ESPN's Adam Rittenberg last month ranked the Big Ten's top 25 players. There were no Gophers among them.


Rivals.com on Monday projected its All-Big Ten team, and even named a second team, too. There were 52 players on the list, including 11 from Wisconsin, nine each from Ohio State and Iowa -- and zero from Minnesota.


The Sporting News picks the Gophers to finish 10th. Athlon magazine says that's too optimistic; it ranks Minnesota 11th in the conference.


Wow, does this team have a perception problem or what?


"We like it that way," right tackle Jeff Wills insisted on Wednesday. "No offense to you, but the media hasn't always respected us. So we'll just come and surprise everybody. We'll be underdogs every game, and come and punch everybody in the mouth."


That's sort of the coach's notion, too, though he wasn't quite so explicit about punching anyone. But "it kind of puts a smile on my face," Tim Brewster said.


In particular, he seemed to enjoy that none of his players are being singled out for big seasons (though to be fair, their only representative on the postseason all-conference teams last fall was receiver Eric Decker, now with the Broncos).


"We've got a great group of hard-working young kids, and I like the fact that we don't have a bunch of so-called superstar, rock-star-type football players," the coach said. "We've got a workmanlike football team, and I think we've got the chance to be a very good football team."


-- The Gophers practiced in full pads in the morning, then held a scimmage; in the afternoon, they practiced in shorts. Brewster said he was happy that the weather remains so hot, with an opener in Tennessee looming just three weeks from Thursday.


- Brewster complimented freshman safety James Manuel for his physicality in practice -- and his note-taking in meetings. "He's becoming a student of the game," the coach said. He also was impressed with newcomer Leston Simpson, a defensive end. "He's a young kid who has really shown some speed off the edge," Brewster said.