Gorgeous 60-degree day at TCF Bank Stadium, a perfect setting for the Gophers' home opener. Plenty of tailgating going on as I arrived, and they're expecting to be within 2,000 or so of capacity for the game against South Dakota.
To the surprised of nobody who knows him, Jon Hoese is in uniform and warming up on the field, just one day after his father Terry's funeral.
Hoese, a senior fullback who scored three touchdowns last week in Murfreesboro, Tenn., hasn't been around the team much this week, but was never really in doubt for today's game. Gophers coach Tim Brewster told him to stay away and be with his family as long as he needed. This seems like a good way to honor his memory, and I wouldn't be surprised if he has another big day.