college football

St. John's University held the first of 3 Public Forums for the 3 finalist for the St. John's vacant head football coaching job. Eden Prairie Head Coach and 1979 St. John's graduate Mike Grant was the first to appear at the Public Forum at St. John's.

The Gopher football team will play Texas Tech at 8pm Friday December 28 in Texas in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Minnesota is 6-6 but just 2-6 in the Big Ten this season while Texas Tech is 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the Big 12.

Gopher football coach Jerry Kill suffered a seizure at halftime of the Gophers football game against Michigan State at TCF Bank Stadium Saturday afternoon. Minnesota lost 26-10 to drop to 6-6.

The Gopher football team lost 26-10 at home to Michigan State Saturday afternoon to close the regular season. Minnesota trailed 13-7 at halftime and got as close as 16-10 in the 2nd half.

#1 NOTRE DAME (11-0) AT SOUTHERN CAL (7-4) [Saturday, 8 p.m. on ABC] Notre Dame is 11-0 for the first time since 1989 and know they are just one game away from a national-title shot. The Fighting Irish have risen to the top thanks to a defense that is tied with Alabama for first in scoring defense, allowing just 10.1 points per game

St. John's football coach John Gagliardi has retired as head coach after 60 seasons and 489 victories. Gagliardi is the all-time winningest coach in college football history. The Johnnies were 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the MIAC in 2012.

#14 STANFORD (8-2) AT #1 OREGON (10-0) [Saturday, 8 p.m. on ABC] The Ducks are riding a school-record 14-game winning streak and can clinch a spot in the Pac-12 title game with a win this weekend. Oregon’s high-powered offense leads the nation in scoring and has become a case of "pick your poison"—running back Kenjon Barner is fourth in the nation in rushing, but when he was knocked out of last week’s game, quarterback Marcus Mariota responded with 377 passing yards and a school-record six touchdowns. They’ll be tested, however, by a Stanford defense that leads the nation in rush defense and is giving up a conference-low 320.7 total yards per game. Stanford’s Kevin Hogan will be making his second career start for the Cardinal after throwing for 254 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over then-#13 Oregon State. Oregon has won nine of the last 10 over the Cardinal.

St. Cloud State had 16 players named to the All NSIC North Division All Conference team Tuesday. The first-teamers from St. Cloud State improve offensive lineman Andrew Beckmann, quarterback Philip Klaphake, running back Michael Walker, receiver Eli Shoemaker, defensive lineman Jeff Bias, linebacker Mark Martin and defensive back Jack Moro.

The St. Cloud State Football closed their season Saturday with a 39-37 road win at Minnesota State-Moorhead. The Huskies finished the season with a 7-4 record. Junior quarterback Phil Klaphake is a Harlon Hill finalist for College Football's top award after putting up some great numbers in 2012. Klaphake threw for 2,760 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for 807 yards and 9 touchdowns.

St. John's senior kicker Jimmie Mattson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the MIAC football special teams player of the week. He was 3-3 on field goals and made his lone extra point try in St. John's 27-22 loss at Bethel Saturday. Mattson made a season best 49-yard field to tie the game at 3 in the first half. St. John's finished their season with a 5-5 overall record.