Tow-Arnett heals, wants to play

The Gophers center returned to practice well ahead of schedule.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 10, 2009 - 11:09 PM

Jeff Tow-Arnett, his right leg taped tight and braced, returned to the practice field Tuesday.

This in itself is amazing. Tow-Arnett, recovered from extensive knee surgery, began the season as the Gophers starting center before breaking a bone in his lower right leg late in the Wisconsin game Oct. 3. He had surgery again. But, just over a month later, Tow-Arnett is back, saying he's feeling no pain and yearning to return to the field.

This week.

Coach Tim Brewster's reaction was no way, not this week. Offensive line coach Tim Davis lauded Tow-Arnett's moxie -- he said he wished all his guys had that same level of desire -- but said he'd err on the side of caution. Tow-Arnett, meanwhile, says he hopes to win both of them over and get on the field sooner than later.

"Maybe I'll have to talk to Coach [Brewster] about it," Tow-Arnett said. "Individuals went fine today. Tomorrow they'll throw me into some team stuff. If I prove that I can play ..."

Said Davis: "It's amazing. You have to love it. He has a lot of energy and wants to be on the field. It means something to him."

Brewster had said he hoped Tow-Arnett, a senior, would be able to play again if the Gophers made it to a bowl game. Tow-Arnett, of course, would like to return sooner. All that's known for sure is he's back on the practice field way before anyone expected.

Perseverance

The key, Ben Kuznia said, is hanging in there.

The receiver is one of several seniors who will be playing their last home game Saturday, when the Gophers play host to South Dakota State.

His final year probably hasn't gone exactly the way he'd have liked it. As a junior he started in 12 games and made 31 receptions for 310 yards, including a seven-catch, 98-yard performance against Northwestern. This season, though, he has been a backup and has yet to make a catch. But, as a strong performer on special teams, Kuznia has still done his part. On Saturday in a 35-32 loss to Illinois, he scooped up a blocked punt late in the game and scored the first touchdown of his college career.

"That's been the story of my career, hanging in there," said Kuznia, a native of Olivia. "Taking your bumps and bruises, being persistent. When my name's been called, I've been ready. ... There has been a transition with the new offense. I've taken my lumps with not getting some of the opportunities I've gotten in the past. But I think [Saturday's TD] was a little reward. And I have been starting to get into the offense a little more."

Listed as the backup to Da'Jon McKnight at the position previously manned by Eric Decker before his season- ending foot injury, Kuznia hopes to get even more opportunity as the regular season winds down. If he does, he'll be ready.

Etc.

• Fans might have noticed Gophers quarterback Adam Weber wearing a glove on his throwing hand in the past two games. Weber had experimented with the glove in practice, and found it gave him a better grip on the ball and the ability to throw a tighter spiral. His first full game wearing the glove was against Michigan State.

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