Sid Hartman: Vikings won't underestimate Lions

Even though the Lions haven't won a game this season, Vikings coach Brad Childress said it was important that they be taken very seriously.

"Well, they need to take it seriously from the standpoint of how we played against them last time," Childress said. "They know that they can take our measure if they want it -- but for a bounce here or there, that could have [gone] a different way."

The Vikings beat the Lions 12-10 in their first meeting on Oct. 12 on a late field goal, with the final drive helped by a pivotal pass interference call.

"Detroit is playing for something, too, and there's very prideful people in this league, and we need to be more about our business than we were the last time we played them," Childress said. Looking back to that narrow escape, Childress talked about the importance of improving each week and hopes the Vikings, 4-2 since beating the Lions last time, have done just that.

"It's week to week, and the whole measure of the season is how we improve what you need to get better on, and how you play together," he said. "It is all three phases [defense, offense special teams], and from time to time, we've struggled with all of them; but the thing is, the guys come back and make corrections."

Childress has often talked about how much this team has come together.

"They're good people. They like coming to work," he said. "They like competing with each other. They're not backing in to get their paychecks. Everybody works here, and that's what is so refreshing about all these guys."

"We work so many hours with each other, and you tell the players this, too," Childress said. "If you get a burr under your saddle in the first week in August, that little burr ends up being an ulcer like that about the first week in December. So, the communication is good, we've got great personalities, we've got everything from practical jokers. But they're all good football coaches, they're all good teachers, and I think that there is a genuine enjoyment about guys interacting with each other."

One reason the chemistry has been so good this year is the good leadership of Childress, who knows how to handle people. I don't agree with others in the media complaining about how he's so unpopular. I find that completely untrue. When you're 7-3 in the past 10 games, you are popular.

Big surprises The Gophers men were trailing Cornell 46-33 with 16 minutes to play in Saturday's basketball game, and with that big a deficit, you normally need your best three-point shooter in the game. But Blake Hoffarber sprained his ankle early in the second half and never returned.

The lineup on the floor after that included Lawrence Westbrook and Travis Busch along with freshmen Devoe Joseph and Ralph Sampson III. All four were reserves, playing alongside starter Damian Johnson.

And with that lineup, they proceeded to shut down former Eden Prairie star Ryan Wittman, a favorite to be Ivy League Player of the Year. Wittman was held to five points in the second half after he scored 16 in the first. The Gophers then outscored the visitors 43-14 in the second half.

"The tone was set. I thought Ralph Sampson played extremely well, that was a big part of it," said Gophers coach Tubby Smith. "... Devoe Joseph had a chance, 28 minutes, with [Al Nolen] fouling out, so he got some quality time out there and did some quality things.

"Then Lawrence Westbrook carried us with his ability to attack the basket."

One thing this team is strong in is defense.

And as far as Wittman goes, I can't understand why former Gophers coach Dan Monson and his staff never considered recruiting him. The junior would look awful good in a maroon and gold uniform.

Jottings Quoted in the Detroit News, Lions coach Rod Marinelli said this about Vikings running back Adrian Peterson: "The mindset is, you've got to tackle this back. It's every snap, every play -- this guy can go the distance on you and break tackles. So you've got to be on the screws when you are playing this guy. He may be the best player in the league right now." Peterson rushed 25 times for 111 yards in the first Lions game, but he fumbled twice -- once on the Lions goal line. His longest run was 13 yards.

The depth of the Vikings offensive line was dealt a blow when Drew Radovich, the free-agent tackle from Southern California, suffered a shoulder injury a month ago and was sidelined for the year. He had made good progress in training camp and the coaches like his potential very much.

Gophers center Jeff Tow-Arnett is walking around with crutches, and he certainly won't be ready for a bowl game. The big question is whether David Pittman, the Pasadena City College quarterback who some experts rate the best junior college player recruited by the Gophers, will play in the near future. Pittman was injured all year and played just a few snaps. He played quarterback in junior college but was expected to play any number of offensive positions. ... Litchfield native John Carlson is considered the best tight end the Seahawks have had for some time. The former Notre Dame athlete is third among all rookies in touchdown receptions with three, fourth in receptions with 38 and fourth in receiving yards with 456.

Mark LeVoir, the former Eden Prairie and Notre Dame offensive tackle who the Patriots picked up from the Rams, has started two games this year for New England. ... Former Gopher Marion Barber III might be sidelined for a while after dislocating his right pinky toe in the Cowboys' Thanksgiving victory over Seattle. For the season, Barber has rushed 225 times for 870 yards in 225 carries and has scored seven touchdowns. He won't play today at Pittsburgh.