It’s time for T & T — Tim and Tubby

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 08/30/2007

An interview with Gophers Football Coach Tim Brewster

 This week, on Saturday, September 1, a new day in Gophers football begins with the kickoff to the 2007 college football season and the beginning of the era of Tim Brewster as head football coach at the U of M.

 The last time I saw the Gophers, I was in attendance when they blew an NCAA record 31-7 lead at halftime to Texas Tech in losing the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. Glen Mason was fired shortly thereafter as head football coach at Minnesota, and the door opened at Minnesota for Brewster.

“I tolled for 23 years for this opportunity as an assistant football coach,” said Brewster. “I was two years a head high school football coach, but I’ve worked very long and hard for this opportunity, and I know that I was hired to do one thing — with good people, to take this university to the next level.”

A new beginning: It all starts this week when the Gophers host Bowling Green Saturday at the Metrodome.

 I asked Brewster (TB), “When you first got the job, what was the first thing you told your players?”

 TB: I told them, “I love you unconditionally — I love you.” I said, “Guys, you’re Minnesota Golden Gophers. Make certain of this: that we reciprocate that love and we show each other the same respect that we’ll need to have.” I told them also, “Guys, it’s a dawn of a new day at the ‘U.’ We are going to put the past behind us, and we’re going to work forward from today.”

  I’ve got great confidence in my ability to lead young men. And this football team wants to be led; they want to be disciplined; they want me to do the things that head coaches need to get done. I’m about being positive. I wake up in the morning and my glass is half full; my motor is running. I’m thinking about the great things that are going to happen today, not the negative things.

 I think at some point the Gopher players lost some confidence. And I told them before they took the field in the spring football game, “Men, stand up. Get your head high. Swell your chest out. You are Minnesota Golden Gophers. Understand how special you are.” And that’s why I ask the great players from the past to come back — the Bobby Bells, Carl Ellers, Judge Dixons, Lawrence Maroneys, Thomas Topahs, Marrion Barbers and Darrell Thompsons — guys that are about success.

 One of the most exciting people I brought out to meet my players was the new dean at the University of Minnesota [College of Education], Darlene Bailey. She is one of the most dynamic young women I’ve ever met in my life.

 Her vision for a student athlete at the U of M is incredible. I just want to surround these guys and make them understand that the U of M is about success, and you can have all the success you want at the “U.”And we are going to be very positive as we move forward.

 Fitz: When you heard that Tubby Smith is the new head basketball coach at the U of M, did that reassure you that “Wow, I’m in the right place?”

TB: Without question. How exciting is that, to get Tubby hired here? [President] Bob Bruininks, [AD] Joel Maturi, they made a commitment to go out and hire the best basketball coach in the country, and I’m going to promise you they got it done.

 They have already started talking: ‘It’s going to be T and T, Tim and Tubby.’ We are going to be blowing up this fall.

 Fitz notes & quotes

Venus and Serena Williams this week are taking dead aim at winning a second major tennis title this summer. Serena won the Australian Open, and Venus won at Wimbledon earlier this summer. This week, the United States Open Tennis Championship in New York City takes on historic meaning and significance for them.

 Both have won the tournament before; but on opening night Monday, August 27, Black pioneers like Aretha Franklin, Carol Moseley Braun, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and many other pioneering Black women will be on hand to commemorate and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the late, great Althea Gibson’s historic 1957 U.S. National Championship.

 Gibson’s victory was for Black women as significant as Jackie Robinson’s achievement in baseball. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) tribute is called “Breaking Barriers.”

 Gibson became the very first Black male or female to win the event that later became the U.S. Open. Gibson died in 2003 and will be inducted into the United States Open Court of Champions.

 The St. Louis Vikings? The St. Louis Rams might have more former Vikings than any team in the NFL.

 Rams Head Coach Scott Linehan was a former Vikings offensive coordinator. Rams Defensive Line Coach Brian Baker had the same position with the Vikings. Guard Adam Goldberg, quarterback Gus Frerotte, safety Corey Chavous and tackle Todd Steussie are all ex-Vikings, and former DeLaSalle High School star Dominique Byrd now plays for the Rams.

 Fitz wins again!

Former Gophers football star Ezell Jones and Dr. John Williams were the starting offensive tackles on the last (1967) Gophers Big Ten Football Championship team. Jones, now a successful vice president with AIA, was happy to see the team he sponsored, consisting of Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Evans and Alan Reid, shoot 11 under par to win by one shot the 2007 Associated Insurance Agents Inc. 4th Annual Golf Benefit at Bunker Hills Golf Course on Tuesday, August 14.

 216 players participated to help raise money for Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Survivors and the Debra S. Fish Early Childhood Resource Library.

 Next week: more from Tim Brewster.