The Weekend

Image via WikipediaVikings Win One For The New Guy (Well. We Can't Call Him The Gipper)

Leslie Frazier took the first step in staking a claim on the permanent head coaching position when the Minnesota Vikings defeated Washington 17-13.  In so doing, they won on the road for the first time in who knows how long.  On the other hand, quarterback Donovan McNabb lost to the Vikings for the very first time.  Maybe it's because the Redskins are not as good a team as the Eagles, the ones he left behind?

Gophers Close Out Season With Two Victories

Disaster was predicted when Jeff Horton took over as the University of Minnesota's interim football coach.  Then he did something his predecessor Tim Brewster could not do.  His team beat bowl-bound Illinois and Iowa in consecutive games, and captured the Floyd of Rosedale trophy to boot.  That won't stop athletic director Joel Maturi from offering the moon to some big-name coach, but Horton deserves consideration nonetheless.

The Wild's Blowout Weekend

After bad showings against the New York Rangers and Philadelphia at home, the Wild decided it was their turn to hang five goals on the Nashville Predators in the annual post-Turkey Day matinee at the Xcel Center.  Then they returned to their old habits the following night in Denver, giving up seven goals to the Colorado Avalanche.  The defense clearly needs work.

Montreal Wins Grey Cup

Rumor has it that the Montreal Alouettes won the Canadian Football League title in Edmonton with a 21-18 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, giving coach Marc Trestman his second consecutive Grey Cup.  Trestman, as you may know, is a candidate for the Gopher coaching job (and maybe even the Vikings, unless owner Zygi Wilf gets stars in his eyes again).  But Trestman claims to love coaching in Montreal, and is still under contract there.    If you want to know about the game itself, check out the TSN (http://www.tsn.ca/) or CBC (http://www.cbc.ca/) websites for further details.