

• The Gophers volleyball team moved up two spots to No. 7 in the AVCA Top 25. The Gophers (17-5, 8-2 Big Ten) defeated Michigan State and No. 11 Michigan last week. Gophers freshman outside hitter Tabitha Love was named Big Ten co-player of the week and freshman of the week. Love had 37 kills in the two victories.

• The Gophers-Illinois football game at TCF Bank Stadium on Nov. 7 will begin at 11 a.m. and will be televised by the Big Ten Network.

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