The reports kept coming in last Friday from my tormentors at work: The Gophers women’s hockey team, the team you wrote about, the team you jinxed that morning, was trailing Robert Morris 1-0, then 2-0, then 3-0.

I had not planned to go to the game, figuring blowout. The Gophers were No. 3 in the country, playing at home at Ridder … Robert Morris was a 12-win team the year before.

I went over for the third period to see what would happen. Bobby Morris, as one of my colleagues in the newsroom called them, hung on to win 3-2 despite being outshot 65-10. Unbelieveable. Not a good way for the Gophers’ weekend to start. Next night, it was 7-1 Gophers, a truer indication of the strength of both teams.

EARLY PRACTICE

Saturday morning I watched the Gophers men’s hockey team practice. I got there at 8:45 a.m., about 45 minutes after they started. Hard to tell much from the first practice. Did see two players tussle in a corner. Like new assistant coach Mike Hastings’ intensity. Glad they let Alex Kangas sit on the bench at one point while the two freshmen netminders played. The workload is expected heavy for Kangas this season.

From Gophers hockey to football at the Dome at 11 a.m. vs. Indiana. I have season tickets in section 211, way, way up. It takes 77 steps to get to my row.

First impression: Where are all the people? The crowd was announced at 40,000. Sure saw a lot of empty seats everywhere. As for the game, only lovers of defense could have liked this one. Only two TDs, one per side.

The Gophers drove down the field early. Then had to try for a field goal. Snap was mishandled and the kicker, Joel Monroe, hit an upright. Not the way to start.

But Willie VanDeSteeg on the Gophers defensive line was causing all kinds of havoc and the U D-backs were staying with the Hoosiers receivers.

Gophers QB Adam Weber found WR Eric Decker downfield 13 times, tying a school record, but he had much more trouble connecting with anybody else. His passes to other receivers often seemed a little low, or just out of reach. Could it be he just has more confidence throwing to Decker than anyone else?

The Gophers won 16-7, getting a late FG to clinch it. The fans in the Dome went home happy, including former Anoka High School wrestling coach Ron Malcolm. He recognized me as we were walking out.

AWAITING PENN STATE

In volleyball, the Gophers beat Illinois and Purdue. The U is 4-0 in conference play, with a big weekend ahead. The Gophers play Indiana on Friday, then face defending NCAA champion Penn State on Saturday in Williams Arena.

Both teams are unbeaten in conference play. The Nittany Lions have especially been impressive. They have won every match this season in straight sets. U volleyball insiders say they are hoping for 8,000 to 9,000 for the Penn State match.

In women’s soccer, forward Lindsey Schwartz has the hot foot. On Sunday, her goal in OT beat Indiana 1-0. She has six goals, five game-winners. The Gophers are 12-1 overall, 2-1 in conference play.

WACKY STAT

The powerful women’s cross-country team split its squad last weekend and won two meets. The strange part? The Gophers scored exactly 24 points at each meet, and placed six runners in the top 10 in each.

The U ran in the Blugold Open in Eau Claire, Wis., on Friday and at the South Dakota State Invite on Saturday. The top runners were at SDSU.

BOWLING IN THE NEWS

A story on Page 4A of Monday’s Minnesota Daily said there is a bowling team at the U, but the team is not an official club sport yet because it is only in its first year.

This was good to hear. I hope the team hangs around. Way back when, me and Bobby Dylan’s brother took a bowling class together at Coffman Union. That all I remember about the class. Wonder if that alley is still down there?

Later I bowled in a league and even had a ball with my first name on it. This summer I sold the ball at a garage sale for $2. Some lady wanted to put it in her garden as an ornament. Glad to see my ball will have a second life.

I got rid of it because it seemed to have gotten heavier over the years. When I used it a few months ago, my arm was sore after two games. Strange how that can happen.

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