Heading into his first season months ago, Minnesota coach Tim Brewster was part coach, part fire and brimstone and part Madison Avenue pitch man.
"I'm fired up about this opportunity,'' he said. "It's a culmination of a dream for me.''
Making the move from career assistant in Division I and the NFL, Brewster, 47, took over the Gophers after Minnesota fired Glen Mason after the Insight Bowl fiasco. The Gophers blew a 31-point lead in the second half during a three-point loss. Less than three weeks later, Brewster landed his first head coaching job.
It's just not his first choice. When Minnesota (1-8 overall, 0-5 in the Big Ten Conference) hosts Illinois (6-3, 3-2) in the Metrodome on Saturday (7 p.m., Big Ten Network), Brewster faces his alma mater and Illini coach Ron Zook -- the man who got the job Brewster coveted in 2004.
"I'm sure they had this game circled since the staff got there with coach Brewster being an alumnus of here,'' Zook said.
A tight end and captain on Illinois' conference championship team in 1983 that was the last Illini team to play in the Rose Bowl, Brewster politicked behind the scenes. Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther prefers a track record, and no coaching experience doomed Brewster's bid.
So this isn't just another game for Brewster, despite his denials.
"The only thing I'm concerned about is helping our kids win a game because we all know we need it,'' Brewster said. "That is the only thing that matters to me. All the other story lines surrounding it don't matter.''
Scrapping on offense based on power running that carried the Gophers to appearances in mid-level bowls seven of the past eight seasons, Brewster went with a spread offense. Gophers redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Weber ranks third in the Big Ten in passing with 2,145 yards. He has 19 touchdown passes with 15 interceptions, and there have been growing pains.
The Gophers have a seven-game losing streak, including two losses in overtime. Minnesota lost to Florida Atlantic and North Dakota State. Along the way, Minnesota ranks last nationally in total defense (536.7 yards per game) and passing defense (332.2) while also ranking last in the Big Ten in rushing defense (204.5).
Minnesota is banking on Brewster's promotional ability and recruiting to rebuild the Gophers before Minnesota moves into a 50,000-seat stadium under construction on campus that opens for the 2009 season.
