College Coach Spotlight Preview - Week 1
Being from Minnesota and having being brought up with the idea that all the kids in my class shopped in the husky section of JC Penney, it would be an extreme understatement to say that I love the State Fair. There is something blissfully naughty about getting up early on a Saturday morning and leaving work early on a Wednesday afternoon to consume deep-fried calories on a stick. Mapping out walking routes that pass by my favorite vendors and convincing myself that the sweat dripping from my forehead is from the humidity and not the battered and fried Cajun pickle chips with a side of hot sauce I just devoured in personal record time seems oddly appropriate when I am on the fairgrounds. In the end, I am left with empty pockets, an uncomfortable stomach, and a strong desire to take an extended nap.
The same could be said for how Gopher football fans felt at the end of last season. After the most disappointing season in recent Gophers history, the maroon and gold backers are hoping their team is more relevant than a (non-fried) vegetable vendor at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Now in his second season as the head coach, Tim Brewster has the members of Gopher Nation demanding a better product. After a winless Big Ten season and a one-victory year, the Gophers need to change their ways in a hurry to be ready to open the new TCF Bank Stadium next fall.
Known for his relentless recruiting and ability to develop talent, Brewster has been working hard since the day he took over the program to make the Gophers a program of significance in the near future. Like ketchup on my shirt after taking one bite of a foot-long corn dog, when it comes to recruiting, Brewster is all over it. Things appear to be moving in the right direction as Brewster and his staff signed a consensus top-25 recruiting class that some experts ranked in the top 15. This is especially impressive since the previous six recruiting classes have been decent at best. With an average Rivals ranking of 54, it is safe to assume that chocolate-dipped bacon has been a more newsworthy story than past Gopher recruiting. If said bacon would have been on a stick, it would absolutely have topped any recruiting class. Brewster's dedication to recruiting is what helped turn North Carolina from perennial cellar dweller of the ACC into a contender and built Texas into one of the nation's most dominant programs. While the Gophers are far from a national power or elite program, with Brewster at the helm, Gopher fans are sold on the hope that the program can progress enough to get out of the Big Ten cellar.
Brewster’s philosophy on recruiting is clear: “The number one thing we’re looking for is toughness. Second, we’re looking for passion, and third we are looking for smart guys. The fourth thing we always want to address is that we’re looking for playmakers on this football team. We want guys who we feel can do something with the ball and score points.” This year’s recruiting class represents 16 states, and those players are excited to help turn the program in the right direction. The national presence and reputation of Brewster and his staff has been immediately recognizable. Brewster is also focused on finding and keeping the talent right here in Viking Land. “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that the top players in this state come to the University of Minnesota. We want to identify these players early, get them and stay on them from the beginning. We’re going to make sure that every guy in this state who wants to play here and who we feel can help us win, they’re going to come here and play for us.”
In addition to being a great recruiter, Brewster has built a strong reputation for developing players during his coaching career. Like the guy who tasted his mom’s tater tot hot dish and thought to put it on a stick and deep-fry it, Brewster has the ability to make the good great. Throughout his coaching career, he has worked with players like Antonio Gates, Alge Crumpler, Tony Scheffler and many others. At the U of M, Brewster has helped mentor and aid the development of quarterback Adam Weber, safety Dominique Barber and punter Justin Kucek. With Brewster, the Gophers have a coach that has proven to be a top recruiter and has the ability to develop players into top performers. These two attributes apart are vital to any coaching staff. Combine them into one head coach and they are invaluable. Like vanilla ice cream and root beer. One without the other is nice, nothing unordinary. Put them together, and you have reached absolute perfection. Will the Gophers be as good as a State Fair root beer float? Hard to say, but the Gophers football program is confident that Brewster will be the key ingredient in the development of a quality product.
Prior to the Gophers, Brewster coached tight ends for the Denver Broncos, where he was a part of the 2005 Broncos team that played for AFC Championship. In addition to the Broncos, Brewster also coached the San Diego Chargers. He is an avid NFL fan and enjoys watching the Vikings when he gets the time and maintains a personal relationship with Coach Brad Childress.
Away from the field, Brewster enjoys golfing, jogging and spending time with his wife, Cathleen, and their dog, Bailey. The Brewsters reside in Shoreview and are genuinely thrilled to be living in Minnesota. They love the outdoors, the seasons, and the beautiful surroundings of Minnesota.
Follow the Gophers and Coach Brewster all season long at www.gophersports.com.
Comments, questions, suggestions or random ramblings can be sent to me at weber.trent@gmail.com.
Trent Weber is in his first season as a freelance writer for vikings.com. He graduated from St. John's University in 2004 with a degree in Communications. He currently lives and works in Plymouth where he holds a position in advertising. Trent grew up in Eden Prairie and played defensive end for the Eagles.