Brewster's great expectations include a title

In his third season as Gophers football coach, Tim Brewster said he has learned that there isn't any doubt that the team can win a Big Ten championship and go to a major January bowl game.

"I'm talking about winning at a championship level," Brewster said. "There is no question that we are going to get it done. We are a 5-4 football team with a great opportunity to go to a bowl game this year. I think there is tremendous progress in this program, both on and off the field. I couldn't be stronger in my belief that we are going to have a chance to compete for a Big Ten championship and do it soon."

Asked if his going with the Gophers has been tougher than expected, Brewster said: "The whole key is recruiting. We have recruited at a very high level. This year's recruiting class is going to be another outstanding class. That's how you build a great program -- you do it by recruiting. We have a brand new football stadium that is really helping us. That's the key to any success we are going to have: recruiting."

What about this squad you have right now?

"We have some great young players in this program," Brewster said. "They are developing. We had a chance this year to redshirt some kids [who] are really going to help us. The future is extremely bright with what we are doing and the type of players we have in the program."

Talk about what it's like to go into homes recruiting.

"Our message is being well-received, both here in the state of Minnesota and across the nation," he said. "The success we are having in recruiting has just been great."

Are you getting kids out of Texas who other schools in the state want?

"We are recruiting against the best schools in the country, whether or not it's in Texas, whether or not it's in Florida or whether or not it's in California," he said. "We are recruiting against the best schools in the country."

So you're not getting the kids other schools want?

"We are getting the kids we want, and the kids we think we can win with here at the University of Minnesota," he said. "That's what is most important."

The Gophers have 10 seniors among their 11 starters on defense. Asked how that will affect the team next year, Brewster said: "We have some great young players coming back. We have some of the best young defensive linemen that I've been around, and outstanding young linebackers. Secondary-wise, we are going to have to fill some spots, but I feel really good about Michael Carter and some of the other kids we got. We bring [Kim] Royston back and [Kyle] Theret back. We are recruiting extremely well in the secondary.

"We'll continue each year to improve this program. We've taken a step from Year 1 to Year 2. We've taken a step from Year 2 to Year 3, and that's how it will continue. As we continue to recruit at a high level, we'll have a chance to compete at a championship at some point."

The Gophers have commitments from 22 recruits already this year. And if you listen to the coaches who have done the recruiting, this is the best group yet brought in by Brewster and company.

One thing about Tubby Smith, he is a tough disciplinarian, and if Royce White doesn't get his act in shape, the Gophers men's basketball coach will get rid of him no matter how good he is.

Right now, White is suspended indefinitely after he was arrested last month. Regarding Devron Bostick, his suspension was for a rule violation some time ago. And Trevor Mbakwe will not be allowed to play until he goes to court or his case is dismissed in Miami regarding a April felony assault charge. Smith agreed with the decision of Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi to sit Mbakwe.

With or without the three players, Smith said he is very pleased with the improvement shown by all the players over last year at this time. The Gophers open the exhibition season tonight against Minnesota Duluth, and there are tickets available.

Antoine Winfield, the star Vikings cornerback who missed the past two games because of a bad foot, stayed in town for the bye week and didn't go home for treatment. "I've got two weeks to heal the foot, so I should be ready to play against the Lions [Nov. 15]," said Winfield, who believes the Vikings have a good chance to go to the Super Bowl. ... Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, reports there are 4,000 tickets available for the Detroit game and 3,500 for Seattle the following week. The Bears game is virtually sold out with just a few hundred still available.

Bob Weber, father of Gophers quarterback Adam Weber, was Academic All-Big Ten in 1976 and '77 while playing football for Minnesota. His son was Academic All-Big Ten in 2007 and '08. ... The Gophers hope to have several recruits enrolled in January, including Josh Campion, the offensive tackle from Fergus Falls; Joey Searcy, a defensive lineman from Grand Prairie, Texas; and Christyn Lewis, a defensive back from Citrus College in Florida. There could be other junior college transfers. Only two recruits from out of town are expected to watch the Gophers play Illinois on Saturday -- Marquise Hill, a running back from St. Louis, and defensive lineman Wendell Beckwith of Clinton, La. ... Illinois had not won a Big Ten game in seven tries until beating Michigan last week.

Trey Davis was involved in only one play at center against Michigan State for the Gophers, with D.J. Burris replacing him and leaving the Gophers very thin in offensive line reserves.

The Wild are 13th in attendance in the NHL, averaging 18,176 people per game and a 100.6 percent of capacity. Left wing Andrew Brunette is tied for the NHL lead with five power-play goals.

Among the Gophers baseball recruits expected to sign on Nov. 11 is Kyle Crocker of Brainerd. Besides being an outstanding second baseman, he returned two punts for touchdowns this season and has already scored more than 1,000 points for the basketball team. Another future Gophers baseball player, Bobby Juan of La Crosse, Wis., is the quarterback for his Central High School team that is 9-1 this season.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. • shartman@startribune.com