SID's JOTTINGS

• The Vikings are involved a conflict over a $15 million overrun on stadium construction, with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and Mortenson Construction heading to a mediator Nov. 9. Vikings President Mark Wilf said: "I think the stadium is going to be finished on time and these type of cost issues come up on large projects like this all the time, but we're confident in our partnership with the authority and the folks at Mortensen that the project will be finished on time and it will be a successful, beautiful project for the fans to enjoy. We have made sure from Day 1 that it is going to be a first-class, world-class facility for our fans, and that hasn't changed one bit."

• The defensive coordinator at Purdue is Greg Hudson, who served on the Gophers staff under Glen Mason from 2001 to '04, the final three years also as defensive coordinator.

• Eric Decker, who missed Week 3 for the New York Jets because of a sprained left knee, returned last Sunday to catch five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. The ex-Gophers receiver has a TD reception in every game he has played this year.

• A tough break for ex-Gopher MarQueis Gray, who was put on season-ending injured reserve by the Bills on Tuesday. The tight end suffered a fractured forearm against the Giants on Sunday, when he caught his first pass of the season, for 2 yards. Buffalo claimed Gray last November after the Vikings waived him.

• Gophers men's hockey coach Don Lucia on playing in the Big Ten: "It has been good. It's fun going to Michigan every year. I like the fact that you play everybody home-and-home, so you have a true champion. I do wish there were a couple more teams so we had an eight-team league vs. a six-team league, and hopefully down the line that will happen."